2008 PPP Pearl Award Winners
March 05, 2008
Jonesburg Elementary School in Montgomery County R-II has truly come a long way in the short amount of time they have implemented PPP. To provide parenting information, they have set up an information library specifically geared toward parents to help provide parenting information on any given number of topics. Jonesburg has also contacted area nutrition agencies to sponsor materials for the parent information library. Even WIC and federal funding information is made available to parents. The parent library is prominently displayed in the foyer of the school and is accessible to all parents. The PPP committee has also arranged a small play area for small children to occupy their time while the parents can browse the brochures. In order to build school-community partnerships, they’ve teamed up with local clubs and organizations to sponsor activities such as an all school field trip to the movies, afternoon activities for students and a 100% club for students to receive incentives for those who’ve completed and turned in all their assignments. They wish to thank and credit the Optimist Club, the Lion’s Club and the Jonesburg community for their support of the school. Communicating information about performance and assessment to parents can be difficult, but Jonesburg Elementary makes it look easy. Positive phone calls have begun since training with PPP. The teachers here let the families know about their children’s successes and accomplishments. To help parents support their children’s learning and provide parent involvement opportunities at school, Jonesburg Elementary has invited parents to attend school to help with reading groups or to become volunteers in the classroom. Jonesburg has also sent home passports to involve parents with their children, not just their learning. They encourage family time by rewarding families who read together, play games as a family, prepare meals together, take an educational trip as a family, go for walks or exercise together and even have given out prizes for the families who do all these activities.
Rich Hill R-V School District credits its surrounding community as one of its greatest assets. It certainly does take a community to raise a child! One of their best school/community partnerships and largest family turnouts is “Big Truck Night.” About two dozen trucks and emergency vehicles from the community take part and share their job responsibilities with the families. Community members are also involved in the school as team members on several different Advisory Boards. To help empower parents, Rich Hill provides PPP Parents’ Guides to the MAP, Reading and Retention, and No Child Left Behind. Parent input is sought to find out what parents see as beneficial. Monthly parent involvement activities are planned around this input with about 60% participation. Conferences are well attended, as are PTO Meetings, especially the spring meeting when MAP testing information is shared. Parents are encouraged to ask questions and communicate with the district so the school can provide educational opportunities to fit the needs of each family and school-aged child.
