Here at Compass Charter Schools (CCS), we believe that parent involvement is a very important part of a scholar’s academic success. Children are often more likely to have a positive educational experience when their parents get involved in the classroom, school committees, field trips and much more. Parent involvement can help scholars place more value on their education and motivate them to invest the proper amount of time and energy into their academics. We encourage parents to get involved in their child’s education in as many ways as possible.
Here are seven different ways that parents can stay more involved in their child’s education:
Attend Orientation Events
Many schools host orientation events at the beginning of the year to welcome scholars and their families into a new school and new classrooms. We believe it’s important for parents to attend these sessions to become familiar with their child’s school environment and also to meet the teachers and staff. Orientation events at the beginning of the year help teachers and parents get to know each other, and it also helps families get to know each other. CCS proudly hosts virtual orientation events to welcome scholars and their families into new classrooms. These sessions are the perfect opportunity for parents to see what topics their child will study and the projects that they will work on throughout the year.
Some schools, like CCS, also offer transition orientation sessions at the end of the school year to give scholars and their families a closer look at what lies ahead. CCS hosts transition orientations for fifth-grade elementary school scholars who are preparing to enter middle school, and eighth-grade middle school scholars who are preparing to enter high school. These end-of-year sessions give scholars and their families the opportunity to ask questions and prepare for the coming school year before summer break begins. We encourage parents to participate in these transition orientations so that they are aware of the changes that their child will experience as they continue to grow and progress.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a simple way for parents to stay more involved in their child’s education. When parents spend time volunteering, they are able to get hands-on experience in their child’s school and classroom. Many schools offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for parents like serving as a class parent who helps the teacher plan field trips, class birthday parties, and fundraisers, and even school spirit events. Volunteering is a great option for parents who have a flexible schedule and time to spend during the school day supporting the teacher and scholars. It’s not a viable option for everyone, but for those who can give the time, it’s a great way to stay involved in their child’s educational experience.
Organize a Homework Club
We believe it’s important for parents to be aware of their child’s homework assignments and to support them while they work on completing their assignments each day or week. Organizing an after-school club is a great way for parents to stay informed about their child’s homework assignments. Homework clubs can encourage children to work collaboratively to complete their assignments, while also encouraging group discussion. Parents can support their children during homework club by helping them research specific topics, answering any questions they may have, and also reviewing their assignments for errors. It’s likely that parents will learn something new during homework club, too!
Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are arguably one of the most important ways that parents can stay involved in their child’s education. These meetings give parents the opportunity to learn about their child’s academic progress and development with their teachers. CCS hosts parent-teacher conferences once each semester. During that time, parents are able to learn about what their scholar has been learning, the status of their grades, along with areas that may need improvement. The meetings allow parents and teachers to speak openly and honestly about each scholar’s progress. We encourage parents to attend these meetings to build relationships with their child’s teachers, to stay aware of their child’s academic standing, and to ask questions about their child’s performance and future plans. When parents have strong relationships with their child’s teachers and have a thorough understanding of their academic progress, they are more apt to support their scholar’s continued growth in the right direction.
Join the Parent Advisory Board
Many schools have parent-led committees that allow parents to have a leading role in decisions that affect their child’s educational experience and school policies. We strongly encourage parents to join these committees to ensure that their child’s school offers the programs, policies, and standards that their child needs to succeed. At CCS, the Parent Advisory Council is a parent-led committee that serves to provide parent feedback on school policies and procedures to ensure that they align with the CCS mission, vision, and core values. Committees like CCS’ Parent Advisory Council allow parents to have a say in their child’s education and offer suggestions to improve the educational experience at their child’s school. Serving as a member of a parent advisory board is often a less time consuming, yet still, effective way for parents to stay involved in their child’s education.
Help With Fundraising
It’s no secret that fundraising is an important part of how schools enhance and improve the educational experience that they provide for scholars. Parents can get involved in their child’s education by participating in fundraising initiatives that benefit their child’s school. There are many different ways that parents can participate in school fundraising activities like making financial donations, volunteering to organize a fundraising event, promoting a school fundraiser within the local community, and much more. CCS offers a variety of school fundraising opportunities for families including a current fundraiser that invites families to shop through AmazonSmile and make a donation to support CCS’ scholars. Some forms of fundraising require more time and effort than others. It’s up to parents to choose the type of fundraising that works best for their family based on their schedule and personal preferences.
Chaperone Field Trips
Field trips are a fun and memorable way for parents to get involved in their child’s education. They offer hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom while helping scholars connect their classroom lessons with real-world research and careers. CCS schedules multiple field trips each month for scholars and their parents need to attend as chaperones. Chaperoning a field trip allows parents to build a closer relationship with their child’s teacher and also allows them to engage with their children while they explore and learn. Children often enjoy field trips and will have a memorable learning experience while on a field trip with their parents. Field trips give parents the opportunity to connect with their scholar and talk about their class lessons. It also gives parents a chance to meet other families and build new friendships!
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Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is a WASC-accredited virtual charter school that serves families throughout California. Interested in learning more about CCS’ flexible academic programs? Visit our website, or contact our enrollment team at enrollment@compasscharters.org or (877) 506-8631.