GEAR UP Gazette, Parent Engagement

The next issue of the GEAR UP Gazette, a customizable newsletter for parents, is ready to go!

This issue contains information about the value of high expectations and positive peer and parent relationships with students who aspire to higher education. Follow the four simple directions in order to print or e-mail a version to your school's parents today:

1. Download (under File) the Word document with the draft version  of the newsletter.
2. Replace all highlighted red fields with the information pertinent to your school.
3. Save as PDF. (You must save as PDF even if you will be printing copies!)
4. Print or e-mail the newsletter as an attachment. The links to websites should still work in the PDF.

If you have any questions or issues, please contact dana_beck@ous.edu.

Start planning for National GEAR UP Week!

National GEAR UP Week will be September 23-27 this year which gives you plenty of time to start thinking ahead. We will be celebrating GEAR UP's successes statewide with videos, the release or our annual report, and possibly an event for legislators and partners!

How will you celebrate?

Hold a GEAR UP Week at your school and get students starting to think about their plan after high school! It’s an opportunity to kick-off the year with fun and exciting activities (but without a lot of energy on your part!) that encourage a college-going culture in your school and community. The updated GEAR UP WEEK Toolkit has everything you need - instructions, posters, announcements—to put on a week of programs designed to get the word out about GEAR UP and the importance of going on to college. It even includes tips on holding a parent and community "friendraiser" to help get the word out about GEAR UP.

You can  hold your GEAR UP Week at any point during the first few months of school; just pick a day or week that works for you!

Involve + Engage = Sustain: Personalizing Community Engagement Toolkits

Involve + Engage = Sustain is a column dedicated to providing you with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.

There are no stories as compelling as those we live. As you look toward the final spring activities you will be celebrating with parents and community members, consider adding your school mascot to the Community Engagement Toolkit. A supportive quote from your principal, or a student’s success story would also be terrific additions to the basic toolkit folder. Contact Becky or Dana with your ideas and we’ll do our best to create a Toolkit that expresses your story effectively (see the Fleming/North Valley example at left!)

The Next Issue of the GEAR UP Gazette, Parent Newsletter

The next issue of the GEAR UP Gazette! This customizable newsletter for parents focuses on paying for college and financial aid tips for middle and high school parents. Follow the four simple directions in order to print or e-mail a version to your school's parents today:

Involve + Engage = Sustain: Micro-Targeting

Involve + Engage = Sustain is a column dedicated to providing you with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.

 

This past election taught us an important lesson about strategy:  micro-targeting your message works.  I believe this strategy can help you both increase your effectiveness in building sustainability for your GEAR UP programs, but also make your task a little easier in the process!

Often times GEAR UP coordinators find that our staunchest supporters and partners are parents of younger students. I found their enthusiasm inspiring as they remained involved in GEAR UP (whether as a Success Team member or other volunteer) to be best informed to help their students.  Targeting parents of young students can help you by allow you to hone in your message directly to them, rather than use the very broad argument of “going to college is the best choice.” 

Involve + Engage = Sustain: GEAR UP and Winter Sports

Involve + Engage = Sustain is a column dedicated to providing you with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.

As November blows into Oregon, our thoughts go where all thankful and apple-cider-scented hearts go: WINTER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES! Since it is easier to access parents in a nice, warm gym, here are a couple of ideas to take advantage of the proximity.

1. Many of you have “College Wear Days” at school periodically. Consider dedicating one or two home games as “College Wear Games” – wearing college wear will get parents a discounted ticket in. Don’t forget to OWN the event as GEAR UP on the roster or program, advertise them well in advance, and (during the game) periodically have the game announcer explain what’s going on and why.
2. Set up a GEAR UP welcome table inside the door, handing out flyers of upcoming age-appropriate GEAR UP events (financial aid nights, scholarship writing workshops, OSAC & FAFSA deadlines, etc.)
3. Back to “college wear” events, as you add community or parent partners to support your program, consider providing them with a GEAR UP logo T-shirt in return for free admission, if they wear it! I have a vision of a sea of “College: it’s not a dream, it’s a plan!” in the bleachers.

If you have additional ideas, let’s hear them! Now, go enjoy some apple cider :)

Involve + Engage = Sustain: Parent Engagement

Involve + Engage = Sustain is a column dedicated to providing you with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.

Last week the GEAR UP team at Taft High School did a remarkable thing: they invited parents to participate in their annual OUS visitation day.  10 parents came early to a Q & A session with me, including new Success Team leader CaryAnn Bailey. The enthusiasm was terrific, and parents of 10^th, 11^th and 12^th graders were pretty equally represented. They were welcomed, had snacks, provided with the session schedules and a school map, and fully took part in attended the OUS school sessions of their choice.  What a great start! Fantastic job, Susan, Vicky and CaryAnn.

