The Virtual Family Friendly School

1. The Virtual Family Friendly School presented by: Marlon Cousin Title I Coordinator for Parental Involvement

2. The Family Friendly School The Family Friendly Partnership School combines the concepts of architecture and improvement planning for a sustained program of actions by educators and families.

3. Site 1: Entering the Community • When visitors request information on how to find your school, send or fax in a timely fashion: • written directions • a map with landmarks • the school’s address • e-mail address and/or • Web site • and a contact name of a person as well as his/her phone number

4. Entering the Community continued... • As visitors enter the community, signs are visible on the main street that direct them to the schools within the community.

5. Site 2: School Building Signs • The name of the school district, school building and street address are clearly marked on a sign near the road and also on the building itself.

6. School Building Signs continued... • Directional signs to guest parking or other traffic flow issues are clearly marked.

7. School Building Signs continued... • A weather-proof banner or a permanent sign, welcoming parents, families and the community is hung outside high above the entrance or inside near the entrance.

8. School Building Signs continued... • The banner or sign is in English and other languages. The welcome message is translated into languages representative of the school’s population. • Check all translations with local people who speak these languages to be sure that the message is correct.

9. Site 3: Parking Lot • Guest parking spaces are reserved near the building for the convenience of the visitors. • Parking and accommodations for individuals with disabilities is available and easily accessible.

10. Site 4: School Entrance Welcome • The school office is located close to the entrance and easy to find.

11. Site 4: School Entrance Welcome continued... • Various people welcome visitors at the door/front desk for about an hour in the morning and an hour after school, as the students are coming and going. • This personal touch adds to the family friendliness of the school building and facilitates the visitor’s reason for entering the building. • This activity also frees up the administration to attend to other business of the day.

12. Site 4: School Entrance Welcome continued... A sign at the school entrance reads:

13. Site 4: School Entrance Welcome • New families enrolling throughout the school year are given a tour of the building by the parent coordinator/designee including the lunchroom, playground, etc. • They are introduced by name as they meet the various school personnel. Good Afternoon! I am Bob James the Principal, welcome to Mid-City Middle School.

14. Site 4: School Entrance Welcome continued... • A child experiencing homelessness enters the school to enroll, accompanied by an agency representative and parent/guardian. • They are greeted and treated graciously like all children enrolling.

15. Site 4: School Entrance Welcome continued... • The limited English proficient (LEP) student and family is greeted and made to feel welcome. • Have available an interpreter to assist with enrollment, if necessary. • Have translated written information about the school.

16. Site 5: Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities • Individuals with disabilities have equal access to all areas of the school campus. • Elevators • Appropriate counter heights • Restroom accommodations • Etc.

17. Site 6: Staff/Teacher Showcase • On the wall by the door are the pictures, brief biography, degrees and/or something that makes them unique/life’s motto of all the staff (include custodial staff, cooks, secretaries, etc.). • This showcase enables the family visitor to recognize these people. • This information would be valuable to add to the school’s Web page.

18. Site 7: School Office • The school office has no counter between the family and the office staff. • Removing this barrier encourages communication and is less intimidating to the customer.

19. Site 7: School Office continued... • If there is a counter, consider how to make it friendly, e.g. placement of flowers, seasonal displays, welcome sign, etc. • Not all counters are barriers, some make it easy for people to put down papers and books as they talk.

20. Site 7: School Office continued... • In-service training for all staff and student workers is available on how to respond to the family in person or on the telephone. • Help others (e.g. maintenance and food service staffs, students, etc.) in the school be aware that when they see a visitor badge on a person they should say “Hello, May I help you?”, “Welcome to our school,” etc.

21. Site 8: Principal's Office • Office hours are posted on his/her calendar, so people will know when the principal is available. • A principal’s Parent Advisory Council is established to get input from the community. • The dates for an open house and parent & administrator informational meetings for the school year are posted on the school calendar.

22. Site 8: Principal's Office continued... • Informational meetings throughout the school year are available with the following foci: • principal & teacher objectives, • teacher & principal expectations, • parent & administrator dialogue over concerns and requested assistance, • linking leadership structures to make decisions about all parts of the school, family and community partnerships.

