PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PLAN JACKSONVILLE LIGHTHOUSE CHARTER SCHOOL COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY JLCS CPA SY 2014-2015 Ark. Code Ann. 6-11-105, 6-15-1005(f), 6-15-1701 et seq., 6-15-2202, and 25-15-201 et seq. District: Lighthouse Academies of Arkansas (LAA) School Improvement Status: Needs Improvement Grade Levels: 9-11 JLCS-CPA: 275 Family Coordinator: Ms. Belinda Brought Title I Status: Targeted Assistance Percent of students eligible for free or reduced meals: 60.56% Parent Involvement Committee Members 1. Mr. William Felton, Principal 2. Ms. Amanda Crowder, Assistant Principal 3. Mr. Isaiah Cosio, Director of Teacher Leadership, parent 4. Mr. Barrett Petty; Director of College Transitions 5. Mr. Henry Kleckley, Teacher Leader Fellow, parent 6. Ms. Belinda Brought, Family Coordinator, parent Contacts Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School College Preparatory Academy 251 North First Street Jacksonville AR 72076 USA Tel: 501-985-1228 Fax: 501-985-1233 Email: info-jlcscpa@lhacs.org Website: http://www.lighthouse-academies.org/schools/jacksonvillecpa
Section A: Parent Communication Strategy JLCS CPA will hold an Information Nights for parents August 8 th and 11 th for grades 9 th -11 th. These two dates will cover orientation information, test scores, the vision and mission of school and directions concerning dismissal/arrival procedures, school lunch, uniform changes and upcoming events. Other Parent Nights are scheduled for 2014-15: September 18, October 24, November 6, December 18, January 13, February 21, March 19, April 10, May 14, and June 9. These nights will cover access to technology, college information, choir/band performances, volunteer opportunities, etc. The Principal will distribute a bi-weekly newsletter beginning August 13, 2014. This newsletter will contain school news, a calendar of school events, and information related to achievement such as homework tips, health advice, and study skills. The Principal s newsletter will be supplemented by newsletters created by every homeroom teacher. JLCS CPA will create a website that contains events, updates, newsletters, and lunch menus. The website will be managed by Family Coordinator, Belinda Brought Parents will be able to access their scholar s grade information through PowerSchool. Passwords will be distributed to all parents by school administrators and/or office manager. September 18, 2014 a Parent Night will be offered to help with accessing and using the site for families. All JLCS CPA Teachers will send home daily agendas. Parents can also track Scholar progress through use of the parent portal in PowerSchool. Contact Mrs. Rhynes for login information (501)985-1228. In addition, JLCS CPA will provide parents with a report card four times a year. JLCS CPA Teachers will routinely contact parents on an individual basis to communicate pertinent information about academic progress. JLCS CPA will use ads in local media, a billboard in front of the school, and School Messenger memos to communicate with parents about school events every Sunday of each week. JLCS CPA will distribute a Student-Family Handbook at the beginning of the school year; parents will be required to sign the handbook to indicate their acceptance of all policies therein. Return them to your child s advisory teacher (501) 985-1228. Section B: Designated Parent Meetings, Conferences, and Activities JLCS CPA will host at least three (3) Parent Information Nights and one (1) Open House every August. These meetings will feature information about JLCS s Title I program. JLCS CPA will designate a half day every quarter (12:00-6:00 PM) for parents to conference with teachers about their scholar s academic progress; October 24, January 23, and April 10 JLCS CPA will also encourage and allow parents to attend academic conferences during the weeks immediately prior to and immediately after teachers have closed their grade books. These meetings will include a summary of scholar s test scores and an explanation of interventions being used (as necessary) to promote student achievement. Contact your child s teacher at (501) 985-1200 JLCS MAIN will hold a Parent Literacy Night and Parent Math Night January 13, 2013. Facilitators will be the teachers in the respective subjects: Henry Kleckley, Jenna Brush, Alana Kennedy, Daniel Cisar, and Christel Sheridan JLCS CPA will encourage parents to volunteer for Parent Nights, college trips, dismissal, athletic events, fundraising, and scholar nights on October 24, December 19, February 13 and May 16. JLCS CPA will host Third Thursdays each month. This is an event from 11:00 1:00 where parents can come and eat lunch with the principal to have an open discussion about things that are happening in the school.
Section C: Volunteer activities JLCS CPA knows that parents that are involved in their students education have students that perform better and are more likely to stay in school. Therefore, parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer. There are many options below but not limited to: Chaperones on field trips Room parents Donation of materials for class activity Attendance at Parent Nights and Extracurricular Activities Helping with Arrival and Dismissal of Students Becoming a CPA certified substitute Helping with fundraisers Assisting on athletic teams or clubs Guest speaking Attending parent conferences Utilizing Power School Section D: Learning activities that support classroom instruction The parent can support classroom instruction by helping with homework. - JLCS CPA utilizes homework to help prepare our scholars for college. Homework can be but not limited to watching a video and taking notes, reading, writing, math practice, on-line practice programs, practicing skills learned in class, working on projects, studying for tests, ect. The parent can support classroom instruction by monitoring Power School. PowerSchool is our on-line, interactive program that allows parents to monitor grades and attendance. This gives parents instant access to newsletters, assignments, study guides, grades and teacher contact. The parent can support classroom instruction by attending school events, see below: JLCS CPA Parent Involvement Calendar August 8 th Title I Parent Night 5-7 @ CPA 11 th Open House 6-7 @ CPA 11 th -12 th Gateway (Parents invited 10:45-11:30) 13 th First Day of School 15 th Town Hall 29 th Town Hall 29 th Back to School Dance 6-8 @ CPA
September 1 st No School 12 th Town Hall 18 th Parent Night 5-7 @ CPA Scholar Celebrations Teacher Recognition Parent Training on Edmodo, PowerSchool, and Naviance 18 th Third Thursday 26 th Town Hall 26 th Festiville October Band, Choir and Dance Teams are performing 4-5:30 3 rd Go Pink Day Scholars and staff wear pink to support breast cancer awareness 3 rd Town Hall 4 th Race for the Cure 9 th Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce 13 th No School (Columbus Day) 15 th PSAT 16 th Third Thursday 17 th Town Hall 22 nd 23 rd PLAN and EXPLORE Test 24 th ½ Day with Parent Night focus on Parent Teacher Conferences 24 th Masquerade Ball 27 th 31 st Red Ribbon Week 27 th Scholars/Staff sign Drug free pledge forms and receive red bracelet. 27 th Drug free poster contest 29 th Wear Red Day 30 th School resource officer to come speak to the scholars about being drug free
26 th Parent/Teacher conferences. 1/2 day of school 31 st Town Hall November 5 th Early Dismissal 6 th Parent Night 11 th No School Veterans Day 26 th -28 th Thanksgiving Holiday/No School December 5 th Town Hall 18 th Parent Night Holiday Music Program 19 th Town Hall 19 th Winter Formal 22 nd Winter Break begins (No School) January 6 th Scholars return to school 7 th -9 th Semester Exams 13 th Parent Night 15 th ½ Day for Parent Teacher Conferences 16 th Town Hall 19 th No school Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 30 th Town Hall February 7 th ACT Test 13 th Sadie Hawkins Dance 13 th Town Hall
16 th No School 21 st Parent Meeting (Pancake Breakfast) 25 th ½ Day Professional Development 27 th Town Hall March 13 th Town Hall 19 th Parent Night 23 rd - 27 th - Spring Break April 3 rd No School 10 th Early Dismissal for PD 10 th Town Hall 16 th Parent Night 24 th Town Hall 29 th -30 th Biology EOC May 8 th Town Hall 14 th Parent Night 16 th Junior Prom 22 nd Town Hall 25 th No School 26 th -29 th Semester Exams 29 th Town Hall June 5 th - Townhall 10 th Last day of School!!
Section D: Participation in school decisions, goal setting, and community involvement JLCS CPA allow parents to participate in school decisions by, but not limited to, the following: Open forum in school board meetings Surveys Third Thursdays with Principal Serving on Committees or Booster Clubs Attending Parent Nights Giving input nput on policies and procedures Section E: Other Volunteer Opportunities End of Year Award Assemblies Pep Rallies Athletic Events Fine Art Events College Fairs Career Day Section F: Parent Training and Volunteer Opportunities JLCS CPA will require all faculty members to receive a total of at least two (2) hours of professional development on effective parental engagement strategies. In addition, JLCS CPA will require administrators to receive at least three (3) hours of professional development of creating a climate conducive to parental participation. JLCS CPA will use its weekly newsletters to solicit parental involvement in school events. JLCS CPA will explain its parental involvement procedures to all prospective volunteers. Section G: Title I School-Parent Compact JLCS CPA will develop and review its school-parent compact on an annual basis. This compact, which must be signed by all parents within the first quarter of the school year and returned to the school by September 19, 2014 (unless the student transfers during the school year), will outline how school staff, parents, and scholars share the responsibility for student achievement. For more information Mr. Will Felton, Principal. 501 985-1228 JLCS CPA will invite parents to participate on the School Based Management Team, the committee tasked with implementing the school s ACSIP and Title I program. For more information Mr. Will Felton, Principal. 501 985-1228 JLCS CPA will enable the formation of a Parent Organization to foster parental involvement. For more information contact Mr. Will Felton 501 985-1228 JLCS CPA will create an alumni advisory committee to provide advice concerning the evolution of the school as soon as it graduates its first class of high school seniors in SY 2015-2016. JLCS CPA will solicit parent input formally at least two (2) times a year in order to incorporate feedback regarding the school s curriculum and extracurricular programs. For more information contact Mr. Isaiah Cosio, DTL. 501 985-1228
JLCS CPA will include a copy of its Parental Involvement Strategy in its Student-Family Handbook that will be distributed at the beginning of each school year. The Handbook will include the schools policies regarding volunteers, parent-teacher conferences, the resolution of parental concerns, and other parent-teacher communication systems. Section E: Program Evaluation JLCS s School Based Management Team will review formally the effectiveness of its parent outreach efforts at least two (2) times each year. The Committee, made up of teachers, parents and school staff, will determine the effectiveness of the parental involvement plan and make changes if warranted. While collecting evidence about satisfaction with the program and the school s efforts to increase parental involvement will be a part of the evaluation, the survey will also collect specific information on the (1) number of parents participating in workshops and meetings; (2) specific needs of parents; (3) effectiveness of specific strategies; and (4) engagement of parents in activities to support student academic growth. JLCS CPA will ask parents to fill out a parent interest survey each September in order to acquire information concerning the activities parents feel will be most beneficial in our joint efforts to support their child academically. JLCS CPA will use the results of the parent interest survey to plan parental involvement activities for the year. JLCS CPA may evaluate the activities that were suggested by the parents at the end of the year as part of the annual parental involvement plan evaluation.