PARENT COMPUTER CLASSES FOR JUNE: REGISTER NOW!

ASPIRC is now registering parents who want to participate in its computer classes in June.  You can now register for these classes at ASPIRC’s school-based centers in Alofau Elem, Fagaitua HS, Tafuna Elem, Pavaiai Elem as well as its Failolo Methodist Church parent center.  Seats are limited and so we encourage you to visit the above-mentioned ASPIRC centers immediately for a spot on June’s class lists.  The two classes offered are Computer 1, Introductory to Computers, and Computer 2, which teaches Excel, internet advance, i-movie, etc.  Classes will start on June 13^th and will run through for 4 weeks, culminating with a certificate presentation and closing activity, where all participants will enjoy and have fun together with ASPIRC board & staff members as well as school & PTA officers.

WORKSHOP ON TEACHING THE YOUNGEST DEAF, HARD OF HEARING AND DEAF-BLIND CHILDREN

Nancy Rushner and Helping Hands Partners during her Training

This week, Nancy Rushner, M.A., CED, an Early Childhood Education specialist on Deaf & Hard of Hearing program from the University of Hawaii is on island to conduct workshops for American Samoa’s service providers, as part of the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention project.  Moe Masoe and Nometa Sene-Moleni of ASPIRC were fortunate to be invited by its close partner, Helping Hands, to this important training today at Helping Hands conference room from 9am to 10:45am.

Nancy pointed out that by starting early, parents can teach their baby to communicate and have them ready for ECE.  She also stressed that teaching young children who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing infants is a family affair.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! SEEK LEARNING!

 Alofau Elementary School Parents Computer Class Class

 Fagaitua High School Parents Computer Class



 Pavaiai Elementary School Parent Computer Class

PiCED - Parents Computer Class

Tafuna Elementary School Parents Computer Class

As ASPIRC closes another 4-weeks of parent computer trainings that were offered in April, participating parents were encouraged to continue to seek learning, at Certificate Presentations & Closing activities held the past three days.  School administrators and ASPIRC’s program manager, Moe Masoe, stressed to parents the importance of using the knowledge they now possess to help their young children succeed in school and life.  Most of these parents proudly shared their final projects with ASPIRC central office staff through email.  These projects include excel spreadsheets displaying gain & loss data, powerpoint, i-movie, etc. etc.  As usual, parents received their certificate of completion or participation at closing ceremonies held at each of the following locations: Alofau Elem, Fagaitua HS, Tafuna Elem, Pavaiai Elem, and its Central office at PiCED, Nuuuli.

The next parent computer training offered by ASPIRC will be in June for all locations. Registration starts on Monday, May 16th, with classes scheduled to start June 13th.

Visit of Assistant Secretary of OIA at Department of Interior to PiCED

PiCED Staff, PiCED Executive Director Sandra King-Young, Tony Babauta, & Nick Pula.  

Today, Tuesday, April 19th, Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs at U.S Department of Interior, Tony Babauta, and Director, Nick Pula, visited PiCED before returning to the States after participating in American Samoa's 111th Flag Day celebrations. It was an honor for PiCED's Founder and Executive Director, Mrs. Sandra King-Young & her staff to have Mr. Babauta visit PiCED before he returns to D.C. on Thursday. It was also a wonderful opportunity for the Assistant Secretary to see and learn about what services & programs PiCED offers the people of American Samoa.

We appreciate the great assistance of Mrs. Lydia Faleafine Nomura in arranging Mr. Babauta's visit to our office.

April Computer Classes

Parents Computer classes for April started on Monday, April 4th,  and will end on Thursday, April 28th. Close to 100 parents enrolled at 6 ASPIRC locations, namely; Alofau Elem, Fagaitua HS, Tafuna Elem, Pavaiai Elem, Manu'a HS, and Fa'ilolo Methodist.

As it is required, newly enrolled parents went through ASPIRC's 21st Century Parenting for the Pacific Island Child (21st CPPIC) parent training, before participation in ASPIRC's computer classes. These trainings were held on Friday, April 1st, at PiCED's main office in Nu'uuli, and Tuesday, April 5th, over at  Manu'a HS Parent Center.

