Parenting is hard no matter who you are, and we are here to support you.
That’s the message of Dr. Erica Vinson-Ondecko, early childhood coordinator for Waynesboro Area School District.
Vinson-Ondecko is touting the focus of the new Waynesboro Family Learning Center, a site at Waynesboro Area Senior HIgh School dedicated to hosting parent workshops, teacher trainings, community meetings and events and more.
The strongest predictor of a child’s success in school relates to the parents’ attitude about school, Vinson-Ondecko said she learned as part of her research to earn a doctorate in school psychology. “And we see this center as a base for creating strong relationships between the school district and its families,” she added.
Vinson-Ondecko offered ebullient praise for the role of a number of contributors to the project, starting with a bequest from the estate of the late Robert Fries and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Waynesboro. Fries, a member of the church, directed that the donation be used for “family community engagement,” which led to the establishment of the center, according to Vinson-Ondecko. She also thanked the Revs. Dennis Beaver, pastor, and Drahus Oslik, associate pastor, “for being strong partners and helping us as the project developed. Without them it would not be possible. Their support has been phenomenal.”
The primary focus of the center is to offer programs for families of preschoolers in the district. “The space lends itself to collaboration in a warm, friendly and inviting environment and allows for easy flow of dialog.” Parents are made aware of upcoming events through fliers distributed by area preschools and Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library. More information also is available on Facebook and the school district’s website.
A former classroom was transformed into the center, which features a newly renovated kitchenette and tables and chairs “for families to spread out and do workshops, training and meetings. Our goal is to help parents identify their children’s strengths and guide them through emotional, educational and academic concerns,” Vinson-Ondecko said. “Because it’s a family center, we have toys for toddlers and preschoolers and highchairs for babies. Everyone is welcome and supported.”
In addition to the donation from Fries and the church, the center was funded through grants and support from other partners, including WellSpan Endowment, Vinson-Ondecko noted. “This is not an additional expense for the school district.” She also acknowledged WASD Superintendent Dr. Rita Sterner-Hine and the school board. “They have been so supportive. And Stephanie States, director of student support services, has been a strong partner in all of this.”
Upcoming activities offered by the center include a “bug takeover” story walk in downtown Waynesboro from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 10, “for babies through elementary school children. There will be story pages along businesses, a scavenger hunt inside different stores, bug-themed take-home activities and a bug-themed STEM lab at the library.”
The center doesn’t have regular hours, according to Vinson-Ondecko, “but boasts a physical space for family events here and all over town. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held April 24.
“We hope families love this space and feel really well supported. They mean so much to us.”
