Castlebridge P.S. School Council Parent Engagement Survey

1. Castlebridge P.S. School Council Parent Engagement Survey May 2013

2. Response rates Total Responses: 168 # e-mail addresses: 128

3. Q2: What types of Parent Engagement opportunities are you most interested in?

4. Q2: What types of Parent Engagement opportunities are you most interested in?

5. Q2: What types of Parent Engagement opportunities are you most interested in? • Information about academics • How can we parent help/assist the learning at home • More info on EQAO prep by voicemails • Information about Ontario School System, what are different options other than the regular school system, any special programs, special group program for the children • After school skills development programs e.g. French conversation • More info on what services are available to assist with special needs - whether it be private or publically funded (learning disability, ADHA, gifted, etc, references to sites (computer) or organizations that can help children master cursive, keyboarding, times-tables, etc - Thanks! • Information on qualified tutors and extra learning programs • Tutoring program where teachers may identify students academic needs and the program can be conducted by volunteer parents and / or teachers • Extra talking time with teachers for students with different countries for them which are with ESL (like English is a second language for them) • Using technology at home and in the classroom e.g. Using individual presentation for class assignment using PowerPoint

6. Q2: What types of Parent Engagement opportunities are you most interested in? • Communication with School & Teachers • I think e-mail is also the best way to communicate or flyers can be sent home • informal round table discussions with teachers and other parents • parent and teacher meeting should be conducted frequently • informal opportunities to come into the classroom and look at my child's work in all subjects, to speak with the teacher, to be informed of class curriculum, main focus in subject areas • If we could get to know more about kids weekly progress at school or any issues that need to be addressed etc. so that we would know where / when to step up with more help • more informative newsletters - more regular feedback from teachers, e.g. Weekly e-mails to parents. Would like notification when my child gets award for poetry etc - would be nice to see achievements publically applauded even monthly awards. Recognition of kids by others via better communication. • It would be nice to have a parents page on the school website where parents can share their feedback, experience and opinions regarding their kids school, staff, activities, etc.

7. Q2: What types of Parent Engagement opportunities are you most interested in? • Clubs and Activities for Kids • Introduce clubs for kids, organized by parent volunteers who are experienced in that field, e.g. -Chess club, quiz club, science club, robotics club - that can be done at lunch recess (or after school for Gr 4-5) • There should be more activities and clubs for kids to join and help according to their subjects by having study circles • Other • Actually people are from different background & different culture, plan something likes to understand by everyone, the should be Helpful for parents & kids • How to have healthy sibling interaction • Sorry I do not find any of the choices listed to be of any interest • Opportunities to meet other parents

8. Q3: When is the best time of day for you?

9. Q4: What prevents you from becoming involved at the school?

10. Q4: What prevents you from becoming involved at the school? • Evening commitments such as kids’ extracurricular activities • Sometimes evening meeting conflict with other evening obligations or extracurricular activities - but not always • Kids after school classes like music lessons, karate, in the evenings - especially for school council meetings • Busy in study • They have their religious evening class at the mosque • Tired from work & house responsibilities • Kids extra-curricular activities • Have little enough free time to spend with kids in evenings (w.r.t. evening involvement) • Depends on which night of the week b/c of kids extra-curricular activities o/s school • Full time studying (in university)

11. Q4: What prevents you from becoming involved at the school? • Barriers to volunteering • More invitations for volunteering required • Can't volunteer for long hrs • Need to go through other procedure such as background check • Wanted to volunteer but was never called • Prefer to volunteer in the classroom • Other barriers • Inform everything on the time • Daycare needs • Speaking English • I don't suggestions are taken seriously. No action is taken.

12. Q5: Is there anything else you would like to let us know as we build the Parent Engagement Plan? • Parents want to get more info about what’s going on in the classroom • Perhaps once a month students could have a 'show and tell' to show parents what they've learned / working on in the evening or weekend "open house" format OR through a class website • More information regarding kids and their teachers, activities and one on one with the staff • It will help us to know the school, the teacher, and the other students better. To get involved into the children’s' school life, it's a very nice memory • Please give some homework & results of homework & require parents to sign • One of my son's teacher sends me email at the end of each week (Friday) and lets us know what he did with the kids in class, the topics he taught and all about the upcoming quiz and tests. I find that very useful as it allows me to be on the same page with my son's teacher as well as my son • Communication between teacher and parents through e-mailing • Hope to know kid's performance at school more often, so that parent will know in which area the kid needs to improve • Parents and teachers interview • I think there should be parent-student information sessions • Get suggestions from parents on school environment such as classroom etc.

13. Q5: Is there anything else you would like to let us know as we build the Parent Engagement Plan? • Parents want a variety of opportunities for involvement with the School community including other parents • More group meetings; volunteering at the events • Community family events on weekends are good however in the past I have found communication about these to be weak, i.e. Cost was not mentioned for the 1st fair I attended • Provide more opportunities for kids to go on field trips and get parents' help • Develop groups of 3 - 4 parents who can call each other in case of last minute change in parental commitment to the plan, e.g. If volunteering was ok a week ago, now if I can't make it I can call another parent in my group and exchange the day • I believe that events that encourage 'community' are beneficial to both parents and students. Evening activities which include both "invite" parents who are normally unable to participate in any school activity due to work issues. Community support is a key issue to our education system • Volunteer work, meetings with class teacher, get together • I think school should manage to create events of kids like in which they are presenting something & parents are welcome to see their kids, e.g. they are acting or some poem etc. • More opportunity to communicate directly with teacher and parents from the same class

14. Q5: Is there anything else you would like to let us know as we build the Parent Engagement Plan? • Communication from School Council / School is important • If you can make the council meeting recorded and shown on the school website so those who can't attend the meeting can at least know what happened • I think a monthly newsletter from the council through e-mail would keep parents abreast of what is coming up and funded - maybe bi monthly • I really believe that good, relevant communication with parent body is key in building a stronger school community or school spirit • Homework • Homework to every student & next day checked by teachers. It makes kids more responsible • Materials or homework sent back to home, which we can work together with kids • Extracurricular • Arrangements for more extra-curricular activities needed • Giving the opportunity for patents to head, supervise, or assist teachers in running the clubs (chess, scrabble, etc.) When teachers are unable to for any reason

15. Q5: Is there anything else you would like to let us know as we build the Parent Engagement Plan? • There are challenges to getting involved • It is very difficult to get to school with work commitments • Flexibility on the part of the school as well as parent in regards to timing for parent meetings • Parent-children joint scientific projects for example LEGO Mindstorm Robot Building - this develops analytical / critical thinking • I can only afford 2 hrs/ 15 days. You should ask the kids if they feel happy to see their parents at school sometimes helping during lunch or PE. • If the plan could be organized with details parents would be easy to arrange their engagement time • Good News • Nothing, I want to begin volunteering May 7, 2013 • No idea! I guess you are already doing your best. It is appreciated. • I don't think there is anything else but you guys are doing fabulous job • Continue to keep us informed as always