Ellen Smith Elementary School will comply with the parental engagement requirements as outlined in ACT 307, of 2007 and Act 397 of 2009.
In order to encourage communication with parents, our school district maintains a copy, both written and electronic, of the Conway Public School District Handbook. This is available to every family in the Conway Public School system each year. This handbook will describe:
1) ways for parents to become involved in the school and their child’s education 2) guidelines and necessary information regarding the functions of our school.
A schedule of activities planned throughout the school year to encourage parental involvement is available on the Ellen Smith Elementary webpage.
The school will prepare a Parent Information Packet to be distributed annually, and as needed, to the parents of each child in the school. The information packet will contain the school’s parental involvement opportunities and ways for parents to become involved in their child’s education; guidelines and necessary information regarding the daily activities of our school; and procedures to ensure ongoing communication between parents and school.
To help our parents in assisting their children our school shall provide instruction to parents on how to incorporate developmentally appropriate learning activities in the home environment. We also have scheduled parent nights and meetings at which parents are given a report on the state of the school and an overview of:
A. What students will be learning B. How students are assessed C. What parents should expect for their child’s education
Ellen Smith will work collaboratively with parents to maintain a school-parent compact. The compact will contain how parents, school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improving student achievement. The compact will be shared with parents and documented in our Title I notebook. Administrators and Staff at Ellen Smith Elementary will engage in professional development to develop and increase knowledge of effective parental involvement strategies.
In order to encourage parents to participate as full partners in the decisions that affect their child and family, our school will include in our parent information packet the school’s process for resolving parental concerns.
In order to take advantage of community resources our school will enable the Parent Teacher Organization that will foster parental and community involvement within the school. The PTO will have scheduled monthly meetings to allow parents to participate in the organization.
The Principal shall designate one certified staff member who is willing to serve as a Parent Facilitator, in order to help organize training for staff and parents; promote and encourage a welcoming atmosphere to foster parental involvement in the school, and to undertake efforts to ensure that parental participation is recognized as an asset to the school. The Parental Involvement Committee at this time, consists of: Delanna Lacy; Judy Greer; Natalie Cunningham; Danielle Creswell; Susan Mulhearn; Shannon Foster;Jennifer Fason; Valerie Boogaerts; Miriam Taylor.
Ellen Smith will create an alumni advisory boards to provide the advice and guidance for school improvement.
Ellen Smith will schedule two parent teacher conferences per school year. These conferences will be advertised and scheduled so that parents may attend parent/teacher conferences in order to discuss their child’s academic progress.
Parents of Ellen Smith Elementary will log volunteer hours to help our students academically. Parents complete a survey regarding the atmosphere of our school and a venue for parents to offer input regarding offered programs.
The Ellen Smith Parent Center is opened daily to all parents. Resources include parenting information, content specific manipulatives, that can be checked out and taken home, as well as a computer for on-line needs.
