SandHillElementary School

Parental Involvement Policy

January 27, 2012

2011-2012

A child's success depends on the partnership between home and school!

At SandHillElementary School, we believe that a parent-school partnership is essential for student achievement. To that end, parents are encouraged to be involved in numerous aspects of their child’s education. Parents should feel that they are indeed stakeholders in the continued growth, vitality and success of the total school program.

At the outset of each school year, parents receive a letter explaining that their child is eligible to receive Title I services. A jointly developed school-student/parent compact is issued to each student and agreed to through signatures by all those involved. The compact describes the school’s responsibilities to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction. It lists ways in which parents may support their children’s education, and it emphasizes the importance of good communication between home and school. Through surveys, meetings, conferences, and individual contact, parents are given ongoing opportunities to be involved in the planning, reviewing, and improving of the Title I program.

The Title I program allows Sand Hill Elementary to provide services to parents to enhance their own learning, such as The Parent University, and offer support to their children who wish to participate in enrichment activities such as the “Invention Convention” and “Media Festival”.

At SandHillElementary School, we believe that a parent-school partnership is essential for student achievement. To that end, parents are encouraged to be involved in numerous aspects of their child’s education. Parents should feel that they are indeed stakeholders in the continued growth, vitality and success of the total school program.

Sand Hill’s written parent involvement policy, its teacher-student-parent compact, and the school improvement plan are reviewed annually at publicized (on marquee sign, through School Messenger “robocalls”, letters, posted agendas) schoolwide School Council Meetings and PTA/Annual TITLE I meetings. Policies are distributed at open house and are on view in the office, as well as discussed in administrative annotations on the school website. Parents are asked to respond to surveys, results are tallied and input is used for guidance. Documentation on file includes revisions, revision dates, sign-in sheets, meeting minutes, and signed compacts. (Indicators 1., 2., 4., 12., 18.)

All meetings at Sand Hill are scheduled with special attention paid to staggering the offerings; rotating between morning, late afternoon, evening to accommodate various schedules. In addition to family nights with academic focuses and workshops, home visits, conference calls, and conferences on-demand are available. There is additionally, an open door access to administration. (Indicator 3., 17.)

Parents are provided timely information through: letters, hand-outs, website postings, marquee signage, open house information, the Student-Parent handbook, orientations, family academic support nights, PTAs, conferences, Parent/Teacher communication logs, daily agenda books, behavior/homework sheets, curricula available for parent perusal, parent portal. (Indicators 5., 6.,7., 19., 20., 21.)

Professional and staff development is ongoing at Sand Hill and is documented through the use of sign-in sheets and Individual Learning Logs. (Indicator 8.)

Sand Hill Elementary coordinates with the school social worker, parent liaison, “Bright from the Start” Pre-K program, and outside community agencies such as DFCS, Mobile Crisis Unit, and the Treutlen House. (Indicator 9.)

Sand Hill Elementary has a mentor program partnership with the Air National Guard’s 165th Air Lift Wing. Sponsors donate to Back-to-School and “Giving Tree” drives. Faith-based and civic organizations assist our families and students, too. (Indicator 10.)

Room 312 of Sand Hill’s building is a dedicated parent resource center with materials available for home use. Parent workshops are coordinated by the Parent Liaison. (Indicator 11.)

Sand Hill has a teacher working with any ELL students who may be enrolled. (Indicator 13.)

A parent group has been trained and scheduled to assist Early Literacy Groups, workshops, work in centers, aid with schoolwide programs, and to assist teachers. (Indicator 16.)