The Schedule


 We are happy you joined us where we know "Connection is the Key" to Success.  

Click the blue buttons below to view a video of the live sessions with our specialists (as available).


Friday, September 20, 2024

Presenters will use  available 508 accessibility accommodations to support attendees.  Sessions will be recorded, when possible, with transcription (CC).     

Can't decide?  Whenever possible sessions will be recorded and posted after the event. 

8:00-8:45

Intervention Strategies to Support Struggling Learners

Discover how a Personalized Learning Team Meeting (PLT) can benefit you and your child. Learn instructional strategies that can be easily implemented with your daily schedule.

Presented By: Janette Acosta, PLT/504 Coordinator

Parent Educator Certification - Level II (Elective)

8:15-9:00

Building Mathematical Thinkers, K-6

How can we encourage our students to think mathematically?  How can we build stamina for problem solving and critical thinking?   This session focuses on incorporating thinking tasks, literature, games, puzzles, projects, and other activities into your daily math lessons that encourage students to become mathematical thinkers. 

Presented By:  Debbie Kutz, Early Math Intervention Specialist

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

8:30- 9:15

How to Cultivate Curiosity

Curiosity is an important element for language acquisition and plays a significant role in learner engagement. Curiosity prepares the brain for learning and makes subsequent learning more enjoyable and rewarding.

So, how can we, as parent educators, cultivate academic curiosity in our students?

Come join me and find out.

Presented By: Debbie Nishihama, English Specialist

Parent Educator Certification - Level II (Elective)

9:00- 9:45

Parents guide to Amazon & Vendors

Parents guide to Amazon punchout and ship to parents & Vendor Search options/selections from our Public Vendor Search link & a parents overview of vendor vetting.

Presented By: Kim Kosky, Antoinette Galindo & Melissa Vargas, Business Services Department Team

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Elective)

9:15-10:00

Personalized Learning Through the Education Plan

At Connecting Waters, we know that each child learns differently. The Education Plan will be created by the ES in communication with the parent educator to develop and implement a plan for learning and set goals for the year based on the individual student’s education needs. This is a time to explore what the Ed Plan looks like and the personalization for each student. 

Presented By:  April Bastress and Julie Boersma, ES Advisors

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

9:30- 10:15

Supporting Your Student At All Math Levels

Learn how to support your high achieving student that is already going above and beyond or your student that needs a little extra help getting to where they want to be in math. 

Presented By:  Mary Orvell, Math Specialist

Parent Educator Certification - Level II (Core)

10:00-10:45

Learn to Read Together: Reading Support Class for Parent and Student

Are you a parent of a K-2 student and would like to ensure that you are teaching your child the foundations of reading effectively and easily? Learn about the new online and in person courses for both parent and student to participate in together that will build confidence, provide support, and guide a lifelong love of reading! (Students do not need to attend the workshop)

Presented By:  Mary Toews

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

10:00-10:45

Best Practices in Teaching your Child to Read (Grades K-2)

This presentation will provide participants with 12 interrelated activities they can use to teach their beginning reader to read. These research-based and easy to implement activities will be modeled during the presentation so that participants will be able to use them with their child immediately.

Presented By:  Nathalie Longree-Guevara, Literacy Specialist

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

10:15-11:00


Activate Engagement in Learning!

Join us if you are looking for The Psychological Perspective: 4 Important Skills for Assisting Student Learning Engagement  

Presented By:  Sarah Benevides, School Psychologist

Parent Educator Certification - Level II (Elective)

11:00-11:45

Textbook Talks Curriculum Forum 

Join us for a brief overview of Textbook Talks from past years and get a sneak peek at the upcoming schedule. Textbook Talks is a bi-monthly forum to learn more about various curriculum programs for your students so you can be better informed about purchasing options.  

Presented By: Sue Hickok, Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

11:15-12:00

Pathways to Success: Navigating High School and Beyond

The path to career readiness starts early, where educators play a crucial role in developing students' academic success and essential skills for thriving in today’s job market. Career readiness extends beyond academics; it involves equipping students with a broad range of skills and competencies that enable them to excel in their careers and make meaningful contributions to society. 

