Pulaski County Special School District Clinton Elementary School 2017-2018 Parent Involvement Plan School Mission: To provide a developmental and comprehensive school program aligned with state and national standards in order to address the needs of all students. Clinton Elementary is under the leadership of Felecia Hamilton, Principal, and Dr. Ann Guilbert, Assistant Principal and Cynthia Moore, .5 Assistant Principal. Clinton Elementary serves grades Pre-K through 5th grade with approximately 704 students. Susan Whatley serves as the parent facilitator. Parent Involvement Committee Members Susan Whatley- Counselor/Parent Facilitator Dr. Ann Guilbert- Asst. Principal Katie Phippin - Media Specialist/ Webpage Facilitator Parent: April Kelly Teacher: Emeral Templeton
Felecia Hamilton- Principal Kathleen Smith- IC/Grandparent Parent: Crystal Carpenter Teacher: Brandi Roy Teacher: Alan Crook
Clinton Elementary will communicate with parents in the following ways to increase parent involvement and to support classroom instruction by: ● Distributing a monthly newsletter to parents that is developed with participation of the parent-school organization, principal, staff and parent volunteers. It includes school news, a calendar of school activities. Flyers are distributed on an as needed basis promoting school events. For more information you may contact Susan Whatley by phone at 501-234-6064 or by email:
[email protected]. ● Teachers will routinely contact parents on an individual basis to communicate about their child’s progress. ● The school will use the student handbook, school/class web sites, signage at the school entrance, and parent orientation meetings to display information regarding the school-wide plan.
● The school will communicate routinely with parents using Facebook, school-wide call-outs, Counselor Facebook page, school website and daily communication folders. ● Sending home a folder containing student papers and work samples each week. Parents will be asked to sign the folder and send it back to school. Grades 3-5 will use an “Agenda” notebook for two way communication with parent and teacher. ● The classroom teachers provide parents with an interim report every 4 ½ weeks, and report cards every 9 weeks with information regarding their child’s academic progress. For more information contact 833-1200. ● Two parent teacher conference days are scheduled, one per semester to discuss student’s progress, standardized test scores, and an explanation of the interventions teachers are using to assist the child in reaching achievement goals. Parents will be asked to engage in discussion of how they can support these efforts. Conferences for this school year are scheduled for September 18, 2017 and February 19, 2018. ● Parents may communicate with other parents and staff at Clinton through the Clinton Elementary website, staff PCSSD email or by calling the school. Clinton Elementary will plan the following meetings to increase parent involvement and to build staff and parent capacity by: ● Back to School Night (K-5th, August 11, 2017, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.) Parents and students get the opportunity to meet the teacher and tour the school ● Parent Night/Testing - (October 2017 & March 2018) ● Grandparent’s Day Luncheon - September 11, 2017 ● Parent Teacher Conferences- (September 18, 2017, and February 19, 2018) ● Thanksgiving Lunch-(November 2017) ● Book Fair- Fall and Spring- (November 2017 & April 2018) ● Holiday/Valentine Parties (December 2017, February 2018) ● Culminating Unit Events – (TBA) ● Family Nights- Math, Literacy, and Technology (to include Go Math, STAR, etc.)- Dates TBA ● Spring Fling- (TBA 2018) ● Field Day- (May 2018) ● 5th Grade Promotion - May 2018 ● Pre-K Promotion - May 2018 ● Kindergarten Program - May 2018 ● Family Showcase Nights (December 2017 March 2018 and May 2018) ● PTA Luncheon – (May TBA)
How will your school provide information to parents about volunteer opportunities? Volunteers are always welcome at Clinton Elementary. A parent survey is sent to all parents when the school year begins. This survey seeks ideas from parents as well as allows parents to express their interests in volunteering at the school. Specific Activities include: Media assistant Mentor Teacher assistant Teacher Planning Assistants Science Lab Creation Tutor Special parent lunches Book Fair helpers Grandparents Day Field Day volunteers Backpack Program Music programs Orientation presentations Open House
Field Day volunteers Backpack Program Music programs Orientation presentations Open House Parent-School organization Red Ribbon week Thematic units Field Trips Fifth Grade Promotion Various committees Recycling Program Environmental Awareness Thanksgiving Luncheon volunteers
How will your school provide opportunities for parents to be involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of the school wide school improvement plan: The school shall enable the formation of a Parent Teacher Organization that will foster parental and community involvement within the school. ● To take advantage of community resources, the school shall consider recruiting alumni from the school, as well as non-alumni parents and community leaders, to create a parent involvement committee to provide advice and guidance for school improvement. This committee will serve as the Parent Advisory Council. ● Parents will serve on the School-wide Leadership Team to give input on the school improvement process.
