1 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 TITLE I 2014-2015 PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY FOR Paul D. West Middle School One Vision, One Team, One Goal 2376 Headland Drive East Point, GA 30344 (404) 669-8130 Ms. Pammy Darden, Principal Ms. Tonjie L. Clark, Parent Liaison Paul D. West Middle School Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014- 2015 Ms. Pammy Darden, Principal REVISED October 10, 2014 2 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 Statement Of Purpose Paul D. West Middle School, (PDWMS), has set a strategic goal to increase our parental involvement for the 2014-2015 school year. We believe that in order to guarantee student success, a partnership between our school and parents are vital. Additionally, educational research clearly shows that parents who are actively involved in their child’s learning at home help their children become more successful learners in and out of school Moreover, in an effort to facilitate this involvement and to maximize the performance of our students; a plan has been formulated and is outlined in this report. The mission, the vision and the student creed of PDWMS are as follows: Mission: The mission of Paul D. West Middle School is to educate our students to their fullest potential so they will become responsible, productive citizens in a global society. Vision: We envision a professional learning community dedicated and committed to building the future one student at a time, bridging the gap between the school and the community, and bonding together to achieve our primary goal, which is student success. Student Creed: I am a Paul D. West Panther. I will believe in myself daily and my ability to do positive things to improve my school environment. I will use my ability to read, write and think so that I am able to compete in a global society. Finally, with an active and a feasible effort to improve student achievement, the PDWMS administrators, the PDWMS parent liaison and parents have established objectives and will implement strategies to increase parent and community involvement within our school. Moreover, we have conducted meetings per grade level with teachers to educate them on Title I, how Title I funds are used and the roles that parental engagement and the Title I Parent Liaison play at PDWMS. Finally, teachers are educated at these meetings and at Parental Engagement Events on best practices of working with parents at PDWMS by our Title I Parent Liaison, Ms. Clark. What Is Title I? Definition: Title I is a federally funded program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), that provides funds through the United States Department of Education to the Georgia Department of Education. At PDWMS, Title I supports our students to help ensure that they all meet challenging state REVISED October 10, 2014 3 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 academic content and student academic achievement standards. Title I also serves to reinforce and amplify efforts to improve teaching and learning for our students furthest from meeting state standards. What Is A Student-Parent Compact And How Is It Used At PDWMS? At Paul D. West Middle School, students participating in the Title I, Part A Program, and their families agree that a Student-Parent Compact outlines how our parents, our school staff, and our students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. Additionally, our compact describes how our school and parents will build and develop a partnership that will help students achieve the state’s high standards. The compact was jointly developed by PDWMS parents, the Title I Parent Liaison, Ms. Tonjie Clark, educators, community partners and other stakeholders in the best interest of student academic achievement for the 2014-2015 school years. Revisions are done collectively by all stakeholders annually to best suit the academic needs of the students at PDWMS. Parent Liaison Paul D. West Middle School, (PDWMS), has one highly, qualified parent liaison, Ms. Tonjie Clark. Ms. Clark serves to improve the students’ academic, social and behavioral achievement through parental trainings, workshops and student/teacher/parent interactions throughout the year. Ms. Clark thoroughly facilitates this process in the following manner: Providing relevant parental workshops and community information Providing educational material within the Panther Parent Resource Room Encouraging parental participation in school meetings, parental trainings and workshops, PTA meetings and teacher-parent conferences. Providing bi-lingual translations during teacher-parent conferences and as needed at the school Implementing multi-cultural programs and activities for bi-lingual families Parental Involvement Activities and Programs Our parent involvement meetings are designed to provide parents with resources and materials they need to become more effective and actively involved in their children’s education. We will continue to provide our parents and community with various forms of communication, including translations such as the parent/student handbook, newsletters, e-mails, PTA information and School Messenger calls, etc. In addition we will have the following activities in an effort to bridge the gap between home and school: REVISED October 10, 2014 4 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 Parental Involvement Seminars 1. Panther Parent Partners In Literacy Coffee Chat and Chew: Fall Reading Extravaganza The PDWMS reading coach, grade level reading chairs and the parent liaison, Ms. Tonjie Clark, will partner to encourage literacy among the students and parents at PDWMS. A seminar given in which parents and students will learn strategies that foster a successful collaboration with one another through literacy knowledge. Parents will learn what literacy means, the importance of literacy in every subject area and engage in relationship/team building exercises. Parents will learn “text-language” and begin to understand “what their kids are really saying”. Additionally, the East Point Library will discuss how to get a library card and how to access online services for assisting students with study skills, writing papers and tutorials services. In the “spirit” of building relationships, parents will be encouraged to volunteer at PDWMS. Finally, pertinent Title I information will be discussed, e.g. Parent Compacts. 