Family Engagement Policy

Family Engagement Policy

2024 - 2025

 

Families play an important role in a child’s education. At J.F. Kennedy MS, we believe that the success of our students depends on a partnership between the family and educators. Family engagement contributes significantly to student achievement, and we want to encourage our families to be active participants in our school.

Communication

  • The school sends home a welcome packet (MNPS handbook) to families prior to the start of school.
  • The school posts school news and events on the marquee, Remind App, grade level newsletters, and website.
  • The school keeps the website up to date with current events and activities.
  • Teachers call or email regarding positive and/or corrective updates on student academics and behavior.
  • The district and school contact families by phone and Remind App to relay school closings and other important notices.
  • The school informs families about programs and services offered, i.e. social worker, school nurse, school counselors, Community Achieve liaison, Title I, etc.
  • The district and school provide families with a description and explanation of the current curriculum in use, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.
  • The school provides progress reports, report cards, and Notice of Concerns to update families about student academics and behavior.
  • Families and teachers communicate about grade and/or behavior concerns.
  • The school counselors, administrators, and teachers assist families in understanding the curriculum, student achievement standards, and how to effectively monitor a child’s progress and work with teachers.

Family Participation

  • Families attend teacher conferences (virtual when necessary) to discuss child’s progress.
  • Families communicate changes in contact information to the school.
  • Families actively seek information, provided by the school, on events and activities.
  • Families are invited to be in the school to attend school activities and events.
  • The school offers varied times and methods for parent conferences, for example, before and after school, teacher planning times, phone conferences, Microsoft Teams, etc.
  • Families are invited to IEP, 504, and S-team meetings to plan and discuss future programming for their child.
  • Families complete the district and school survey to provide feedback to the school.
  • Families are involved in other feedback opportunities, such as revisions of the school improvement plan, writing the parent-teacher compact, and creating the parental involvement policy.
  • Families schedule times with the school/teacher to visit their child’s classroom.
  • Families are encouraged to become members of the JFK family engagement group.

Meeting Opportunities

  • An information meeting/open house is held at the beginning of the year to welcome families, meet teachers, and review classroom procedures.
  • A Title I annual meeting is held at the beginning of the year to inform families about our Title I program.
  • Parent meetings are held to give families an opportunity to help with and provide feedback on the School Improvement Plan, Family Engagement Policy, School-Parent Compact, Title I Program, and the development of the School-wide Program Plan.
  • Families are invited to events to celebrate student achievements.
  • Two days are spent entirely on parent conferencing during the school year.
  • The school hosts an information meeting for rising fifth graders from our feeder schools.
  • The school holds an open house in the fall for all incoming students.
  • Title I money may be used to help with expenses associated with family engagement activities.
  • Community businesses work with our school to assist in family engagement activities.

Parent Education

  • Various workshops/classes are planned throughout the year on a variety of topics based on responses to the survey.
  • Helpful parenting tips are included in Remind throughout the year in several languages.
  • The district offers a Family Information Center at Family Information Center - Metro Nashville Public Schools.
  • MNPS offers parental access to their child's district dashboard to access up-to-date information on their child.
  • The school hosts family nights to model math and reading activities for parents to use with their child(ren).
Notes
  • Some activities will be held virtually.
  • All parent information is provided in Spanish and Arabic.