How will your school provide resources for parents? ● The school will distribute Informational packets each year that includes a copy of the school’s parental involvement plan, survey for volunteer interests, recommended roles for parents/ teachers/ students and school, suggestions of ways parents can become involved in their child’s education, parental involvement activities planned for the current school year and information about the system that will be used to allow parents and teachers to communicate (notes, phone calls, email) ● To promote and support responsible parenting, the school shall, as funds are available: purchase parenting books, magazines, and other informative materials regarding responsible parenting through the school parent center, advertise information, and give parents the opportunity to borrow the materials for review. ● Keep our current parent center up to date with current helpful information for parents. (Games, parenting tips, and videos are available for check-out) ● The Parent Center will allow parents to access the computer to check their child’s grades. ● Include in the school’s policy handbook the school’s process for resolving parental concerns, including how to define a problem, whom to approach first, and how to develop solutions. How will your school engage parents in the evaluation of your parental involvement efforts? ● A meeting will be held at the beginning of the school year and will be used to evaluate and implement elements and plan for the next year. Meeting date TBA based on parent availability. ● The school will engage parents in the annual evaluation of parental involvement efforts through comprehensive survey filled out by teachers, parents, and school staff. While collecting evidence about satisfaction with the program the survey will also collect specific information on (1) growth in number of parents participating in workshops and meetings; (2) specific needs of parents; (3) effectiveness of specific strategies; and (4) engagement of parents in activities to support student academic growth.
Pulaski County Special School District Clinton Elementary School 2017-2018 Parent Involvement Plan The Clinton Elementary staff strongly believes that parent involvement builds strong home-school relationships and that these relationships are critical to all students’ academic and behavioral progress. Children who are supported by their parents demonstrate higher levels of academic progress and positive social engagement at school. As an identified Title 1* school and in conjunction with this belief, Clinton seeks to achieve a high level of parental involvement. It is part of our school-wide goal to develop strong, productive relationships with parents by promoting their active involvement in sharing the responsibility for creating a challenging learning environment with an atmosphere of cooperation and respect. Clinton Elementary will communicate with parents to increase parent involvement and to support classroom instruction. The Clinton student handbook, sign-in sheet at the school main office and parent orientation meetings share information with students/ parents of school procedures. Our school distributes a monthly newsletter to parents informing all stakeholders of school news and upcoming school activities. Information is also shared using school-wide callouts, daily communication folders and the Clinton Elementary/class websites. Flyers will be distributed on an as needed basis promoting school events. School staff, parents, and students will develop a school-parent-student compact. This compact will outline how parents, school staff, and students share the responsibility for improving student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state’s high academic standards. Teachers routinely contact parents on an individual basis to communicate about their child’s progress. Each week, teachers will send home a folder containing student’s papers and work samples. Parents are asked to sign the papers and return to school. Grades 3-5 will use an “Agenda” notebook for two way communication with parent and teacher. In addition, classroom teachers provide parents with a Home Access Center (HAC) code to access their student’s grades. An interim report every 4 ½ weeks, and report cards every 9 weeks will be sent home with information regarding their child’s academic progress. Parents may communicate with other parents and staff at Clinton through the Clinton Elementary website, staff PCSSD email or by calling the school.
