PARENTS' PARTICIPATION

The Model School views its relationship with parents as a partnership. We have a wonderful proactive parents’ group and a real sense of community. We cherish parent participation and involvement and offer a variety of opportunities. We also accept ideas and suggestions for participation and involvement. Activities include discussion groups, workshops and training sessions, volunteers in the classroom and on field trips, work projects around the school, work day week ends, participation in the selection of key staff persons and work with any of the parents’ group committees.

The Parents’ Group sponsors a Parent Participation Program. Each two parent family is expected to contribute 12 hours of volunteer service per year and each single parent family is expected to contribute 6 hours of volunteer work per year. Families who do not contribute their required hours may “buy out” their unworked hours at an hourly rate to be determined each year by the Parents’ Group.

Parents are encouraged to talk to the teachers and the director about ways they can help, and to check the parents’ bulletin board to learn about tasks that need to be done. Each time a parent completes a task he or she should complete the "Parent Participation Form" to assure receiving credit for the work done. These forms are kept on the parents’ bulletin board.

Parents' Responsibilities
Things will go smoothly at school, and the staff will be most appreciative if parents follow these simple guidelines:

	Maintain a change of clothing at school and label outer clothing, such as jackets and sweaters.
	Parents of infants must keep a supply of the child’s formula, food, diapers and changes of clothes at school. Parents of infants and toddlers must also label bottles and cups with the child's name.
	Keep the school informed about any problems or special circumstances which could adversely affect the child’s progress and/or behavior at school.
	Read and respond promptly to all notices sent home from school.
	Do not permit children to bring either valuable or dangerous items from home to school. The school cannot assume responsibility for valuable items, and we have a policy against dangerous items including play weapons of any kind.
	Participate in formal parent conferences as scheduled and inform the teacher or the director whenever there is a concern. A parent may request a conference at any time.
	Watch for articles brought home from school and see that they are returned. There are, in our classrooms, many small attractive items which children are sometimes tempted to take home in their pockets These items are very important to the completeness and maintenance of the learning environment. Should your child yield to this temptation, please remind him or her that the item needs to be in the classroom and have it returned. The teacher will be grateful and understanding.

Monthly Parents Meeting