Schools Adopting Schools in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy

Julie Bergin, resident of Lynbrook, Long Island was selected by Parenting Magazine as the 2012 New York Delegate to the Mom Congress on Education and Learning, which is a group of moms from each US state and Washington DC who work towards creating a guide to empower parents nationwide to become more involved in their children’s education.

In the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Julie and her sisters, Tina Horgan and Catherine Foley, along with her niece Kerri Horgan, all from Lynbrook, met to discuss how they could help those affected in their neighboring towns and villages. A donation drive was created where they would pick-up and distribute clothing, food and other essential items. They reached out to friends and neighbors via social media and the response received was overwhelmingly generous.

On their numerous distribution trips to Belle Harbor, Broad Channel and East Rockaway, they met many people whose homes had been destroyed and felt they needed to do more. They gathered shovels, cleaning supplies and gloves and went to work cleaning out basements that had been ruined by water damage.

“It was an honor and privilege to work with the people of these neighborhoods. Their strength and resilience is something to be commended, they may be down, but they are far from out ” - Tina Horgan

Along with Lynbrook moms Nicole Aroksaar, Lori Padilla and Erin Contino, Julie arranged a late Halloween gathering at West End Elementary School where children dressed in their Halloween costumes and also brought items to donate. The gathering was a great success, thanks to the generosity of West End familiesthey were able to collect 6 large carloads of donations.

Since before the storm hit, Julie was tracking it and posting updates on Facebook. She continued with her posts throughout the duration of the storm and its aftermath. Notifications of school closings, where/what to donate, where to buy gas and the length of lines, power outages and LIPA updates are all a part of her Facebook Newsfeed. Members of Mom Congress from out of state who had been following her posts reached out and were eager to help asking “what can we do?” We realized that not only had homes been lost and schools damaged, but also, textbooks, school supplies etc. were also gone.

Enlisting the help of her niece Kerri, Twitter (@AdoptSchools) and Facebook (Schools Adopting Schools in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolsadoptingschools ) pages were created where out of state schools could essentially ‘adopt’ an affected school.

“We have created two, easy to complete forms, one for the ‘adopter’ and one for the ‘adoptee’. When we receive responses, we match the school based on size and need, so far we’re getting great feedback, but we need to get the word out there that we haven’t forgotten the schools or the children” – Kerri Horgan

“Adopter” Form

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFJfcW1kTjNEUHhab3ZSQy12WG96Vmc6MQ#gid=0

“Adoptee” Form

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHQ0YXBvQXQ4NEZwX2Y2dE1TaGlndkE6MQ#gid=0 

Tina and Catherine have reached out to the many school districts on Long Island, Staten Island and Coney Island to get contact information and to notify them of this new program.

“So far we have matched the McAllen School District in Texas (Dalinda Alcantar, Mom Congress Delegate) with the Long Beach City School District, Long Beach, NY.  Liberty Naud, (California Mom Congress Delegate) has paired with Rhame Avenue Elementary School, East Rockaway, NY. Natalie LaFrance Slack (South Dakota Mom Congress Delegate) is adopting Oceanside School #2, Oceanside, NY.  We have more adoptions in the works, as our forms come in we make the match as soon as possible. 

The sponsor schools will hold donation drives and fulfill the requests of our NY schools. We have a long way to go, but we’re off to a great start and I’m confident we will be successful in our goals." – Catherine Foley

"Please share this information.  With the displacement of students, and power outtages, our only hurdle in this process is tracking down contact information for those in need!" - Julie Bergin 

Mom Congress 2012 Day 1

This past weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Washington, D.C. to represent New York State as the 2012 Delegate to Mom Congress.  This was a truly amazing experience.  I got to meet so many terrific people who have some wonderful ideas and visions for our childrens' futures... and I have learned ALOT!!!  Thank you to Parenting Magazine for allowing me and the 50 other awesome Moms this opportunity!

