Family and Community Engagement (FACE)

You are Invited!

The Renton School District FACE Roundtable is a network of parents and staff building representatives that share promising family and community engagement practices, provide mutual support, and give feedback on family engagement strategies throughout the district.

ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS

Must be a parent, family member, caregiver or guardian of a Renton Schools student, or a staff member at the district or building level.

The FACE Roundtable strives to reflect the diversity of Renton Schools.  We are actively recruiting family and staff members who represent the many communities within our schools:

• Ethnicity/race
• Language
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Socio-Economic Status
• Type of Family (single parent, foster care, kinship)
• Geographic locations with the district
• Grade levels (preschool, elementary, middle, high)
• Student programs (general education, Special Education, Multilingual Services, Highly Capable, McKinney-Vento, Native American Education, etc.)

click here to SIGn-up 

Meeting SCHEDULE 21-22

 The FACE Roundtable meets the 4th Tuesday of each month, from 4:00-5:30 pm.  We will meet via Zoom until district in-person meetings are possible.

• January 25
• February (no meeting; midwinter break)
• March 22
• April 26
• May 24

Accomplishments

• Formed a shared vision of family engagement for Renton Schools
• Provided input on the RSD instructional vision, family survey, social emotional learning initiative, and more 
• Recommended best practices for inclusion in a Family Engagement Toolkit for staff
• Promoted promising building level practices to engage families
• Highlighted parent group missions/activities

For further information email Michele Starkey at michele.starkey@rentonschools.us or call 425-204-2295.

Visión

Creemos que la participación familiar tiene un efecto positivo en el rendimiento estudiantil y apoya la misión del Distrito de que cada estudiante se gradúe con opciones y esté preparado/a para participar plenamente en nuestra democracia. Sabremos que hemos logrado una auténtica participación familiar cuando los estudiantes y las familias sientan que sus culturas son valoradas y cuando todas las familias experimentan relaciones de confianza y respeto, comunicación significativa y asociaciones de colaboración.

¡Usted está Invitado/a!

La Mesa Redonda FACE del Distrito Escolar de Renton es una red de padres y representantes del personal del edificio que comparten prácticas prometedoras de participación familiar y comunitaria, se apoyan mutuamente y dan su opinión sobre las estrategias de participación familiar en todo el distrito.

MIEMBROS DE LA MESA REDONDA

Debe ser un padre/madre, miembro de la familia, cuidador o tutor de un estudiante de las escuelas de Renton, o un miembro del personal a nivel del distrito o del edificio.

La Mesa Redonda FACE se esfuerza por reflejar la diversidad de las escuelas de Renton.  Estamos reclutando activamente a miembros de la familia y del personal que representen a las muchas comunidades dentro de nuestras escuelas:

• Etnicidad/raza
• Idioma
• Género
• Orientación sexual
• Situación socioeconómica
• Tipo de familia (monoparental, cuidado tutelar, parentesco)
• Ubicación geográfica dentro del distrito
• Niveles de grado (preescolar, primaria, secundaria, preparatoria)
• Programas para estudiantes (educación general, Educación Especial, Servicios Multilingües, Altamente Capaz, McKinney-Vento, Educación para Nativos Americanos, etc.)

Presione aquí para inscribirse  

HORARIO de Reuniones 21-22

 La Mesa Redonda FACE se reúne el cuarto Martes de cada mes, de 4:00-5:30 pm.  Nos reuniremos a través de Zoom hasta que las reuniones en persona del distrito sean posible.

• 25 de Enero
• Febrero (no hay reunión; vacaciones de mediados de invierno)
• 22 de Marzo
• 26 de Abril
• 24 de Mayo

Logros

• Formulación de una visión compartida de cómo puede ser el compromiso familiar en el Distrito Escolar de Renton
• Aportar información al distrito (sobre la encuesta familiar, el aprendizaje a distancia, el aprendizaje socioemocional, el CTE, etc.) 
• Contribuir a la creación de un Conjunto de Herramientas de Participación Familiar para el personal
• Compartir prácticas prometedoras a nivel del edificio para involucrar a las familias
• Proporcionar a los grupos de padres oportunidades para compartir su misión/actividades

Para más información, envíe un correo electrónico a Michele Starkey a michele.starkey@rentonschools.us o llame al 425-204-2295.

We believe family engagement has a positive effect on student achievement and supports the District mission that each student graduates with options and is prepared to fully participate in our democracy. We will know we have achieved authentic family engagement when students and families feel their cultures are valued and when all families experience trusting and respectful relationships, meaningful communication, and collaborative partnerships.

