Important Phone Numbers Parent Support Playgroups and

Important Phone Numbers
■ Infoline, for child care, health and human services, dial 2-1-1.
■ CT Birth-to-Three, for FREE evaluation, based on concerns, of your child’s growth and development: 1-800-505-7000.
■ Connecticut Parent Power, mobilizes parents around issues that affect children and families. www.ctparentpower.org,
203-630-3566
■ Danbury Public Schools Birth-to-Three Program, a Connecticut Birth-to-Three Provider, offers evaluations for children with
developmental delays, ages birth to 3. Call Debbie Pietras Nolan at 797-4832.
■ Danbury Public Schools Early Childhood Program for children ages 3–5. If your child has difficulty listening, talking, playing,
thinking, moving, understanding, or learning, there is help! Call Claudia Anderson at 797-4832.
■ Danbury School Readiness Programs, offer accessible, affordable, and high-quality early childhood experiences. Open to all
Danbury children, ages 3 to 5. Sliding fee scale. Call Education Connection, 791-1904, ext. 168.
■ KIDHELP Crisis 24-Hour Hotline. Emergency psychiatric services for children and their families. Local number: 748-0267. Tollfree: 866-543-2774.
■ Strengthening Families Program is a prevention program for parents and youth. Call Consuelo Brown at 743-4027.
Parent Support
■ Danbury Regional Child Advocacy Center, for free parenting classes and home visits, call 748-4542.
■ Danbury Youth Services, Inc. has a youth and family counseling program and mentoring program for
pregnant teens/teen moms. Also Youth Employment Services for the community. Call 748-2936.
■ Families Network of Western Connecticut, home visitation and family support for new parents. Call
Susan Giglio at 791-8773.
■ Father Involvement Program. Strengthens and supports the nurturing father. Call Families Network of
Western Connecticut, 791-8773.
■ Grandparent Support Group, for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Thursdays from
Does Your Child
6:30 p.m.–8 p.m (twice a month). and Fridays, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. (weekly), 1 Terrace Place, Danbury.
Have Health
Call Danbury Regional Child Advocacy Center, 748-4542 to register.
Insurance?
If not, call toll-free:
■ Greater Danbury Child and Family Network, for families with children who have special needs. Call
2-1-1
Heather Rivers at 791-8312 or Caroline LaFleur at 797-8088.
■ Greater Danbury System of Care Family Focus Partnership. Works to ensure that all children in Greater
Danbury with mental health needs are identified and served. Call Andrea Bria at 791-5106 or Jennifer Wolke at 733-6166.
■ Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury, provides services to Hispanic families. Call 798-2855.
■ Lee y serás (Read and you will be), serves Latino parents of infants and toddlers to support early learning. Call 797-8088.
■ MOMS Club of Danbury, support group for stay-at-home moms. Danbury South (06810) call Katherine Tucker, 798-2648;
Danbury North (06811) call Dianne Rosemark, 797-8100. www.momsclub.com.
■ Nurturing Program, for first-time parents, weekly support group. Call 791-8773.
■ Parent Leadership Training Institute of Danbury, 20-week course enables parents to become advocates for their children. Call
Danbury Children First at 797-8088.
■ ParentNet, free parenting skills classes. Call Maria Vargas at 748-4542.
■ People Empowering People (PEP) helps parents to gain experiences and skills while taking greater control of their lives and connecting with the community. Available in Spanish or Portuguese. Call Gloria Mora at 797-8088.
■ WeCAHR provides support to parents who have children with disabilities. Call Pat Tomka at 792-3540.
Playgroups and Storytimes
■ Danbury Public Library Storytimes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Call 797-4528.
■ Parents With Children Playgroup, for birth–3 years, Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. and Thursdays, 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. at
Mill Ridge Intermediate, Room 20. Call Regina Lima at 790-2896.
■ Morris Street School Playgroup, for birth–5 years, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Call Mari
Grajales at 790-2682 for more information.
