Laurel Maryland Community Working Side-By-Side With Laurel Elementary Schoos

The Laurel Maryland community is working to better its schools. Numerous volunteers, parents, local businesses and churches are working side by side with the seven Laurel Md elementary schools to raise the standard of living in the local Laurel community.

Below is a descprition of the Side-By-Side Prorgram.

Side By Side, Inc. - A Brief Overview

Who we are: Side By Side is a not-for-profit organization, affiliated with the Laurel Clergy

Association (LCA), committed to the idea that the Laurel community, working alongside the

schools, can substantially narrow the gap between the vision of what our public schools can

be and today's reality. Side By Side founders include active and retired public-school edu-

cators, civic volunteers, the head of the LCA and the former editor of the Laurel Leader.

Our purpose: We are partnering with families, schools, religious congregations and other

community organizations to advance student achievement, enhance parent-child relation-

ships, promote a positive image of Prince George's County public schools, and raise the

quality of life in Laurel.

Our programs: We conducted extensive surveys of school staffs and parents and

consulted with Prince George's Co. Public Schools personnel about specific needs in the

schools and ways we could address those needs. This process has resulted in our

establishing a monthly Family Academy program for families connected to all 7 PGCPS

elementary schools in Laurel. We have just begun a "Homework Club" to offer individual

assistance to students after school 3 days a week at a Laurel apartment complex. This is a

cooperative effort with Southern Management Corp. which manages a number of properties

in this area. For next school year we are hoping to expand this effort and also to organize a

cadre of volunteers to tutor individual students at each of the schools. In the future we will be

considering many other ways to help our schools.

The Family Academy: Beginning in September 2009, we are holding a monthly Family Acad-

emy program (during the school year). At each Academy we offer parent workshops on

topics identified in parent interest surveys, such as improving family dynamics, managing

child behaviors, or helping children master basic academic skills. Future topics may include

finances, stress management, and helping children with transition to middle school.

Concurrently, there are enrichment activities for children, such as live animal shows, African

drumming lessons, and physical fitness programs. To encourage maximum participation we

offer a free meal for all attendees, child care for ages 2-5, and we offer the workshops in both

English and Spanish. After 8 months we have an average attendance of 87 participants and

have had 119 different families attend at least once.

Our Funding: Side By Side is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All of our funding comes

from grants and contributions from individuals, churches, and other organizations. Our first

year budget is $32,000. Our next fundraising event is a duo piano concert, Missions and

Masterworks, by renowned pianist and composer Dr. Mack Statham and his son, Robert.

The concert will be at First United Methodist Church, 424 Main St., Laurel, 20707 on

Friday, June 4.

To communicate with us: You can reach Side By Side by phone at 202-710-5555 or by

email at sidebyside@sidebysidelaurel.org. Also visit our website: sidebysidelaurel.org.

Endorsements: Side By Side has received statements of support from PGCPS Superintendent of

Schools William R. Hite; Prince George's School Board Member Rosalind A. Johnson; the 21^st

Legislative District MD General Assembly Team (Senator Jim Rosapepe, Delegate Barbara A. Frush,

Delegate Joseline A. Pena Melnyk, and Delegate Ben Barnes); and Mayor of Laurel Craig A. Moe.

The Side By Side program is another great example of how people who own Laurel real estate work together to keep Laurel Maryland a great place to live.

To find out how you can become a part of this great community visit Maryland real estate.