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Have and share a good attitude

Offer encouragement

Get to know your child(ren)'s teacher(s)

Let the morning set the day’s tone

Be on time

After school, talk about the day

Oversee daily assignments

Teach responsibility

Encourage new friendships

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PARENTS... The First Key To Student Success

Have and share a good attitude.

Does this sound familiar? "I can't wait 'til school starts – just to get the kids out of the house" or "My kids are driving me crazy – it's about time school started." Try being positive. Think about and share things that will make this school year the best yet.

Offer encouragement.

Do not disregard your child(ren)'s fears. Share some of your own childhood fears. Don't forget to share that these fears will go away.

Get to know your child(ren)'s teacher(s).

Make meeting your child(ren)'s teacher a priority. Schools provide several opportunities: open house, prior to the first day of school; room meetings, early in the year to share grade-level information and expectations; parent/teacher conferences conducted throughout the school year. Conferences can be and often are scheduled at any time a parent or teacher sees a need. The faculty and staff at your child(ren)’s school believe teaching children is a team effort involving parents and teachers.

Let the morning set the day’s tone.

Greet your child(ren) with a smile and cheery: "Good Morning." Leave your child(ren) with a smile and comments that assure them that you believe in them and that the day ahead will be a good one.

Be on time.

Know what time the school day begins. Students need to be in their seats ready to begin when the bell rings, not just walking through the door. Students are already developing attitudes and habits – even about the importance of being on time. Our example does speak louder than our words.

After school, talk about the day.

Provide opportunities for sharing. Encourage a two-way conversation. Ask questions requiring more than a yes or no answer about the day’s events.

Oversee daily assignments.

Openly and clearly share your expectations concerning school assignments. Although older students may not need as much help completing assignments, they do need to know you are interested. All students need a place to study that is free from distractions (phones, televisions, etc.). Younger students may need you to sit next to them or in the same room.

Teach responsibility.

The younger your child(ren), the more you will need to be directly involved in getting ready for the next school day. Ultimately your child(ren) must learn that having everything ready is their responsibility. Discuss what should be done the night before (lay out clothes, gather materials to be taken to school) and the location for putting book bags until morning. Book bags and homework folders are great for helping children keep up with their assignments and books. Providing your child(ren) with these items is a wise investment.

Encourage new friendships.

The new school year offers opportunities to renew old friendships and to develop new friendships. Your child(ren) will see both familiar and new faces in their classroom(s). Making new friends can be fun.

Studies tell us that children whose parents take an active part in their child(ren)'s school and school assignments/activities are children that do best in school.

"A well-adjusted parent is one who can enjoy the scenery even with the kids in the back seat." - Anonymous

"The two things children wear out are clothes and parents." - Anonymous

"School teachers are not fully appreciated by parents until it rains all day Saturday and Sunday." - Anonymous

"Rulers, scissors, blunt of course, Colored pencils, too; Notebook paper, new lunch box, Folders red and blue; Gym shorts, backpack, tennis shoes, I'm filling up my cart. My checkbook tells me once again, It's time for school to start." - Kathy Peel Joy Mahaffery

Educating Our Children, Engaging Our Parents, Empowering Our Schools

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