By By Lisa Tindell – news writer
Students got the day off Monday as their parents squeezed into the desks for a lesson of their own.
Brewton City Schools and Escambia County Schools held teacher conferences and other events througout the day in honor of Parenting Day at area schools.
Statewide Parent Visitation Month was designated for October by the Alabama Department of Education to encourage parents to visit their child's school and become more involved in the educational process.
The theme for this year's events is &#8220Children are the Future: Share the Vision” and was highlighted by an ADE calendar published recently.
In connection with the statewide observation, the ADE holds a poster contest and selections 12 winners from among the entries submitted. One winner is chosen by a committee and their poster art is used for the cover of the State Parenting calendar. Eleven other winners are chosen from across the state and their poster art is featured on monthly pages within the calendar.
Alexis McNew, a second grader at W.S. Neal Elementary School, was chosen from among entrants across the state as one of the eleven winners to be featured in the calendar. Her win marks the second year that the school has produced award-winning art to be included in the statewide publication.
The award was presented to Alexis, along with her parents Chris and Tonya McNew, by Judy Bohannon, a representative with the Alabama Department of Education. A plaque, along with a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart, recognized the efforts of the student and the dedication of her parents.
The award presentation preceded a program on &#8220A Day in the Life of Your Child” depicting activities and educational opportunities of students at Neal Elementary. Other programs presented for parents during the daylong activities were workshops on ADHD issues, classroom management, special education, accelerated math, Dibels, parenting and discipline skills, a make-and-take for parents and Hope Place information.
At W.S. Neal Middle School one of the highlights of the day was practice for parents and students participating in the Science Olympiad. The session was led by Glennie Culliver, Sharmon O'Bannon, Steve Lambert and Ray Patterson.
Other programs presented for parents at Neal Middle School were drug awareness, computer safety, violence in schools, ADHD issues, and test taking tips, Scholars Bowl practice and individual testing information.
Pollard McCall Junior High School also participated in the statewide event by holding special sessions for parents. Programs presented included a special Title I meeting as well as Dibels overviews, the Community Learning Center program, communication tools for parents, state assessments, and computer lab information.
Programs presented at W.S. Neal High School included sexual harassment, suicide prevention, school safety, school needs and parent surveys.
Each school in the Escambia County School system held parent-teacher conference sessions in the afternoon. The conference sessions allow parents the opportunity to discuss educational plans as well as discipline plans or problems with teachers.
Magaline Marshall, parental involvement coordinator for the county school system, indicated parent involvement is becoming more important in today's educational opportunities.
Brewton City Schools held parent-teacher conferences throughout the day, and on Monday evening PTA members were treated to a performance by kindergarten students.
Brewton Elementary School Principal Deborah Martin thanked parents for their involvement.