Families connect through language, literacy and belonging at Fall 2025 Family Conference

Families from across San Juan Unified came together to build stronger connections and learn new strategies to support student success during the district’s Fall 2025 Family Conference, held Oct. 18 at Arcade Middle School.

More than 100 families and students participated in the event, which focused on three key themes: language, literacy and belonging.

Throughout the day, families participated in workshops on a variety of topics, including understanding the U.S. school system, mental health, special education, math and college readiness. To make the sessions accessible to all, workshops were offered in Persian, Pashto, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish and English. 

The conference also featured a resource fair, where participants met with community organizations and learned about available services. Nearly 20 local agencies and six district departments hosted tables to share information and connect with families.

Najibullah Ahmadi, a parent, said events like this are especially valuable for families new to the United States.

“Conferences like these, especially when workshops are offered in multiple languages, help new families better understand the U.S. school system,” he said.

Another attendee, Melisa Avila, who joined the Spanish-language session on mental health, said she found the experience helpful. 

“My daughter will soon be attending a San Juan Unified school, so I wanted to come and learn more about the resources available,” Avila shared.

Roman Sychev, a parent who attended the Russian-language workshop on the U.S. school system, said the information provided helped him better understand how schools operate.

The conference supports San Juan Unified’s commitment to engaging students, families and the community by ensuring families have access to the information, tools and relationships that help students thrive.

Learn more about upcoming events and workshops.