Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Schools' Parent Center Opens

The Gurdon School District's parent center is now open.

Michelle McCorvey is the parent coordinator and has been working very hard to get it ready. A $6,000 grant was the funding source for the center and a part time parent coordinator. Title I funds are being used to supplement the needs of the center.

Parent and community volunteers will be essential to the success of the program. Parent and community volunteers are needed, McCorvey said in a prepared statement. Volunteers are needed to help made and catalog materials for a home-based learning program for grades K-4, to keep the parent center open more and to help with programs that will be available.

The parent center will provide parent training, parent resource materials for parenting and a warehouse full of learning activities for parents to make and take or just pick up to help or enrich their child's learning experience.

Parent training will include cooperative discipline (all teachers received this training in August), Partners in Print, a program to train parents in the skills and strategies of teaching reading to their child, and parenting skills.

The center will provide Prescriptive Learning for students K-4 this year and will hopefully be able to extend this program through 8th grade. Prescriptive Learning program is an enrichment home-based learning program designed to allow parents to work on skills at home with their child.

Fun learning activities for each skill taught in reading and math will be available for parents. A computer check-out program will also be available. Parents will be trained in using the computer and software, then they will be able to take it home with them.

This parent center could be the link between school and home.

The district is hoping that parents will utilize the center for meeting many of their needs and that the community will support the center and its efforts, she said.

Parents and community members are always welcome to drop by to browse through the center. You can have a cup of coffee, stay as long as you like and enjoy a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

The center is located in the band hall of the old high school. Hours are Monday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Call 353-5121 if you need more information.