Contact Us: For ideas and suggestions for this newsletter, call 797-8088 or email [email protected]
Se voce gostaria de receber uma copia de “Parent to Parent” en Portuguese chame 797-8088.
Si usted desea obtener una copia de la revista “Parent to Parent” (“De Padres a Padres”) en Español, por favor llame al 797-8088.
Parent • to • Parent
83 West Street
Danbury, CT 06810
203-787-8088
Parent to Parent
Fall/Winter 2007
For Danbury Parents of Children
from Birth to Age 8
Volume 11, Number 2
Published by Danbury Children First, Inc.
www.danburychildrenfirst.org
203-797-8088
Share the Joy of Books with Your Children!
By Linda Westfall, Children’s Librarian, Danbury Public Library
Reading with your children
is one of the most important
things you as a parent can do.
Family reading times of 10 to
20 minutes a day will benefit
children of all ages, starting
with infants.
When you read to your
child every day, it gives you
time to share the joy and
adventure of books.
Research by those in the
education field has proven
that children who are read
to from an early age gain
vocabulary skills much
beyond those children who
have had little experience with
books. These early literacy
skills help children develop
important language skills that
will help them learn to read
on their own.
Of course the public library
is the place to find books to
read with your children. The
following are suggestions
Inside
Parent Leader Profile..... 2
Danbury Children First
Updates .................3, 5, 7
Find Out How the
Danbury Board of
Education Works ........... 4
Family Friendly Workplace
Award ........................... 6
Meet Danbury Children
First’s New Staff
Members! ..................... 7
for choosing books to read
aloud.
Infants
For an infant, choose board
books with colorful pictures.
Help your baby enjoy reading
time by letting them handle
books and turn pages.
Toddlers & Preschoolers
Toddlers are learning
independence and will want
to help you when choosing
books to read aloud. Stories
in rhyme are fun for two and
three year olds. Don’t be
surprised when your child
asks you to read the same
book over again and over
again. Give your child the
opportunity to tell you about
a favorite book by looking at
the illustrations and retelling
the story in his or her own
words.
Kindergarten & Elementary
Please don’t stop reading to
your children after they learn
to read independently. Young
readers will enjoy hearing
books that they can’t yet read
on their own. Often they will
want to read with you those
stories that they remember
having been read to them as
toddlers and preschoolers.
The following are a few
read aloud tips that can be
found on the website of
Mem Fox, one of my favorite
children’s authors.
1 Spend at least ten wildly
happy minutes every
single day reading aloud
with your children.
2 Read aloud with
animation. Listen to
your own voice and
don’t be dull. Hang
loose, be loud, have fun,
and laugh a lot.
3 Let your children
hear lots of language
by talking about the
pictures or anything else
connected to the book.
4 Never teach reading, or
get tense around books.
5 Read aloud every day
because you just love
being with your child,
not just because it’s the
right thing to do.
Visit the Library!
Danbury’s Library is
located at 170 Main Street
(at the corner of Main and
West Streets). Events and
activities for children
and families are always
happening!
Come in and get your
child his or her own library
card (free to all residents,
parent signature required).
Then check out all the great
programs, such as:
• storytimes for
infants, toddlers, and
preschoolers
• drop-in crafts and
after-school crafts
• book discussions for
children and teens
• free and discounted
museum passes
• English conversation
groups for Englishlanguage learners
• computer classes for
adults
For more information
call 797-4505 or log on to
www.danburylibrary.org.
Mission Statement
The purpose of Danbury Children
First is to involve, empower and
support parents to improve the
lives of children at home, in school
and in the community.
Parent • to • Parent
Fall/Winter 2007 • page 2
Lauren Ziegler’s Love for Her Child
Transforms the Whole Community
Parent Leader Becomes Spokesperson for Children With Autism
By Laura Tuite, Parent Leader and Danbury Children First Volunteer
A parent’s love can
transform a child’s life.
Lauren Ziegler wants to do
more than that; she wants to
transform a community.
