Parent Input Conferences: A Proactive Approach

Superintendent News & Views

Parent Input Conferences: A Proactive Approach

By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent

     

      In April, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck School Board approved the calendar for the 2017-2018 academic year.  While a detailed calendar will be provided to all families as the school year approaches, you may wish to get a jump on your planning by viewing the 1-page planning calendar which includes all of the early dismissals, professional development days, and holiday breaks. You can view this calendar by visiting http://tinyurl.com/GRCalendars.

      One of the first things that many people will notice when they see the district’s 2017-2018 calendar is the EARLY date for the first set of Parent/Teacher Conferences, and the fact that these conferences have been renamed – they are now called “PARENT INPUT CONFERENCES.”  These conferences will be held on August 29 and 31. 

      Why are parent conferences being held just one week into the new school year? What could your child’s teacher possibly tell you about their performance after just a few days of school have been held? 

      We’re taking a new approach to conferences this fall.  Fall conferences at Gladbrook-Reinbeck will see a change in the focus from the typical model where the teacher reports to the parents about the student’s work, grades and test scores. The new model will be a PROACTIVE conversation with the teacher and parents having an exchange of information. Parents will learn about upcoming classroom schedules, activities and expectations and will be able to share insight about their child thereby establishing open avenues of communication that will carry on throughout the entire school year.

   Research has shown that parental involvement is the most important factor in a student's success in school and it is the district’s desire to kick off the new school year in a positive fashion by starting conversations, establishing relationships and working together as partners.

      Parent Input Conferences are planned for Tuesday, August 29 and Thursday, August 31, from 4 to 8 p.m. both nights. There will be 2-hour early dismissals both days followed by a no school day on Friday, September 1. The 7-12 staff will be available to meet with parents during the scheduled hours both days, and parents of students in grades 7-12 are encouraged to stop by at their convenience and meet with one or all of their child’s teachers.  Elementary Parents will have the opportunity to sign up for a scheduled conference during back-to-school registration, and reminders will be sent home with elementary students indicating the time of their scheduled conference.

      The G-R Staff is looking forward to partnering with parents and families in an effort to help ALL students achieve success in the 2017-2018 school year!

      I hope you’ve found the information in my SUPERINTENDENT NEWS & VIEWS columns to be interesting and useful. If you’ve missed any of my columns or would like to re-read or share them with your friends and family, you are welcome to visit my blog at http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com where they are all posted. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter (@DavidRobertHill) where I will occasionally post updates or other information not found on the blog.