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Posted by:
Deborah Zipkin
Building admin/coordinator
West Hartford, CT
Topic:
Question #4
Message:
Coffee, Conversation and Community...
In our center and school we have learned that there are many necessary ingredients to successful home/school/community partnerships. The building principal and teaching staff must feel "ownership" of the partnership,believe in its value, and be able to promote it to parents-the staff has to "walk the walk and talk the talk". There needs to be a space in the school especially for parents and other family members to hang out. A coffee pot,cups, parenting magazines and comfortable adult size furniture are necessities for the parents' room. Parents and caregivers know they are welcome when they have a place to hang their hats. Programs for parents and community members need to be offered at all times of day to accommodate various work schedules. Providing food, child care and transportation to meetings and other programs speaks volumes. When parents are invited to serve on committees it is essential that there be opportunities for them to assume leadership roles. Materials that go home to families (newsletters, program notices etc.) need to be in real English not educational jargon. And we have found that translating important school to home messages-particularly vital school forms- into Spanish and other languages is very helpful. Our families have also asked for non-academic programs to be held at school. One way we get some of our harder to reach families in the door is to offer fun activities-e.g. bingo, movie nights.
A climate that says "welcome families" is somewhat intangible. Visitors to Charter Oak say they can feel it when they walk in the door.
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