Building Bridges: HWES Hosts Parent University
Camp Humphreys, South Korea – Humphreys West Elementary School proudly hosted its first Parent University of the 2025–26 school year on Thursday, November 6, 2025, welcoming families to an engaging and informative morning designed to strengthen the home–school partnership. The event offered parents a closer look at the academic, resiliency, and enrichment supports available to students across the campus.
The event ran from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on the third floor of HWES, and families were greeted with muffins and coffee, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere as they explored the sessions.
Parents expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect directly with staff, ask individualized questions, and learn how to better support their children at home.
“As a new family at Humphreys West and to the DoDEA curriculum, Parent University was such an enlightening experience,” shared Jean Featherstone, a parent attendee. “It gave us a clearer understanding of the school’s rules, expectations, and the resources available for our kids. We also got to meet the support staff, learn about their roles and programs, and understand the best ways to reach out when needed.
“Personally, it was a great opportunity to speak with a few specialists about my kids individually and receive guidance on next steps,” she continued. “I’m so glad I was able to learn all of this early in the school year and see how much each faculty member invests in and cares for all the students. It’s given me greater confidence and a much more positive outlook for the rest of the school year.”
Parents rotated through a series of interactive sessions led by dedicated staff from multiple essential teams. The Administrative Team provided an overview of the Student Handbook, attendance policies, and discipline procedures, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and consistent expectations between school and home. Guidance Counselors, alongside the Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC), shared practical tools and strategies to support students’ emotional health, adjustment, and overall well-being. Specialists including AAPS-RT, Math Support, Reading Support, ESOL, and Multilingual Programs offered valuable insights into academic enrichment opportunities, intervention supports, and language development services tailored to various learners. In addition, the Aspen Navigation Room gave parents hands-on guidance for accessing grades, assignments, and communication tools through the parent portal, ensuring families feel confident navigating the digital resources available to them.
Special thanks to the HWES leadership team, specialists, and support staff for working together to organize and coordinate this event. Their collaboration brought multiple departments together to ensure a smooth and meaningful experience for families. Principal Chad Struhs and Assistant Principals Dr. Judith Sullivan and Dr. Ebony Freemon praised the teamwork across all departments, noting that the strong turnout reflects the shared commitment to the HWES mission: Educate, Engage, and Empower each student to succeed in a dynamic world.
