By Carol Anders Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Administrators in the various schools in the Plymouth School system are pleased to have “parent centers” up and running.
During the last school year, a team of several members from Washington Elementary were given the opportunity to be enrolled in the Parent Academy that met monthly for several months. The idea behind the academy was to bring educators, parents and community members together to share information and to learn new ways to communicate with students and each other.

Plymouth Superintendent Dan Tyree had been seeking additional ways to involve parents in the education process.
“We know the education of all children requires a partnership with parents,” he said.
When the Parent Academy was offered, he felt that it was a great beginning.
Participants in the academy from each school were asked to formulate a project(s) at the end of the sessions based on ISTEP scores and other needs of the school.
The Washington group identified the need for parents to feel more welcomed in the school as one of the primary areas. The idea of setting up a parent center became an integral part of their project
“When the other principals in the Plymouth schools heard the idea, they were really anxious to have one in their schools as well,” Tyree said.
According to Donna Burroughs, principal of Riverside Intermediate, each school has a designated area equipped with a computer for parents to use any weekday that school is in session. The centers are available from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Burroughs said parents can use the computers for filling out employment applications, filing unemployment benefits, research, or for a variety of other reasons.
Menominee Elementary Principal Michael Dunn said, “This is another opportunity for parents to utilize the resources available to them within our schools.”
Additionally, parents can use the computers to log into the Power School Program that will provide them with school-based information concerning their child or children. Parents and students are given a password for a confidential account. The account can then be accessed from any computer. Information that can be found through Power School includes grades, discipline referrals, homework and attendance.
Burroughs said the system is now setup so that a student has the same password from kindergarten through graduation.
Also included in the parent centers are age-appropriate resource materials, videos and books in both English and Spanish.
“We want to reach the whole child-academically, socially, emotionally, mentally and physically. We want to be a resource to parents as well as their children,” Burroughs said.
The Parent Center at Riverside Intermediate is in the lobby area of the main office.
Burroughs said, “Our office staff can help anyone get a password for the Power School program or answer questions.”
Locations of parent centers at the other schools are as follows: Plymouth High School, Guidance Office; Lincoln Junior High, cafeteria; Webster Elementary, library; Jefferson Elementary, front lobby; Washington Elementary, cafeteria; and Menominee Elementary, library.