Midway, Cumming ES: GA Family-Friendly Partnership Winners

From Forsyth County Schools

Forsyth County Schools is thrilled to have two of the four 2014 winners of the Georgia Department of Education’s Family-Friendly Partnership School Award - Cumming Elementary School and Midway Elementary School.

Click here for the Family-Friendly book that highlights the schools.

The winners were selected because they represent the best in customer service for Georgia families, whether it’s on the phone, in the front office or online. The schools have welcoming staff members, comfortable waiting areas, clear signage, and engaging student work throughout the building.They have easy-to-navigate websites and are forging partnerships with parents to help improve student achievement. The schools also provide unique, engaging, and innovative parent engagement programming that is successful in reaching all families in the school.

“The schools that won this award understand the importance of what welcoming environments bring to student success,” said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge in a release. “They are models for the entire state when it comes to engaging families and making parents feel welcome from the moment that they walk in the door. I offer my congratulations and thanks to all of the winners and finalists.”

The winners are:

· Cumming Elementary School in Forsyth County

· Golden Isles Elementary School in Glynn County

· Midway Elementary School in Forsyth County

· Moreland Elementary School in Coweta County

Each school received phone calls and visits from “parents” looking for information or assistance. They also received a walk-through by department staff, which conducted interviews with school workers, parents, students and community members as part of the selection process. 

All four schools will be visited by Dr. Barge and will receive a plaque and a welcome mat for their front entrance. The award is sponsored by the GaDOE, along with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, Georgia Association of Educators and three Ritz-Carlton hotels in Georgia: The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta (Downtown); The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead; and The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee. 

The Family-Friendly Partnership School Award is given out annually to up to 10 schools that go above and beyond to make families feel welcome and work to engage parents in their children’s education.