East Side Elementary Family Engagement Plan and P.T.A.C. Officers
East Side Elementary School
Family Engagement Plan &
P.T.A.C. Officers
2011-2012
President
Kristy Shell 543-1829
Vice President
Michelle White 542-6878
Treasurer
Marianne Townsend 330-4565
Secretary
Shelley Trivette 342-8074
Grounds Committee
Dwight Stiltner 213-0053
Teacher
Teresa Dugger 213-8616
East Side Elementary School
Parent Involvement Coordinator and
Teacher
Tammy Troutman 542-3077
Principal
Josh Wandell
Our Mission:
Our primary mission for East Side Elementary School is to provide a safe environment where our students are academically challenged and learn to work cooperatively in a school setting. Our focus is to meet the intellectual, emotional, physical, and social needs of all East Side students.
Our Vision:
We will strive to enable all children to develop according to their greatest potential and to acquire the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed for a successful life.
OUR STAFF BELIEVES:
Students should be provided an environment conducive to the development of
intellectual, social, and physical skills.
Students should be provided a balanced curriculum of language arts, science, mathematics, social studies, physical education and classroom guidance designed to develop fundamental skills and to meet individual needs.
Students should be provided a variety of materials, methods, groupings, and teaching techniques.
Students should be provided an opportunity to develop positive self-image, an inquiring mind, an appreciation of others, high moral standards, and good character.
Students should be given many opportunities to develop computer technology skills.
Students should be provided the skills necessary to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
Students should be given opportunities to cultivate an awareness and appreciation of the arts.
The faculty promotes good school-community relationships through parent-teacher cooperation and participation and desirable social relationships through better understanding of cultural, ethnic, and social differences.
East Side Elementary School
Family Engagement Plan
East Side Elementary School recognizes that a child’s education is a responsibility shared by the school and family during the entire time the child spends in school. To support the goal of the schools to educate all students effectively, the school and parents must work as knowledgeable partners. Parents are an integral component of a school’s ability to successfully educate their children. East Side Elementary School acknowledges that engaging families is essential to improving student achievement, and that schools should foster and support active parental involvement.
In a 2009 legislative session Senate Bill No. 293 was enacted which required the
Tennessee Department of Education to develop parental involvement standards in public schools. The Tennessee Standards listed below are based on the PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. These standards were adopted by the State Board of Education on July 30,2010.
During the 2010 – 2011 school year, this plan was updated to include the state standards in an effort to increase collaboration and promote community ownership. It is our intent to meet (or exceed) the goal(s) outlined in each standard.
The standards are:
1: Welcoming All Families Into The School Community—Families are active
participants in the life of the school and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each
other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class and school.
2: Communicating Effectively—Families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning.
3: Supporting Student Success—Families and school staff continuously work together to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and
have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
4: Speaking Up For Every Child—Families are informed and enabled to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.
5: Sharing Power—Families and school staff are equal partners with equal representation in decisions that affect students and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.
6: Collaborating With Community—Families and school staff work together with
community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning
opportunities, community services, and civic participation.
The East Side Elementary School Family Engagement Plan, established in collaboration with parents, includes programs and practices that enhance parental involvement and reflects the specific needs of students of all grade levels and their families. The parental Involvement Plan involves the parents of students in all grade levels in a variety of roles. The plan recognizes that communication between home and
school should be regular, two-way, and meaningful. Information sent home to parents will be in a language that is easy to read and understand. Forms and letters for non-English speaking parents will be provided. Assistance will also be provided for parents having impairments or disabilities that cause difficulty with reading.
To encourage this communication, East Side Elementary School has made available a student planner that is appropriate for the age and grade level of each student in grades one through five. The 2010-2011 student planners will describe the parental involvement program. It will define the role of the parent, student, teacher, and school. It will explain ways for the parents to become involved in the school and their children’s education. The student planners will describe the activities planned throughout the school year that encourage parent involvement, and a system to allow parents to communicate with teachers and principals in a consistent and meaningful manner.
Parent-teacher conferences are provided twice throughout the year as scheduled days on the school calendar. Additional conferences, both before and after school, are available upon parent request. Intervention conferences for both reading and math are provided every 4 ½ weeks. Parents are notified of conference dates and times by letters sent home, phone calls from the teacher, the school calendar, notes in planners, and announcements on the school marquee. Conference time will be used to discuss student academic progress and behavior, interpreting test scores and data, and future academic goals and objectives.
