Families In Schools

One of the most gratifying aspects of this unprecedented and stressful year has been the opportunity to work with our students, families, and educators to help them navigate what is now a very tired phrase, "the new normal." It has been a learning process for all of us. At the same time, it has never been clearer how vital our work is, especially when it comes to forging ahead in difficult times. If anything, 2020 reinforced our core values and beliefs; people will rise to th...e occasion when they have the right support and tools to do so. With 2021 right around the corner, Families In Schools renews its fervent commitment to deliver thoughtful and intentional programs and services that meet our students, families, and educators' ongoing needs. From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and healthy, happy new year filled with love, peace, and joy! Please help us continue providing vital programming by donating to Families In Schools at https://bit.ly/OurFuture2020.

Understanding how to budget and how financial aid works can help students and their families feel more confident to apply to college. Last week FIS trained 60 GEAR UP 4 L.A. facilitators on the College Knowledge Academies Financial Smarts program, which focuses on financial literacy and how to pay for college. Trained facilitators will be offering this curriculum in the spring of 2021 to dozens of students and their families. To learn more about the program, visit http://bit.ly/CKAoverview. #collegeaccess #collegepreparation #collegemoney #edchat #schoolcounselor #budgeting #moneysmarts #budgetcurriculum #curriculum #familyengagement

Today we honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His courage and leadership continue to inspire our work and dedication to our communities. #martinlutherkingjr #motivationmonday

As we prepare to start our winter break and spend time with our families and loved ones, we would like to share with you the story of Mireya Pacheco. She is a loving mother who has been a long-time participant of FIS’ programs and is an inspiration to our community. Mireya began her journey with Families In Schools in 2015 with the Passport to Success Making Summer Learning Fun campaign, where she and her daughters visited over 45 sites to combat summer learning loss. He...r enthusiastic participation and curious nature lead her (and her daughters) to volunteer with us over the course of several years and recruit over 1,000 families to participate in our summer campaign. Then, in 2018, she was introduced to our parent leadership program. After recognizing how passionate and eager Mireya was to learn, we invited her to join our Parent Warrior group. In the last two years, she has been featured in over a dozen media stories and is often recruited by other organizations to talk about her experiences and represent her community. Without supporters like you, we would not be able to provide vital programs and opportunities that help uplift families like Mireya's. During this time of reflection and giving, please join us in supporting more parents and guardians, like Mireya, by donating to Families In Schools https://bit.ly/OurFuture2020 #nonprofit #charity #giveback #socialgood

In the midst of a COVID resurgence, more stringent actions are being taken to keep families and schools safer, causing further disruption in school reopening efforts. For the most part, families are dissatisfied with reopening plans, and as such, are far more likely to opt in for distance learning. But choosing that option doesn’t come without its own set of concerns. Chief among them is the fear of kids falling behind, not enough instruction time, less individual time with teachers, and the long-term consequences of social isolation. If anything, one thing is crystal clear, parents know what’s best for their child. School reopening efforts should be inclusive of the voices of families. https://www.latimes.com//california-parents-mostly-disappr

Happy Holidays! Last week we celebrated the end of the year with our amazing Parent Warriors, Gipsy, Gwen, Hilda, Maria, Mary, and Mireya. We are grateful for their work this year and for the support they’ve provided to FIS, our communities, families, and students. We are looking forward to even bigger and more impactful projects in 2021. Thank you, Parent Warriors! ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo! La semana pasada celebramos el fin de año con nuestros increíbles Padres Guerreros, Gipsy, Gwen, Hilda, Maria, Mary y Mireya. Estamos agradecidos por su trabajo este año y por el apoyo que han brindado a FIS, nuestras comunidades, familias y estudiantes. Esperamos proyectos aún más grandes e impactantes en 2021. ¡Gracias, Padres Guerreros!

From us to you, we hope you have a lovely holiday season . This morning our staff met virtually with their (hot) beverages to play fun virtual activities facilitated by our amazing program coordinator Lissette Saenz (Jingle Peppermint Bubbles) .