Before my trip the folks at Parenting Magazine had set up a Mom Congress 2012 Facebook page for all of the Moms to connect on.  All of us were in the same boat as far as not really knowing what to expect... so there were some great questions on the Facebook page... in typical Mom fashion (no pun intended)... what to wear was a popular question. Pants, a nice top, a sweater or jacket works for the days... and for the evening receptions a dress or dressier outfit is a good choice.  A comfy pair of shoes is a necessity if sightseeing is on your to-do list. 

Parenting provided accommodations in the Homewood Suites by Hilton.  Love, love, loved my hotel suite (yes suite!) Upon arrival at the hotel, Domino's Pizza School Lunch Specialist Shannon Yuen treated everyone to some Domino's Smart Slice pizza... Healthy yet delicious!!! 

Parenting staff were onhand to distribute Mom Congress bags which held our Mom Congress binder and the agenda for the next three days. 

The whirlwind began...

A shuttle bus brought us to Copley Formal Lounge at the historic Georgetown University, a truly magnificant work of architecture.  The evening kicked off with Welcome remarks from Mark Wildman, VP/Group Publisher, The Parenting Group, Ana Connery, Editorial Director, Parenting and Alina Soler, Social Media Editor, Parenting.com.  Shannon Yuen from Domino's spoke about the new Domino's Pizza Smart Slice... a nutritious lunch option for our children. 

Next up Kimochis founders Ellen Pritchard Dodge and Nina Rappaport Rowan introduced us to their Kimochis, toys with feelings.  We were highly entertained as we learned about how these toys can help children express their different feelings.  This was an awesome presentation. 

We had some time to meet with our Mentors who were returning delegates from 2010 and 2011 Mom Congress.   The VH1 Save the Music performance by Bruce-Monroe Elementary School, Washington, D.C., was great.  It was very inspiring to see the children playing their violins and cellos that Save the Music donated to their school. 
Dinner was delicious, we mingled and chatted, it was a fun evening. 
Even though the hotel bed was so comfy and had about 20 pillows... I barely slept due to the excitement and anticipation of what Monday would bring. 

Press Release

LYNBROOK MOM WINS TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO REPRESENT NEW YORK
AT PARENTING MAGAZINE’S
MOM CONGRESS® ON EDUCATION AND LEARNING CONFERENCE

JULIE BERGIN TO JOIN PARENTING, U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
ARNE DUNCAN, AND ONE OUTSTANDING MOM EDUCATION ADVOCATE FROM EVERY STATE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. APRIL 29th – MAY 1st

Lynbrook, NY, February 29th, 2012 – Parenting magazine today announced that Julie Bergin of Lynbrook has been selected to represent New York at the third-annual Mom Congress on Education and Learning conference in Washington, D.C. this April 29th through May 1st. Julie Bergin was chosen for her outstanding contributions and dedication to improving local schools.

A total of fifty-one delegates, representing each state and the District of Columbia, have been selected by Parenting from a record-setting number of applications submitted through Parenting.com. Each will receive an all-expense-paid trip to D.C. for the event, where they’ll have the opportunity to connect with national leaders in education, Parenting editors, and past Mom Congress delegates to exchange ideas on how to improve our nation’s schools.

“I feel both honored and privileged to represent New York State this year” says Julie of her excitement to be a part of Mom Congress. “I look forward to connecting with the other 50 Moms at the conference, attending the workshops, and taking home some new ideas and initiatives which will benefit the children of New York State."

The theme of the 2012 Mom Congress conference, “Teach Me Something New,” is dedicated to fostering the crucially important relationship between parents and their children’s teachers. For the third consecutive year, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan headlines the roster of education and advocacy leaders scheduled to address the delegates at the conference. Others scheduled to appear include NBC News’ Education Nation, First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move!, Save the Children, National PTA, National Education Association, Teach for America, and more.
In her work as an education advocate, Julie's primary focus has been on enhancing communications between home and school with the use of technology. She has created PTA websites in a number of schools in her district, as well as for SEPTA. Julie is PTA Co-President in her daughter's school, West End Elementary School, and PTA Legislative Representative in her son's school, Lynbrook North Middle School. She has implemented a weekly email newsletter, a Facebook page, and Twitter in an effort to keep parents informed. She is a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish heritage organization whose pledge is to practice Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity. She is a Girl Scout Troop Leader. She is also a Delegate on the Swim Across America, Raising Funds To Fight Cancer, Pool Swim Committee.