Lauren, with inspiration
from her daughter Pearl,
has become an outspoken
advocate for children with
special needs in the City
of Danbury. Pearl, now a
seven-year-old student at
Stadley Rough Elementary
School, was born with a form
of autism known as Asperger
Syndrome. Together, mother
and daughter face the
exhausting daily struggles of
autism, but this is one mother
who is willing to work for a
better tomorrow.
Lauren’s journey as a
community leader began in
2005. At that time, Lauren and
her husband Dustin enrolled
in the Parent Leadership
Training Institute sponsored
by Danbury Children First.
They learned about the
program from a friend and
neighbor who encouraged
them to apply.
This 20-week course
provided Lauren with the
advocacy skills she needed:
public speaking, networking,
media marketing, etc. She
quickly connected with
numerous community leaders
who shared her concerns
and welcomed her insights.
Lauren’s compassion and
heartfelt concern extended far
beyond her own daughter, and
she soon became a recognized
spokesperson for children
with autism.
In May of 2006, Lauren
used her networking skills
to provide a forum on
autism, which was held at
Western Connecticut State
University. Autistic children
from the “Focus Program”
came to the community to
speak about their lives and the
challenges of being autistic.
These young people brought
a personal and often painful
truth to a diagnosis that is
often misunderstood. Over
seventy five people were in
attendance for this memorable
event. Lauren outdid herself,
and continued to expand
her connections within
Danbury.
As always, this mom
continued
to
pursue
opportunities for her
daughter Pearl. Having seen a
performance by an autistic and
blind musician, Tony DeBlois,
held at Danbury High School,
Pearl was determined to play
the violin. Lauren knew that
WestConn had an exceptional
music department, so she
sought their support. The
heartwarming response she
received was beyond her
wildest dreams. Eric Lewis,
a professor at the University
and the principal violinist with
the Manhattan String Quartet,
not only presented Pearl with
her own violin, but offered
lessons as well.
In December of 2006,
Pearl’s photo and the story
of her new musical
adventure appeared
in the Danbury News
Times.
Lauren is
still stunned by the
generosity. “Each time
we arrive for lessons
with Professor Lewis,
I can’t believe that any
of this is real. I’m still Lauren Ziegler, pictured with daughter
Pearl, 7, has helped members of the
amazed.”
community understand more
Pearl’s talent and Danbury
about children living on the autism specenthusiasm is extensive, trum. She is currently working on bringand Lauren works hard ing a soccer program to Danbury for
to keep up. Activities children who have special needs. To find
include horseback out more about this program, contact
Danbury Children First at 797-8088.
riding, music and
swimming. For the past
two summers, Nick Kaplanis, school system should serve
Danbury’s Director of Parks her well in this new campaign:
and Recreation, has offered “It’s as if I begin one thing and
an Adaptive Swim Program it simply leads to the next;
which Pearl loves to attend. everything and everyone
Lauren and other community in this community is so
leaders are encouraging the connected. It’s like working
city to offer recreational within a spider’s web. When
soccer games for special needs I reach out to help someone, I
children as well. Lauren has receive help in return.”
The Zieglers have a
introduced Nick to several
profound
sense of gratitude
parents, and once again she
toward
the
community they
has taken a central role in
now serve. According to
implementing change.
Of course Lauren is Lauren, “People in this city
an outspoken advocate care about my daughter’s
for programs within the future as much as I do,
school system as well. She and have contributed to
is currently discussing a her future success. I may
proposal for creating a social not be able to give support
skills program for children financially, but I can still
at school. Children with make a difference.” Indeed,
Asperger Syndrome are Lauren’s leadership has truly
often isolated because they been an inspiration.
struggle with conversational
and emotional cues. Lauren’s
connection to leaders in the
Parent • to • Parent
Danbury Children First Welcomes
New Staff Members!
