HOW TO PROMOTE PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS

By Denise Long, Community School Coordinator.

Working together is success.” Henry Ford

Coming together is a beginningKeeping together is Progress

RESEARCH SHOWS

The earlier in a child's education that parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects will be.

1, WHY DON’T PARENTS GET INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL!

BARRIERS

2, HOW TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER!.

3, HOW TO KEEP YOUR VOLUNTEERS!

WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS

Discomfort with formal Education setting

Memories of “less than pleasant” school experiences

Lack of personal success in formal education

Issues with authority figures

Education completed

WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS

School’s Comfort Level With Inviting Parents into our Schools

Teachers willingness to empower volunteers

Additional work to set up programs and supervise additional volunteers

WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS

Parents Attitude

Teachers are paid to educate so “why should I go do their job”

Already involved in too many things

Let one of the other parents do it this time

My child wouldn’t like me there

HOW TO GET PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER HOW TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER Have parents fill out a survey at the beginning of the

year

Have a list of dates of the events that you have every year

Offer parents opportunities to volunteer at your special events that are well-organized, long lasting, or one time only

Help parents fill out 701 Policy, offer to pay for their Criminal Record Check,

Have a volunteer orientation day

BBQ Open House “Meet and Greet”

ALLOW PARENTS TO CHOOSE FROM A RANGE OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES HOW TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER Offer short term and longer term projects.

Develop projects that can be done at home and brought back to school

Organization, planning skills

Clerical, copying

Hobbies, crafts, talents, artistic abilities

Special expertise

NOW YOU HAVE YOUR VOLUNTEERS HOW TO KEEP

THEM

Thank you volunteers daily, a personal thank you goes a long way.

Have students write thank you notes Identify a parent center for parents to use while

at school Design a parent friendly environment Parent information wall, corner or a room to

gather Give parents a badge that identifies them as a

“parent partner” at school Communicate regularly and acknowledge parent

involvement through news letters, talk mail etc.

Students with involved families, regardless of income or background, are more likely to:

o Earn high grades and test scores

o Enroll in higher-level programs

o Improve their behavior and attitude

o Pass their classes, earn credits and be promotedo Attend school regularly

o Graduate and go on to post-secondary education

A FEW FACTS:

QUESTIONS!

THANK YOU FOR

VOLUNTEERING

Denise Long,

Community School Coordinator