Learning Curve
Checking In with Parents
Posted on January 3, 2022, by GAPMP
Meet Teresa Bruce from Franklin County
It is so important to reassure parents that our school district does care for their student’s success and their successful transition into a new school. By reaching out to parents and taking a personal interest in their student, parents will be more likely to reach back and engage parent mentor in future needs and communication.
Following up on the transition meetings we hosted for rising 6th and 9th graders, I decided to do a “check in” with each family that attended during the first week of the new school year. I was able to talk personally via a phone conversation or send a personal email to each attendee.
The extra effort to reach out during this, sometimes scary, transitional time for families will help engage parents for future conversations, make them feel more at ease with our department and allow them to feel a more personal connection to our schools.
Several of the parents I spoke with had follow up questions for me. I was able to answer their questions, or put them in touch with the person to whom they needed to speak. My daughter, Lauren, always knew when teachers were in her corner. She flourished in those classes. This effort is the same premise, letting parents know that I am in their corner will allow them more confidence with our school system and that confidence will trickle down to their student and allow that student to flourish.
We hosted Moving to Middle School and Highway to High School transition meetings before we finished up the 2020/2021 school year. These were in person meetings and were well attended. Our upcoming 6th graders and their parents were able to meet with their new teachers, engage with them, and take a first look at their new school. We provided welcome packets about their transition and pertinent information about moving to middle school. In an effort to bolster their excitement of their new school, each attending student was given a “FCMS Cubs” swag bag.
Our Highway to High School meeting was scheduled one on one with families. Each family received a welcome packet with school information and participated in a question/answer session with our Special Education Director, Dr. Ashlee Underwood. To wrap up our meeting, families were treated to a private tour of the school campus.