A parent teacher conference day is scheduled each semester to discuss student’s progress, standardized test scores, and an explanation of the interventions teachers are using to assist child in reaching achievement goals. Parents, teachers and student will engage in discussion of how each can support these efforts. Teachers may recommend parents visit the Parent Resource Center to obtain additional educational materials to support child’s learning at home. Clinton Elementary provides a “Parent Resource Center” where parents may check out materials, use the computer to check grades, and visit educational Web sites. Parents are encouraged to view the Title I Plan located in the parent resource center or media center. The school will open the resource center at hours that are convenient to parents. Clinton Elementary will hold an orientation for parents during the first nine weeks to inform them about the school’s participation in the Title I program and to encourage parents to be involved with reviewing and revising of the School’s Title I Plan. Our Math and Literacy Specialists will host parent training sessions to help parents understand how to enhance their child’s education. These meetings will include family reading and math nights which provide an opportunity for parents and their child to experience the school situation in a positive and helpful manner. School staff may provide any needed assistance or encouragement. The meetings will be held at various times during the day or evening to better accommodate parents. Clinton Elementary will work with Sylvan Hills Middle School to help provide a smooth transition from one school to the next by raising parent awareness of procedures and related activities. The school will ask parents to fill out a parent interest survey at registration or at the beginning of each school year to get information from parents concerning the activities they feel will be most beneficial in the efforts to support their child academically. The school will use the results of the parent interest survey to plan the parental involvement activities for the year. The school will evaluate the activities that were suggested by the parents at the end of the year as part of the annual parental involvement plan evaluation. The school will provide a list of volunteer opportunities and solicit ideas for other types of volunteer efforts during orientation of parents. Brief training sessions will provide parents and community members with the information they need to participate as school volunteers in order to put them at ease and make the
experience pleasant and successful. For more information, you may contact the school at 501-833-1200. The school will involve parents on school improvement planning committees. To support this process, the school will offer both school staff and parents training on how to contribute to this process in a meaningful way. If you are interested in being a part of this committee please contact Felicia Hamilton or Susan Whatley by phone at 501-234-6064 or by email:
[email protected]. For each Title I, Part A School, an Annual Title I Meeting must be conducted. The agenda, the sign-in sheet and the minutes for this meeting must be generated separately from any other events and kept on file in the school’s office. *Title 1 schools receive federal funds designated to provide compensatory educational services to low-achieving students. These funds are used in ways that will help all children meet the academic standards they are expected to meet. Promoting parental involvement is an integral part of Title 1.
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROCEDURES MANUAL 2017-2018
Felicia Hamilton, Principal Ann Guilbert, Asst. Principal Cynthia Moore, Asst. Principal 142 Hollywood Avenue Sherwood, AR 72120 Office #: 833-1200 Fax #: 833-1210 Website: https://clinton.pcssd.org/
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE…
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
We are the EAGLES! Exceptional Teachers and Students with an Attitude for Greatness in a Learning Environment that is Soaring for Success! Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! Our Local School Parent Procedure booklet contains useful information pertinent to the daily operations of W.J. Clinton Elementary School. Please contact the school office, (501) 833-1200, if you should have any questions or concerns about procedures. Its purpose is to establish a safe environment for the well-being of our students, staff and parents.
Daily Schedule GRADE Pre-K – 5th
ARRIVAL DISMISSAL 7:15 -7:45 a.m. 2:45 p.m. Breakfast Served Pre-K- 5th 7:15-7:40 a.m. Lunch Physical Activity Pre-K 10:45-11:15 11:15-11:35 K 11:05-11:35 11:35-11:50 1st 11:20-11:50 11:50-12:15 2nd 11:35-12:05 12:05-12:25 3rd 11:50-12:20 12:20-12:40 4th 12:10-12:40 12:40-1:00 5th 12:30-1:00 1:00-1:20 *Lunch & P.A. times may be s ubject to change. *Individual c lass s chedules are posted in each classroom. WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
