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Westwood Elementary School

Parent and Family Engagement Policy and Plan for Shared Student Success

2019–2020 School Year

Westwood Elementary School

Scott Ehlers, Principal

708 Trammell Street

(706) 876-4425

http://westwood.daltonpublicschools.com/

Revised September 2019

What is Title I?

Westwood Elementary is identified as a Title I school as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I is designed to support state and local school reform efforts tied to the challenging State academic standards to improve teaching and learning for students. Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support family engagement. All Title I schools must jointly develop, with parents and family members, a written parent and family engagement policy. All Title documents are shared at the October Title I Meeting.

School Plan for Shared Student Achievement

What is it?

This is a plan that describes how Westwood Elementary will provide opportunities to improve family engagement to support student learning. Westwood Elementary values the contributions and involvement of parents and family members to establish an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. This plan describes the different ways that Westwood Elementary will support family engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home.

How is it revised?

Westwood Elementary invites all parents to attend our annual Title I Meeting in September to review and revise this parent and family engagement policy, as well as the school wide plan, our school-parent compact, and the family engagement budget. Additionally, parent input and comments regarding this plan are welcome during the school year through written form turned in to the main office. The plan is posted on our school website for parents to view and submit feedback throughout the year. All parent feedback received during the year will be used to revise the plan for the next school year. Parents and family members can also give feedback during PTO meetings, Family Nights, and School Council meetings during the school year including our annual PTO Open House.

Who is it for?

All students participating in the Title I, Part A program, and their families are encouraged and invited to fully participate in the opportunities described in this plan. Westwood Elementary will provide opportunities for the participation of parents and family members with limited English, with disabilities, and of migratory children.

Where is it available?

Parents are given opportunities during PTO meetings, Family Nights, and School Council meetings to view the policy. The plan is also posted on the school website and social media. Parents can also receive a copy of the plan from the main office.

2019–20 District Goals

-Increase all District EOC and EOG scores by 6%.

2019–20 School Goals

- 56% of students in third grade, 62% of students in fourth grade, and 73% of students in fifth grade will be reading at or above the Lexile mid-point.

-54% of students in third grade, 53% of students in fourth grade, and 54% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the ELA section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

-58% of students in third grade, 54% of students in fourth grade, and 50% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the Math section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

-54% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the Science section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

-28% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the Social Studies section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

School-Parent Compacts

As part of this plan, Westwood Elementary and our families will develop a school-parent compact, which is an agreement that parents, teachers, and students will develop that explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade-level standards. The compacts will be reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from parents, students, and teachers during the September Title I Meeting and online feedback. The school-parent compacts also are shared with parents during parent-teacher conferences and kept with each child’s teacher if parents need another copy.

Let’s Get Together!

Westwood Elementary will host the following events to build the capacity for strong family engagement to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement. Times for all meetings for parents and family members are listed below.

School Council – Aug. 27/Nov. 19, 2019, Feb. 25/May 5, 2020 at 2:15 p.m. A forum for parents and family members to participate in roundtable discussions with the principal and staff regarding the school wide plan, parent and family engagement policy, school-parent compacts, and the family engagement budget.

PTO/Open House – August 29, 2019 and April 23, 2020 at 5:45 p.m Learn about the Westwood PTO; meet your child’s teacher and our friendly and helpful school staff in August. Review the work from the past year and look ahead at the proposed budget and officers for next year in April.

Annual Title I Meetings – September 18, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. and October 1, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. We invite you to meetings of getting feedback, learning, and sharing about our Title I program, including our parent and family engagement policy, the school wide plan, the school-parent compacts, and parents’ requirements. Invitations will be posted on the school website, front door, and social media.

Parent-Teacher and Student Conferences – October 2019/March-April 2020 A scheduled meeting between parents and teachers to discuss your child’s progress.

Career Day – October 31, 2019 A connection with the school, parents, and community to share careers and future job opportunities for students.

Family Literacy Night – November 7, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. Each student will select a book to take home and read with his or her parents and family members. Students and parents will move around to different literacy based stations throughout the school.

Friends Around the World – November 21, 2019 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. Come and experience the many different cultures represented at Westwood with food, music, and art.

Family Math Night – January 23, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. Come participate in math activities with your child. Each family will receive math resources to use at home to reinforce your child’s learning.

Family Science Night – April 23, 2020 at 6:15 p.m. Come participate in science activities with your child. Each child will bring home items from stations and experiments.

Parent Appreciation – May 8, 2020 at 2:00 A celebration of family engagement and the recognition of its impact on school and student success.

Parent and Family Engagement

Westwood Elementary believes that family engagement means the participation of parents and family members in regular two-way and meaningful communication involving student academic learning, and other school activities, including ensuring:

• That parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning
• That parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school
• That parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child

Westwood Elementary is Branching Out!

Westwood Elementary will take the following measures to promote and support parents and family members as an important foundation of the school in order to strengthen the school and reach our school goals. We will:

• Ensure that all information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is published in both English and Spanish, posted on the school website, and included in the monthly school newsletter for all families
• Provide trainings for staff on strategies to improve communication with parents and ideas to increase family engagement with reading and math activities for our students outside of the classroom. Staff will also share best practices during meetings
• Partner with early childhood programs, middle and high schools, college and career ready resources or organizations, parent resource centers, or other programs (as applicable) to help prepare parents and their children for successful school transitioning
• Share information in English and Spanish in the school newsletter for parents to understand the school’s academic standards and assessments as well as the ways parents can monitor their child’s progress and work with educators
• Communicate with all families and the community on a regular basis regarding school-wide events and activities, through phone messages, social media, and flyers
• Work with our parents to develop relevant trainings and helpful presentations to educate our staff on the importance of parent and family engagement and how to support student learning
• Provide necessary materials and handouts for parents at conferences, meetings, and activities to help parents work with their child to improve their child’s achievement
• Use our Partners in Education and School Council to improve awareness of the activities and events listed in the school parent and family engagement policy
• Work with the district to offer literacy and computer classes for parents and family members to help further enhance their various educational levels
• Collect feedback from parents and family members at all events and post a suggestion form on the school website in order to respond to parents’ requests for additional support for parent and family engagement activities

Westwood School Council

Westwood Elementary invites all parents to join the School Council to share ideas and ways to involve other parents and family members to build partnerships with school, families, and the community. The team will meet four times during the school year, but parents and family members can also submit their ideas or suggestions at school activities and meetings, as well as through our parent surveys and website. If you would like to learn more about the School Council, please contact the principal at (706) 876-4425 or complete the interest form and leave it in the Main Office.

Adoption of Policy

This parent and family engagement policy has been developed jointly and agreed on with parents and family members of children participating in Title I, Part A programs. This policy was adopted by Westwood School on 10/01/2019 and will be in effect for the period of the 2019-2020 school year. The school will distribute this policy to all parents of participating Title I, Part A children on or before October 30, 2019.

Westwood Elementary is committed to helping our parents and families attend the family activities listed in this policy. Please call or email us if you need assistance with child care or transportation in order to participate in our programs.

Scott Ehlers

(706) 876-4425 or
scott.ehlers@dalton.k12.ga.us

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SCHOOL-PARENT COMPACT

FOR ACHIEVEMENT

School Year 2019 – 2020

Westwood Elementary School

PK-5

Title I School

Scott Ehlers, Principal

708 Trammell Street Dalton, GA 30720

Tel (706) 876-4425

Fax (706) 278-1379

westwood.daltonpublicschools.com

What is a School-Parent Compact?

A School-Parent Compact for Achievement is an agreement that parents, students, and teachers develop together which explains how all will work together to make sure all of our students master grade-level standards.

Effective compacts:

• Link to goals of the school improvement plan
• Focus on student learning
• Describe how teachers will help students develop those skills using high-quality instruction
• Share strategies parents can use at home
• Explain how teachers and parents will communicate about student progress
• Describe opportunities for parents to volunteer, observe, and participate in the classroom

Building Partnerships

• PTO/Open House-August 29
• Home/School Partnerships by grade level
• Title I Document Input/Review Sept. 18/Oct. 1
• 2019-20 Westwood Family Nights- Literacy Night-Nov. 7, Math Night-Jan. 23, Science Night-April 23
• Career Day Oct. 31, Friends Around the World Nov. 21
• Friends Around the World November 21
• Westwood: Contact Cleo Guerrero or Leslie Prewitt-Martin at 706-876-4425
• Westwood PTO: Contact Alys Brown at 706-876-4425
• Parent University: Contact Jackie Taylor at 706-876-4506
• Little Cats: (For Preschoolers): Contact Saira Laruy at 706-281-5878
• Caring is Sharing (Christmas): Contact Jackie Taylor at 706-876-4506
• Big Red Reads Summer Schedule: Contact Alice Ensley at 706-281-5842

Communication about Student Learning

Westwood School is committed to maintaining two-way communication with families through the school year about student learning progress and academic achievement. Some of the ways you can expect us to reach you are:

• Student communication folders
• Reports of progress and report cards
• Infinite Campus Parent Portal
• Telephone calls/Remind Text Service/DPS App
• Flyers/Newsletters
• Parent-teacher conferences
• School website/Social media
• Workshops and parenting classes
• Notes sent home and email
• Message board in front of school

District Goals -Increase all District EOC and EOG scores by 6%.