The more parents are made to feel welcome in your school, the better chance you have of informing them, including them and engaging them in the future of their students. Inviting parents to a college presentation or other event in your school is definitely outside the box thinking, and I encourage you all to think of something coming up that parents might attend and participate in.  Career Fair?  A college visitation?  Be bold, and let me know if I can help!

Involve + Engage = Sustain: The Welcoming Atmosphere Toolkit

Involve + Engage = Sustain is a column dedicated to providing you with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.

“Hi! Come on in!”

“There is a great deal of research pointing to factors that improve student learning and one of those is parent involvement; but why do parents get involved? Three reasons: parents feel it is their role, they feel they can effect change and/or the school is an inviting place. Which one did parents rate as the most important? The number one reason people become involved in their schools is when they feel invited and welcomed to do so…”  This statement (and supporting research) comes from “The Welcoming Atmosphere Tool Kit”, which I found at www.education.ohio.gov.

Involve + Engage = Sustain: Parent Engagement and Sample Phone Script

Involve + Engage = Sustain is a new column dedicated to providing you with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.

Parental involvement in their student’s daily life is shown to positively affect that student’s achievement.  Connecting with parents can be challenging, but a personal communication and invitation to participate can be very effective.  A smile and a handshake can be a terrific beginning to a relationship that can payoff in many ways.

National GEAR UP Week (or any time at the beginning of the year) presents a perfect opportunity for Coordinators, volunteers and other GEAR UP staff to personally introduce parents to the program and specific school activities.  Here is a sample phone script that could be used as an example:

Presentations for Parents and Students - College Prep and Financial Aid

Struggling with how to connect with parents and share valuable information about college and financial aid? Personalize and use our series of parent and student workshop material all year long. Topics covered including what to do to prepare for college in high school, understanding the different types of education after high school, and the basics of financial aid, filling out the FAFSA, and applying for scholarships. (Just choose File, Download to get started!)

Each workshop has a customizable power point with speaker notes, posters/flyers, handouts, and links to related material. Use the parent workshop checklist to make your event a success! Order brochures and other materials from FSAPubs.gov today, too.

(Don't forget about our middle school parent presentation!)

Let us know suggestions or changes in the comments below.

Parent Newsletter - Issue 3, Right Classes

Just in time for the start of the school year - the newest issue of the GEAR UP Gazette! This customizable newsletter for parents focuses on the importance of taking the right classes and having an education plan. Follow the four simple directions in order to print or e-mail a version to your school's parents today:

Ford Friendraisers

A Friendraiser is an event that brings together the schools and the community to learn more about GEAR UP, get people excited/involved (e.g. sign up some guest speakers, mentors, or volunteers) and introduce the concept of developing a college-going culture.  For example, North Douglas hosted an end-of-year celebration with middle and high school students, parents and community members that included a lunch BBQ and a prize raffle for students and parents who had participated in GEAR UP activities during  the year.

College: Yes, You Can! Events

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Local colleges will offer informational sessions for students in grades 6-8 and their families on how to prepare and pay for college, including exciting speakers, fun activities and free lunch. Brought to you by the Middle School Outreach Consortium, a statewide partnership of colleges and universities. For more information, call (541) 346-5725 or (503) 725-5768.

April 21, 9:00-2:00, Chemeketa Community College (main campus, Salem)

May 12, 9:00-2:00, Linn-Benton Community College (main campus, Albany)

Parent Newsletter - Issue 2, Summer Opportunities

The second issue of the GEAR UP Gazette, a customizable newsletter for parents, is hot off the presses! This issue focuses on summer opportunities for students and ways to prevent the "summer slide". Follow the four simple directions in order to print or e-mail a version to your school's parents today:

Question of the Week: Parent Newsletter Topics

What topics would you like to see covered in future Parent Newsletters?

The Question of the Week is an opportunity for coordinators to share their insights, successes, and challenges.  Post a comment to share your ideas!  Have a question you want to ask others?  Submit it to dana_beck@ous.edu.

Resources: Financial Aid Night Toolkit

'Tis the season for all things financial aid and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has resources to help you get the information out to students and parents.

Their Financial Aid Night Toolkit is updated yearly with current financial aid information and includes a planning guide, slideshow and presenter's guide, and participant handouts.

Take the stress out of conducting a Financial Aid Night and use their handy tools!

Parent Newsletter - Issue 1, Financial Aid

The first issue of the GEAR UP Gazette, a customizable newsletter for parents, is hot off the presses! Focusing on financial aid, quarterly issues are planned for the future. Follow the four simple directions in order to print or e-mail a version to your school's parents today: