Winchester School

Family Involvement Policy

At the Winchester School, we recognize the need for teachers, staff members, and administrators to work with families and the community in positive ways in order to increase student success. Our School-Family-Community Partnership Program is based on a comprehensive, research-based framework that identifies and targets six types of family and community involvement. We encourage the families of all of our students to attend our annual Parent Partnership meeting to have input into this policy. The date and time of the annual meeting is posted in advance both in the school newsletter and on the school’s web site.

Six Types of Involvement

1. PARENTING:  The Winchester School will assist families with parenting and child-rearing skills, understanding child and adolescent development, and setting home conditions that support their children as students at each age and grade level.  When extra support is needed, we will connect families to outside agencies.

The school will also develop and maintain an annual school/family compact that reflects our family involvement policy as well as our goals for student achievement. 

2. COMMUNICATING: The Winchester School will communicate with families about school programs and student progress through effective school-to-home and home-to-school communications.  This includes telephone and written communications, monthly newsletters, meetings and events, and at least two face-to-face parent/teacher conferences per year.  The purpose is to keep families informed of academic, behavioral, and attendance concerns as well as positive news. Parent feedback to all communications is encouraged.

The Winchester School will also regularly inform and update the community about our school’s goals, programs and activities, volunteer and involvement news, and other information through newsletters and the school’s web site at www.wnhsd.org.

3. VOLUNTEERING:  The Winchester School welcomes family and community members as volunteers and audiences, both at the school or in other locations, to support students and school programs.  We will facilitate the recruitment, training, and schedules of school volunteers, and encourage out-of-school opportunities such as assembling classroom materials at home, chaperoning field trips, cleaning ball fields, etc.  We will also invite families to participate as audiences at school events, assemblies, concerts, and other celebrations. 

Students will learn the importance of volunteering in their classrooms, at school, and in the community.

4. LEARNING AT HOME: The Winchester School will strive to involve families with their children in learning activities at home, including homework and other curriculum-related activities and decisions.  Homework will be assigned that enables students to discuss and demonstrate to their families the skills that are being taught in class.  Students are encouraged to share their work, ideas, and progress with their families.  Families are encouraged to request more information if they need help with monitoring homework or discussing report card grades and academic goals with their children. 

5. DECISION MAKING: At the Winchester School, families are welcomed as participants in school decisions, governance, and advocacy through PTA, school board meetings, the parent partnership meeting, and other opportunities.  They have the right to be involved in decisions about school programs and placement that affect their own child’s learning.  The school will communicate accurate and updated information to families about school policies and programs, goals for improvement, and opportunities to offer ideas and reactions.  Parents and community members are invited and encouraged to participate in all of our committee meetings, which are posted on the school’s website.

6. COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY:  The Winchester School will coordinate community resources and services for students, families, and the school with businesses, agencies, and other groups.  We will develop and encourage school/community partnerships that link to learning skills and talents.  We will recognize and thank the services we receive from the community, as well as organize service to the community.  We encourage parents to inform the school of any resources they know of that might be of benefit for students, families and the school.