Please, note that the next computer classes will be offered in June, with registrations starting on May 16th. We invite all interested parents to come and join the fun, and learn a new skill to enhance your capabilities and improve your parenting job. We support you as the first and most influential teacher of your child.

ASPIRC Closes 3rd Annual Parent Involvement in Education Month - 2011

Kanana Fou Pre-School & Elementary

ASPIRC spent the month of February honoring the relationships between schools and families in the interest of increasing student achievement. Throughout the month, ASPIRC and its partners in the school system and community administered a series of activities geared towards promoting parent involvement in education.



Leone Midkiff Elementary



 On Friday, March 4th, ASPIRC concluded its 3rd Annual Parent Involvement in Education Month with award presentations at the follwing schools, which won this year's PTA project & Family-friendly school competitions: Pavaiai Elem, Leone Midkiff, Iakina Academy, and Kanana Fou  Pre-School & Elementary.



Iakina Academy

In Friday's award presentations, Pavaiai Elementary was again recognized as the most Family-friendly school in American Samoa in the Large Schools category, while Leone Midkiff took second place. In the Small School category, Kanana Fou elementary came out as the most family-friendly school for this year's competition. These were the only schools who participated, and ASPIRC appreciates the effort made by both school administration and parents.  
      

Pavaiai Elementary School

  

 For  the PTA Project competition,  Pavaiai Elem PTA again won this year's competition while Iakina Academy's Home and School Association (HASA) came second. According to Mr. Muasau, Iakina's PTA president; "We appreciate PiCED/ASPIRC for initiating this PTA competition, which caused us to focus our efforts on making improvements to the school library to support one of our school's main objectives this year of strengthening the reading abilities of students. This year's event has been a big sucess in many ways.

Pavaiai Elementary School

Our main event for this year's PIEM was the Parent Empowerment Summit held on February 16th, at the Lee's Auditorium. The feedback from those that attended, as well as those who watched the special showing on KVZK TV later, has been very positive. ASPIRC regonizes that the success of Parent Involvement in Education Month this year would not have been possible without the support of parents, principals, teachers, PTAs, and many other community partners.

American Samoa Parent Empowerment Summit

PiCED Staff and PiCED Executive Director Sandra King-Young

The second annual American Samoa Parent Empowerment Summit was held at the Lee’s Auditorium in Utulei on Wednesday, Feb 16^th, 2011.  The Summit attracted parents, grandparents, teachers, and administrators, who joined together for a half-day session on the theme; “I’m a Parent, I’m the First Teacher”.  Speakers included Honorable Vaamua Henry Sesepara of the American Samoa House of Representatives, who is also the territorial PTA president, Dr. Taeaoafua Meki Solomona, the public relations manager of Star Kist Samoa, and founder and executive director of PiCED, Mrs. Sandra King-Young. All those that were in attendance, left that day feeling inspired to do more to help their children be successful in school and life.

During a roundtable activity at the Summit titled “Three Great Ideas”, participants had an opportunity to discuss responses to the three given questions: 1) What can my child’s school do to help me be a more involved parent? 2) What can my child’s school PTA do to help me be more involved? 3) What am I willing to do, as a parent, to be more involved in my child’s school?, and decide on one great idea to share with the big group.  ASPIRC staff is compiling the information from this group activity to present to ASDOE, as one of the outcomes from the summit, to help with future planning.

ASPIRC acknowledges the generous donation of $500 towards the venue usage fee from the Department of Youth & Women’s Affairs of government, which enabled the summit to be held at a more central location, the Lee’s Auditorium in Utulei.  Also, to support the summit’s raffle were donations from the following businesses; Forsgren Laufou, Nuuuli Service Station, Star Kist Samoa, Interisland Vacations Airways, Cherries Hair Salon, Computer World, Panamex Pacific, Wallace Theater, and Tradewinds hotel.

For more information about ASPIRC, contact us at (684) 699-6074/6094/6095.

ASPIRC is a project of PiCED, a non-profit organization, and is funded by a grant from the U.S Department of Education.