Parental Engagement: Building Strong Relationships for Student Success
As the Principal of Penrhos College College, I understand that parental engagement is crucial to the success of our students. Building strong relationships with parents, fostering open communication, and involving families in the educational process are essential strategies for creating a supportive and enriching learning environment. Here are some key strategies for enhancing parental engagement at our school.
1. Establishing Trust and Building Relationships
Welcome and Inclusion From the moment a family joins our school community, it is important to help them feel welcome and valued. We host orientation sessions and welcome events, such as our Penrhos Welcome Sundowner, where new families receive a Penrhos picnic blanket and we enjoy family activities. We aim to provide a warm introduction to the school staff to help establish a positive relationship from the start.
Regular Communication Consistent and transparent communication is key to building trust. Regular updates through newsletters, emails, and parent-teacher meetings ensure parents are informed about their child's progress and school activities. Using multiple channels, such as social media, school apps, and websites, also helps keep parents engaged.
2. Fostering Open Communication
Two-Way Communication Encouraging open dialogue by creating opportunities for parents to share their thoughts, concerns, and feedback is crucial. We aim to achieve this through surveys and open dialogue sessions. Listening to parents' perspectives and acting on their feedback helps us improve our college.
Accessible School Leadership We aim to make the school leadership team accessible to parents. I have run "Coffee with Kalea" sessions in the city, making it easier for parents working in the city to attend and providing them with opportunities to speak with school leaders.
3. Involving Families in the Educational Process
Volunteer Opportunities We invite our parents to participate in school activities as volunteers. Whether it's helping in the classroom, assisting with school events, or joining parent committees like Friends of Penrhos, Friends of Dance and Drama, Friends of Sport, Friends of Rowing, Friends of Music, and Menrhos (fathers group), these opportunities allow parents to be actively involved in their child's education and contribute to the school community.
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Workshops and Seminars We offer workshops and seminars under our 'Full Circle Program' on topics relevant to parents, such as child development, digital safety, and academic support strategies. These sessions empower parents with knowledge and tools to better support their children's learning at home.
Family Events and Activities Organising family-oriented events and activities that encourage parent-child participation is vital. Events like picnics, movie nights, sundowners, and parent gatherings during school socials create a sense of community and provide opportunities for families to connect with each other and with the school.
4. Celebrating Success and Acknowledging Contributions
Student Achievements Regularly celebrating and sharing student achievements with parents is essential. Whether through awards ceremonies, newsletters, or social media, recognizing students' efforts and accomplishments reinforces the value of parental involvement in their success.
Parent Contributions We acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of parents to the school community through thank-yous, public recognition at events, and special appreciation gatherings. We have also introduced awards for our parents, given out at Founders Day. Valuing parents' efforts fosters a positive and collaborative school environment.
At Penrhos College, we are committed to fostering strong partnerships with our parents. By implementing these strategies, we aim to create an inclusive and supportive community where every student can thrive. Together, we can ensure that our students receive the best possible education and are well-prepared for their future.
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An excellent read - thank you for sharing Kalea Haran
Dedicated to helping others realise their potential.
6 个月A timely article and heartening to read. The strength of the three way partnership between teacher, student and parent(s) is a key differentiator between successful and not so successful schools. Great to see it so nourished here, especially when we might consider that, as time has advanced, parental expectation and demand upon teachers and school leaders has exponentially grown. Yet, appearing to be in correlation with a diminishing level of societal respect for the profession and, consequently, increasing instances of less than sophisticated communication between all stakeholders.