Family Engagement Plan

Loachapoka High School

2019-2020



I.    Mission and Beliefs of Loachapoka High School

In order to understand our plan for family engagement, it is first necessary to review our school mission statement and beliefs, which were reviewed and created in 2007 by a stakeholder team including parents, students, and faculty, staff, and community members. A survey of stakeholders each year will ensure that the beliefs and mission still reflect our desires for our school and its students.

Mission Statement:
Loachapoka High School and the Lee County School System will take a prominent role advocating a progressive education for each student in our schools. The mission of Loachapoka High and Lee County Schools is to educate every student through a comprehensive and academically challenging curriculum taught in a safe and nurturing environment. We challenge students to pursue dreams, succeed with integrity, and contribute meaningfully to a diverse society.

Loachapoka High School Beliefs:

• To engage every student in highly challenging academic work that develops their ability to think, reason, solve problems, and prepare them

to cope with issues and problems they will face in the future

• To establish attainable, realistic goals to increase positivity, morality, unity and to help us to remain an institution of integrity and quality

learning

• To develop responsible citizens who are actively engaged, physically and mentally healthy, and informed
• To continue to increase stakeholders' support for the education and success of our students
• To foster a safe, positive and supportive environment that promotes student learning

1. 
    Family Engagement Philosophy of Loachapoka High School: In order to fully meet the needs of the whole child, we must develop practices and strategies that will engage families and the community, creating a strong partnership between home and school that fosters communication and shared responsibility.
   
   a. Policy is developed with parental input and is distributed to parents: The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is comprised of one teacher, the principal, and parents. This committee designed the “Plan for Family Engagement” and meets each quarter. The PAC communicates decisions and actions through school newsletters and through the school’s website. The Plan for Family Engagement will be sent home within the first 10 days of school.
   
   b. Meetings are held at different times of the day so that more parents can attend (ex: mornings or evenings)
   We offer our families before, during, and after school opportunities to be involved and engaged in our school operations.
   We provide academic support to students needing remediation before school, during, and after school.
   Doe’s administration  and teachers,  also schedule conferences in the morning, afternoon, and evening hours.
   The teachers communicate to parents that they are available for discussions or phone conferences during their planning time as well as before or after school any day.
2. 
   Parents are involved in the planning, reviewing, and improving parent involvement programs, school parental involvement policy, and the joint development of the school wide program ACIP. The PAC (Parents Advisory Committee) meets quarterly to make decisions that impact the greater school community.
   
   d. Parents are provided with timely information. We believe it is vital to communicate regularly with families:
   
   The school calendar is part of the Parent/Student Handbook that is provided for families. The calendar reflects important state, local, and school dates and events. It also includes holidays in which our school will be closed.

The principal sends a school newsletter monthly, Principal’s Newsletter.
The school technology coordinator updates and maintains the school website to communicate with families. Each teacher has a page with information for families.

1. 
   The school sends home standardized assessment information with explanations on how to interpret the scores. If parents have questions about the results, they may schedule meetings with the principal or teacher.

1. The school schedules meetings requested by parents so that they may give suggestions and be part of the decision-making process about the education of their child. The school personnel listen to the views of the parents as they explain their challenges and difficulties and then responds with suggestions and accommodations that will best meet the needs of the child. Teachers may also request conferences with parents when they see that a child is experiencing difficulty, in order to discuss how to motivate a child, to offer suggestions for enrichment/remediation, and to solicit help and support at home. It is important that the focus is always on what is best for the child.
   g. The school-parent compact outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help achieve the state’s high standards. This compact is distributed and discussed at the Title I Parent Meeting. The parents then take the document home to review with their children and return it to school.
   
   h. Communication between teachers and parents is vitally important. The following measures are taken to ensure families and the school is communicating regularly.
   
   Email communication is used between parents, principal, and teachers.
   Conferences between parents/teachers/principal occur during the school year when the need arises.
   
   The website address was communicated to parents in the parent meetings and in the student handbook. The website includes information on the following:
   i. School motto, mission statement, beliefs, and vision
   ii. Lee County Schools calendar link
   iii. Loachapoka High School calendar and important dates
   iv. School address and phone numbers
   v. Roster of faculty and staff and their email addresses
   vi. Parent/Student Handbook
   vii. Resources for students and parents
   Open House is held to share information with families about routines, procedures, curriculum, assessment, opportunities and programs at Sanford Middle School.

Parents are invited to be involved at our school through the welcoming letter from the principal, on the website, and in the parent/student handbook.

The school maintains a Facebook page for the community.

Teachers communicate by phone, email, and face-to-face conferences and maintain a log of parent contact.

Teachers use Remind in order to update parents about important information.

1. The school will provide materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training and using technology.

1. Reasonable support is given for parental involvement activities as parents may request. The faculty and staff at Sanford Middle School strive to provide whatever resources, flexibility, or encouragement to meet the needs of our families. Parents attend special class events, field trips, parties, celebrations, programs, and plays.
   
   k. We encourage and support the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in a language such parents understand. We will use translated documents to send to families of limited English proficiency. We will bring in a translator to interpret during meetings in needed. The school has a staff member who is proficient in Spanish. We will be sensitive to the needs of diverse families by offering to assist them in completing paperwork and reading forms.
   
   

School Family Contacts

Albert Weeden, Jr., Principal                                      334-705-6030

Natasha Foster, Assistant Principal                             334-705-6030

Theresa Owen, Counselor                                           334-705-6030

Shawnta Ware, School Receptionist                            334-705-6030