Part of content:
GEAR UP Maine Podcast
Parent Episode #1
Interview of Mrs. Martha Thibodeau by Ms. Jessica
Gagne
April 28, 2008 3:20 p.m. ET
Ms. Jessica Gagne: Welcome to the GEAR UP Maine Podcast. In this episode, we hear from
a GEAR UP parent who shares her experience of sending her first child
off to college, the way parents are included at her childrens' school,
and a device she has for parents going through this process for the
first time.
Ms. Martha Thibodeau: Hi, my name is Martha Thibodeau. Im a parent in the GEAR UP program.
My son is a junior in college. And I also have a daughter whos a junior
in high school.
My school
engages parents pretty well. They have a great communications system
set up where the principal sends home the calendar for the month and
a newsletter basically inviting them in, telling them whats going on,
whats happening in the school. Through this Ive gotten information
from the GEAR UP person, you know, reminding me of deadlines, telling
me whats happening in the program.
Just recently
they started doing a quarterly GEAR UP newsletter. So, its all just
GEAR UP news.
We also
have financial aid night for the seniors. They bring a financial aid
officer in from a local college, and he talks about the process of financial
aid, the different types of aid that are available, and I know the Maine
Parent Federation is going to be at this one. And they also help get
their PIN number for the FAFSA site. Every parent that comes