Parents

You are your child’s greatest cheerleader!

Children do better in school when parents and guardians get involved. Attend school events, join parent/guardian groups, use the Power School Parent Portal to keep up with grades and assignments, and visit your school’s Web site. Also, contact the school for additional information about your children’s academic progress and the tests they are taking at school.

Let your children know how important their work at school is and how interested you are in what they are doing. Talk with them everyday about:

What they did at school
What homework must be finished for the next day
What needs to be done on a future project

What you do at home can make a very big difference in how well your children achieve in school.

Attend parent conferences to find out how well your child is achieving and what he/she needs to do to improve.
Discuss with your children the importance of going to school every day and doing their best on assignments and tests.
Make sure your children have a quiet place to study and that they complete all homework assignments.

Here are some suggestions for helping your children in reading, writing, math and other academic areas:

Reading & Writing

Listen to your children read. Read stories aloud to and with them.
Talk about what you and your children are reading. Ask questions and discuss words that are new or difficult.
Encourage your children to write lists, notes,thank-you notes, requests, journals, recipes, short stories and other types of writing used in everyday life.
Talk with your children about what writing assignments require; help them list the points to cover.
Set a limit on the amount of time your children watch television or use the computer. Watch and discuss television programs with them whenever possible.

Math

Review homework every day with your children to make sure assignments are completed. Ask your children to explain some of their math problems and how they solved them.
Have your children help solve “real” mathematical problems as you play games, cook a meal, or prepare to do a home project.
Show your children how math is used in everyday life, including cooking, shopping, making crafts, sewing and doing home repairs.
Help your children read charts or graphs in newspapers and magazines. Read maps when going on a family trip. It is important to help your children apply what they are learning.

State Testing

Attend information meetings for parents and guardians. Ask about the major tests given to children and other ways academic achievement is measured.
Check the calendars in this guide to find out when state-mandated tests are given and find out what you can do to help make sure your children are prepared.
Discuss upcoming tests with your children and reassure them that test results provide useful information about what they know and what they still need to learn.
Make sure your children attend school on testing days, get a good night’s rest and have a nutritious breakfast.

Transitions

To receive a new student / parent to Hoover Elementary School the following activities and processes are in place:

Preview Night is offered several days before school begins to allow students and parents the opportunity to meet the teacher and see the classroom.
Welcome Packets are given to all new students and their families which include PTA membership info, Student Code of Conduct , Hoover Student Handbook, supply lists, teachers’ newsletters, insurance forms, Tell Me About Your Child form so parents can inform teacher of individual needs, and volunteer information at the beginning of school.
Postcards are mailed to each student by their homeroom teacher before school starts to welcome each child to the new school year.
Collaboration efforts are implemented for students on IEPs to ensure that all staff is informed of special needs
Buddies are assigned for new students so that they are comfortable with the traveling schedule.
Pizza/Bingo nights are held soon after school starts and throughout the year to encourage and maintain community interaction and spirit.
Back to School Night for parents is held during the first week of school to quickly inform parents of classroom procedures.

Career Awareness / Orientation / Exploration activities include:

Study Trips to explore various careers and community settings
Visits from Community Helpers
Career explorations through the Gifted and Talented program
Partners in Education visit classrooms to share their talents

Preparation for vertical articulation includes:

Students who are anticipating moving on to Middle School the following fall are given opportunities to visit various school sites to observe first-hand the offerings of each campus.
Middle school orchestras, students, and faculty come to our school to provide insights and encouragement to fifth grade students who are looking forward to Middle school.
At the end of the school year Early Childhood students are given the opportunity to shadow kindergarten students to help them prepare for the transition to all day school.