450 N. Main St.
P.O. Box 1279
White Salmon, WA
98672
(509)493-1560
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY
Whitson Elementary School is committed to the goal of providing quality education for all children in our building. To ensure that this happens, we will establish and maintain partnerships with parents and the community. Everyone gains if the school and home work together to promote high achievement by our children. We simply cannot be as effective if parents are not included in the process. Parents play an extremely important role as their child's first teacher. Their support for their children and for the school is critical to our mutual success. Whitson elementary school has the responsibility to help parents support the efforts of the school. The Whitson Elementary School parental involvement policy explains how Whitson will support this goal.
*Headings that are written using capital letters are components of the
Parent Involvement Policy that
are required by the School-wide Title I Program.
COMMUNICATE
CONVENE AN ANNUAL MEETING TO EXPLAIN SPECIAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
The school-wide Program at Whitson is presented to the School Improvement
Planning Team, (SIP) and the PTO in the fall of each year.
HOLD REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS AT FLEXIBLE MEETING TIMES
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and Bilingual/Migrant Parent Advisory
Committee (PAC) meetings
are held on a regular basis throughout the year. Parents and staff brainstorm
ideas for the year's programs. Programs are then planned around topics
of interest for future meetings. .School Improvement Planning Team (SIP)
meetings are also held on a regular basis.
JOINTLY DEVELOP A SCHOOL-PARENT COMPACT THAT OUTLINES HOW PARENTS, THE
SCHOOL STAFF, AND STUDENTS WILL SHARE RESPONSIBISIPY FOR IMPROVED STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT.
Members of the PTO and CREST (staff behavior management team) developed
the "Parent-Student-Teacher Compact". Each year the "Parent-Student-Teacher
Compact" is reviewed and revised according to parent and staff input
gathered by the School Improvement Planning Team (SIP), PTO, PAC and
staff. "The Compact" is sent home in the School Handbook annually.
Parents, students and teachers review and sign "The Compact",
and the signature page is returned to school to be placed in the student's
file.
INVOLVE
PARENTS IN AN ORGANIZED, ONGOING, AND TIMELY WAY IN THE PLANNING, REVIEW
AND IMPROVEMENT OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL-WIDE PROGRAM PLAN
AND SCHOOL PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY AND SUBMIT ANY COMMENTS, IF
THE PLAN IS UNSATISFACTORY TO PARENTS.
Surveys are sent to parents requesting input about the school program.
This information is reviewed by the School Improvement Planning Team
(SIP), PTO, PAC. The information is used in selecting areas for school-wide
improvement and developing a plan for improvement.
To evaluate "The Parental Involvement Policy" information is
collected on various aspects of parent involvement. Information may include
the number of participants in "The Positively Kids!" Volunteer
Program, parents attending Parent-Teacher Conferences, parents attending
programs, meetings and trainings, and responses on surveys. This information
is compiled, and then reviewed by the School Improvement Planning Team,
PTO, PAC and Parent Support Committee. This review includes an assessment
of how much parental involvement is increasing and what barriers must
be dealt with. "The Parental Involvement Policy" is revised
based on the annual review.
COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILIES OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN IN THE HOME LANGUAGE
WHEN APPROPRIATE .
The school staff will:
· Translate written school information (letters, notes, bulletins, progress
reports, etc.)
· Translate Parent-Teacher Conferences
· Translate meetings and/or hold similar meetings in Spanish (PAC)
· Translate parenting classes and/or hold similar classes in Spanish
· Make personnel available to translate for parents during the school
day
PROVIDE TO PARENTS OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING:
· School performance profiles and assessment results.
· A description and explanation of curriculum assessment, and the proficiency
levels students are
expected to meet.
The above information is shared
at Parent-Teacher Conferences, SIP, PTO, PAC and other parent meetings
as well as in building and district
newsletters.
TRAIN AND PROVIDE PARENT EDUCATION
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATING PARENTS IN UNDERSTANDING THE NATIONAL
GOALS AND STATE CONTENT AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
This information is discussed at Parent-Teacher Conferences, PTO and
PAC Meeting, and
through classroom and building newsletters.
PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT HELPS PARENTS WORK WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO IMPROVE
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (IN HOME LANGUAGE, TO EXTENT POSSIBLE) OR TO PROVIDE
LITERACY TRAINING AS NECESSARY.
Teachers share ideas during Parent-Teacher Conferences, at PTO and PAC
Meeting, and
other parent meetings as well as through classroom and building newsletters.
(Translation-see Communicating with Families) SIP training will be addressed
in the Coordinate and Encourage Community Outreach section of this policy.
EDUCATE
TEACHERS, PUPIL SERVICES PERSONNEL, PRINCIPALS AND OTHER STAFF ON THE
VALUE OF PARENTS' CONTRIBUTIONS AND HOW TO REACH OUT AND COMMUNICATE
WITH FAMILIES.
Staff training opportunities are offered throughout the year during
staff meetings and inservices, and through the school volunteer program. There
are also many ongoing opportunities for parents and staff to work together
including school volunteering, School Improvement Planning Team (SIP),
PTO and PAC. This ongoing dialogue strengthens home-school partnerships.
COORDINATE AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
FOSTER
LINKAGES TO HEAD START, EVEN START, AREA PRESCHOOLS, 21ST CENTURY LEARNING
CENTER GRANT, HIGHER EDUCATION, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT
TRAINING, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES, SKYLINE HOSPITAL,
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUBS, ETC.
In the spring of each year, the staff of Head Start, and area preschools
meet to discuss strategies for the continuation of support to families.
To further aid in the transition from preschool to kindergarten, Head
Start and preschool children visit Whitson Elementary School. A
Kindergarten Screening is also held each spring so that families of incoming
kindergartner students have the opportunity to learn about Whitson and
the Whitson staff
gains valuable information for planning for kindergarten children and
their families.
The Columbia Gorge Academy/Work Source provides educational and employment training opportunities through programs such as I LRN, an alternative school placement program, adult basic education and ESL classes. The school district also contracts with Clark College and the addition, a school team meets with local law enforcement and social services agencies to coordinate services for school district students when appropriate.
SUPPORT OTHER ACTIVITIES AND
SERVICES WHICH MAY INCLUDE PARENT RESOURCE CENTERS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH,
LITERACH TRAINING AND HOME VISITS.
The School-wide Coordinator
and Whitson counselor meet on a regular basis with school and
community resource groups. The school-wide Title I/LAP coordinator is
an active member of the Even Start Collaborators and coordinates with
Even Start to provide literacy training for families.
DEVELOP ROLES FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES IN PARENT INVOLVEMENT
ACTIVITIES.
Whitson Elementary
School is linked with businesses through its "Adopt A Business" program
which matches each classroom with a local business. In addition, business
and community organizations are involved in career awareness activities.
The school volunteer program offers opportunities for business and community
members to volunteer at Whitson. . Businesses and community organizations
are also working together to support "The Children's Health and
Safety Fair" ("HUGS").
This commitment to family involvement is supported by the school board. The policy will be coordinated by the TitleI/Learning Assistance Program and migrant/bilingual district coordinators, and promoted by the building principal and other school staff.
The School Improvement Planning Team (SIP) reviews this policy annually. SIP includes:
- 1 Parent
- 4 Teachers
- 2 Support Staff
- School-wide Title I Coordinator
- District Assessment/Special Education Coordinator
- Principal