MORNING ARRIVAL Teacher duty teams begin supervising students at 7:15 a.m. Students should not to be on school grounds prior to 7:15 a.m. unless they are in the Extended Care Program. Students are dismissed to their classrooms at 7:40 a.m. Students are counted tardy at 7:45 a.m. PCSSD buses unload students in the BUS LANE between 7:15 - 7:35 a.m. The BUS LANE is for bus riders and vehicles transporting handicapped students only. Please DO NOT pull into bus lane to park or drop students off who do not fall into these categories. Car riders may arrive at school each day at 7:15 a.m. Car riders are released in the car lane of the main parking lot. Please pull your car all the way around the circle so the flow of street traffic is not hampered and the number of cars may simultaneously drop off the children. Student safety monitors will be at designated zones to assist students getting out of vehicles. If you have an appointment or need to enter the building, please park in the parking spot. All students will enter through the front doors and walk to the designated duty area. Students eating breakfast at school are to report directly to the cafeteria. Breakfast is available 7:15 - 7:40. Students are counted tardy after 7:45. DISMISSAL School personnel and safety patrol will assist the students during this time. ● PCSSD & Day care buses begin loading at 2:40 p.m. ● Car riders are dismissed through the outside doors closest to the office. Parents please display the car sign with your student’s name. Staff will direct students to cones 1-6 where your student will be standing. Drive to the cone where your student is standing and remain in car. Student safety workers will be available to assist your student into the vehicle. Car riders must be picked up by 3:00 p.m. If your child is still at school after 3:00 p.m., s/he may be taken to Extended Day to be supervised and a $25 drop in fee will be charged to the parents. ● Parents who park in marked parking spaces may walk to the designated waiting area to pick up students. It is absolutely necessary that parents remain in the designated area and a duty teacher will release students to parents. Teacher duty teams supervise the dismissal process which includes monitoring the students and directing traffic flow until 3:00 p.m. To minimize traffic congestion, parents who park are asked to follow the established pattern on the parking lot. A bicycle rack is located in front of the school. Students are to place bikes in the rack and lock them. Animals are not permitted in the school or on the grounds when children are present. The only exceptions are approved instructional activities and service dogs. Requests for change in student’s mode of transportation are not acceptable by telephone. In the event of an emergency, the office staff will work with you. TARDIES/EARLY CHECKOUTS Students are tardy if he/she arrives after 7:45 a.m. If a child is tardy (arrives late), a parent/guardian is expected to escort the child into the school and sign the appropriate document. T he office staff will issue a tardy slip which will allow the student to enter class late. Late arrivals due to District transportation (buses) will not be counted as tardy. Early check outs must be WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
processed by 2:20 p.m. If a child is checked out early, parents/guardians must come into the office and sign the child out. The child will not be called to the office until the parent/guardian arrives in the office and makes the request. Early check-outs count as a tardy. Teachers are not required to provide missed work to students who do not have an excused tardy or early check out. ABSENCES Regular attendance is essential if students are to receive full benefits from the educational opportunities provided during the school day. Detailed information relating to the attendance policy is located in the Pulaski County Special District Parent Handbook for Student Conduct and Discipline. The local school automated telephone system is programmed to notify you of absences on a daily basis. When your child must be absent due to illness or other reason, the school request you notify the office. The school requests a reason for absence note (parent or doctor note) from the parent/caregiver when your child returns to school. ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE PROGRAM ● ●
Students will be formally recognized for perfect attendance. Students who have no more than two (2) tardies/early check-outs and zero days absences are eligible for recognition. The classroom on each grade-level with the least amount of tardies/early check-outs will have the privilege of wearing regular school clothing (no uniforms) on one designated day as determined by the classroom teacher. SICK, ACCIDENT or INJURED AT SCHOOL
Clinton Elementary has a full-time school nurse. The nurse’s office is located inside the main office. Any child who feels sick or who has an accident is accompanied to the nurse’s office. The school nurse will contact parents or caregivers if the child needs to go home or be alerted to the child’s condition. Please keep contact information current in the event the school needs to contact you or guardian. ● All medication is administered through the nurse’s office. A medication form must be completed in order for medication to be dispensed. Any prescription medication must be in original container. EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM Clinton Elementary administers the Extended Care program at our school. Extended care is for families who need childcare in the hours before and after school. Activities are supervised and entertaining. Care is available in the morning beginning at 6:30 a.m. - 7:15 a.m. and in the afternoon from 2:45 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact the school. Extended Day Fees: Enrollment = $40 Emergency Care = $25/a day
Monthly S ingle Session (morning or afternoon) = $150 Monthly D ouble Session (morning & afternoon) = $170