2. Empowering Our Parents Lunch and Learn: Strategies For Students’ Academic Success This seminar will be implemented to foster an interest and understanding of reading, science, technology, engineering and mathematics and how they affect student academic success. PDWMS parents and students will learn strategies such as probability, deductive reasoning, calculations, the scientific method, and grade level standards that foster student success. The PDWMS grade level math/science chairs and math/science teachers will partner with the Parent Liaison, Ms. Clark, to conduct “break-out” seminars as follows: a. Reducing Test Anxiety: A counselor from PDWMS will discuss how to alleviate test anxiety and overall stress in learning and performing academically in math/science. Through problem solving, predicting and creating timelines for assignment/homework completion in math students and parents will learn strategies to reduce stress and test anxiety in math. b. Developing Good Study Habits: Teachers will lecture on organizational skills for math classes and other classes and on ways to be prepared for class daily. c. Careers in Reading, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Parents will learn how to prepare their children for careers where core academic subject areas are utilized. Career professionals will discuss how to prepare at the middle school level for future careers. 3. Georgia Milestones: Narrowing the Achievement Gap Night: A seminar that targets the academic areas of Mathematics, Science, REVISED October 10, 2014 5 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 Social Studies, etc. for the overall academic success for students prior to the taking the Georgia Milestones. This will be held during the second semester, per grade level with teachers, parents and students. The “night” is conducted in one general session in which a panel of educators and professionals speak about how parents can assist their students with a successful performance on the Georgia Milestones during the 2014- 2015 school year. Following, there will be “breakout” sessions in which teachers will meet with parents and students about test-taking strategies, practice testing information and bestpractices for improving their test scores in preparation for the Georgia Milestones. 4. Math and Literacy Day: With Operation Hope of Atlanta a. Banking On Our Future, (BOOF)- These seminars educate parents on money management and makes math “come alive” for students. Operation Hope will set-up “mini-banks” at PDWMS where students could make minor transactions. This effort is in collaboration with Bank of America and Capital City Bank. Also, this supports our math initiative for academic improvement at PDWMS. b. Hope Business In A Box, (HBIAB)- Parents and students will learn additional information on state standards in math and more mathematical concepts through business planning. Also, these seminars will educate parents and students on financial dignity and financial literacy as it relates to math and academic standards in math. Additionally, parents and students are exposed to opportunities for entrepreneurship and future financial independence. Finally, students will participate in an entrepreneurship activity similar to the reality television show, “Shark Tank”. While utilizing this business model, students and parents will learn how the aspects of starting a business, charting and calculating data in the form of investments, reading and interpreting stock and industrial averages are all inter-related to math strategies and standards in their math classes. 5. Partners In Education Breakfast: Honoring Parents and Community Partners That Make A Difference Parents will learn how they can bridge the gap between home, school and the community to promote student achievement and success. Parents will learn about community resources that will assist them with educating their children at home while utilizing community partners. The community partners will educate PDWMS parents on services, programs and strategies to foster learning and academic growth among our students at West. These resources will complement reading and literacy involvement/practices across the academic curriculum e.g. Reading, Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Technology. REVISED October 10, 2014 6 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 6. High School Prep Day: Muffins and Mentoring-Inspiring Students and Educating Parents On High School Expectations This will be held prior to the end of the year for students and for parents. a. Requirements for high school b. PDWMS Alumni Panel Discussion about the high school experience Matching Program Needs To PDWMS A formal meeting is conducted yearly to include parents in the planning process for the school program and