Alcoa Elementary School Family/Community Engagement Plan

Alcoa Elementary School

Merna Schott Dr. Janet Bledsoe

Principal Assistant Principal

AES Family/Community Engagement Plan (On-going)

School Environment:

· Work on improvement in the reception area of the school in order to provide a more welcoming and safer reception area for parents and guests

· Work on improving directional signage inside and outside building to assist visitors

· Provide an atmosphere where parents and community feel welcomed to visit the building at any time

· Provide principal assisted tours of the facility for those interested in enrolling their students with AES

· Provide an after school care program for parents and children at a reasonable cost for working parents. Made available to parents from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during school days as well as holidays and school breaks.

Communication:

· Monthly “Coffee Talks” with the principal (posted on Monthly Event Calendars that go home with each student as well as on both school marquees and Channel 3. Open meeting for community and parents held with the principal that allows for informal discussion on pertinent topic concerning AES as well as a question and answer opportunity for parents

· Provide a Monthly Event Calendar that goes home with each student covering 2 months of upcoming events. Events also shown on Channel 3.

· Reading Connection newsletter—monthly. This newsletter goes home monthly with tips for home and school to work together for the students. This goes home in English and Spanish.

· Home to School Newsletter—monthly. This newsletter goes home monthly with tips, activities and up-to date information that parents can use at home. This goes home in English and Spanish.

· Fair and Consistent newsletter -- monthly. This newsletter goes home monthly with research proven strategies on fair and consistent behavior and discipline techniques. This goes home in English and Spanish.

· Planners—each student issued a Student/Parent planner each year with daily/weekly assignment sheets and place for teacher and parent to communicate regularly. This provides students as well as parents with the handbook with all policies and procedures as well as Federal lows related to parental rights. Parent acknowledgement will be secured through a signature.

· The school website will be updated with upcoming events and suggested websites for student and parent use with information on curriculum standards.

· Good News Post Cards—teachers are required to write a minimum of 2 “good news” notes monthly to either the student or the parent expressing a positive comment. If family is non-English speaking, translator assists teacher in writing the card so parents can easily read the “good news” about their student.

· Tennessee State Curriculum Standards—for each grade level in each academic subject posted on AES Web Site for parents to see and understand where their student is assessed as well as academic expectations by grade level in various subject areas.

· Syllabi—each grade level develops yearly courses of study for each academic course by 9-week grading period—available to each parent to enable them to see the curricular units, based on Tennessee State Curricular Standards, which their child will be covering each year.

Family Involvement:

· Hold a Fall Open House—1-yearly (invitation flyer to each family and Channel 3) to provide parents opportunity to meet teachers, tour building and welcome them to our school facility

· Fall and Spring Parent Teacher Conferences (notices go home with each child and on Channel 3) for teachers to speak with parents one-on-one regarding their student’s progress

· Thematic Dinners provided for parents/students/teachers on at least 3 occasions during year. (Proceeds go to AES chosen charities) i.e. Open House, both Parent Teacher Conference dates. (Notification on above flyers sent to each home & flyer on Channel 3)

· Technology Class offerings for parents and community on selected nights (advertised on Channel 3) to assist parents in use of simple technology techniques and websites that they can access from home to assist in the success of their student.

· Fall and Spring “Lunch with a Loved One” on front grounds. Picnic type lunch during regular lunch periods where parents, grandparents and family invited to come and eat with their student. Flyers go home for each event and advertised on Channel 3. This promotes the atmosphere that we strive to attain that welcomes parent and community involvement with our school.

· Pod Family Nights. Thematic night for parents to come in with their student to enjoy a fun night in their child’s pod. Each pod plans the theme to follow such as “story time” “favorite book character” “pajama night” “covered dish dinner. This promotes family involvement in their child’s education.

· Holiday Concert yearly—held in AES Theater and open to the community.

· Community Thanksgiving Feast—AES open to families of students to come enjoy the customary Turkey and Dressing with their student at no charge. Turnout so large that we have to do this over a two-day period. Adding to the atmosphere of our facility being open and one that appreciates what parents and community does for our school.

· Provide translator when non-English speaking parents come to enroll their student and visits to the school.

Committee Members: Merna Schott, Denise Brooks, Leslie Stevenson, Jennifer Coffin