UNIFORM POLICY With parent approval, students may be (if available) provided temporary clothing from the uniform closet. Policy regarding uniforms requires K-5 students to wear any solid color polo style shirt without emblems and navy or khaki bottoms. Shirts bearing Clinton Elementary logo are acceptable. Other logos are not acceptable. Current Clinton Elementary Spirit shirts and jeans may be WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
worn on Friday only or the last day of the school week. Designs that are lewd, vulgar, threatening, intimidating, demeaning, as well as, any that advertises alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs are prohibited. If a violation is not corrected, administrators will conference with the parent to seek a resolution. NON-UNIFORM DRESS INCENTIVE As an incentive/reward for an accomplishment, individual students or groups of students may receive special recognition by wearing “regular clothes”. P arents will be notified of approved Incentive days by
teacher or school administrators. The apparel must be within acceptable guidelines. Tops must have
straps and cover chest and midriffs. If long pants are not worn, bottoms (dresses, skirts, shorts) should be no shorter than mid-thigh. Inappropriate slogans or logos are not acceptable. Students who are not in compliance will be asked to call home for a change of clothing and will not be allowed to return to class until clothing has been changed. EDUCATIONAL OR BEHAVIOR CONCERNS If you have concerns about your child’s instructional program or behavior at school, please contact your child’s teacher. If the situation is not resolved, arrange a conference with an administrator. REQUESTING STUDENT RECORDS/DOCUMENTS Requests for student records and related documents must be submitted to the office 48 hours in advance. Your request will be prepared for your pick up at the end of the second day. If transferring to another school, the receiving school will send Clinton Elementary a release for student records and the registrar will send the records. Clinton Elementary will send a request for all records for newly enrolled students. VISITORS & SCHOOL SAFETY To ensure the safety of students and staff, all entrances shall remain locked, monitored and secured. Clinton staff will monitor entrances during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. We ask that only school staff and students enter the secured areas beyond the locked doors. Visitors must ring doorbell located between the double set of doors by the main office to gain admittance. It is school policy that all visitors must report to the main office and sign-in before going anywhere in the building. Please bring a current driver’s license or identification to be verified and visitor tag issued.. Visitors must wear a visitor’s tag while inside the building. This policy applies to parents and community members volunteering in the classes as well as outside guests. Please respect this policy. It is designed to ensure the safety of all children. If you wish to deliver something to your child, please leave it in the main office and you child will be notified. Parents and guest are welcome at CES. Again, Please stop by the school office, sign in and receive a visitor’s pass. We prefer that ALL CLASSROOM VISITS and teacher conferences are pre-arranged. Please make every effort when you wish to visit your child’s classroom to notify the teacher/school that you are coming for a visit. Once a time has been set, the classroom teacher or secretary will add your name to the visitors’ list and you can go observe at your scheduled time. There are certain times, such as during testing, that it is not advisable to have visitors in the classroom. Teachers are not to be interrupted when instructing or supervising students. After the first week of school, parents/visitors will not be allowed to escort students to class. WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
When picking up children or visiting the school, please park in the designated parking lot. Parking on Hollywood Ave. is hazardous and causes traffic delays. Parking is not permitted in the fire lanes. LUNCH/BREAKFAST Students are served breakfast in the cafeteria from 7:15-7:45 a.m. Each grade level has a designated lunch time. Parents/Guardians may make advanced payment to his/her child’s food services account. Checks should be made payable to Clinton Elementary and may be paid by child or parent. Your child’s food account may also be accessed at w ww.MyPaymentsPlus.com. Information on the free or reduced cost lunch program is sent to each family at the beginning of the school year or when child enrolls at Clinton. All families must complete and sign this form whether or not student(s) may qualify for free or reduced lunch/breakfast. Students who qualify for free or reduced program is confidential. Breakfast Fees
Lunch Fees
Full price = $1.50
Full price = $2.25
Reduced price = $.30
Reduced price = $.40
Extra milk = $.40
Extra milk = $.40
Adult breakfast = $2.00
Adult lunch = $3.25