revision of the school-parent compact. In addition, an initial meeting is held to inform parents of the school’s Title 1 Plan, its requirements and their right to be involved in the program during the month of September. This process will continue throughout the year in order to reach as many parents as possible. Additionally, parents will be involved in the planning review and improvement of programs for Title I in an organized, ongoing and timely way. A written notice will be given to all parents of the students identified as needing program services. A parent meeting will be held once a year highlighting the student’s achievements and interpreting assessment results to monitor the progression of the school program. The school will also describe the curriculum and the assessments used by the school system to measure student progress in meeting the State’s student achievement standards. A State of the School newsletter will be shared with our community in January and May of each year, notifying stakeholders of our progress. Moreover, family literacy and math activities will be provided as appropriate to foster parental involvement and increased student achievement. Finally, through regular meetings we will provide the opportunity to volunteer and participate in the decision making process by offering suggestions and receiving timely feedback to their suggestions. Parental Education on State Academic Standards and Title I Expectations During Curriculum Night, parents will receive information regarding the focus of learning for the year. Parents will also receive Common Core, Georgia Performance Standards and other relevant assessment information to enable them to become knowledgeable of the yearly benchmark targets. Parents are also invited to attend Standardized Testing informational workshops to keep them abreast of current state requirements of achievement. Workshops will be conducted to train parents in ways they can contribute to their child’s progress at home. Ideas will be shared for REVISED October 10, 2014 7 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 monitoring attendance and television viewing, completing homework, and opportunities provided for volunteering at PDWMS. Efforts will be made to provide a supportive and effective learning environment by collaborating with the Special Education Department and other pertinent departments, and we will also utilize our bilingual services to facilitate the translation of pertinent information for parents where English is not their first language. Parents and students with disabilities will also be accommodated with collaboration of the Special Education Department at the PDWMS and county levels. Also, Parent teacher conferences will be held periodically to relate individual student’s achievement to parents. The parent liaison will provide workshops, meetings and conferences with parents concerning information about Title I expectations and guidelines. Also, parents will be informed of their student’s academic progress through Progress Reports and formal Report Cards that will be sent home as scheduled by Fulton County Schools. Additionally, parents will also be encouraged to participate in their student’s class and observe classroom activities. Finally, the PDWMS parent liaison will provide support as needed, e.g. the GA Department of Education Website, for the parents. PDWMS Business Partners and Partners In Education Local area business partners will be acquired and utilized to build relationships with our parents, students and teachers of PDWMS. Formal compacts between parents, school, community stakeholders, and students will be used to specify everyone’s contributing role in reaching the individual student’s goals. Community resources will be used to strengthen schools, families, and support programs. Partners in Education and service groups will be engaged with our school in a meaningful collaboration to advance student learning. Partners in Education are encouraged to become involved in the schools in ways that include volunteering in the classrooms, mentoring students, and attending parent meetings as guest speakers and resource people through the PDWMS parent liaison. PDWMS Panther Parent Resource Room On-going and through utilizing the parent resource room at PDWMS, training programs will be conducted throughout the school year to provide resources to help parents work with their children to improve their performance. These programs will address literacy, technology, and other skills that will foster parental involvement. Examples of activities that will be provided include: REVISED October 10, 2014 8 PDWMS Title I Parent Involvement Policy 2014-2015 Literacy programs that bond families through reading and using the public library Providing information on the essential components of reading and math instruction to enable the parents to support the instructional practices used by the teacher Training for parents in the use of the internet to enable their access to children’s homework, communication with the teachers, and access to information posted about opportunities to promote student achievement. Information regarding parent workshops, school activities, and other pertinent information will be available in the parent resource room. Additionally, information will be sent home with students to encourage participation of all parents including parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, families that are homeless in a format that will provide information to limited English proficient parents through our bilingual services. REVISED October 10, 2014