Innovative parent involvement projects are being implemented in Rainbow Schools thanks to funding provided by the Ministry of Education's Parent Engagement Office. Eight Rainbow Schools and the Board are sharing a total of $26,000 in Parents Reaching Out Grants to support School Council and Parent Involvement Committee initiatives to further engage parents/guardians in their child's learning.
"Parents, as the first teachers in the home, are important partners in the learning process," said Jean Hanson, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. "Research has shown that the involvement of parents and guardians in their child's education has a positive impact on student achievement and overall school performance."
Central Manitoulin Public School will host a number of workshops. Preparing your child for school will be the focus of a workshop for parents with children in Kindergarten. Parents with children in Grades 1 to 6 will learn reading strategies to help their children at home. A cyberbullying workshop will be presented for parents with children in Grades 7 and 8.
Assiginack Public School will host a series called "Sharing of Talent Days". Parents/guardians will be invited to share their talents with students at the school during an Arts Day, Career Day and Literacy Day.
Redwood Acres Public School will present interactive "Math Magic!" workshops to enable parents to support numeracy in the home. Through these workshops, parents will see that children can learn math through a variety of mediums and techniques in an enjoyable and entertaining way.
Balancing Healthy Families: Socially, Mentally and Physically will be the focus of the Parents Reaching Out project at Carl A. Nesbitt Public School. Community partners will be invited to present a series of educational workshops. Parents will gain helpful hints and insights to deal with life's daily challenges.
Ernie Checkeris Public School will establish a Parental Resource Centre at the school. Parents/guardians will be able to consult and borrow a variety of books/materials on parenting and education, including literacy and French-language resources. The Parental Resource Centre will increase cooperation and collaboration between parents and teachers, which will have a positive impact on student achievement.
At Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, parents/guardians will be invited to a series of after-school workshops and in-school events to build community connections and encourage literacy. Parents and students will receive literacy learning materials and resources, including Family Literacy Night Kits. They will also receive support and guidance.
Sudbury Secondary School will bring parents/guardians together with staff to inform parents about the EQAO Assessments (Education Quality and Accountability Office) and outline strategies which can be used at home. This will provide additional support for student success by engaging parents in the process.
Staff from Lively District Secondary School will gather together for a traditional feast with parents of students at the Whitefish Lake First Nation. Through informal conversations with parents, teachers will gain a greater understanding of individual student interests. The sharing of traditions will enable Whitefish Lake First Nation and Lively District Secondary School to build bridges towards cultural understanding.
Rainbow District School Board and its Parent Involvement Committee will help students and parents/guardians make key decisions in the transition from elementary to secondary school through an evening information session, dynamic video, student/parent guide and web information. Information will focus on pathways, course content, timetabling, selecting courses, learning tips, school life, student success and testimonials. All schools will benefit from the project.
While each project varies from school to school, the initiatives have one thing in common - they are intended to enhance communications between the school and the home and help to create a more welcoming environment for parents/guardians.