Parents and special guest are welcome to have breakfast and/or lunch with their child(ren). A special pass will allow guest access to the cafeteria only. After eating breakfast or lunch, please do not go to other areas of the school campus without permission. All guests must return to the main office and check out. Parents are strongly encouraged to wait a couple of weeks after the start of school before visiting during breakfast or lunch. This helps our students learn the cafeteria routine and expectations before ‘hosting’ special guests. PALS/VOLUNTEERS Any person wishing to volunteer (field trips, parties, classroom visits, teacher aide…), must complete and submit a PALS volunteer form. Please document or log any time volunteering at Clinton Elementary in our PALS/Volunteer log book. TELEPHONE CALLS Students are not allowed to make telephone calls. In the event that there is a need to contact a parent, a staff member will initiate the call. Personal cell phones should not be powered on or visible during the school day. LOST AND FOUND Lost and Found items are located in the nurse’s office and/or the cafeteria stage. Parents and students are welcome to search through the “lost and found” to check for personal items. Parents are strongly WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
encouraged to write student’s name on clothing and personal items. Storage space is limited; therefore, at the end of each month, items will be donated to charitable organizations. PERSONAL ITEMS Toys and other personal entertainment items are not to be brought to school unless the teacher has given special permission in advance. The school is not responsible for the loss or damage of any personal items. CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS/PARTIES Two classroom parties (Christmas and Valentine’s Day) are sponsored annually by the PTA and school. The food items must be prepackaged. There are no classroom birthday parties. Balloons and flowers for individual students cannot be accepted. These items are not to be delivered to the school. HOME ACCESS CENTER (HAC) This online communication tool is a secure web site that allows teachers and parents an opportunity to share timely and accurate information. Contact your child’s teacher to secure your password. PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES Information will be sent home prior to scheduled conferences noting time and date. Parents are strongly encouraged to conference with the teacher and receive the report card. Teachers are also available for conferences at other times. Contact your child’s teacher to schedule an appointment. EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS (INCLEMENT WEATHER) If it is necessary to close during the school due to inclement weather or any other emergency, bus students who have not been picked up by dismissal will be put on the bus. All other students will be dismissed by regular procedure. Please keep contact information current in the event the school needs to contact you or guardian.
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY Parent Involvement Snapshot It is a privilege to welcome you to Clinton Elementary. We are committed to you and your family. It is our goal to build and keep a strong connection between you and the school. We strive to develop and maintain production partnerships with parents: P
Partnerships between parents and the school are the backbone of success.
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Always available to support you and your child.
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Reaching out to you is never ending.
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“Every minute counts” is our motto.
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Never too busy to help you problem solve as it relates to your child.
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Together, we CAN make a difference.
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Solid in our efforts to build a future for your child. Parent Involvement Program Focus ● We are here to support you and your child throughout your child’s learning experiences at Clinton Elementary. ● Parent meetings, conferences, and related activities are critical elements in promoting an environment of trust between YOU, our parents, and US, the instructional staff. ● Building an environment which makes our parents feel comfortable in providing us with ideas, suggestions and insight is extremely important. ● Raising student achievement is a joint effort. ● We are a resource for you, our parents.
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
CLINTON ELEMENTARY PTA VOLUNTEER FORM VOLUNTEERS WANTED: We hope you will join our volunteer team this year. Each minute or way you are able to volunteer and/or support our students and PTA is appreciated. Without our volunteers, we are unable to accomplish all of the many great things you see around the school. Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the PTA! Name: ______________________________________ Phone Number: __________________ Child’s Name: _________________________________________Teacher ________________ Email address; _______________________________________________________________ ⃞ Check box if you would like to receive PTA e-newsletters and reminders by email. ⃞ I would like to receive PTA text message reminders to this phone _____________________. ⃞ I am interested in serving on the PTA Executive Board as a: ⃞ Grade Level Representative(K-5) ⃞Officer Position ⃞ Future Office Postion VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Please check all of the activities which interest you. Your interest does not commit you to anything. A member of PTA will contact you with more details. For questions about any of these opportunities, please email
[email protected] or contact the school. ⃞ Room parent
⃞ General class assistant
⃞ Library - once a week or project specific.
