Sussex-Wantage schools host first parent night

SUSSEX BOROUGH — The Sussex-Wantage Regional Schools hosted its first of many Parent Academies on Sept. 25, aimed at providing venues for parents to participate in their children’s education.

“We want parents to see, hear, use and appreciate the supporting curricular resources that we utilize in the district," Superintendent Jeanne Apryasz said. “With the continued revisions of the curriculum based on the Core Content State Standards (CCSS) and the state’s new PARCC assessment (Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers), we need parents to experience firsthand what their children are doing and what we are doing to prepare them."

Thursday evening’s activity was dedicated to introducing and navigating the components of the Parent Portal system which allows all parents of the district to monitor their child’s progress online. Parents can review attendance, grades, homework and a digital backpack. The latter eliminates the dependence on children for bringing home informational material and forms that parents must read and sign. They can now access those papers online.

The evening began with Cristin Longo, a Language Arts teacher at the Middle School, demonstrated the features on a large projection screen in the auditorium for the parents of middle school students.

John Potosnak, a music teacher at the Wantage school, similarly presented to parents of the Wantage Elementary School students. All parents in attendance also were issued a Chromebook laptop and assisted in setting up their accounts.

Diane Varga, a parent with three children in the district, attended to show support for the district and would encourage more parents to attend.

“I welcome any partnership with the school that will allow me to become more active in my children’s education,” Varga said.

Nanette Blair, the mother of an eighth grader, has been availing herself of the portal since its premiere.

The district plans a series of Parent Academies in the near future, addressing topics such as the CCSS, PARCC and Reader/Writer’s Workshop. Check the school’s website for these upcoming events at: http://www.swregional.org.