Danbury Children First has added two new staff members to
help us grow as an organization and continue to serve parents
in the Danbury community. Please stop by our offices at 83
West St. to meet our new staff members. They are:
Bill Lerchen, Development Director
In this newly created position, Bill will focus on bringing
in new sources of funding and diversifying Danbury Children
First’s current revenue base. The position was made possible
through a competitive grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation. Bill is a development professional with
more than 15 years of experience
in planned giving, capital giving,
donor development, and capital
campaigns. Most recently, he held
the position of Associate Director at
The Society for the Increase of the
Ministry in West Hartford, where he
led the Major Gifts, Planned Giving,
and Annual Fund programs. He has
also worked as a Major Gift Officer
for Staley Robeson in Stamford, and as Associate Director
for Yale College Programs at Yale University.
Gloria Mora, Team Assistant
As Team Assistant, Gloria provides administrative and
program support to Danbury Children First staff members.
Originally, from Mexico, Gloria also provides extensive support to families attending our Lee y serás and Spanish People
Empowering People programs, as well as Familias Hispanas
Unidas en el area de Danbury (Hispanic Families United in the
Greater Danbury Area), a new
group that serves Spanish-speaking parents who have children with
special needs.
A 2003 graduate of the Parent
Leadership Training Institute (PLTI),
Gloria has a long history of service
to the Danbury community. She has
volunteered for the Danbury Housing
Authority, serving as a Vice President
for the Citywide Public Housing Resident Council. She was
a volunteer and substitute teacher for Head Start, and she
was a mentor for the Danbury Commission on Child Care
Rights and Abuse.
Before coming to Danbury Children First, Gloria worked
for Danbury Hospital and taught Spanish in before- and
after-school programs for the Ridgefield Public Schools. She
lives in Danbury with her husband, Carlos, and their four
children, ages 7 to 23.
Fall/Winter 2007 • page 7
Connect to Our Website!
Log on to www.danburychildrenfirst.org
From the home page you can download all
of our resource guides and the Parent Leadership Training Institute application.
Click on “This Month” (on the left side of the
home page) and youʼll find a listing of all of our
upcoming events and meetings.
Click on “Newsletter” and you can view and
download past issues of this “Parent-to-Parent”
newsletter.
The website is updated
on a regular basis and new
upgrades are planned for
the near future, so log on
often!
A
Children’s
Book
Reading
&
Fun,
Interactive
Music!
December 8, 2007
(Snow Date: December 15)
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Danbury Public Library
Farioly Program Room
Guest Book Readers will be
the Mayor of Danbury, Mark Boughton;
Publisher of El Canillita, Eliette Matos;
and Educator and Child Advocate, Ferris White.
FREE Books!
FREE Balloons!
Sponsored by DANBURY CHILDREN FIRST.
To find out more, call 203-797-8088 or log on to
www.danburychildrenfirst.org.
Parent • to • Parent
Fall/Winter 2007 • page 6
Family Friendly Workplaces
Help to Build Stronger
Families and Communities
If you are a parent of a young child, or are taking care
of an elderly relative, you know that the demands of your
family can sometimes feel at odds with the demands of
your job. Teacher conferences, school concerts, childcare
center drop-off times, and doctors’ appointments can
all conflict with work schedules and add to the stress
of the daily “juggle.”
An employer who understands the need to balance
the demands of work and family life can make all the
difference in the lives of families. Their policies and
practices lead to less stressed out parents, children who
do better in school and in life, and grandparents who
are well taken care of. These workplaces understand the
value of stronger families and communities and they know
that happy, loyal, more productive employees can make a
difference for the company’s bottom line.
That’s why, each year, Danbury Children First and the Danbury School Readiness Council present the Greater Danbury
Family Friendly Workplace Award to a local employer that
demonstrates an understanding of the needs of families. This
year’s winner is Eaton Corporation Aerospace Operations,
a diversified industrial manufacturer located in Bethel. The
award was presented by Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton at a
“We know that if we understand our employees’
needs, we’ll have a workforce that gives its all to the
work we do, and will stay with us for the long run.”
—Michael Dodd, Eaton Plant Manager
breakfast on October 5, 2007. State Senator David Cappiello
presented a Citation from the Connecticut General Assembly
and a letter from Governor M. Jodi Rell.
