| Being a parent of a school aged child has | | | | parents organize their finances and deal |
| never been an easy task. And with all the | | | | head-on with issues like credit cards. It |
| choices facing young people these days, the | | | | also provides a forum for parents to discuss |
| job is getting even harder. But a new program | | | | all of the expenses associated with sending a |
| run by Miami Schools is trying to alleviate | | | | child or children to Miami Schools. And there |
| some of the burden on parents with a number | | | | are a lot. |
| of programs designed to keep parents informed | | | | |
| on some of the most important issues facing | | | | One popular class is child discipline. |
| young people in the Miami Schools. | | | | Meeting with other parents is a great way to |
| | | | just chat about strategies that have worked |
| Parent Academy in Miami Schools | | | | (and some that haven't) when dealing with |
| | | | children. And we all know what an issue |
| The Miami-Dade Public County School system | | | | school discipline has been in Miami Schools |
| runs a year-round "Academy" to inform and | | | | in the last few years. Being able to deal |
| assist the parents of students in Miami | | | | with issues at home may take some of the |
| Schools and other schools in the county. | | | | burden off the already over-worked teachers. |
| There is no formal campus. Instead classes | | | | |
| and courses are held in businesses, | | | | But the Parent Academy of Miami Schools is |
| libraries, on-line, and in some public Miami | | | | not all work and no play. In fact they just |
| Schools. Classes are informal in nature, but | | | | hosted a big family fun day. There was |
| don't let that fool you. Parents learn quite | | | | story-telling and face-painting, a lot of |
| a bit while still having a lot of fun. And | | | | water games, and plenty of great food. |
| best of all, Miami Dade Public Schools | | | | Similar activities are hosted all the time on |
| doesn't charge a fee of any kind. | | | | a smaller scale. If you check the calendar |
| | | | found on the Miami Schools web site, you will |
| The classes hosted by the Academy of Miami | | | | find a few story days hosted by Barnes and |
| Schools vary greatly. For instance, many | | | | Noble coming up. And it's just about time for |
| parents have taken a financial management | | | | the Back to School Resource Fair. |
| course offered in 2007. This class helps | | | | |