3.3 Partnering with Families

Partnering with Families

We believe that working with families is key to supporting our students' learning and connecting school with home. Parents and families are their children’s first teachers, and we know we have so much to learn from our families! To build this partnership, we offer ways for families to share ideas, volunteer, and take on active roles in our program, including joining the Family Council.

By partnering with parents, guardians, and families, we can support the learning happening in the classroom and help prepare students for their future. Please reach out to your child's teacher to schedule a time to visit the classroom or explore ways to volunteer with us!

How Parent-Teacher Conferences Benefit Everyone

Meeting with your child's teacher provides an opportunity to learn about their progress within our curriculum and classroom environment, while also sharing insights about their strengths, interests, learning styles, and developmental progress. These conferences also allow us to hear directly from families about their hopes for their child and any information that can help support their learning journey. Teachers gather samples of students' work throughout the year to create individual portfolios, and parent-teacher conferences, held at least twice annually, offer a dedicated time for discussing your child's academic progress and any necessary adjustments to support their growth. Ongoing communication between teachers and families helps keep your child’s development on track and strengthens the connection between home and school. When families and teachers work together, children benefit from consistent support both in and outside of the classroom.

How Children Learn at Home

Families are a child’s first teachers. Letting us know about big events in your child’s life, like family changes, helps us better support their growth and understanding. Here are some simple ways to encourage learning at home:

• Talk Together: Children have so much to share and love being listened to! Take time to chat with them while making dinner or doing chores.
• Helping Out: Invite your child to help with small tasks around your home. Being helpful makes them feel important and teaches them how to work together with others.
• Read Together: Make reading a regular activity. After a story, ask your child to tell you what happened and who the main characters were—this builds their listening and understanding skills.
• Play Together: Playtime is so valuable for children's creativity and imagination. Spend time playing with them, whether it’s tossing a ball, taking a walk, or working on a puzzle, and you’ll get to see their interests come alive.

Feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher for more ideas on supporting their learning at home!