PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Zina McGowan-Thomas, Public Information Officer, 301-475-5511, ext. 193

LEXINGTON PARK ELEMENTARY PROGRAM FEATURED AS A BEST PRACTICE IN PARTNERSHIPS

LEONARDTOWN, MD – The parent involvement program, “Tellin Stories,” implemented by Lexington Park Elementary School during the 2007-2008 school year, is featured in a book produced by the National Network of Partnership Schools and John Hopkins University highlighting the promising partnership practices of 2008.  The annual collection of promising partnerships is compiled by the members of the National Network of Partnership Schools and Johns Hopkins University . According to Lexington Park Elementary School Principal Susie Fowler, this is the first time a St. Mary’s County program has been featured in the book.

 “Tellin Stories” was organized by Ms. Karyn Timmons, a Lexington Park Elementary School parent liaison, and brought together a diverse group of parents who spent an hour or two together each month to uniquely share stories of their heritage, their lives, and their hopes for their family’s future.

Initially, participants received typed prompts asking for responses to such things as “the saddest day of my life,” or “best teacher I ever had,” and were asked to share their stories. An interpreter was on hand to assist non-English speaking families in the group. Later, participants transferred their personal stories from paper onto a felt square representing their culture and family.  A quilt was assembled from the squares made by families from El Salvador, Greece, Bulgaria, Mexico, and India .  All are represented under the banner of “Lexington Park Elementary School -- One School , One Community, One Very Diverse Family.”  The quilt now hangs in the school’s cafeteria where the students and staff can see it and have in-depth discussions about the cultures represented on the quilt.

For more details about the “Tellin Stories” program, contact Lexington Park Elementary School Principal Susie Fowler at 301-863-4085.