West End IB World School
Parent Involvement Policy
2009-10

West End International Baccalaureate World School continues to expand and strengthen a strong home-school-community partnership that ensures a safe, youth-oriented learning environment. Through this partnership our students will grow and achieve to their highest potential. West End’s mission is to empower learners to be inquisitive, caring, knowledgeable and active global leaders. Our vision is that all members of the West End community will embrace its historic legacy and develop their individual talents as they become models of excellence in the local, national, and international community through academics, service, and humanity. We believe that when families, schools and community groups work together to support learning, students stay in school longer, attend school more regularly and perform better in academics.

• All parents will be given the opportunity to attend informational, educational and procedural meetings throughout the year. Written communication and verbal communication will be provided in an understandable format and language. Translators will be provided as needed.

• All parents will be invited to jointly develop and edit this parent involvement policy, the school compact, school handbook, discipline policy and other written documents along with school staff and community stakeholders through the input of parent surveys, discussion groups, electronic communication, suggestion box comments and ideas and informational specific meetings and pre-student event school meetings.

• All parents will be invited to assist in the planning, revising, implementing and funding of the School Improvement Plan (SIP) as it is developed, implemented, revised and evaluated.

• Parents will be provided numerous opportunities to engage in meaningful two-way communication and influence decision-making policy with school and district staff regarding all phases of school and or district improvement through a three-tier communication network (Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO), Hillsboro Cluster Parent Advisory Meetings, and the District Parent Advisory Council.)

• All parents will be provided numerous opportunities to improve their parenting skills and skills in supporting student learning through workshops, community programs and advisory groups. Suggested topics addressed this year will include the International Baccalaureate Program, SES, homework, adolescent development, conflict management, TCAP state performance standards, and school choice opportunities.

• All parents will receive report cards and mid-nine week progress reports and TCAP scores. Other methods of monitoring student progress will include, but not be limited to: home visits, telephone logs, online grading program (GradeSpeed), daily agendas, informal and formal parent-teacher-counselor conferences, weekly electronic newsletters, call outs and frequent school wide newsletters.

Above all, West End IB World School students rely on the team work of the parents, all staff and surrounding community stakeholders to provide for the best possible learning environment so our youth will acquire the skills to become life long, accountable learners.