• RAMSEY JUNIOR HIGH PARENT INVOLVEMENT PLAN 2018-2019

    District:  Fort Smith Public Schools

    School Improvement Status:  Improving

    Grade Levels:  Grades 7-9

    Parent Involvement Coordinator:  Amanda Fry

    Are you Title I School wide?  Yes

    Percent of Free and Reduced Lunch:  Fifty-six percent (56%) of Ramsey’s student population is on free and reduced lunch.

    Parent Involvement Committee Members

    Amanda Bulger, Coordinator/Parent Facilitator

    Hanh Chuong,Parent  

    Michael Taylor, Parent

    Lainie Bruce, Counselor

    Sarah Stillman, Parent 

    Elise Cooley, Parent  

    PARENT INVOLVEMENT PLAN

    List various communication strategies used in your school to provide additional information to parents and to increase parental involvement in supporting classroom instruction.

    • Ramsey Junior High has a website at www.fortsmithschools.org/Domain/13.  This website contains information about our school’s mission and history, academics, faculty, events, extracurricular activities, policies, and the school’s safety guidelines.  Links for parents may be viewed at this address.

    • Ramsey was selected for digital learning. A video for the parents is in the library which explains the expectations and responsibilities for digital learning.

    • Teacher e-mail addresses are on the school’s website. Parents and teachers frequently communicate through e-mail.  Parents and teachers schedule conferences as needed.

    • Teachers also have Wiki pages, Protopages, Google Classroom, Moodle, and Remind 101.  These pages contain classroom information.

    • The Fort Smith School District utilizes a computer program called Home Access Center. This program has a parent viewer which allows parents to view student’s grades on a daily basis.

    • Teachers send home class syllabus.

    • Ramsey Junior High schedules two parent teacher conferences a year. Fall conferences for 2018 will be held on October 16th and October 18th. Spring conference for 2019 will be held on March 26th and March 28th.

    • Open House (Thursday, August 9, 2018) is an introduction to the school’s teachers and content.  Other information obtained at open house includes: a report on the state of the school and an overview of the following:  what students will be learning, how students are assessed, parental expectations, and parental involvement opportunities.

    • Report cards and mid-term grades are sent to parents on a scheduled basis. (Dates for 2018-2019 school year, Sept 5, Sept 26, Oct 12, Oct. 31, Nov 16, Dec 5, Dec. 20,  Jan 16, Feb 6, Feb 27, Mar 14,  Apr. 10, May 1, May 30)

    • Ramsey Junior High has a large Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). Four PTSA meetings are held during the school year.  Our PTSA and teachers work together to publish a monthly newsletter.

    • Every family is given a school handbook, which contains information about Ramsey’s policies and procedures.  Each family also receives a school calendar, which shows athletic and extracurricular activities for students and parents. 

    • A Parent Resource Center is housed in the entryway. Materials to assist parents in their child’s academic achievement, as well as materials that involve the growth and development of adolescence and related adolescent issues (drug use, depression, etc.)

    • Positive Postcards is a program giving teachers the opportunity to communicate with parents about positive attitudes, academic successes, and acts of kindness seen in the students.

    • A 7th grade transition day (Friday, August 10th) is another activity to help students adjust to being in junior high. This is a day where 7th graders can meet other students, run through a shortened version of their schedule, get supply lists, operate a lock, and become familiar with the outlay of the building. Often time’s parents, as they are dropping off or picking up their child, will ask questions about procedures or voice concerns so we have staff on hand to answer any questions.

    • Standardized test results are sent home and the counselors serve as a resource to help parents interpret scores.

    • Teachers communicate with parents by notes and phone calls as situations arise.

    • Several teachers send home a weekly/monthly update of events in their classroom.

    • Parents are included on committees. 

    • Ramsey band, athletics, and orchestra have supportive Booster Clubs.

    • Parents volunteer for the Quiz Bowl team and Science Bowl team. They also chaperone these events.

    • ShareFest is a multi-cultural program which our Gifted and Talented students and parents participate in every spring.

    • HOFNOD (Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs) is a club that invites parents to attend the annual fishing derby.

    • The Career Development class invites parents to guest speak about their careers.Ramsey teachers and parents met to discuss the following: the latest educational technology, graduation requirements, and prerequisite criteria and exit criteria.

    •  Topics related to parenting are published in the Ramsey parent newsletter.