Michael Dodd, Eaton’s plant manager accepted the award.
“At Eaton, we understand that employees aren’t just cogs
in the wheel. They have obligations to their children, their
spouses, their parents, and the community,” he explained.
“We know that if we understand our employees’ needs, we’ll
have a workforce that gives its all to the work we do, and will
stay with us for the long run.”
At the breakfast, Eaton employees Chris Vargo and Jim
LaFlam spoke compellingly about how working for Eaton
has allowed them fulfill their obligations as parents and caretakers of elderly relatives while remaining productive, loyal
employees. Congratulations to Eaton!
Employees at Eaton Corporation Aerospace Operations gathered at a
breakfast on October 5 to recognize their company as the winner of
the 2007 Greater Danbury Family Friendly Workplace Award. From left
to right are: Chris Vargo, Ellen Sears, Lori Moker, Bruce Johnston, Jim
LaFlam, and Michael Dodd.
Do you work for a
Family Friendly Workplace?
Would you like to recognize
your employer?
To nominate your employer for the 2008
Greater Danbury Family Friendly Workplace
Award, call Danbury
Children First at
797-8088 or log on to:
www.danburychildren
first.org. A nomination
form can be
downloaded from
the home page.
The winner will be
recognized at a
community wide
event in the fall of
2008.
Parent • to • Parent
Become a Parent Leader!
Parent Leadership Classes will give you the skills you
need to help your kids and others in the community.
Parent Leadership Training Institute:
• Attend a FREE 20-week course (once a week).
• Learn how your community works.
• Become familiar with local government.
• Develop leadership skills and coalition building skills.
• Empower yourself!
For more information, contact Danbury Children First at
797-8088.
People Empowering People (PEP):
• 10–20 weekly 2-hour sessions for parents
conducted in Spanish or Portuguese.
• Provides opportunities and resources for parents to
gain skills and get connected to the community.
• Builds on the gifts and capacities of each
person.
For more information about PEP in Portuguese or Spanish,
contact Gloria Mora at 797-8088.
Classes start in January 2008.
FREE dinner and childcare provided at each class.
Fall/Winter 2007 • page 3
Can You Help Support This
Newsletter and Our Other
Programs?
Danbury Children First needs help to continue its
programs and services.
Can you send a donation?
All donations are tax-deductible
Checks should be made
payable to Danbury Children
First and mailed to us at
83 West Street, Danbury,
CT 06810. Or log on to
www.danburychildren
first.org to donate.
Questions? Call Linda Kosko at 203-797-8088.
Thank you!
Support for this newsletter is provided by the William Caspar
Graustein Memorial Fund, the City of Danbury, and the Danbury
Public School District through a state grant.
Get Involved:
Make a Difference For Danbury’s Children!
Want to do something to help Danbury’s families? Get involved in our committees! We support parents by offering
FREE childcare and refreshments are available at most meetings.
Early Childhood/Public Awareness
Awareness–Plans and presents workshops on parenting topics, places articles about early
childhood issues in local newspapers, and oversees the Greater Danbury Family Friendly Workplace Award. It
includes parents, childcare providers, and social service agency members. Meets the third Friday of the month from
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at Danbury Children First’s offices at 83 West Street, Danbury.
Greater Danbury Child and Family Network
Network–A group of parents of children with special needs and the providers who
work with them. Works to improve life outcomes for children with special needs. A Local Interagency Coordinating
Council (LICC) of the Birth to Three system, it sponsors workshops and family fun nights. Meets quarterly at
Danbury Children First’s offices at 83 West Street, Danbury.
Local Policy Leaders
Leaders–Parents working together to impact public policy for children. Meets monthly in the evenings at
Danbury Children First’s offices at 83 West Street, Danbury.
Parents as Partners in Education–Includes parents, teachers, school principals, and other community members
who work together to improve parent involvement in education. Provides free workshops to improve parent-school
communication and support learning at home. Meets the first Monday of the month, 5:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m., at the
Danbury Public Schools Administrative Building, 63 Beaver Brook Rd., Danbury.
