Godwin Heights — It wasn’t only Godwin Heights Middle School students heading back to school Monday, Aug. 24, but their parents as well.
At the beginning of the school day, parents were invited into the building to meet staff members, discuss expectations and ask questions.
Principal Kim Urbanski said one of her goals for the 2026-27 school year is to build partnerships with families.
“There’s a trend — and it’s not just at Godwin Heights — that as students enter the secondary level, there are not as many opportunities for them to be involved,” Urbanski said. “We want to ensure parents that they are welcomed and that it is a partnership. We all need to work together to see success because middle school is a journey.”
In half-hour sessions, students and parents in each of the school’s grades — sixth, seventh and eighth — were introduced to staff members for their grade level and presented with the theme and goals for the upcoming school year.
“Our theme this year is ‘Know every student, grow every student,’ and do it together,” Urbanski said to the parents and students. “Knowing every student means we are going to focus on relationships.”
The principal also made a point to emphasize attendance.
“It is important that you are here to build those connections. We don’t only teach our students academics; we also focus on Godwin PRIDE: perseverance, respect, integrity, discipline and engagement.”
For families, Urbanski said she had three key asks: prioritize attendance by making sure their student is at school; stay connected by checking school communications; and partner with school officials by letting them know if something is affecting their student.
Parents Seek to Build Connections
The first item parent Danielle Taylor asked about was the school’s parent-teacher organization.
“I’m a very involved parent,” said Taylor, who coaches volleyball at the school and whose daughter, Gabrielle, is in sixth grade. “I like to know what is going on in the school and help with different things as much as I can.”
‘We want to ensure parents that they are welcomed … We all need to work together to see success because middle school is a journey.’
— Principal Kim Urbanski
Daniel Clark, whose daughter, Cali, is also in sixth grade, said he was excited for the year and the opportunity to meet the staff and learn more about the middle school.
Marisa Harris, parent of sixth-grader Aleah Warner, said she likes “being able to see the students and see the energy they have. It’s nice to be able to see the environment and the teachers that she will be with for the day.”
Edwin Miranda attended two meetings because one daughter, Isabella, is in sixth grade and the other, Serena, is in seventh. Miranda said he has been involved with the school and plans to be active again this year.
“I think it’s great to get parents involved,” Miranda said about the meetings. “It is definitely good to see other parents come, and hopefully that will encourage them to get involved.”
Urbanski said she was pleased with the turnout for the first-time event and expects the program to continue growing. Parents will also have an opportunity to meet directly with teachers during the school’s fall parent-teacher conferences.
Read more from Godwin Heights:
• It takes a community to send students back to school with confidence
• The art of believing in himself