Presented By: Mary Halter, Guidance Counselor 

Parent Educator Certification - Level II (Core)

12:00 - 12:30

Lunch and Learn/ Q&A with CWCS Leadership

Grab your lunch and log in for an open forum with CWCS Administration.  Hear about our great programs and have this opportunity to ask questions and get advice! 

Here's your opportunity to engage with CWCS Administration.  Feel free to bring questions about programs, policies and procedures you want to know more about! 

Facilitated By: CWCS Leadership Team

12:20 - 12:40

English Learner Reclassification Ceremony

Join us as we celebrate our newly reclassified English Learners and their English proficiency.  We are proud of all the hard work these students have done. 

Facilitated By: Gina Ledesma, EL Coordinator

1:00-1:45

Inclusion Support for Families with Students with Disabilities

Come and meet our Inclusion Support Assistants who will be working with some SPED families on how to improve or learn better instructional strategies or improving the student learning environment for SPED students who might be experiencing some challenges.

Presented By:  Norma Austin & Gina Kuhlmann, Inclusion Specialists

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

1:15-2:00

i-Ready: Personalized Instruction

i-Ready is a school-wide program used for student diagnostic reports (K-12) and personalized instruction for standards (K-8).  Join this workshop to learn more about i-Ready success for your student as you can track progress and celebrate lessons passed. 

Presented By:  Amy Parsons, Program Support Specialist 

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

1:30 - 2:15

Struggling with Math? We Can Help! K-6

Does your student struggle with math?  Do you struggle with teaching math to your student at home?  This session will focus on strategies for intervention as well as some of the resources that CW has to offer to support you and your child’s math education.

Presented By: Debbie Kutz, Early Math Intervention Specialist

Parent Educator Certification - Level II (Core)

2:00-2:45

The Parent's Role in Online Classes

The role of parents in online classes may feel confusing.  What do teachers need from you? What are the expectations from the school? If your child is in online classes,  does all the instruction fall to the online teacher? Learn to set up an observer account in Canvas to monitor your student's progress and grades in their Canvas classes.  We will cover account creation, pairing with your student, recommended notification settings so that you get the information you need without being overwhelmed by "dings", and student/family training and support resources.

Learn the answers to these and many more questions!

Presented By:  Lindy Janssen, Academic Director

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Elective)

2:15 - 3:00

Grasp the CAASPP! Your Student Will Love It! 

Engage your students with online games and a credentialed teacher to help prepare them for the annual state assessment. Students join us for Live sessions with your grade level classmates with Grasp the CAASPP! There's no commitment and no homework. Join us for this session to learn more about this program.  

Presented By: Sue Hickok, Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator 

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

2:30-3:15

Learn How to Use Atriuum to Access School Materials

A workshop to help parents learn more about what Atriuum has to offer and how to effectively navigate this platform to maximize your library experience.  

Presented By:  Mayra Sandoval,  Resource Center Coordinator

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Elective)

3:00-3:45

Parent Cybersecurity

With children increasingly exposed to digital media and online technology at an early age, parents play an important role in imparting the necessary knowledge and skills to keep them safe from online dangers. Join us to learn how! 

Presented By:  Aaron Stout, IT Specialist

Parent Educator Certification - Level II (Elective)

3:15-4:00

Get Ready for CWCS STEM Night & the Science Fair

Are you ready for the CWCS STEM Night and Science Fair? Join us to learn more about how your student can participate and have fun with all things science! 

Presented By:  Lanette Lanchester, Science Specialist & Department Chair

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

3:30-4:15

Understanding and Interpreting Assessment Results

Understand the purpose and use of different types of assessment; Know how to collect evidence of student learning; Understand what the evidence means; Know how to apply or use the evidence to make decisions; and Connect individual efforts to student growth.

Presented By: Shoni Johnson, Curriculum & Assessment Director

Parent Educator Certification - Level I (Core)

Questions? Contact sjohnson@cwcharter.org or call 209.874.1119 x252