Empowered and inspired by attending the conference, past delegates have returned to their states to create significant change in their school systems, affecting the lives of thousands of children nationwide. In 2010, delegates worked with Parenting editors at the conference to create the “Lesson Plan for Change”, a blueprint to empower parents to get more involved in their children’s education that appeared in Parenting School Years magazine and the bestselling companion guide to the documentary Waiting for Superman.  

The 2011 class of delegates’ accomplishments include the creation of a nationwide book drive in support of early literacy, Books Make it Better; recognition through The White House “Champions of Change” program; the improvement of several school lunch programs across the country; and the development of new educational resources and programs in nearly every state, from early science education workshops in Florida to a new parental advocacy program, Camp Educate, in California. 

Faculty members from Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies—the Mom Congress educational provider—will lead informative sessions at the conference this year, offering advocacy training workshops to help delegates take what they’ve learned and put it to work in their own communities.

Driven by the ever-increasing role that parents play in advocating for positive change in the education system, Parenting magazine launched the Mom Congress initiative in 2009 to celebrate and connect parents working to improve our nation’s schools. Each month, Parenting and Parenting.com give readers and the 25,000+ Mom Congress members updated educational news and resources to help them make a difference and bring about positive changes for students.

For more information, visit Parenting.com/momcongress.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Victoria Livadas
victoria.livadas@bonniercorp.com
T: 212.779.5312

About The Parenting Group
The Parenting Group, home of the Parenting, Babytalk and Conceive brands, reaches moms over 15 million times every month through magazines, digital media, custom content, and events. TPG’s publications include: Parenting School Years, for moms with children in kindergarten through elementary school; Parenting Early Years, for moms of infants, toddlers and preschoolers; Babytalk, for new moms and moms-to-be; and Conceive, for women trying to get pregnant. TPG’s other media properties include: the Babytalk Pregnancy Planner; the Parenting.com and ConceiveOnline.com web sites; MomConnection®, a nationally-representative online research network; and a custom content unit. The Parenting Group is a division of Bonnier Corporation.

Mom Congress 2012

Hi everyone! I am extremely proud and honored to have been selected as the 2012 New York State Delegate to the Mom Congress. What is Mom Congress you might ask? Well here is a little more info on that from Parenting.com Mom Congress page: Driven by the ever-increasing role that parents play in advocating for positive change in the education system, Parenting magazine launched the Mom Congress initiative in March 2009 to celebrate and connect moms fighting for better schools.  Each month, the School Years edition of Parenting gives readers the education news and resources they need to make a difference, and highlights the efforts of some of its 21,000+ Mom Congress members who have brought about positive change for students. Each year, Parenting chooses 51 outstanding mom education advocates -- one from each state and Washington, D.C. -- from essays submitted at Parenting.com to win an all-expense paid trip to attend the annual Mom Congress on Education and Learning conference at Georgetown University. During the event, the moms meet with the country's most prominent education and advocacy leaders to discuss the importance of family engagement in helping American achieve its education goals.   At the inaugural conference in May 2010, the 51 delegates  joined hundreds of local education and community leaders in a Mom Congress Town Hall on parental engagement in education with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Delegates worked with Parenting editors, Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies faculty and the Mom Congress advisory board to create the “Lesson Plan for Change”, a blueprint to empower parents to get more involved in their children’s education that appeared in the October 2010 issue of Parenting School Years and in the bestselling companion guide to the documentary Waiting for Superman.   I was nominated by my sister, who saw first hand the work I do, and felt that it was worthy of this recognition. I was delighted last week when I received an email advising that I had been selected! I look forward to representing Lynbrook and New York State at the Mom Congress in Washington DC at the end of April. Julie Bergin