    • “Meet the Coach Night” is a night that coaches meet with parents from all the various sports, and discuss schedules, procedures, and guidelines.

    • HUDL email viewer is an email system that allows parents and athletes to view game films, and has features which allow coaches to stay in contact with parents and players.

    • Student council students and parents sponsor the angel tree at Christmas.

    • Parents chaperone dances.

    • For the 2018-2019 school year, our school community plans to participate in the following: Salvation Army canned food drive, Christmas Honors Volunteer (prepare and place wreaths at the National Cemetery), Paint the Park Pink, Step up Speak out Rally, Kindness Ambassadors for the Kindness Revolution-Fort Smith, and a project partnering with Sparks Hospital’s neonatal unit.

    • Every spring Donna Jamell, math instructional chair at Ramsey meets with the parents of high school students and discusses graduation requirements, prerequisite criteria for upper level courses, and requirements for college/career planning.

    List the proposed parent meeting, conferences and activities regularly throughout this year and the dates providing flexible meeting times that you have planned to increase parental involvement and build staff and parent capacity to engage in these types of efforts.

    • Meet the Coach Night” is a night that coaches meet with parents from all the various sports, and discuss schedules, procedures, and guidelines.

    • Open House (August 9, 2018) is an introduction to the school’s teachers and content.  Other information obtained at open house includes: a report on the state of the school and an overview of the following:  what students will be learning, how students are assessed, parental expectations, and parental involvement opportunities.

    • A 7th grade transition day (August 10, 2018) is another activity to help students adjust to being in junior high. This is a day where 7th graders can meet other students, run through a shortened version of their schedule, get supply lists, operate a lock, and become familiar with the outlay of the building. Often time’s parents, as they are dropping off or picking up their child, will ask questions about procedures or voice concerns so we have staff on hand to answer any questions.

    • Parent Teacher Student Association Meeting, PTSA, will take place from 5:30-7:00 in September 18, November 27, March 12, and April 30.

    • Ramsey Junior High schedules two parent teacher conferences a year. Fall conferences for 2018 will be held on October 16th and October 18th. Spring conference for 2019 will be held on March 26th and March 28h. Conference times are from 3:30-6:30.

    • February 2019 Cheer and Drill Parent Meeting 5:30-6:30

    • Spring 2019, 6th Grade Parent Night

    • September and April  2019 Parent Involvement Committee Meeting

    • Every spring Donna Jamell, math instructional chair at Ramsey meets with the parents of high school students and discusses graduation requirements, prerequisite criteria for upper level courses, and  requirements for college/career planning. 

    • Parents serve as guest speakers in the Career Development classroom. Dates are determined throughout the year since Career Development is a semester class.

    How will your school provide information to parents about volunteer opportunities (Must include state mandated parent training)?

    • STATE REQUIREMENT – Provide instruction to a parent on how to incorporate developmentally appropriate learning activities in the home environment, including without limitation: role play and demonstration by trained volunteer, the use of and access to the Department of Education website tools for parents, assistance with nutritional meal planning and preparation and other strategies or curricula developed or acquired by the school district for at-home parental instruction approved by the Department of Education.

    • STATE REQUIREMENT (Staff Development) The State Board of Education’s Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts shall require no fewer than two (2) hours of professional development for teachers designed to enhance the understanding of effective parental involvement strategies. No fewer than three (3) hours of professional development for administrators designed to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies and the importance of administrative leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parental participation.

    • The Parent Teacher Student Association, PTSA, has a parent volunteer chairperson who is responsible for coordinating the volunteer list. Sarah Stillman is the parent volunteer chairperson for the 2018-2019 school year.

    • A note concerning the importance of parental involvement and a survey with opportunities available to volunteer is sent home in the informational packet which is distributed annually to the parent of each child at Ramsey Junior High. Ramsey’s web-site also has a parental involvement link which discusses the importance of parental involvement and contains the survey of volunteer opportunities.

    • The parent surveys are part of the PTSA resource book and the surveys are used to help match school needs with volunteer interest. The following information is outlined in the Facts and Information Section of the Volunteer Plan: Objectives of a Volunteer Plan, where the school volunteer program is located, how the school Volunteer Program operates, activities of school volunteers, and who is eligible for participation in the school volunteer program.

    • Parents may select the committee, or task which interests them and donate whatever time they have available.  In addition, to volunteering at school, Ramsey has options for those who are available to help at home.  