Multi-Cultural–Parents working together to foster a diverse community guided by respect and harmony for the benefit
of children. Meets the third Friday of the month, 6 p.m. at Danbury Children First’s offices at 83 West Street, Danbury.
PLTI/PEP Civic Design Team–An advisory board of community leaders focusing on the development and ongoing
support of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) and People Empowering People (PEP) leadership
programs for parents and adults who influence the lives of children. Meets three times each year with ongoing
communication via phone and e-mail.
Call Danbury Children First at 797-8088 for more information.
Parent • to • Parent
Fall/Winter 2007 • page 4
The Danbury Board of Education: How Does It Work?
By Maureen Garry, Danbury Children First Volunteer
The Danbury Public School
system consists of 18 schools,
10,130 students, 810 teachers,
and 55 school administrators.
Positioned above this vast educational web is a group that
sets all of these structures in
motion. That group is the Danbury Board of Education.
This dedicated group of
11 men and women has the
daunting task of setting all of
the policies for the Danbury
school district.
How the Board Works
The Board meets twice
a month—24 meetings a
year. Members also attend
committee meetings and individual school and citywide
PTO meetings. Specific
policy areas are assigned to
individual committees.
The policies set by the
group cover everything from
how the district is administered, to discipline codes and
curriculum. (For a complete
list of the range of responsibilities, visit the Danbury
school system’s Web site,
www.danbury.k12.ct.us; click
on Board of Education Policies). While policy changes
can be recommended by the
Superintendent and others
in the administration, actual
changes can only be made by
the School Board.
Irving Fox, Republican,
a Board member for about
a year with four children in
the Danbury school system,
explained that the three
main responsibilities of the
Board are to implement and
change school policy, hire
and evaluate the Superintendent, and approve the annual
school budget before it goes
to the Common Council for
approval.
By way of explaining how
the Board operates, Fox said
it’s similar to a corporate
board of directors and a CEO
of a company, where the Superintendent is essentially the
“CEO” of the district, answering to the Board of Ed, and
implementing Board policy.
Current Superintendent Dr.
Sal Pascarella attends all of
the board meetings.
Board Chairperson Susan
Podhajski, Democrat, who
served for four years, said that
some of the more significant
issues before the Board now
include
preliminary discussions
to expand
the Western Connecticut
Academy
for International
Studies
Magnet
School to grade 8, revamping the schools’ computer
systems, fixing spatial issues
such as overcrowding at Danbury High School (currently
at 107 percent capacity), and
finding space for all-day kindergarten.
Board of Education members are elected to four-year
terms; there are no term
limits, with some members
having served as long as 15
years. All Board members
belong to either the Republican or Democratic parties.
Elections are held every two
years; 2007 was an election
year for the Board. Currently,
there are six Democrats to five
Republicans. While that majority can change every other
election, it is not a requirement. In fact, Democrats have
held the majority of seats for
the last several years.
A Five-Year Plan
Since last January, on top
of their already scheduled
Board and committee meetings, Board members attended
monthly retreats where, for
the first time, they hashed out
a five-year plan, in conjunction with
the Superintendent’s
goals, to
move the
district
forward.
Some of
the goals,
which Ms.
Podhajski
said are
ongoing,
include increasing minority recruitment of teachers
and faculty, adding all-day
kindergarten, improving
Connecticut Mastery Test
scores and schools under the
yardstick of No Child Left
Behind, and enhancing the
learning of all students.
All School Board members donate their time to the
district; none of the School
Board members are paid for
the countless hours they put
into setting policy for the
Danbury schools.
Public Participation
Encouraged
All of the Board meetings
and most of the committee
meetings are open to the
public. The start of each
Board meeting is set aside for
public comment; individuals
get three minutes to express
their views. Attendance by
the general public, especially
parents, is encouraged. “We
welcome feedback from the
public,” said Ms. Podhajski.
