Published on: Wednesday, September 30, 2009

By Evelyn Royer

Rosalind Johnson, a Board of Education member, spoke first in English, then in Spanish to over 250 people gathered in the cafetorium of Deerfield Run Elementary School for Thursday night’s kick-off meeting of “Family Academy,” a community building and parent training initiative created by Side by Side Inc.

Family Academy is a program that trains parents to help their kids do well in school and learn how to best support them, said Joe Murchison, president of Side by Side. The program will start in seven Prince George’s County schools, and for the next four sessions, experts from the Anne Arundel College Parenting Center will teach sessions for parents on how to manage difficult child behaviors, Murchison said.

Forty volunteers in black shirts that read “todos juntos” in large white letters across the back directed families first to a pizza dinner, then to activities including daycare for preschoolers, a live animal show for children, and small group support sessions in both Spanish and English for parents.   

“Todos juntos” is Spanish for “we are all together,” said Elda Molina, a bi-lingual Side by Side volunteer. Five years ago, Family Academy was only a vision. It was not until about a year ago that Murchison turned the vision into what it is now, she said. “We want [the parents] to come into the school and feel like their voice is heard.”

Side by Side is a faith-based group that has partnered with Prince George’s County schools to help students and parents succeed. The program is paid for entirely by volunteers, said Kevin McGhee, a Side by Side volunteer and pastor of Bethany Community Church.

 “The main message is, Jesus loves kids,” he said, “the churches of Laurel are saying, ‘We’re here to do that.’”

Obdulia Velarde, a Laurel resident and native Spanish speaker, said that it was better that the event was bilingual so that she could understand everything. She is looking forward to the program and what it has to offer.

“We’re hoping to replicate this program throughout the entire community,” said Bonita Potter, Deputy Superintendent, “I think it is really important . . . to make sure the ELL [English language learners] population feels welcome. We put the wheels in motion tonight.”