BRMS celebrates the Parents as Educational Partners Program

Blue Ridge Middle School celebrates another successful year with their PEP Program which is designed to provide the school and staff continual opportunities to engage and cultivate meaningful relationships with families. Our PEP staff are dedicated to the ongoing hard work and heart work of family engagement and support. PEP is designed to provide resources and service to English learner families, specifically those who are English language emergent.

The program aims to uplift, encourage, and empower families. Every family is unique in their perspective, and that perspective is deeply valued in the PEP space. 

The picnic was a celebration of the year-long collaboration of families and school staff that support English learner students at Blue Ridge Middle School. Every month during the school year, Susan Hubbuch, the English language teacher and Rebecca Edwards, BRMS’s former parent liaison, present on important ways that families can best support their students to maximize their learning and future success. Edwards points out, “This has been an exciting year of growth for the PEP program at BRMS.” 

Beyond supporting student success, PEP meetings are a time to connect with other families, share experiences, and forge friendships around fellowship activities. For educators, it’s an opportunity to interact with parents in a relaxed setting, fostering open communication and mutual respect. A parent of one of the 7th grade students said, “I am very grateful for the support PEP gave me. I learned a lot about ParentVUE. I appreciate how the children were entertained.  PEP has helped us a lot.” The PEP picnic was a fun culmination of a journey of partnership, communication, and shared commitment to student success. 

Principal, Brion Bell said, “PEP provides each participating family access to every area of our school’s great culture and climate. We so appreciate the work of our extended PEP team – the PEP sponsors, PTO, United Mental Health Team, School Administrators, etc. – to embrace all families and all kids through this endeavor.”