Cole Elementary School

Parent Involvement Policy

2008-2009 School Year

Parents are Partners at Cole Elementary

Parental involvement is critical to the educational success of children. Parents are very influential in helping their children achieve high academic standards. When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children are successful and schools improve. You, as parents, are partners in your child’s education and are encouraged to be actively involved. Listed below are ways in which parental involvement is employed at Cole Elementary.

Communication with Parents:

• A letter is sent to each student’s home prior to the beginning of the school year welcoming him or her to Cole Elementary.
• A newsletter, The Cole Times, is sent home in both English and Spanish at every report card and progress report time.
• Parents are contacted by phone, in their native language, regarding positive and negative actions of their children. All teachers have telephones in their classrooms in order to make this easier.
• A Parent-School Compact is signed by parents, teachers, and students.
• Parents are informed of the school curriculum and expected proficiency levels by receiving copies of the Metro Academic Standards, progress reports, report cards, and ThinkLink reports.
• The marquee in front of school is utilized in both English and Spanish to relay important information to parents.
• A school wide call out system is used in order to reach a large amount of families in a short period of time.

Meeting with Parents

• The Cole Advisory Team was developed in hopes of reaching a large, diverse group of parent volunteers.
• A Fall Title I Open House is held to welcome parents and students and to provide information about our school and the Tile I Program.
• Parent workshops, such as Pastries for Parents and Family Math Night, are scheduled throughout the year to equip parents to teach their children at home. The times of these vary for parents’ convenience.
• Parent Conferences are scheduled in October between teachers and parents with interpreters available, if needed.

Active Parent Participation

• Parent Involvement programs will be advertised in a timely manner though newsletters, flyers, and the outside marquee.
• Parents are invited to attend classroom activities, field trips, holiday parties, assemblies, and to volunteer with activities such as Picture Day, Fall Fest, Thanksgiving lunch and Book Fair.
• Parents are involved in writing and implementing the Parent-School Compact and the School Improvement Plan.
• A suggestion box is available in the front lobby for parental input.