23. Site 9: Building Map/Markings • Once visitors have signed in and received their visitor's badge, they can view a floor plan of the building to help them move about.

24. Site 9: Building Map/Markings continued... • Painted footprints and/or arrows on the floor and/or walls directing the family visitor to various places in the building, e.g. to the school library, parent resource center, gym, cafeteria, etc. To Cafeteria

25. Site 10: Waiting Area • In the school office or hall a sofa, comfortable chairs, coffee table, lamps, suggestion or comment box and literature (pictures of school activities) about the school are available for people to sit and relax as they wait.

26. Site 10: Waiting Area continued... • A monthly bulletin board is maintained showing upcoming events/school news, school motto, philosophy, pictures from previous years activities, parent retreats, picnics, Cultural Day, assemblies, Staff and Family Fun Night, etc.

27. Site 11: Signage • Signs outside each classroom door noting the grade level, teacher's name, room number and even a course of study for the semester or year and perhaps a class picture including the teacher.

28. Site 12: Parent Resource Center • The Parent Resource Center is located near the school entrance and is staffed with parent volunteers. • Signs and symbols direct people to the center, including a sign above the door.

29. Site 12: Parent Resource Center continued... • Encourage the use of the building by community groups in accordance with district policy. • Centers may contain parenting books, videotapes, educational games and curriculum information on loan for parents to help their children succeed in the classroom. • Place toys and books in an area for small children who come with their parents.

30. Site 12: Parent Resource Center continued... • A coffee pot, computer and/or tables to work on add to the usefulness of the center. • Parent resource information is available, e.g. seminars, workshops, informational meetings like how to help with homework, assistance on being creative with academic assignments and activities that challenge the child while away from school, etc.

31. Site 12: Parent Resource Center continued... • Information posters on "Effective Ways to Encourage Your Child" and "At-Home Teaching Strategies" lists of organizations and educational agencies that parents can join to help their child succeed in and outside the classroom are placed on walls throughout the building as well as in the center. • Lists of emergency/health care phone numbers, e.g. poison control center, free health care clinics, etc. are available.

32. Site 13: Classroom • Adult-size chairs are available when meeting with adults. Some schools may need to conduct conferences and other activities in other parts of the building besides the classroom or even outside of the school building itself. • Initiate conversation by having the parents speak first concerning their comments and concerns.

33. Site 13: Classroom continued... • There is no desk between the teacher and parent to create a barrier to conversation. A low table may be available between the teacher and parent for the convenience of paperwork. • There is a parent information bulletin board by the door inside the room that contains a monthly parent-volunteer sign-up sheet for special occasions, class projects, field trips, celebrations, etc.

34. Site 13: Classroom continued... • Monthly curriculum themes, teacher expectations, rules, objectives, upcoming events and guest speakers are also posted on the bulletin board. • Awareness posters/banners are posted that show class spirit, learning objectives, classroom protocol, the equation for child success (the teacher + the parent = child success and high self-esteem) and weekly/monthly shining stars (model students: great effort, taking initiative, doing their best, helpfulness, following instructions and the rules, etc.)

35. Site 14: Auditorium/Gymnasium • The auditorium is where the parents, staff and principals are able to meet for the open house, informational and parent meetings, such as the required Title 1 Annual Meeting. • This room is set up for assemblies, guest speakers and may be available for community use. • The gymnasium is open for community use.

36. Site 15: Cafeteria • This is the area in the building where students can have their breakfast and lunch and invite their families to join them. • Posters containing nutritional information promoting good health, which leads to increased learning, are visible on the walls. • The cafeteria staff is smiling and friendly as the students and guests enter the food line.

37. Site 16: Library/Media Center • In this room students can bring their families to support a literacy focus. • Extended hours are available for maximum use of the center.

38. Site 17: Leaving the Building • Visitors sign out in the school office and return their visitor badge. • Literature, brochures and a welcome bag on various parenting/school topics are available near the door for parents to pick up on their way out of the building.

39. Site 17: Leaving the Building continued... • A sign placed for parents to see as they leave the building says… • School office staff says a friendly good-bye and thanks for visiting!

40. For Further Assistance: Marlon Cousin, Title ICoordinator for Parental Involvement Instructional Resource Center Office # 34 mcousin@ebrschools.org 225.922.5593