Education Topics
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What to Expect Your First Day Back for Parents
Preet Francis talks about expectations for the first day of school. Parents should consult the school website for important dates, school start and dismissal times, and bus route changes. Click here for the complete interview: https://www.waff.com/video/2019/08/05/back-school-shopping-with-preeti-francis/?fbclid=IwAR0zFkfmEsajQxtvFv1e4TYKZzkT1aSxs1k-SBzyqVACqjXJWw6xJRxXHiM
Staying Engaged with Your Child's School
It’s critical for parents to stay engaged with the system, even after Back to School night and Meet the Teacher parties are over. Get involved! Click here for complete interview: https://www.waff.com/2019/08/13/staying-engaged-with-your-childs-school/
Making Sure Parents are Ready for School
Students across Madison County are back in school. A few tips to ensure the return to school is smooth for parents: Make sure your contact information is correct, read those back to school newsletters, send your students to school rested and make those transition times (wake up, school and bus and drop-offs) count. See interview:
Communicating With Your Child's Teacher
Effective communication is a two way street. Hear our executive director, Elizabeth Dotts Fleming, share a few tips. - Know your child’s teacher’s preferred method - Communicate concerns early - Keep a level head and focus on solutions. Click here for complete interview:
Why School Attendance Matters
Now that the school year is in full swing, some students are already trying to play the skipping game - telling parents it’s okay for them to miss a day or two, since they won’t really miss anything. Experts say - that’s the worst thing you can do for them. Former Decatur City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols sat down with WAFF 48 anchor Trent Butler to talk about it. Click here for entire interview: https://www.waff.com/2019/08/27/why-school-attendance-matters/?fbclid=IwAR3b3CDhlX3i5EO3B9VAp6YOPUfXekiVEyKwJSNX1idj14J9sQDSfVnnusk
How to Communicate with Your Child
Sharing tips on how to communicate with your child about their school day. Click link for interview:
Fall Break Tips and Tricks
Elizabeth Dotts Fleming talks about Fall Break - time for rest and relaxation and opportunities to keep your child engaged in learning. See full interview: https://www.waff.com/video/2019/10/02/fall-break-tips-tricks/?fbclid=IwAR0idSSx4D_fInR-b6gUzT6Yk-ezUQKcFchaWNFhxlNfjuQTpsXjLSThOkM
FAFSA Information
Elizabeth Fleming talked about FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Here are a few key points:
- Most jobs in Alabama require some level of education post high school and nationally, 9 out of 10 students who complete FAFSA go to college in the fall
- Many schools look at FAFSA for merit and needs based scholarships
-If your family makes less than $250,000 a year you are encouraged to complete (for loans and scholarship opportunities). No income limit - each
- Earliest and most common deadline in Alabama is March 1st, but we encourage you to start the process and finish early.
Thank you to Alabama Possible for sharing the Cash for College Alabama information! See full interview: https://www.waff.com/video/2019/10/21/fasfa-forms/?fbclid=IwAR0AfO3Gar8R0u6WukatAn3UVju79yAoTMIjpgc4eN6LFbwH3jvEioLT6_o
The Schools Foundation Shares Thoughts on Madison Tax Vote
Thank you Connie Cox Spears and Jeff Showalter from Madison Forward for spreading the word on the important vote September 10th for our schools! Vote FOR! Click link for interview: https://www.waff.com/video/2019/09/04/school-foundation-shares-thoughts-madison-tax-vote/?fbclid=IwAR0qD_zmGs6CE9X_bbUkgdTe3DTSEP4ttUKA6rEVj08Pm1Ak5OFTzNxLmTc
Take 10 Public Education Survey
Alabama’s state public education officials want to hear from you. Specifically, they want you to “Take 10”---take 10 minutes---to complete a survey that will help shape Alabama’s next strategic plan for K-12 public education. Click link for interview: https://www.waff.com/video/2019/09/16/take-public-education-survey/
Celebrating National Board Certification for Teachers Hosted by Creative Cities - October 29
It is always fun talking education with our friends at WAFF 48 News and Trent Butler! Today we talked about National Board Certified teachers and efforts with Huntsville Committee of 100 and Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville to raise funding to sponsor more teachers! We can do more together! Join us on October 29th 6-8 at Burritt on the Mountain. Tickets at: www.creativecitieshsv.org
https://www.waff.com/video/2019/10/14/school-foundation/
Parents Across Madison County Weigh Schooling Options for Fall
Elizabeth Fleming, the executive director from the Schools Foundation, says the key is to consider personal schedules and be flexible knowing that everything might change.
She says it’s important to realize that virtual school in the fall will not be the same as what we saw in the spring.
The expectations will be higher and there will be more work.
Overall, it’s important for parents to understand more will be expected of everyone. See full interview: https://www.waff.com/2020/07/09/parents-across-madison-county-weigh-schooling-options-fall/