01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2005

BY RICHARD C. DUJARDIN
Journal Staff Writer

EAST PROVIDENCE -- The School Department's efforts to involve families in the education of their youngsters began anew yesterday, with each of the city's schools offering first day of school activities for parents.

While making parents feel at home was the chief goal at some schools, others turned the tables a bit by asking parents for their thoughts and expectations for the year.

At Agnes B. Hennessey Elementary School -- which was nominated last year by the state commissioner of education as one of the nation's blue ribbon schools -- Principal David Britto asked parents assembled in the gym to write their expectations on pieces of paper.

The notes, which he called expectation bubbles, were to be displayed in hallways and other places around the school, along with photos taken yesterday of the parents.

"Personally and from a professional point of view, I think these can serve to remind me and my staff as to what our constituency is expecting of us," said Britto, who is starting his second year as principal of Hennessey.

At one table in the gym, Lucia Aguire expressed little doubt in what she wrote about what she wants her 5-year-old daughter, Alexis Marie, to learn as a first grader at Hennessey: "To be honest and respectful."

Delia Galvano, whose 6-year-old daughter is entering first grade, wants "Victoria to be a good person to every single person she meets."

The parents said yesterday was the first time school officials had asked them what they expected for an upcoming year.

Oksana Krivenko, a real estate agent who emigrated from Russia 15 years ago, said that her 11-year-old daughter, Kristina Dyomin, received many awards while a student at Hennessey and is starting sixth grade at Martin Middle School.

Now, Krivenko said, she wants her 5-year-old son, Daniel Krivenko, to pick up the lessons that her daughter did, and that she learned growing up in the former Soviet Union.

"I want him to be a group and a team player," she said. "That's what children are taught in Europe -- to be respectful of others, especially the elderly."

Krivenko said she also expects her son to acquire a basic love for reading and learning that should stick with him and carry him through life.

Krivenko said schools should consider having their students do more homework She thinks children should be made to write and memorize poetry.

Dawn Silva, whose 7-year-old daughter, Alyssa, is entering second grade, said she thought the photos and the expectation bubbles were a good way to let children know they have someone at home supporting them.

"It shows that the parents are taking the initiative," she said. "If the kids know they have someone supporting them, they can succeed in anything."

Silva said she hopes and expects that Alyssa learns to the best of her ability, tries hard, respects herself and learns to enjoy life while she's learning, because "life is too short" to do otherwise.

"I want her to do the best she can do and to maintain a positive outlook on herself and on life," Liz Costa wrote about her 7-year-old daughter, Nicole Hawley, also a second grader.

Allan Abbrenante said he wrote that he wants his two children, first grader Nathan, 6, and fourth grader Kelsey, 8, to "learn to read better and to achieve all their goals."