Mission Statement: McDonald Elementary School will provide every student with a multi-faceted curriculum challenging students to reach their maximum potential and be productive in a global society.The administration, faculty and staff of McDonald Elementary School recognize the importance of parental involvement in our goal of continuous improvement and educating all of our students. This policy will serve as a guide for involving parents through our Title I school-wide project. We believe working together as a team as a community of learning we can prepare our students to achieve maximum potential as productive citizens.

McDonald Elementary School encourages parental involvement by:

1. enhancing the instructional efforts of teachers through volunteer services,
2. serving as parent representatives in the development, review, and improvement of the school's parental policy and school wide plan,
3. expressing ideas and concerns by responding to surveys and questionnaires,
4. becoming actively involved in the Parent Teacher Organization and other Title I parent activities, and
5. serving on School Improvement Council and other committees.

McDonald Elementary School, as a Title I school with a school wide project, encourages parents to assist with the development of our programs, and review the results to ensure:

1. Opportunities for parents to share ideas, concerns, suggestions, and opinions regarding the planning, design, and implementation of our school programs.
2. Provide continuous systematic communication and consultation with parents regarding decisions about student performance, instructional programs, and school policies.
3. Provide opportunities for parents to become actively involved in all school matters that will assist them with the education of their child(ren).

Procedures

Survey parents for input in policy and program development.
Provide copies of all written policies to parents.
Involve parents in the review and the improvement process.
Provide specific activities for Title I parental involvement including:

a. Annual meeting in August and September to explain Title 1 program. Introduce all school personnel and give an overview of our instructional programs and student responsibilities.
b. Provide parents with reports of their children's progress at regular intervals.
c. Provide opportunities for parent/teacher conferences to discuss concerns and student achievement. This includes academic planning a state mandated procedure for students achieving below expectations.
d. Provide opportunities for parents to learn more about curriculum, state standards, and assessment tools and measures. (Curriculum nights).
e. Hold Title I meetings at different times to accommodate parent work schedules.
f. Invite parents to participate in training at McDonald School including reading, math, parenting, literacy, etc.
g. Invite parents to eat with their children: Grandparents day, Thanksgiving, December Holiday Lunch.
h. Invite parents to attend school events: spelling bee, geography bee, open house, PTO, curriculum nights, book fair, health fair, success day assemblies, & 5th grade promotion.
i. Opportunities to tour the building & observe classroom instruction.
j. Opportunities for Math Night, Family Literacy night, Author's day and night, Children's book give away, parenting workshops with parenting coordinator and game night.
k. Distribute Student Agendas with Parent Handbook contained, NCLB brochures, State and district standards and objectives.
l. Sign and return the Promise of Commitment and School Compact to affirm responsibilities of students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Board policy JF/E
m. Our full time Parenting/Behavioral Specialist and offsite Mental Health Counselor provide home visits, behavior contracting and increased literacy and we have an itinerant ESOL teacher.
n. All information and programs for parents are available in a Language and form they can understand. For example, all parents of ESOL students receive information in English and their first language.

Responsibilities

1. Convene at least two Title I meetings at school each year.
2. Encourage parents to attend all Title I parent meetings, conferences, and workshops.
3. Address parental and community concerns about any school policy in a timely manner.
4. Information will be made available to parents through: School agendas, monthly Seagull Gazette, classroom newsletters, local newspapers, radio, Websites, and cable Channel 12.

SOARING to Excellence!