ELLEN MYERS PRIMARY
FAMILY/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT POLICY
2009-2010

The faculty of Ellen Myers Primary believes it takes a community of people—teachers, parents, and community members—to provide the best educational opportunities for our students.

The following document shares some of the provisions made to involve parents and community members in the educational endeavors and activities of the school. It also addresses the mission and focus of the Claiborne County Parent/Community Involvement Policy.

During the school year there are several occasions for parents to come to the school and meet with teachers to learn about the educational program, expectations, and student progress/problems. There are also planned events in which parents are invited to participate, along with their children, in order to create an enjoyable and welcoming atmosphere.

Orientation/Open House At the beginning of the school year, as soon as practicable after registration, all parents are invited to come to an orientation meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to introduce grade-level teachers, explain school policies and procedures, answer questions, display basal texts, and let parents visit the classrooms.

Parent-Teacher Conferences. Conferences are scheduled after the first, third and fifth, six-weeks grading period. Parents are invited to come and ask questions or voice concerns pertaining to their child’s performance at school. Additional conferences may be scheduled, as needed, upon the request of either the parents or teacher.

Annual Title I Meeting. Each spring a meeting is scheduled to inform parents of the school’s participation in Family Friendly Schools, Title I requirements, and parental rights to be involved in their child’s education. This meeting is conducted at the school by personnel from the Central Office.

In addition to meetings, there are many forms of written communication designed specifically to help parents stay in touch with school events, student progress, and policies and procedures governing the day-to-day operations of the school:

School Handbook. A handbook is distributed to each household of Ellen Myers students. The handbook describes all policies and procedures that help us provide an orderly and secure learning environment. Families are asked to read all the information and then sign and return the statement of understanding on the back page.

Student-Parent-Teacher Compact. A compact has been developed that outlines how students, teachers and parents will share the responsibility for improved student achievement. All concerned parties are asked to sign the compact in acknowledgement of the fact that cooperative efforts will produce better results and lead to greater mastery of state standards.

Student Planners/Parent Communicators. Third and fourth grade students use planners and communicators to keep track of assignments and projects. Parents are asked to sign these forms and return to school to show that the student has completed the assignment. Kindergarten, first, and second grades have typed forms that go out on a weekly basis and serve the same purpose. All these forms have room for additional comments or inquiries to be added by either parents or teachers.

Progress Reports and Grade Cards. The school keeps parents informed of students’ grades via progress reports sent home at midterm and grade cards at the end of each six-weeks grading period. Parents are asked to sign that they have seen the reports before sending them back to school.

Newsletters. A school newsletter is sent out bimonthly to advise parents of the upcoming activities at school.

Home and School Connection. A monthly newsletter is sent home from Title I that gives parents helpful hints on homework, discipline, activities and different ways of volunteering at school, in addition to informational brochures emphasizing engaging parents in their child’s education. Ellen Myers also has a website for parents to access, in order to stay informed of current units, assignments, and homework for each grade level.
We are also making literacy bags available for each grade level, to be checked out and returned by the parents. These bags contain books and activities that correlate with topics covered by the different grades for students to enjoy with their families. Each bag also contains a disposable camera so that pictures can be taken at home and displayed at school.

Family Literacy and Scholastic Book Fair Nights. Events are planned at least once each semester for parents and students to participate in activities together, in order to promote literacy, and to create an atmosphere where families feel welcome and can enjoy themselves. There are also Scholastic Book Fair Family Nights in the fall and spring, to give parents an opportunity to bring their children back to shop after regular school hours.

Parents as Reading Partners. Parents are asked to sign a commitment to read 15 minutes each day with their child. A monthly calendar is sent home to check off and return to school when completed. A certificate is awarded at the end of the year if each month’s reading has been completed.

There are several auxiliary services and organizations that greatly enhance the opportunities available to the students of Ellen Myers.

Lincoln Memorial University Partnership. L.M.U. students work hand in hand with classroom teachers in several capacities—helping hands in the classroom, unit of study presentations, and student teaching. A culminating events night is held for parents to observe displayed work that has been produced with the help of Partnership personnel.

P.T.O. (Parent-Teachers Organization). This organization is open to all parents, and is very helpful in promoting parent volunteer services and supplying extra funding for special projects. Grade-level programs are presented on a rotating basis to encourage attendance. We also have established a parent council that meets on a regular basis to discuss school policies, and plan ways to help families and community members become more involved in the activities of our school.

There are certain holiday observances and special events for which we issue special invitations to parents and community members.

Grandparents’ Day. All grandparents are invited to come visit the classroom of their grandchild/grandchildren. Refreshments are served, pictures are taken, and gifts made by the students are given to the grandparents.

Fall Festival. Although the Fall Festival is a fund-raising event, it still qualifies as an activity for family involvement. Many parents are involved in planning and operating the many games and activities at the Festival; others just bring their children and come to enjoy the food and exciting action. Other residents of the community may come just for the live auction, hoping to get a bargain on the 100+ items donated by local businesses.

Veterans’ Day. Ellen Myers very proudly invites veterans to celebrate this special day with us. A patriotic program is presented by the third graders, and refreshments are served. A wall of honor is designed and displayed by the fourth graders for all present to view.

RIF. Ellen Myers has participated in the federally funded Reading Is Fundamental Program for many years. This program requires participation by parents in several different categories. They assist in raising money for the local share of the program, ordering appropriate books, helping students pick out books on distribution day, and reading RIF books to different reading groups. Community support is also elicited as Community Readers Day brings community leaders and business people into all classrooms to share their favorite stories. Community Readers Day is always held in conjunction with one of the distribution days for RIF.

Field Trips. Each grade level is allowed one out-of-county field trip per semester. When space at the field trip site allows, parents are invited to provide their own transportation and join the students.

Holiday Parties. Twice a year, usually at Halloween and Valentine’s Day, parents are invited to attend parties in their child’s room. Refreshments are provided and served by parents.