New Haven Independent

Parental involvement | June 22, 2009

Parent Activist Plans To Challenge Mayor

by Paul Bass | June 22, 2009 5:16 PM | Permalink

(Updated) Angela Watley, a parent activist and police department civilian employee, took the first official step Monday to challenge Mayor John DeStefano in November. Her top issue: improving the schools.

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Parental involvement | June 17, 2009

Parent Leaders Graduate

by Adzua Agyapon | June 17, 2009 1:36 PM | Permalink

Tironda Newton plans to open an after-school center for city kids. She learned the skills needed to set her plans into motion from a newly revived parent leadership program.

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Parental involvement | June 16, 2009

Parents Learn Hooker School Admission Tricks

by Melissa Bailey | June 16, 2009 11:14 AM | Permalink

Hong Zheng got a tip from a school official on how to get her rejected kid into Hooker School: Go to the registration office every day for months -- or plan a sneak attack with a neighbor.

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Parental involvement | June 2, 2009

"You Learn A Lesson From This?"

by Melissa Bailey | June 2, 2009 12:13 PM | Permalink

After a 9-year-old fired an air gun at another student on a school bus Tuesday, his mom and uncle rushed to Celentano School for a stern talk.

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Parental involvement | May 15, 2009

Parents Applaud New School Conduct Code

by Allan Appel | May 15, 2009 10:55 AM | Permalink

When the school system rolled out the latest draft of its school suspension policy this week, it came with collaboration -- and praise -- from a parent advocacy group that had pressed for reform.

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Parental involvement | May 5, 2009

State of City: Better Off With Teams Like This

by Melissa Bailey | May 5, 2009 7:52 AM | Permalink

As city leaders unite in a stepped-up effort to tackle the achievement gap, Alderwoman Migdalia Castro said parent-led groups like this one are essential to that goal.

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Parental involvement | April 10, 2009

Bullying Policy OK'd

by Ben Johnson | April 10, 2009 2:05 PM | Permalink

As the school board approved a revised bullying policy without laying down firm rules for implementation, two parent advocates pushed for more aggressive reform.

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Parental involvement | April 7, 2009

Sex Ed for the Squeamish

by Melinda Tuhus | April 7, 2009 8:54 AM | Permalink

Talk about sex with our kids? We can do it! We did do it!

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Parental involvement | March 30, 2009

Nonprofits' Budget Call: Let's Work Together

by Ben Johnson | March 30, 2009 8:06 AM | Permalink

Two New Haven agencies are planning a maiden voyage to a new era of nonprofit budget-sharing -- a route they described to state legislators as one way to stay afloat during the recession.

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Parental involvement | March 13, 2009

First-Grader Takes Out Knife On School Bus

by Melissa Bailey | March 13, 2009 9:09 AM | Permalink

After his bus pulled away from the East Rock Global Magnet School, a first-grade boy whipped out a pocketknife and started slashing the seat, school officials said.

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Parental involvement | March 2, 2009

Preschool Parents Fear Speeders

by Allan Appel | March 2, 2009 3:34 PM | Permalink

It was one near miss too many for Muriel Hamilton and her fellow preschool parents and grandparents doing the "Calvin Hill Dash."

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Parental involvement | March 1, 2009

Parents Applaud End of Recession

by Allan Appel | March 1, 2009 1:53 PM | Permalink

If it can be done in the fairy tale world of Rumplestiltskin, why not in our own?

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Parental involvement | February 26, 2009

School Reformers Press Ahead, "Politically"

by Melinda Tuhus | February 26, 2009 10:58 AM | Permalink

A parent advocacy group that helped put school reform on the map in New Haven has decided to embrace the term "political" -- and define it for themselves.

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Parental involvement | February 12, 2009

Parents Pick Up Grades, Jackets

by Allan Appel | February 12, 2009 11:37 AM | Permalink

In hard times, report card night doubled as coat night at Fair Haven Middle School.

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Parental involvement | February 10, 2009

Parents Protest School-To-Prison "Pipeline"

by Allan Appel | February 10, 2009 7:27 AM | Permalink

Mary McCormick's 7th grade son these days won't even tell her what his problems are in school. He's afraid kids will call him "snitch." She's afraid that might lead to another bullying incident, then a suspension.

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Parental involvement | January 27, 2009

3,500 "Teachers" UnPACKed

by Allan Appel | January 27, 2009 10:17 AM | Permalink

A program to get kids involved early in reading with their parents got a huge bibliophilic helping hand Monday night.

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Parental involvement | January 22, 2009

"You As The Parent Are The Main Factor"

by Melinda Tuhus | January 22, 2009 9:44 AM | Permalink

He's playing now, but if and when Tiernen Sands (pictured) starts kindergarten at Columbus Family Academy dual-language school, he will have to work hard. The teacher said so.

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Parental involvement | November 26, 2008

Move, Stakeout Fail To Land Prized School Spot

by Melissa Bailey | November 26, 2008 11:34 AM | Permalink

Amos thought if his family moved across the street from the Hooker School, he could get his daughter in. He was wrong.

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Parental involvement | November 24, 2008

Literacy Coalition Forum: Early Reading, Community Action, and Catalytic Philanthropy

by Josiah Brown | November 24, 2008 9:23 AM | Permalink

The Greater New Haven Literacy Coalition sponsored a forum Wednesday, Nov. 19, on ways Connecticut communities, organizations, and families are seeking to cultivate and strengthen young children's reading skills. Hosting the event in Hamden was the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, whose executive director, David Nee (pictured), served as principal speaker and moderator of the ensuing discussion.

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Parental involvement | October 29, 2008

"Jeez, I Can't Get Rid Of This Guy"

by Thomas MacMillan | October 29, 2008 7:47 AM | Permalink

A single father in New Haven revealed to a televised audience the "sneak attack" that prodded his son to study. The secret weapon? Text messages.

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