Family night continues at Dayton school

The Language Arts Department at Dayton Intermediate School invites parents of sixth through eighth graders and their students to the continuing Family/Parent Content Night series, 6-7 p.m. Thursday.

"Our goal is to make parents aware of what we're trying to accomplish here at DIS," said Shelly Hill, eighth-grade language arts teacher and one of the evening's presenters.

"We want parents to feel comfortable and feel the school is accessible to everyone (be they) parents, guardians and their children."

The hour-long event will include several topics presented in four break-out sessions, including reading and the Reading Counts program and how it works, writing skills and assessments to give parents a heads up about what will be required for students to succeed in testing, using computer and Internet resources and ideas to use at home to improve reading and writing skills.

Those in attendance will experience hands-on learning and interaction.

Since the beginning of the school year monthly workshops, covering such topics as student advisory, science and math have grown in attendance.

"Parents are coming more and more and seem to be opening up to the fact they are their children's first teachers," Hill said. "We're simply passing the torch."

Hill added the more parents participate in school events, the less scary it becomes.

"Many parents may have had bad experiences (with school) growing up and often don't see their role in their child's education until the student is having issues," she said. "Ask your child if they're testing, or to see their agenda and find out what's going on."

Every student who attends will receive house points, an incentive program implemented at the beginning of the school year.

For information, call the school at 246-6250.

• Contact reporter Karel Ancona-Henry at kanconahenry@sierranevadamedia.com or 246-4000.

If you go

What: DIS Family Night

When: 6-7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Dayton Intermediate School

Call: 246-6250