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Scott AFB hosts school transition workshop for parents

  • Published
  • By Bekah Clark
  • 375 Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Airman & Family Readiness Center hosted its second parent workshop here Wednesday in an effort to ease school transitions for military children.

The workshops, which are led by parents and local educators, train and provide tools to help military parents become better advocates for their children while transferring from school to school because of military relocation.

Nearly 40 Team Scott parents attended the workshop, led by Maria Turain, a military spouse and experienced teacher.
During the workshop, Mrs. Turain instructed and assisted parents in the creation of portfolios for each of their children. The portfolios assembled during the workshop are meant to keep and organize documents needed during a Permanent Change of Station such as shot records, birth certificates, and other important files. Each portfolio is personalized to ease registration and assist the new school with proper enrollment.

Mrs. Turain also advised parents to make photo copies of their children's text books to serve as proof the child has already accomplished a particular class. Parents also received teacher recommendation forms so a teacher can advise the child's next school on the learning styles, if the child should be placed in an advanced class, or other important considerations.

The workshops are facilitated by the Parent Advocates for Students and School, a volunteer group designed to help military parents become advocates for their children's education.

The parent workshops are just one example of an increased effort this year by Team Scott to highlight the many successful Air Force programs already in place and to help Airmen and their families understand the many support programs available. The year-long focus on Air Force families, held July 2009 through July 2010, has been designated "Year of the Air Force Family."

For more information, on this and future workshops, or to get a copy of the checklists and teacher recommendation forms mentioned in this article, call the A&FRC at 256-8668.