Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Jan/Feb 2019 | Page 6

UCPS preschool program educates, removes barriers for families
This year, Union County Public Schools (UCPS) will continue
to offer its Families and Schools Together program, a series of
workshops designed to support parents of preschool children on
developmentally appropriate emotional and social skills for their
children. Now, thanks to the recently awarded NoVo Foundation
Social Emotional Learning grant, childcare and translation services
4 • Nov/Dec 2018 • Parent Teacher Magazine 
as well as dinner and a children’s book will also be available
for families who attend the program’s sessions.
Keeping in line with the district’s social and emotional
learning focus this year, parents who attend the Families and
Schools Together program will not only receive updates on
what their student is learning and experiencing in class each
day but they can also expect to learn techniques that will
help them develop their child’s social and emotional skills.
Although these sessions were offered last year, data
collected from parents showed that a lack of childcare
options for their young children prohibited many of them
from attending the workshops. The availability of a grant
that particularly supports Spanish-speaking families and
provides childcare, meals, a book and translation services
now removes those barriers for parents, ultimately allowing
them to fully participate in the sessions and better support
their student’s growth.
The first Families and Schools Together event was held
Monday, Sept. 17 at the Walter Bickett Education Center (704
S. Washington Street, Monroe). An additional workshop will
be hosted in November.
Please note that the workshop, childcare and dinner
are available for preschool families who participate in UCPS
Exceptional Children’s Preschool, Peer Pals and the NC Pre-K
program. Registration is required, and parents must contact their
child’s teacher to sign up. Preschool parents with questions are
encouraged to contact their student’s teacher.