It’s important that parents understand how each school’s system works and become familiar with the individual teacher preferences for reporting, in order to benefit most from this great tool. Be sure to attend the school’s orientation with your student and discuss their schedule and plans for organizing themselves and their work. One parent mentioned how her “straight-A student” lost interest in keeping up with the studying process and watched his grades slip as he entered middle school. Together, mom and dad devised a plan. They asked another student (one who studied to keep grades up) to have a scheduled study time with their son at a quiet place away from home after school several days a week. They decided Panera Bread would work well. After a few study sessions, their son’s grades started to improve. A solution can be as simple as partnering with a peer at a special place, and in this case, it did the trick. A common suggestion from parents who can spare the time is to “volunteer at your child’s school.” Schools are always in need of volunteers and they appreciate them, too. But perhaps as important is the connection or “ear to the ground” so to speak that parents have when they are at the school more regularly. Involved parents tend to have great relationships with the school’s administrators and teachers, which in turn can benefit the student. And once again, students seem to try more to please those parents who care enough to make education a priority. If you can volunteer, do it. The more you are a part of your child’s education the better. The transition to high school is huge for a teen, and for parents. Your family’s dream of having the children earn their diploma and launch into college or career is only four short years away once they enter ninth grade. Your interest and concern is probably needed more than ever in this phase of their education. Keep those communication lines open, with your students and with staff, by continuing to use the Edline system. Stay on top of their grades and encourage them to be active participants in extra curricular activities. Talk to your student, ask where they struggle, praise their successes, and find out how you can help them to be even more successful.
“Let us think
of education as the means of
developing our
greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a
private hope and dream which,
fulfilled, can be translated
into benefit for everyone and
greater strength of the nation.”
As your child is getting ready for the new school term, make sure you are getting yourself ready for big transitional changes. Converse with other parents and keep up with Mikayla the school’s monthly newsletters, Barwig most of which are posted online at McKeel the school’s website.
- John F. Kennedy
Academy 10th Grade
Most importantly, allow your child opportunities to grow and assume more responsibility for school and social life on their own. This phase is simply called “growing up.” Stay in tune, share whenever possible, give them room to breathe (and even learn from their own mistakes) and then …… relax. With so many caring adults involved, they are bound to do just fine.
“The beautiful thing
about learning is that
no one can take it away from you.”
- B.B. King
Heather Novis
McKeel Academy of Technology 10th Grade
FOCUS MAGAZINE POLK COUNTY AUGUST 2012
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