COMMUNICATION

PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK

Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer or to observe in the classrooms, pending a clear background check. Simply call ahead out of courtesy to the teacher. Necessary ways we expect parents to be involved: ● School workdays ● Christmas Program ● School fundraising events ● Classroom volunteering Other ways parents may be involved in the school are: ● Parents may accompany the class on field trips ● Parents may help with recess and/or lunch duty ● Parents may come as guest speakers, serve as story-reader or song-leader, or offer special talents ● Parents may share experiences or travel as they may relate to an area of study in class ● Parents may assist with large office mailings or photocopying ● Parents may support a teacher or administrator through regular prayer

COMMUNICATION

Our grammar school teachers are required to communicate with all their class parents at least once every two weeks. (A once-a-week email is very common.) This may be done in a written or verbal form. We encourage teachers and parents to speak frequently about how the student is doing and to schedule formal meetings as needed. When teachers are addressing concerns with parents, all formal and written communications to class parents must be read and approved by the Head of School prior to being disseminated.

Teachers will provide parents with an email address where they can be reached outside regular working hours. If you have questions about the weekly workings of a particular classroom (homework load, etc.), contact the teacher via email. When addressing any concerns, parents should copy the Head of School to keep her informed of classroom circumstances. If you have a concern about curriculum content, The Terra Nova School policy, or philosophy, please communicate with the Head of School.

At no time should an individual student’ s problem be addressed to non-involved parties. In the great majority of cases, if you have worked patiently and in good faith, with the teacher and administration, you will find a satisfactory resolution. Please follow principles from Matthew 18 to determine the proper order of communication: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ”