Parent Involvement Plan

Kimball hosts a number of evening family events focusing on academic achievement. In addition, bilingual parent leaders set up coffees/teas with parents of different language groups at a variety of times so that non-English speaking parents can give input and ask questions about Kimball’s academic program. Another coffee is held with the principal during the first days of school in September especially geared to new kindergarten parents. Kimball also encourages and supports family members volunteering time in classrooms and in tutoring. Finally, our family support worker and teachers do home visits. In the month of November, Kimball also holds individual Parent/Teacher conferences.

Kimball’s PTSA holds monthly meetings. Interpreters, child care, and a light dinner are provided. At those meetings, besides PTSA business, a principal’s report and an academic demonstration piece are part of each meeting (e.g. literacy, math, and science). Two parents also are on Kimball’s Building Leadership Team facilitating two-way communications between families and school governance.

Kimball holds regular events for families around our academic curriculum. For example, each year we hold at least one math night. Included in this math night will be math demonstrations and games around our Everyday Math curriculum. We also regularly inform parents about academic assessments. Examples of this are: our Kindergarten Information Session that occurs before the start of school teachers go over academic expectations and the curriculum that will be used; November Parent/Teacher Conferences where assessments and student work is reviewed with each parent; Third Grade Information Night where teachers discuss the State Test and what it will entail for first time test-takers.; Kimball Celebrates Learning occurs at the end of the year and offers students the chance to display their cultures and their learning to their families.

Teachers and the principal at Kimball are available by phone, email, and in person to parents on request. At the November parent/teacher conference, teachers go over the school- parent compact, and the parent, the student, and the teacher all sign the document. Parents also participate in Student Improvement Team (SIT) meetings to help design interventions for struggling students.

The School Parental Involvement Policy is available for parental review every semester. It resides on the Kimball website, is sent home to parents, and is included in the Parent Handbook. Review of the plan takes place at PTSA meeting(s).