Westwood School Goals

- 56% of students in third grade, 62% of students in fourth grade, and 73% of students in fifth grade will be reading at or above the Lexile mid-point.

-54% of students in third grade, 53% of students in fourth grade, and 54% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the ELA section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

-58% of students in third grade, 54% of students in fourth grade, and 50% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the Math section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

-54% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the Science section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

-28% of students in fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the Social Studies section of the Georgia Milestone EOG.

Working Together, The Westwood Way

In the Classroom

Westwood School staff will work with students and families to support student academic achievement in all content areas. Some of the ways we will do this include:

• Designing engaging work for students that results in profound learning
• Offering parent resources electronically and in print, with ideas and suggestions for supporting the academic learning process
• Offering family nights focusing on academic content (Literacy, Math, and Science)
• Offering opportunities for parents to become more involved in volunteer activities at Westwood

At Home

How to support your children:

• Maintain a home environment where learning is a priority
• Ask your child to talk about what they are learning and reading
• Monitor television and video game play
• Be consistent with expectations, such as a routine bedtime
• Attend Parent-Teacher conferences
• Check homework and planners
• Attend school events
• Listen to your child read every night
• Volunteer at Westwood
• Promote independence, respect, and responsibility

Students

Westwood Student Leaders gave us feedback about our school. Here are their suggestions to help students connect learning from school to home:

• Bring work home to share with parents and ask for their feedback
• Involve their families in all school events
• Apply everything they are learning to real life at home and at school
• Be respectful, responsible, and follow the Wildcat Ways

Jointly Developed

This School-Parent Compact for Achievement was jointly developed by the parents, students, and staff of Westwood School. Teachers suggested ways that parents can help students at home, and parents added ideas about their needs in this process. Students helped us with suggestions about ways that they learn best. Meetings are held each year to review the compact and to make changes based on what our students need.

We welcome comments from parents, students, and staff at any time!

706-876-4425

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ACUERDO PARA EL APROVECHAMIENTO ACADEMICO ENTRE LA ESCUELA Y LOS PADRES DE FAMILIA

Año Escolar 2019 – 2020

Westwood Elementary School

PK-5

Escuela

Title I

Scott Ehlers, Director

708 Trammell StreetDalton, GA 30720

Tel (706) 278-2809

Fax (706) 278-1379

westwood.daltonpublicschools.com

De que se trata el acuerdo para el aprovechamiento académico entre la escuela y los padres de familia?

Es un acuerdo realizado por los padres de familia, la escuela y los maestros que explica como juntos trabajaremos para asegurarnos que los estudiantes cumplan y alcancen los estándares de aprovechamiento.

Un acuerdo efectivo:

• Está ligado a los objetivos de la escuela para mejorar.
• Se enfoca en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes.
• Describe como los maestros ayudaran a los estudiantes a desarrollar sus habilidades con enseñanza de alta calidad.
• Comparte estrategias que los papas pueden usar en la casa.
• Explica como los maestros y los papas se comunican el progreso del estudiante.
• Describe oportunidades para que los papas puedan ser voluntarios y puedan observar y participar en clase.

Construyendo Compañerismo

• PTO/Open House- 29 de agosto
• Acuerdos entre maestros/papas por grado escolar.
• Westwood 2019-2020-Noche Familiar de Literatura - 7 de noviembre, Noche de Matemáticas - 23 de enero, Noche de Ciencias - 23 de abril
• Día de las Profesiones – 31 octubre
• Westwood: Contacte a Cleo Guerrero o Leslie Prewitt-Martin al 706-876-4425
• Westwood PTO: Contacte Alys Brown-706-876-4425
• Parent University: Contacte a Jackie Taylor al 706-876-4506
• Little Cats: Es un programa para aquellos preescolares que no están en Pre-K. Contacte a Saira Laruy al 706-281-5878
• Caring is Sharing (Navidad): Contacte a Jackie Taylor al 706-876-4506
• Horarios del Programa Big Red Reads para el verano, contacte a Alice Ensley al 706-281-5842

