Side by Side, a faith-based nonprofit organization that works to strengthen public schools in Laurel, Md., offers the following programs:

Family Academy

Side by Side founded the first parent academy in Prince George’s County, called the Family Academy. Families from seven elementary schools are invited once a month during the school year to enjoy a free supper, with parents attending workshops in English and in Spanish and school children participating in enrichment activities. Child care is provided for preschoolers ages 2 to 5.

The seven elementary schools are Bond Mill, Deerfield Run, James H. Harrison, Laurel, Montpelier, Oaklands and Scotchtown Hills. Parents from other schools are also welcome to attend.

The next Family Academy is Saturday, Feb. 4, 8:30-11 a.m., at Laurel Elementary School, 516 Montgomery Street. For more details, click here.

Side by Side also offers a new K Prep program for parents of kindergarten and prekindergarten students during the fall. The program was piloted at four schools in October 2011: Deerfield Run, Laurel, Montpelier and Oaklands. Each school had three evenings on consecutive weeks in which families were invited to eat a free supper, children enjoyed special activities and parents attended workshops on such topics as behavior management, helping children become strong readers and fun ways to help children learn math. Seventy parents and 87 children attended — approximately 14% of those schools’ kindergarten families. See video below.

Homework Club and Tutoring

Side by Side operates an Almost Home after-school homework club at Laurel Park Apartments, partnering with Southern Management Corp. Elementary children from the Laurel Park and Laurelton Court complexes come three days a week to enjoy a snack, receive help on their homework from retired teachers and other adult volunteers, and participate in reading and enrichment activities. Many of the students would go home to empty apartments otherwise. Participation is restricted to children residing in those communities.

In addition to Almost Home, Side by Side has launched a community tutoring program. During the school year, volunteers work with elementary-age children who need extra help with reading and math. For more information on being a tutor volunteer or on being a tutored student, click here.

Spanish translation

Side by Side provides Spanish language services to local schools, translating flyers and other documents and interpreting at back-to-school-nights and parent-teacher conferences.

The video above shows what happened when Side by Side’s executive editor dressed up like Cookie Monster and delivered cookies to seven schools. Why did he dress up like Cookie Monster? You’ll just have to watch the video.