June 18, 2024 – Ahead of the end of the 2023-24 school year, Lowrance Middle School welcomed students and their families to their campus for a night of helpful information on transitioning to the next chapter of their school experience at their school transition fair.
Lowrance specializes in providing exceptional students with differentiated instruction, and while they’re able to offer a wide variety of services and supports, figuring out exactly what each student needs can be a complicated process. Meeting those needs requires clear, consistent communication between the school and its families. The transition fair is part of the school’s strategy for guaranteeing those communication channels stay open.
“Most of the time, parents don’t know exactly what’s next for their kids or they don’t know how to navigate the system,” said Morounfolake Olajide, an EC Teacher at Lowrance. “We want them to know who to contact when they need help.”
The fair was open to current Lowrance students who were looking into what school they will attend in the 2024-25 school year. Different schools have different programs and different accommodations to offer their students and families, and choosing the right school for a student’s individualized needs can make all the difference in how successful they are in the classroom. Parents were able to rotate between tables of different administrators and the district’s community partners to get their questions answered, and the process was much simpler because there was so much expertise assembled in one room.
“We do our best to build up these services and to build up our relationships with our families,” said Transition Specialist Yvonne Ryans. “It’s all about one-stop shopping.”
Effective troubleshooting is a lifesaver in any organization, but it takes on special importance in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Parents entrust their children in the district’s care expecting educators to go above and beyond to give their students every resource they need to maximize their potential. Lowrance’s efforts to engage parents and map out students’ paths to success reinforce that trust.
“Sometimes, you don’t know exactly what to believe, and you don’t know what the future holds, but having events like this gives you comfort,” said Lowrance Parent TJ James. “It’s needed, it’s wanted, and it’s greatly appreciated.”