Little Rock School District

Pulaski Heights Middle School

“Pursuing Panther Pride

Parent Involvement Plan

2012-2013

Pulaski Heights Middle School is currently in year 6 of school improvement.  We are a school-wide Title I school for grades 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th.  Forty percent (48.52%) of our students are on free and reduced lunch.

401 North Pine Street , Little Rock , Arkansas 72205

Phone:  447-3200

Fax:  447-3201

http://www.lrsd.org

Dr. Suzanne Ross, Principal

Parent Involvement Committee Members

Dr. Suzanne Ross, Principal

Debra Brown, Parent Facilitator

Terese Oliver, Math Department Chairperson

Beth Munson, English Department Chairperson

Jacquie Hogg, Social Studies Department Chairperson

Terri Phillips, Technology and Science Department Chairperson

Kristy Kidd, GT Coordinator

Lee Thompson, Title-1

Michelle Wilson, Recruitment

Lisa LaGrone, PTSA President

Jan Hollenberg, PTSA President Elect

Janis Thibault, PTSA Treasurer

Allison Hitt PTSA Council Representative

Blake Abston, Student Council President  

School Mission

            The Pulaski Heights Middle School family, which includes students, parents, teachers, staff, and community, shall provide a safe, supportive learning environment, where our students will develop into independent, caring, productive young adults able to face successfully the challenges of tomorrow. 

Communication

            The Pulaski Heights Middle School Parental Involvement Plan involves parents of students of all grade levels in a variety of roles.  Our plan recognizes that communication between home and school should be regular, two-way, and meaningful.  To encourage communication Pulaski Heights Middle has developed a school web site, individual teacher web sites, and a Parent Involvement web site.   On our web sites, parents can check events, test results, homework assignments, student progress, deadlines, Parent Involvement Plan, parent surveys, bi-weekly newsletters, and a weekly Principal’s newsletter.  Parents are encouraged to call, email, and attend teacher conferences in order to monitor student progress.  Parent involvement opportunities are also sent home via the student to inform the parent and student of the activities taking place in the school and how they can become involved.  Debra Brown, Parent Facilitator 447-3231

Parent Workshops/Meetings

            Parent workshops/meetings are offered during lunch time and during the four scheduled Family Nights. The workshops provide opportunities for parents and their children to experience the classroom experience in a positive and helpful manner, while school staff provides needed assistance and encouragement.  A technology workshop educating parents about Ed line, an online resource providing important information such as grades, schedules, and assignments will be included.  Other parent workshops are available to parents to address their needs and provide strategies that can be used at home to enhance math, literacy, and study skills.  
            PTSA Meetings and workshops are held throughout the year following a varied schedule to accommodate the needs of families.  The Parent Involvement Facilitator is available to provide information to the parents during these meetings.  Invited speakers provide parents with additional information concerning ways to make their child’s academic life more successful.  Surveys and volunteer forms are given to parents to complete during registration.  The results of the survey will be posted on the Parent Involvement web site.
            Three scheduled parent conference opportunities have been scheduled by the Little Rock School District , two in the fall and one in the spring.  Additional conferences are scheduled at the request of the parents and/or teachers through each child’s Team Leader. 

Throughout the year, parents are encouraged to participate in the following activities to increase their involvement and support for student learning:

Debra Brown, Parent Facilitator 447-3231

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

            Pulaski Heights Middle School is committed to providing opportunities for the maximum growth and development of each child.  This commitment includes the involvement of parents and volunteers.  Pulaski Heights Middle School wants each year to be a very positive experience for students and their parents.  Volunteer sign-up sheets are available during registration, PTSA meetings, and Family Nights.  Opportunities for parent involvement are integrated and coordinated in the program during the year to include planning visitation days for fifth grade students and parents who will be attending middle school in the fall.  Parent volunteers organize fifth grade orientation sessions and provide tours of the school. Parents also volunteer to assist with mentoring, main office duties, choir and band concerts, art contests, Reflections competitions, sporting events, and library duties. 

            Pulaski Heights Middle School supports the development, implementation, and regular evaluation of the Parental Involvement program to involve parents in the decisions and practices of the Little Rock School District .  The Principal has designated one certified staff member that serves as a parent facilitator.  The parent facilitator organizes meaningful training for staff and parents to help promote and encourage a welcoming atmosphere for parental involvement at Pulaski Heights Middle School .  The parent facilitator also ensures that parental participation is recognized as an asset to the school.  The person serving as parent facilitator receives supplemental pay for the assigned duties as required by law.