    • A computerized sign-in system is located in the office and is utilized by volunteers. When volunteers visit Ramsey, they will sign in, record the reason for the visit, and record the number of minutes/hours they were in service to our school. This information will be used to show appreciation on behalf of the students and staff at Ramsey Junior High.

    • Ramsey teachers will receive two hours of professional development in the 2018- 2019 school year. This professional development will be designed to enhance the understanding of effective parental involvement strategies. This professional development will be designed to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies and the importance of administrative leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parental participation.

    • Ramsey sent a parent survey home in September of 2018. We will look at the data and determine areas of need.

    How will your school provide resources for parents?

    • STATE REQUIREMENT  Ramsey Junior High parent center will contain informational packets each year that includes a copy of the school’s parental involvement plan, survey for volunteer interests, recommended roles for parents/teachers/students and school, suggestions of ways parents can become involved in their child’s education, parental involvement activities planned for the current school year and information about the system that will be used to allow parents and teachers to communicate.

    • STATE REQUIREMENT  Ramsey will include in the school’s policy handbook the school’s process for resolving parental concerns, including how to define a problem, whom to approach first, and how to develop solutions.

    • STATE REQUIREMENT - To promote and support responsible parenting, the school shall, as funds are available: Purchase parenting books, magazines, and other informative materials regarding responsible parenting through the school library, advertise the current selection, and give parents the opportunity to borrow the materials for review.

    • STATE REQUIREMENT-The principal of each school in a school district shall designate (1) certified staff member who is willing to serve as a parent facilitator.

    • STATE REQUIREMENT - The school shall enable the formation of a Parent Teacher Association or organization that will foster parental and community involvement within the school.

    • STATE REQUIEMENT – To take advantage of community resources, the school shall consider recruiting alumni from the school to create an alumni advisory commission to provide advice and guidance for school improvement.

    • Ramsey Junior High has a Parent Resource Center which is currently in the entryway. The Parent Resource Center has information about the community and support services available. Materials to assist parents in their child’s academic achievement are in the center, as well as materials that involve the growth and development of adolescence and related adolescent issues (drug use, depression, etc.).  Books, pamphlets, newsletter, calendar of events and articles, are free for parents.   The Parent Center will be evaluated every year by the PI committee and updated as funds are available.

    • The principal of each school in a school district shall designate (1) certified staff member who is willing to serve as a parent facilitator, Amanda Fry will serve as the facilitator for the 2018-2019 school year.

    • The Parent Involvement Facilitator works with the Sebastian County Cooperative Extension Service agent, Shawnee Sorensen, to secure resources and materials for parents and teens.

    • The Parent Involvement Facilitator works with Tracy Risley, project coordinator for ChildCare Aware, to obtain material for the Parent Center.

    • The Parent Involvement Facilitator will order materials from the USAA Educational Foundation for the Parent Center.

    • The Parent Involvement Facilitator subscribes to web-sites which contain information which would be beneficial to individual parents or for the parent center.

    • The Parent Resource Center, family nights, seventh grade orientation, and Open House are all avenues which will aid parents by promoting and supporting responsible childcare.

    • Tasseltime is an online resource which our district purchases. It is for parents and students to help with college selection, planning, and scholarships. This web-site also helps with subject tutoring, as well as, ACT/SAT test preparation. 

    How will your school engage parents in the evaluation of your parental involvement efforts?

    • Ramsey Junior High has a Parent Involvement Committee which has representation from parents of all grade levels, socio-economic background, educational levels and genders.
    • The Parental Involvement Committee will meet in September and April to discuss the needs of the parents and school, as well as to evaluate the plan and make modifications. The PI Committee will discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve for the next year.

    How will your school use the parent interest surveys to select, plan and implement parental involvement activities that will be offered throughout the year?

    • STATE REQUIREMENT  Sponsor seminars to inform the parents of high school students about how to be involved in the decisions affecting course selection, career planning, and preparation for postsecondary opportunities—Scheduled for the spring and conducted by Donna Jamell. Ramsey Counselors spend several days with high school students discussing scheduling and career planning.
    • The PTSA will collect and analyze the surveys and work with the parent facilitator and parent committee to coordinate events for the school.
    • Parents may select the committee, or task which interests them and donate whatever time they have available.  In addition to volunteering at school, Ramsey has options for those who are available to help at home.