We know that when families and schools partner, students thrive. Try these tips to start off the school year strong.
Reach Out to Families at the Start of the School Year: Don’t wait for families to come to you or until there’s a problem. Empower your teachers to connect with families at the start of school. Use outreach scripts and note catchers, and relationship tracking tools to establish connections that set the tone for the entire year. When you take time to learn about each child’s interests, strengths, and goals, families feel welcomed and prepared for success.
Create Ongoing Connection Opportunities: Build relationships intentionally throughout the year. Host informal opportunities like coffee time, community events, and collaborative activities. Work as a team to ensure that every family in your district has multiple chances to build relationships with your school staff, whether in school or out in the community. Get these opportunities on your calendar now and set expectations around staff participation.
Teachers report time and again that when they take the time to proactively build relationships with families, the rest of the school year goes more smoothly.