“The public is who put us in
office; we work on behalf of
their children, most importantly.”
While public involvement
is welcome, Board members
explain that meetings are
not the place for parents to
raise personal issues, such
as a problem with a teacher.
Those issues are best resolved
by following the chain of command at the child’s school, i.e.,
by contacting the principal or
Associate Superintendent Dr.
Glass regarding curriculum,
or by contacting Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dylewski for
administrative matters. Comments by parents at School
Board meetings should be
targeted to issues that have
a broader impact.
“When there are issues
on the horizon that have a
macro level of impact for the
entire community, I think it’s
important for parents to come
out and voice their opinions,
Parent • to • Parent
because there aren’t too many vehicles where elected officials
can hear what’s on the people’s minds,” explained Mr. Fox.
For information about the Board’s policies on public participation, go to www.danbury.k12.ct.us/bbadmin/bdpolicy.html
and click on Public Participation at Board Meetings in the
Community Relations Policy section.
Parents will be given additional opportunities to learn about
the School Board’s plans and give feedback. Starting in 2008,
the Board plans to hold a series of community forums to inform
the public about their five-year plan. These forums will feature
a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
“Attending these community forums in the future is going
to be so important because people don’t realize the things we
need to do to not only surge our kids ahead, but just to keep
them up,” said Ms. Podhajski. “We can only move this district
ahead if we have community support.”
“I’m pretty proud of what our people [Board members] are
doing here in our school system for kids,” said Superintendent
Dr. Sal Pascarella. They are “just doing a lot to make sure that
our kids in Danbury are getting a quality education.”
Tips for Speaking to
the Board of Education
By Hilary Ben-Ami, Parent Leader
Here are the typical rules for speaking at the Board
of Education. Check your local Board of Education
for your districtʼs rules:
• Before the meeting, write down, plan, and practice what you will say. Be civilized; balance
emotion with intellect!
• Critical comments or complaints should be processed through the school district complaint
procedure.
• Arrive at the meeting on time and sign up on the
participation sheet. In Danbury, public participation time takes place at the beginning of the
meeting, so arriving on time is crucial.
• State your name, address, and phone number.
• State the subject matter you want to address.
• Speak for no more than 3–5 minutes. (In Danbury, public participation is limited to 3 minutes.)
• Call the school to find out who is responsible for
your concerns. You might find out that you are
not the only one who has concerns about that issues and there are others you can work with to
create a solution.
Fall/Winter 2007 • page 5
QuickTip
Make Bedtime Consistent
Bedtime should follow a schedule. For
example, bath, teeth brushing, bedtime
story, night light,
kiss good night and
sleep. A
consistent
schedule helps
children learn to go
to sleep by themselves.
This QuickTip is courtesy of the Born Learning
Campaign, a public engagement campaign that helps
parents, grandparents, and caregivers explore ways to
turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.
For more information, log on to www.bornlearning.org.
Get Connected to the Resources Your
Family Needs!
Danbury Children First offers a number of FREE publications that can help you find the resources you need in the
greater Danbury area. Call us at 797-8088 if you would like
copies of any of these publications.
Resources for Danbury’s Children and Families
Families—One-page
sheet includes contact information on public schools, preschools, community resource centers, parent support organizations, city departments, state legislators, health and behavioral
health services, and other organizations that serve children and
families. Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Resources for Children With Special Needs in Greater Danbury—One-page sheet includes information on early intervenbury
tion programs, local parent support and advocacy organizations, respite and recreational resources, mental and behavioral
health services, and statewide parent support and advocacy.
Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Directions—This care notebook was created by Connecticut’s
Directions
Department of Public Health for parents of children with special
needs to help them plan and coordinate care. It helps parents
organize health records and school records while providing
information about resources.
“KEYS TO GREAT CAREGIVING Fun and Learning with Your
Baby or Toddler”—This set of eight brochures for parents
and caregivers covers topics such as: caring for yourself;
child development; health and safety; teaching self control;
and healthy eating.