Trusting Relationships

Respect is at the root of trusting relationships.  Building trusting relationships is ongoing, two-way, and starts from day one. Trust is fostered by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, listening, transparent communication, and valuing the background and culture of families. Honoring the dignity and expertise of families creates understanding and connections. Trusting relationships should be consistently apparent in every engagement.

Family and School Culture

Culture fosters a sense of belonging. Everyone exists within multiple cultures. Culture influences our day-to-day actions, values, beliefs, and interactions. Cultural respect, understanding, and dialogue are essential for positive student sense of self and academic achievement.

Meaningful Communication

Effective communication is our effort to respect and understand one another. It is essential for all voices to be heard. Active listening is necessary for mutual understanding. Communication must be ongoing, two-way, and accessible for all in languages and forms that reach each member of the community.

Collaborative Partnerships

Collaborative Partnerships occur when all voices (students, staff, family, and community) respectfully plan together to support student achievement.  We seek diverse perspectives, input from those impacted, and we create priorities together.  Conversation is connected to action and leads to meaningful solutions.  Expectations, responsibilities, and accountability are shared.  Collaborative Partnerships play to everyone’s strengths.

Renton Schools engages families and communities in a variety of ways at the district and building level.  To find out more about family engagement opportunities at your school, please contact your principal.

• The Family and Engagement (FACE) Roundtable (district-level)
• Title I Parent Group (district-level)
• Latino Literacy classes
• The Natural Leaders Program
• Renton Parent University
• Community Cafes
• CTE Advisories
• Family Resource Rooms
• Renton Innovation Zone (RIZ) Family Engagement
• Meetings and Trainings for Multilingual (ML) Families
• Professional development to build capacity of staff in best practices of family engagement

All Renton Schools engage families at the building level.  The following schools are recognized for implementation of promising family engagement practices and initiatives.

• Meadow Crest Early Learning Center: Monthly parent meetings for Head Start and ECEAP and renewed PTA
• Benson Hill Elementary:  Family Stories Backpack Project (2022 Circle of Giving Grant), Zoom Home Visits, Student Led Conferences, monthly Family Engagement & Community/School Improvement Plan (FACE SIP) Team, Family Recipe Book Project, use of Seesaw app for family/teacher interaction 
• Bryn Mawr Elementary: Family Resource Room, Partnership Coordinator & Engagement Specialist, Parent Volunteer Training, SNAP-Ed partnership for school garden parties 
• Hazelwood Elementary: Virtual Coffee Chats w/ the Principal; PTSA’s Meet the Masters Art and Garden Program; Unleash the Brilliance Scholar Mentorship; Backpack Brigade; Salvation Army 
• Highlands Elementary: Renton Parent University, Drive Through Resource Fairs, Coffee & Conversations meetings
• Honey Dew Elementary: Parent Teacher Teams
• Lakeridge Elementary:  1st grade Family Virtual Events (bi-monthly) focus on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) with Sound Discipline, volunteer training program
• Maplewood Heights Elementary: Parent Engagement for Gates Early Learning Math Grant
• Renton Park: Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Team, subcommittee of the School Improvement Plan (SIP) team; Engagement Specialist 
• Talbot Hill Elementary: Family Resource Room (food, clothing, hygiene items, resources), Monthly Parent/Family Group
• Tiffany Park Elementary: Beginning of Year Family Connections meetings K-5, Open forums with administrators during conference week 
• Dimmitt Middle School: Student Led Conferences
• McKnight Middle School: Family & Community Engagement Teacher Leader, Community Café events
• Nelsen Middle School:  Familias Unidas meetings with Spanish speaking families and the principal (100% in Spanish)
• Renton High School: Multicultural Week and Show
• Talley High School:  Student Led Conferences

The Natural Leaders Program is an opportunity for parents and family members to grow their leadership and serve as multi-cultural bridges within their schools and community.  The Natural Leaders Program is supported by the Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) in partnership with Renton Schools.  Natural Leaders are parents and family members that represent the cultural and linguistic diversity of the school community and are trained to help connect families, community, and schools.

If you are interested in becoming a Natural Leader or helping to start a Natural Leaders program at your school, please fill out the Natural Leaders Interest Form or contact Michele Starkey or by phone at 425-204-2295.

REGISTER FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH Natural Leaders Training Academy for Families and Staff

 Mondays from 6:00-7:30 pm, on the following dates:
February 7th, February 14th (parents only), February 28th, March 7th, and March 14th

The Natural Leaders Training Academy is an opportunity for parents/family members and school staff to learn about equitable family engagement and the importance of honoring family voice.

Materials are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, Spanish, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Russian (Working on adding Tigrinya and Farsi). Spanish Interpretation will be available during live sessions. Interpretation is available in other languages upon request.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/NLWinter2022