More than 30 families attend Pinon Hills parent night

Third-grade teachers Amy Peraldo, Karen Sullivan, Cassie Huff and reading specialist Hollie Harvey hosted the Parent Universities third-grade parent night at Pinon Hills Elementary School on Oct. 14.

More than 30 families attended. The event began with snacks and posing a question for parents to discuss at their tables. This provided a chance for families to connect with other third-grade families.

PHES staff explained the shift in reading in the third-grade: instead of learning to read, reading to learn. They demonstrated how to access the online library catalog, Destiny, from home, then some third-grade students and teachers gave presentations on several different series of books to help motivate other third-graders to read. 

Staff discussed the need of parents to monitor their children's reading and the materials that they read to make sure they are emotionally appropriate for them, sharing a Web site that helps rate books and all kinds of media, www.commonsensemedia.org.

At the end of the presentations, parents and students were given a free "Parent's Homework Dictionary" and free student dictionary for them to keep at home to help with homework.

"We want to empower parents with the information and supplies they need to raise healthy students and community members," said Harvey. "Our goal is to continue to build upon and foster an environment where parents can feel connected with the school community because it really does take a village."