Comunicación acerca del aprendizaje del estudiante

La escuela Westwood está comprometida a mantener una constante comunicación con las familias durante el año escolar, acerca del progreso y aprovechamiento académico de cada estudiante. Algunas de las formas que utilizamos para comunicarnos con los padres de familia, son las siguientes:

• Folders de los estudiantes.
• Reporte de calificaciones.
• Portal de Padres de Familia en Infinite Campus.
• Llamadas telefónicas, mensajes Remind 101, DPS App
• Folletos y hojas informativas.
• Juntas entre papas y maestros.
• Página de internet de la escuela y redes sociales.
• Clases y talleres para los papas.
• Notas enviadas a casa y email.
• Pizarrón electrónico que está enfrente de la escuela.

Objetivos del Distrito- Mejorar las calificaciones al final del curso y al final del grado de todo el distrito en un 6%.

Objetivos de Westwood

- 56% de los estudiantes de tercer grado, 62% de los estudiantes de cuarto grado, y 73% de los estudiantes de quinto grado estarán leyendo en el nivel o por arriba del nivel del rango del léxico establecido.

-54% de los estudiantes de tercer grado, 53% de los estudiantes de cuarto grado, y 54% de los estudiantes de quinto grado tendrá resultados que estén al nivel o por arriba del nivel competente en el área de lectura en el examen Georgia Milestone al final del grado escolar.

-58% de los estudiantes de tercer grado, 54% de los estudiantes de cuarto grado, y 50% de los estudiantes de quinto grado tendrá resultados que estén al nivel o por arriba del nivel competente en el área de matemáticas en el examen Georgia Milestone al final del grado escolar.

-54% de los estudiantes de quinto grado tendrán resultados que estén al nivel o por arriba del nivel competente en el área de Ciencias en el examen de Georgia Milestone al final del grado escolar.

-28% de los estudiantes de quinto grado tendrán resultados que estén al nivel o por arriba del nivel en el área de Ciencias Sociales en el examen Georgia Milestone al final del grado escolar.

En el Salón de Clases

• El personal de la escuela de Westwood trabajara con los estudiantes y sus familias para apoyar a los estudiantes en su aprovechamiento académico en todas las áreas. Algunas de las formas en las que realizaremos esto, son las siguientes:
• Desarrollar trabajos para los estudiantes orientados al profundo aprendizaje.
• Ofrecer a los padres de familia información electrónica e impresa con ideas y sugerencias de como apoyar a sus hijos en el proceso de aprendizaje.
• Ofrecer “Noches Familiares” con contenido académico en Literatura, Matemáticas y Ciencias.
• Ofrecer oportunidades a los padres de familia para trabajar con la escuela, para que puedan estar más involucrados en actividades en Westwood.

En la casa

• Algunas formas en la que los padres de familia pueden apoyar a sus hijos en la casa:
• Mantener un ambiente donde el aprendizaje sea la prioridad.
• Preguntar a su hijo(a) acerca de lo que están aprendiendo y leyendo.
• Monitorear el tiempo de televisión y video juegos.
• Ser consistente con las rutinas, como la hora en la que se van a dormir los niños(as).
• Asistir a las juntas con los maestros.
• Checar la tarea y los folders.
• Asistir a los eventos de la escuela.
• Leer y escuchar a su hijo(a) leer todas las noches.
• Ser voluntario en Westwood.
• Promover la independencia, el respeto y la responsabilidad de su hijo(a).

Estudiantes

Los líderes de los estudiantes de Westwood nos dieron las siguientes sugerencias para ayudar a conectar el aprendizaje de la escuela con el de la casa:

• Llevar a la casa el trabajo hecho en la escuela para compartirlo con los papas y recibir su opinión.
• Involucrar a las familias en los eventos escolares
• Aplicar todo lo que han aprendido a la vida diaria, en la escuela y en la casa.
• Ser respetuosos, responsables y seguir las reglas “Wildcat Ways”.

Trabajo en Equipo

El acuerdo para el aprovechamiento académico fue desarrollado entre padres de familia, maestros y estudiantes de Westwood. Los maestros sugirieron formas en las que los papas pueden ayudar a sus hijos(as) en casa, y los papas expresaron sus necesidades para poder llevar a cabo este proceso. Los estudiantes colaboraron expresando las diferentes formas con las que ellos mejor aprenden. Cada año se realizan juntas para revisar este acuerdo y realizar los cambios necesarios basados en lo que los estudiantes necesitan.

Los comentarios de los papas, maestros y estudiantes son siempre bienvenidos.

706-876-4425