To promote and support responsible parenting, East Side Elementary School will purchase books, magazines, and other informative pamphlets regarding responsible parenting through the school library. These materials will be advertised and parents will have an opportunity to borrow the materials for review. These materials will be located in the hallway near the office for easy access to parents.
A Parent Involvement Coordinator is in place to help bridge the partnership between the school and parents. The coordinator will plan activity nights for each grade level. Students and their families will be engaged in activities that reinforce learning and involvement between parents and their children. Activities will be based on curriculum standards for each grade level. Transportation and childcare will be provided for these nights upon parental requests when appropriate.
During the first P.T.A.C. meeting a ―Get the Scoop‖ evening will be scheduled on the East Side Elementary School campus. ―Scoops‖ of both ice cream and information will be made available to families. Topics that will be covered are:
1. State of the School
2. What students will be learning
3. How students will be assessed
4. What parents should expect for their child’s education
5. How parents can assist and make a difference in their child’s education
To welcome parents to East Side Elementary School, all policies and procedures are inviting to parents who wish to visit, including visits to classrooms and the cafeteria.
East Side Elementary School will publish a volunteer resource book, listing the interests and availability of volunteers for school staff members’ use. The resource book will help match school needs with volunteer interests. To develop the volunteer resource book, the school will:
1. Survey parents regarding their interests, so volunteer work will be meaningful
2. Survey including parents’ hobbies and occupations, and how those could be resourceful for teachers and classrooms
3. Determine how frequently a volunteer would like to participate, including
just one time a year
4. Include options for those who are available to help at home
As part of the East Side Elementary School Parent Involvement Plan, statements will be printed attesting to the school district’s commitment to parental involvement. These statements will be distributed at the beginning of each school year in the form of pamphlets, newsletters, websites, and announcement will be made at PTAC meetings.
East Side Elementary School desires the input and suggestions of parents. The school will support the development, implementation, and regular evaluation of the program to involve parents in the decisions and practices of the school district, using to the degree possible, the following components:
1. The principal will designate one certified staff member that is willing to serve as a
parent facilitator to organize meaningful training for staff and parents, promoting
and encouraging a welcoming atmosphere to parental involvement in the school.
The parent facilitator will also undertake efforts to ensure that parental
participation is recognized as an asset to the school.
2. The certified staff serving as a parental facilitator will receive extended contract
pay for the assigned duties.
Staff development opportunities as required by the State Board of Education’s Standards of Accreditation of Tennessee Public Schools will be offered each year. Eighteen (18) hours of professional development opportunities for teachers will be offered annually. The professional development will be designed to enhance understanding of effective parental involvement strategies. Parents will be invited to these professional development activities when appropriate to give input.
A breakfast is provided for parent and grandparent volunteers at the end of the year. This breakfast is a gesture of appreciation for the hours of time that these family members have donated to the school. They also receive a certificate acknowledging their participation.
It is the goal of East Side Elementary School to assure an ongoing partnership between families, communities, and the school. We believe such a partnership is fundamental to the academic and social success of students. From this partnership a support will evolve that will have a positive effect on student achievement and will produce a sense of cooperative responsibility in ensuring excellence in the educational process. In accordance to the District plan, East Side Elementary School has developed the following list of activities in which parents and or volunteers can be involved in the educational process of our students.
Academic Conferences All-Pro Dad’s Program Anti-bullying Committee (parents) Book Fair (parent volunteers) Calendars (Monthly and yearly with main events, holidays…) Classroom Volunteers – Parents, College Students, Community Members Character Education (Assembly) Character Education Visitors Clothes Donations – Parents, Community Discipline Committee (parents) Fire safety Week Visits – school trips Food Drive Girls on the Run Program Grandparents Lunch Guest Speakers/Visitors Handbooks Holiday and Special Occasion Parties Homeroom Mom/Dad Kiwanis Club partnership (K-Kids) Library Volunteers Lunch/Breakfast with Child – Daily News releases (newspaper, radio, TV) Nurses – Hearing, Vision and Scoliosis Screenings On campus Parent Coordinator Open Parent Conferences – Available Daily Parades Parental Contact for students in need of tutoring Parental Involvement Contract Parent Night (Open House) Parental Notification of Title I Read/Reading Recovery Students Parent/Teacher Conferences Parent/Grandparent Visitation Day Planned Family Engagement Events for each grade level Private/Business Donations and Partnerships
Progress Reports School Musicals Teacher E-mail Web-page