Metro Schools and the Tennessee Parent Teacher Association (PTA) want parents to get involved with their child’s school. Parents, teachers, administrators and others in the community are invited to attend a Parent Leadership Conference, which will be held Friday, Nov. 30. Guests speakers from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Metro Schools, and PTA will host workshops and panel discussions that focus on teacher training, family engagement, community involvement and more!

The conference will be held Friday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Martin Professional Development Center, 2400 Fairfax Ave. To register, contact Robin Trollinger at 615.259.8569.

Thursday, Nov. 15 is National Parent Involvement Day. Consider this our invite to get involved in your child’s school day! Here are a few ideas:

• Make special arrangements to drop off and pick your child up from school;


• Have lunch with your child;


• Volunteer to help in your child’s class for an hour during the day; or


• Email your child’s teacher and ask how your child is doing.

Whether or not you are able to visit your child’s school this Thursday, you can commit to taking an active role in his or her education -- help with homework, ask what he or she did each day, communicate with the teacher. One thing is for sure:  Being an actively involved parent will have a huge impact on your child’s education.

Working together, parents can do anything!



That's why we're bringing parents and experts together for another big Parent University Conference. We're offering free workshops and seminars meant to help all of our parents raise self-confident, disciplined, and motivated children. Parents will learn tips for helping their children learn in modern classrooms. There will also be plenty of information on healthy lifestyles and families.



It's happening Saturday, July 21, at McGavock High School. It's free and open to everyone, but you do have to register.



So don't delay. Sign up today!

Parents, you are integral to your child’s success in school. Whether it’s reading to your child at home, helping him or her with homework, joining a parent/teacher group, emailing or calling the teacher to share information, or volunteering at the school, your involvement can have a direct and lasting impact on your child’s academic success.  For many children, just knowing you care about education and support them will help them reach a higher level of success. 

This year, as we recognize National Parental Involvement Day, many of our schools are also celebrating the Thanksgiving season. We want to take advantage of the timing by recognizing and showing our appreciation for parents who are active and involved in their child’s education. We also hope this time will encourage others to get involved.

I hope you will find time this week, particularly as we recognize National Parental Involvement Day on the 17th, to consider ways you can support your child’s education that work for your own family.

We appreciate the thousands of dedicated and caring parents and grandparents who already volunteer in and support our schools. You are making a difference for your children and all the students you help.

Sincerely,

Jesse B. Register, Ed.D.

Click here to learn how to take part in our Harvest Festival Lunch

There are several ways you can get involved at your child’s school.  In 2003, Tennessee adopted six parental involvement standards. They include:

Welcoming all families into the school community. Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class and school.

Communicating effectively. Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning.

Supporting student success. Families and school staff continuously work together to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.

Speaking up for every child. Families are informed and enabled to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.

Sharing power. Families and school staff are equal partners with equal representation in decisions that affect students and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.

Collaborating with community. Families and school staff work together with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.

The J.T. Moore Middle School Counseling Department, with the help of the Hillsboro Cluster Family Involvement specialists, planned and hosted a Parent-Teacher ‘Meet and Eat,’ at the Easley Community Center on Nov. 1.  All J.T. Moore faculty and staff were present as were several local community organizations including Salama Urban Ministries, the Mental Health Co-op, Brighter Days Tutoring, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.  Families and teachers had the opportunity to get to know one another and sit down to a wonderful meal catered by From Scratch Catering and Darlene’s Cakes. 

The event was a great success, increasing the school’s presence in the community while helping parents and teachers form collaborative relationships. The school hopes to make this an annual event. It was sponsored by the school’s generous PTO.

This Saturday, Nov. 5, Glencliff High School will host a Free Family Day for Latino Families. Details below.