Educating the next generation requires everyone’s participation; schools cannot do it alone. Activating and involving parents in their children’s schooling has a long-lasting impact, from improving school performance to enhancing language and other basic school skills.
Yet, too often, there are not clear pathways for parents and care givers to engage with the educational system. Critical to involving families is first understanding and then removing obstacles that stand in the way, from cultural differences to language barriers, work commitments or low literacy.
The New School Foundation's support of South Shore PK-8 enables the school to create an intimate learning community in which students and their families are known and nurtured, by using the following methods:
Staff conduct home visits with South Shore families before school starts, which allows families the opportunity to get to know their child's teacher in a safe, comfortable setting as well as understand the expectations for the upcoming school year. This has proven to be a very effective way to establish viable lines of communication with families.
Teaching is tailored to assure that all children reach their full academic and personal potential. Smaller class sizes and a high adult-to-child ratio throughout the school allows staff members to form deep relationships with students and their families.
