
Over
the
course
of
eight
weeks,
15
Yorkshire
Elementary
School
parents
took
part
in
virtual
classes
two
days
per
week,
with
more
than
half
completing
the
requirements
of
the
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
English
for
speakers
of
other
languages
(ESOL),
Parents
as
Educational
Partners
(PEP)
Program.
The
PEP
program
is
designed
to
assist
parents
of
English
language
learners
in
overcoming
the
language
and
cultural
barriers
that
may
prevent
them
from
participating
fully
in
their
children's
educational
experience.
The
primary
focus
of
PEP
is
providing
parents
with
the
knowledge
to
feel
comfortable
in
using
the
English
language
to
communicate
with
school
personnel.
This
year's
agenda
covered
topics
on
the
U.S.
school
system,
school
personnel
and
procedures,
parent-teacher
conferences,
report
cards,
curriculum,
health,
and
how
to
build
relationships
within
student's
families.
"It
took
a
lot
of
preparation
and
time
to
plan
and
prepare
materials
for
the
virtual
setting,
but
the
work
definitely
paid
off.
I
wanted
to
make
sure
to
hold
classes
that
were
both
informative
and
engaging
so
I
made
sure
to
include
games
and
online
activities
such
as
Nearpods
to
keep
the
classes
interesting,"
said
third
grade
teacher
Winter
Gannon.
Gannon
introduced
class
participants
to
new
units
including
the
use
of
Canvas,
Zoom,
and
ParentVUE,
as
well
as
health
procedures
and
protocols
designed
to
keep
students
and
staff
safe
while
inside
the
building.
During
one
segment,
school
nurse
Nicole
Wilson
summarized
and
demonstrated
the
use
of
face
coverings,
proper
handwashing,
and
the
importance
of
physical
distancing.
Each
class
has
an
instructor
and
interpreter
to
accommodate
a
culturally
diverse
community.
Yorkshire
Elementary
uses
a
two-level
approach
for
the
program.
Level
one
students
focus
on
the
basic
construction
and
usage
of
simple
words
and
phrases
in
English
that
relate
to
the
school
environment.
Level
two
builds
from
what
parents
learned
during
level
one,
allowing
them
to
practice
conversation
and
writing
skills. As
a
result,
parents
are
able
to
practice
mock
parent-teacher
conferences,
review
example
student
report
cards,
and
practice
writing
notes
to
the
teacher
and
main
office
staff
regarding
excused
and
unexcused
absences.
"Having
parents
attend
classes
two
times
a
week
helps
them
get
familiar
with
the
staff,
the
system,
the
English
language,
and
many
of
the
resources
we
offer.
As
a
result,
parents
are
better
able
to
successfully
implement
concise
communication
with
teachers
and
administrators,
empowering
them
as
advocates
for
their
child's
education,"
shared
parent
liaison
and
PEP
interpreter
Roxanna
Chappell.