October 23rd -- Virginia Beach Schools Parent Connection

6am Sunday, 10/23 on 92.9 The Wave, ESPN Radio 94.1, Star 1310 and 97.3 The Eagle

This Sunday on Hampton Roads Topics I talk with Melissa McQuarrie of Virginia Beach Public Schools about their Parent Connection program.

Parent Connection was launched three years ago as an outreach effort to link parents with resources, classes and training that will help them with parenting, employment, and more.  It's a bit like a school for parents.

On October 27th, Parent Connection is hosting a workshop on financial literacy.  A guest speaker from Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union will be teaching the basics of budgeting to parents, with the hope the parents can share that knowledge with their children.

Through May, Parent Connection is hosting monthly workshops to teach parents about technology.  Upcoming topics include:

• 11/16 -- Wireless Networking
• 12/8 -- PC Maintenance
• 1/18 -- Microsoft Powerpoint
• 2/15 -- Social Networking
• 3/21 -- Spreadsheets
• 4/18 -- Internet Security
• 5/16 -- Software and freeware tips and tricks

All workshops are taught at the Advanced Technology Center, located near the Tidewater Community College Virginia Beach campus.   www.vbschools.com/ParentConnection/technologyacademy2011.asp

Parent Connection has also grown into a food bank of sorts.  McQuarrie says they found that many of the children who were getting free or reduced cost meals at school were going hungry at home over the weekends.  Parent Connection launched Beach Bags, which provides needy children with a weekend's worth of food.

Link:
www.VBSchools.com/ParentConnection