            Staff development opportunities as required by the State Board of Education’s Standards of Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools will be offered each year.  Two hours of professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators are offered during district staff development days.  The professional development is designed to enhance understanding of effective parental involvement strategies.  In addition, one hour of professional development is offered to school administrators.  Professional development for administrators is designed to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies and the importance of administrative leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parental participation. These Parental Involvement hours are to be included in the sixty hours of staff development required by the Arkansas Department of Education.
            Lisa LaGrone, PTSA President 501-912-5886

School-Parent- Compact

            School staff, parents, and students develop a school-parent-student compact.  This compact outlines how parents, school staff, and students share the responsibility for improving student academic achievement.  Pulaski Heights Middle School and parents build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state’s high academic standards.  All stakeholders sign the compact.  Debra Brown, Parent Facilitator 447-3231

Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating Title I, Part A

            Pulaski Heights Middle School has parent representatives that attend the monthly PTSA School Council meetings held in the library.  Parents are involved in school improvement planning.  To support this process, the school offers both school staff and parents training on how to contribute to this process in a meaningful way.  Parents are involved in making decisions about the allocation of its Title I, Part A funds for parental involvement.  To take advantage of community resources, the school has put fourth an effort to recruit Pulaski Heights Middle School Alumni to attend meetings to provide advice and guidance for school improvement.  Annual Title-1 Meeting-November 27, 2012 at 5:00

Lee Thompson, Title-1, 447-3264

Resources for Parents

            To promote and support responsible parenting, Pulaski Heights Middle School encourages parents to take advantage of the School’s Parent Resource Center.  The parent facilitator maintains the Parent Resource Center which is located on the first floor beside the main office.  It is open from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center provides information to parents, students, teachers, and staff on many subjects regarding; parenting topics, behavior issues, discipline, depression, drug homework, awareness, etc.  Parents are able to checkout some of the materials.  There are also computers available for parents to use to check grades, and visit educational web sites in the Media Center .  Parents are encouraged to view the Title I Plan located in the library.  A suggestion sheet is available for parental input.  Pulaski Heights Middle School  has purchased books, magazines, and other informative material regarding responsible parenting. 

            Each year Informational packets are distributed to parents that include; a copy of the school’s parental involvement plan, survey for volunteer interests, recommended roles for parents/ teachers/students and school, suggestions of ways parents can become involved in their child’s education, parental involvement activities planned for the current school year and information about the system that is used to allow parents and teachers to have an open line of communication with each other via, notes, phone calls, and e-mail.   Included in the school’s policy handbook is the school’s process for resolving parental concerns, including how to define a problem, who to approach first, and how to develop solutions. Debra Brown, Parent Facilitator 447-3231

Parent Involvement Evaluation

            Pulaski Heights Middle School engages parents in an annual evaluation of the Title I, Part A Program’s parental involvement efforts through an annual evaluation using a comprehensive needs assessment filled out by teachers, parents, and school staff.  The Title I committee, made up of teachers, parents and school staff determine the effectiveness of the parental involvement plan and make changes if warranted. While collecting evidence about satisfaction with the program and the school’s efforts to increase parental involvement is a part of the evaluation, it also provides specific information on the (1) growth in number of parents participating in workshops and meetings; (2) specific needs of parents; (3) effectiveness of specific strategies; and (4) engagement of parents in activities to support student academic growth.  Debra Brown, Parent Facilitator 447-3231

Parental Involvement Surveys

            At Pulaski Heights Middle School we ask parents to complete a parent interest survey during registration of each school year.  The survey provides information concerning the activities parents feel are most beneficial in the efforts to support their child academically. The school uses the results of the parent interest survey to plan the parental involvement activities for the year. The school evaluates the activities that were suggested by the parents at the end of the year as part of the annual parental involvement plan evaluation.

Annual Title I Meeting

            Pulaski Heights Middle School conducts an Annual Title I meeting for parents of the students who participate in the Title I, Part A Program. The school’s annual Title I meeting is separate from any other meetings or activities to ensure that presenters have ample time to provide a description/explanation of school curriculum, information on forms of academic assessments used to measure student progress, and information on proficiency level students are expected to meet. The agenda, the sign-in sheet, and the minutes for this meeting are generated separately from any other events and kept on file in the school’s office. Debra Brown, Parent Facilitator 447-3231