Laura Barrett and Betsy Tenbosch, Co-Chairs; Dr. Gregg Tracy, Principal (Finneytown School District)
Stacie McMahan, Patty Kathman, Gregg Tracy (Principal), Tara Veesart, Angela Kruck, Betsy Tenbosch (ATP Co-Chair), Jerri Green, Laurie Barrett (ATP Co-Chair), Patrick McGuire, Natalie Barnell, Amy Lutz, Doug Dirr, Leslie Harrison and Kathy Woodson. Not Pictured: Dawn Gast, Patty Vogt, Sharon Mason, Denyse Byrd, and Karen Mahan.
The Cottonwood Family Involvement Program is a collaborative partnership program comprised of school staff, parents, and community members. The Family Involvement Team meets monthly to discuss and plan school-wide partnership activities. Teamwork is fostered at a planning meeting and luncheon in August to set goals and develop an Action Plan for each school year. Team members volunteer time, resources, contacts, and talents in order to implement a variety of activities throughout the year. Efforts are coordinated with the work of our local PTA, Student Council, and various community organizations.
Over 300 parents, students, teachers, administrators, and school staff attend the annual Back to School Picnic that includes a welcome from the principal, supper, music, informal games and door prizes. Activities to involve students and their families during the school year include welcome coffees, family fun nights, dance night, and interactive math and reading nights. Parenting workshops are also offered on topics of special interest--from helping your child with homework to developing self-esteem, co-parenting after divorce, and dealing with ADD and ADHD. A Family Involvement Resource Center offers educational materials and parenting information that can be checked out by families.
The Family Involvement program fosters involvement at school through communication and special services. Family involvement information appears in the monthly school newsletter, and activities are promoted through the school's message board. The Action Team provides childcare to help parents attend important school meetings and events, including parent information nights and parent-teacher conferences. An annual survey is conducted to obtain parents' feedback on the partnership program and ideas for new activities that will meet family needs and interests.
The Handbook for Action provided us the framework we needed to develop our partnership program three years ago. It has been the basis for our program, giving us information on the six types of involvement, guidelines for developing an Action Team and a yearly Action Plan, materials for training, forms for planning and evaluation, and much more. Every school should be encouraged to develop a program of school, family, and community partnerships. … It has made us much more aware of the importance of family and community involvement in our students' education. Together Everyone Achieves More
--Laura Barrett, Betsy Tenbosch, and Dr. Gregg Tracy, Cottonwood Elementary School