Family Educational Partnership

Family–School Partnership Nights

This past fall, eight families were invited to participate in a three-session Family–School Partnership series designed to strengthen home–school connections and support families in promoting positive behavior and emotional regulation at home. 

Structure of the Evenings

When families arrived, they were invited to begin the night by playing games together or browsing and checking out books. This created a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and supported early connection between children and their caregivers.

Each evening also included a shared family meal, where families sat together at tables and participated in a no-phones rule to encourage meaningful conversation. Games and table conversation prompts were provided to help with connection and interaction during the meal. Following dinner, parents participated in the instructional session facilitated by Jodi and Alexa and the children engaged in games or activities with Micki and Jane.

Session Highlights

• Night 1: Parents explored reflections on their own childhood experiences, family structure, home responsibilities, the role of play, and strategies for limiting screen time.

• Night 2: The focus shifted to strengthening parent–child connection through effective redirection, coregulation practices, and supporting children through big feelings.

• Night 3: Families practiced additional coregulation techniques and were introduced to basic child behavior analysis to help understand patterns behind challenging behaviors.

Parent Feedback

Feedback slips collected after each session were positive. Parents consistently noted:

• The content was practical and immediately applicable at home.

• The take-home strategy sheets and supplemental materials were helpful and easy to use.

• They valued the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and build community with other parents facing similar challenges.

• Many expressed particular interest in learning even more about managing and limiting screen time.

Survey Results

At the conclusion of the series, a follow-up survey was sent to all participating families via email to gather additional feedback about their overall experience. Results from this survey will guide future planning and help ensure the Family–School Partnership series continues to meet the needs of the families we serve.

Overall, the series successfully engaged families, strengthened school–home partnerships, and supported parents with tools that reinforce positive behavior and emotional wellbeing for students.