Involve + Engage = Sustain is a column dedicated to providing you
with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky
Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.
Last week the GEAR UP team at Taft High School did a
remarkable thing: they invited parents to participate in their annual OUS
visitation day. 10 parents came early to
a Q & A session with me, including new Success Team leader CaryAnn Bailey.
The enthusiasm was terrific, and parents of 10th, 11th
and 12th graders were pretty equally represented. They were
welcomed, had snacks, provided with the session schedules and a school map, and
fully took part in attended the OUS
school sessions of their choice. What a
great start! Fantastic job, Susan, Vicky and CaryAnn.
The more parents are made to feel welcome in your school,
the better chance you have of informing them, including them and engaging them
in the future of their students. Inviting parents to a college presentation or other event in
your school is definitely outside the box thinking, and I encourage you all to
think of something coming up that parents might attend and participate in. Career Fair?
A college visitation? Be bold,
and let me know if I can help!
We work at getting a couple of parents/grandparents to every travel event including college visits and Leadership summer camp. Parents also help with food preparation for events like our Civil War tailgate party. We are always looking for new ways to include parents.
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