Pacific South hosts third annual Parent Academy

OKINAWA — More than 100 parents registered to participate in the Pacific South District’s third annual Parent Academy, held Nov. 13 at the Rocker Enlisted Club on Kadena Air Base.

This year’s sessions centered around the event theme, “Fully Engaged,” walking parents through supporting their student’s learning in the areas of literacy and math, as well as sessions dedicated to providing parents with strategies to balance screen time and embrace their child’s love language.

“Our schools are the nexus of our support systems overseas,” said Oona Delaney, Zukeran Elementary literacy support teacher. “This is a safe place to ask questions and get information to support children at home in a range of topics.”

The goal of the event was to strengthen relationships between schools and parents, moving beyond “sit and get” presentations.

“This is a participatory process,” Delaney explained. “The goal is to be fully engaged, and our presenters are engaging parents with a good balance of research and methodology, but also really digging in. Some sessions will be incorporating hands-on manipulatives, using things parents probably have on hand at home to give them ideas of ways they can engage their child.

“We hope when they leave, their toolbox has a few more strategies and tools, and they feel more connected to their child’s learning and can see a place for themselves in that process at home,” she added.

Jessica Wong, a Pacific South District parent with a child attending Kadena Elementary School, attended a morning literacy session to learn more about supporting her child’s reading progress.

“It was really wonderful to learn about all of the resources students have available at school and at home,” said Jessica Wong, Kadena Elementary parent. “It’s helpful to get more ideas on how to engage.”

The Pacific South District, comprised of 12 schools in Okinawa, Japan, hosted its first Parent Academy in May 2023.