⃞ Office - photocopying or laminating
⃞ Event photographer
⃞ Book Fair Assistant
⃞ Yearbook committee
⃞ Apparel/Sales Coordinator
⃞ Carnival committee
⃞ Field Day
⃞ Special Events Committee
⃞ Mentor
⃞ Fundraiser Committee
⃞ PTA Board member
⃞ Dad/Granddad Club
⃞ Other ________________________
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
Tips for Parents Form a two-way communication between school and home Set a routine bedtime schedule Make sure your child is well rested, well fed and healthy Arrive at school on time everyday ready for school Ask questions Talk and listen to your child about school Value and have a positive attitude about learning Support family learning through everyday activities Meet your child’s friends and their parents Set limits on behavior and discipline patiently Set aside daily family time Read to your child Have your child read to you daily Form relationships with the school and your child’s teacher. Attend school functions Advocate for your child Know your child’s grade level requirements and graduation requirements ● Set aside a regular time and space for homework ● Plan special one on one time with child ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School Support from parents is key to helping kids do well academically. Here are 10 ways parents can put their kids on track to be successful students.
1. Attend Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences Kids do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending back-to-school night at the start of the school year is a great way to get to know your child's teacher and his or her expectations. School administrators may discuss school-wide programs and policies, too. Attending parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed. These are usually held once or twice a year at progress reporting periods. The conferences are a chance to start or continue conversations with your child's teacher, and discuss strategies to help your child do his or her best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets your child know that what goes on in school will be shared at home. If your child has special learning needs, additional meetings can be scheduled with teachers and other school staff to consider setting up or revising individualized education plans (IEPs), 504 education plans, or gifted education plans. Keep in mind that parents or guardians can request meetings with teachers, principals, school counselors, or other school staff any time during the school year.
2. Visit the School and Its Website Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can h elp you connect with your child when you talk about the school day. It's good to know the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, playgrounds, auditorium, and special classes. On the school website, you can find information about: ● ● ● ●
the school calendar staff contact information upcoming events like class trips testing dates
Many teachers maintain their own websites that detail homework assignments, test dates, and classroom events and trips. Special resources for parents and students are also usually available on the district, school, or teacher websites.
3. Support Homework Expectations Homework in grade school reinforces and extends c lassroom learning and helps kids practice important study skills. It also helps them develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will benefit them beyond the classroom. In addition to making sure your child knows that you see homework as a priority, you can help by creating an effective study environment. Any well-lit, comfortable, and quiet workspace with the necessary supplies will do. Avoiding distractions (like a TV in the background) and setting up a start and end time can also help. A good rule of thumb for an effective homework and/or study period is roughly 10 minutes per elementary grade level. Fourth-graders, for example, should expect to have about 40 minutes of homework or studying each school night. If you find that it's often taking significantly longer than this guideline, talk with your child's teacher.
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
While your child does homework, be available to interpret assignment instructions, offer guidance, answer questions, and review the completed work. But resist the urge to provide the correct answers or complete the assignments yourself. Learning from mistakes is part of the process and you don't want to take this away from your child.
4. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn A nutritious breakfast fuels up kids and gets them ready for the day. In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. Kids who eat breakfast also are less likely to be absent, and make fewer trips to the school nurse with stomach complaints related to hunger. You can help boost your child's attention span, concentration, and memory by providing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein, as well as low in added sugar. If your child is running late some mornings, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Many schools provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell. Kids also need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Most school-age kids need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime difficulties can arise at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after-school activities, TVs, computers, and video games, as well as hectic family schedules, can contribute to kids not getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep can cause irritable or hyper types of behavior and might make it difficult for kids to pay attention in class. It's important to have a consistent bedtime routine, especially on school nights. Be sure to leave enough time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights out and limit stimulating diversions like TV, video games, and Internet access.
5. Teach Organizational Skills When kids are organized, they can stay focused instead of spending time hunting things down and getting sidetracked. What does it mean to be organized at the elementary level? For schoolwork, it means having an assignment book and homework folder (many schools supply these) to keep track of homework and projects. Check your child's assignment book and homework folder every school night so you're familiar with assignments and your child doesn't fall behind. Set up a bin for papers that you need to check or sign. Also, keep a special box or bin for completed and graded projects and toss papers that you don't need to keep. Talk to your child about keeping his or her school desk orderly so papers that need to come home don't get lost. Teach your child how to use a calendar or personal planner to help stay organized. It's also helpful to teach your child how to make a to-do list to help prioritize and get things done. It can be as simple as: 1. 2. 3.
homework soccer put clothes away
No one is born with great organizational skills — they need to be learned and practiced.
6. Teach Study Skills Studying for a test can be scary for young kids, and many educators assume parents will help their kids during the grade-school years. Introducing your child to study skills now will pay off with good learning habits throughout life. In elementary school, kids usually take end-of-unit tests in math, spelling, science, and social studies. Be WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
sure to know when a test is scheduled so you can help your child study ahead of time rather than just the night before. You also might need to remind your child to bring home the right study materials, such as notes, study guides, or books. Teach your child how to break down overall tasks into smaller, manageable chunks so preparing for a test isn't overwhelming. You also can introduce your child to tricks like mnemonic devices to help with recalling information. Remember that taking a break after a 45-minute study period is an important way to help kids process and remember information. Your child probably will be introduced to standardized testing in elementary school. While students can't really study for standardized tests, some teachers provide practice tests to help ease students' worries. In general, if studying and testing becomes a source of s tress for your child, discuss the situation with the teacher or school counselor.
7. Know the Disciplinary Policies Schools usually cite their disciplinary policies (sometimes called the student code of conduct) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations, and consequences for not meeting the expectations, for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language. The policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have specific policies about bullying. It's helpful to know the school's definition of bullying, consequences for bullies, support for victims, and procedures for reporting bullying. It's important for your child to know what's expected at school and that you'll support the school's consequences when expectations aren't met. It's easiest for students when school expectations match the ones at home, so kids see both environments as safe and caring places that work together as a team.
8. Get Involved Whether kids are just starting kindergarten or entering their last y ear of elementary school, there are many good reasons for parents to volunteer at school. It's a great way for parents to show they're interested in their kids' education. Many grade-schoolers like to see their parents at school or at school events. But follow your child's cues to find out how much interaction works for both of you. If your child seems uncomfortable with your presence at the school or with your involvement in an extracurricular activity, consider taking a more behind-the-scenes approach. Make it clear that you aren't there to spy — you're just trying to help out the school community. Parents can get involved by: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
being a classroom helper or homeroom parent organizing and/or working at fundraising activities and other special events, like bake sales, car washes, and book fairs chaperoning field trips planning class parties attending school board meetings joining the school's parent-teacher group working as a library assistant reading a story to the class giving a talk for career day attending school concerts or plays
Check the school or teacher website to find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Even giving a few hours during the school year can make an impression on your child. WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
9. Take Attendance Seriously Sick kids should stay home from school if they have a fever, are nauseated, vomiting, or have diarrhea. Kids who lose their appetite, are clingy or lethargic, complain of pain, or who just don't seem to be acting "themselves" should also take a sick day. Otherwise, it's important that kids arrive at school o n time every day, because having to catch up with class work and homework can be stressful and interfere w ith learning. If your child is missing a lot of school due to illness, make sure to check with the teacher about any work that needs to be completed. It's also a good idea to know the school's attendance policy. Sometimes students want to stay home from school because of problems with classmates, assignments or grades, or even teachers. This can result in real symptoms, like headaches or stomachaches. If you think there's a problem at school, talk with your child — and then perhaps with the teacher — to find out more about what's causing the anxiety. The school counselor or school psychologist also might be able to help. Also try to avoid late bedtimes, which can result in tardy and tired students. A consistent sleep schedule can help.
10. Make Time to Talk About School It's usually easy to talk with elementary students about what's going on in class and the latest news at school. You probably know what books your child is reading and are familiar with the math being worked on. But parents can get busy and forget to ask the simple questions, which can have an effect on children's success at school. Make time to talk with your child every day, so he or she knows that what goes o n at school is important to you. When kids know parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take s chool seriously as well. Because communication is a two-way street, the way you talk and listen to your child can influence how well your child listens and responds. It's important to listen carefully, make eye contact, and avoid multitasking while you chat. Be sure to ask questions that go beyond "yes" or "no" answers. Besides during family meals, good times to talk include car trips (through eye contact isn't needed here, of course), walking the dog, preparing meals, or standing in line at a store. These early years of schooling are an important time for parents to be informed and supportive about their child's education. Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD Date reviewed: September 2014
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WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY 2017-2018
