Author: pseldon

*6. Describe how the school will build capacity for parental involvement including how parents will be encouraged to become equal partners in the education of their children. (See ESSA Section 1116, requirements for building capacity in parental involvement. (6-10 below)

*To ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, our school:
(a) Shall provide materials and training to help parents to work with their children to improve their children's achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involvement.
Semmes Middle School has a Parent Resource Center within the school containing any materials needed for students. Due to guests prohibited from entering our building, parents will be required to contact the school for any needed materials. We work very diligently to ensure our students and parents have all necessary educational materials needed to be successful. Throughout the year, virtual parenting workshops may be held on various topics including, but not limited to: PowerSchool student grade access, bullying, internet safety, study skills and reading/literacy comprehension.
(b) Shall educate teachers, office personnel, and other school staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school.
Semmes Middle School recognizes that parental involvement is a key factor for student academic achievement. SMS will continue to work with its teachers in understanding the importance of parental and family engagement and that parents are our partners. All staff are expected to work with meeting parents’ needs for their children. Yearly surveys are used to identify areas of improvement in communicating and working with parents.

(c) Shall to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parent involvement programs and activities with other federal programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children.
Semmes Middle School offers its parent and family engagement program for all parents within the school. Parents are encouraged to stay involved and communicate effectively with teachers and staff. In addition, parents are invited to participate at the district level with any programs available. The program includes ELL and special education students and programs to encourage and support participation in the education of their children.
(d) Shall ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents of participating children in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.
Information on all school meetings, parent notices, etc., is available for parents in a language they can understand by request. Semmes Middle School makes every effort to work with parents in meeting their requests as related to their involvement in their children’s education. Yearly surveys are requested to allow for parental input in the Parent and Family Engagement Program.
(e) Shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request.
As with the annual review of the Parent and Family Engagement Policy, the Parent Advisory Committee will review activities and make suggestions during this time. The PAC takes recommendations and suggestions and provides feedback for past activities and gives input on future activities. Additional assistance will be provided as necessary to fulfill parent activity requests.

7. Describe how the school will ensure the provision for participation of parents and family members (including parents and family members who have limited English proficiency, parents and family members with disabilities, and parents and family members of migratory children), including providing information and school reports required under section 1111 in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language such parents understand.
Parents of all students are encouraged to participate in all school activities and events. All notices are available in a language that parents can understand by request. Every effort is made to accommodate families with disabilities, families with limited English proficiency and migratory families Semmes is handicapped-accessible. Progress Reports will go home to all students.

Semmes Middle School
Parent and Family
Engagement Plan
2021-2022

“Seeking Excellence in Everything We Do”

4566 Ed George Road
Semmes, AL 36575
Phone: 251-221-2344
Fax: 251-221-2347
www.smsbulldogs.com
Facebook: Semmes Middle School

1. Describe how the school will convene an annual meeting to inform parents of the school’s participation in Title I and explain Title I requirements, including the 1% set-aside, and the right of parents to be involved.
During 1st quarter, Semmes Middle School holds its annual meeting for all parents of participating children. Parents are notified of the meeting through:(1) SchoolMessenger (2) Schoology (3)website announcements (www.smsbulldogs.com) and the school Facebook page. To assist in providing ample opportunity for all parents to attend, two meeting will be held (am/pm) virtually, via WebEx. A PowerPoint presentation provided by MCPSS is also viewed. Explanation of our Title I Program and a copy of the parents Right to Know flyer is discussed and a copy can be sent digitally.

2. Describe: 1. How there will be a flexible number and format of parent meetings offered, such as meetings in the morning or evening, and may provide, with funds provided under this part, transportation, child care, or home visits, as such services relate to parental involvement; 2) How parents will be involved in the planning, review and improvement of the Title I Program; and 3) How funds allocated for parent involvement are being used in the school.
(1)The leadership and staff of Semmes Middle School have a strong belief in the importance of parental involvement and therefore have put measures in place to offer meetings on a flexible schedule. Our annual meeting for parents will be 1st quarter of school. In addition, any resources shared at meetings will be placed on social media and the school website. (2)The CIP Committee consists of two parents and a community representative. Each year, Semmes Middle School brings in its CIP Committee to review, evaluate, and revise its plan. Parents are encouraged to participate in the Parent Advisory Committee and give input and participate in decision making. (3) Parent involvement funds are used to promote effective communication. Therefore, funds are used to purchase and maintain the necessary equipment, materials, and supplies needed to create and distribute notices about parent meetings/workshops, school, and community activities. Funds are also used to promote high parental expectations in the area of student achievement by providing literature in the Parent Resource Center as well as the main office. Transportation, childcare and home visits are available as necessary. The Parent Advisory Committee meets annually to discuss and finalize expenditures.

3. Describe how the school provides parents of participating children timely information in a uniform format and, to the extent practicable in a language they can understand, about programs under Title I, a description and explanation of the curriculum in use, forms of academic assessments, and achievement expectations used, and, if requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and participate as appropriate in decisions related to the education of their children.
Semmes Middle School will hold a virtual meeting for our annual Title 1/Open House where information will be presented about its Title I programs, the curriculum, and forms of academic assessment used. Parents will learn about the plan and subjects taught. They will also learn about how to schedule virtual parent-teacher conferences and how they can participate in decisions related to the education of their child. Parents will be encouraged to visit our website with information regarding Schoology. Parents will be informed of how to check grades and message teachers. The progress report schedule will be posted on www.smsbulldogs.com. In addition, parents will receive information updated on Facebook, smsbulldogs.com, and SchoolMessenger. All information is available in a language parents can understand by request.

Describe how parents, the school staff, and students share responsibility for improved student academic achievement for participating students (How the School-Parent Compact is jointly developed with Title I parents; how it is used, reviewed, and updated).
Semmes Middle School revised its school-parent compact at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The new compact was developed through a coordinated effort by school staff members and our school’s Parent Advisory Committee. All parents will be given a copy of the new compact in September. Parents will be asked to sign the compacts signifying their commitment to work in partnership with the school to ensure that their child is successful in school. The compacts will be discussed with teachers at a faculty meeting. Each teacher will be given the responsibility to explain the compact to the students and obtain the students’ signatures. The parents will receive a signed copy of the compact, the teacher will keep a copy for use during parent-teacher and/or student-teacher conferences, and a copy will be kept in the Title 1 office (room 400). The compact will be explained to the parents as to how the school will work in partnership with the parent and their child in ensuring that their child is successful in school. The compacts will be discussed with teachers through email as to how compacts are to be utilized in the educational process. The homeroom teacher explains the compact to the students and will send messages through Schoology for completion. Copies of the compacts for all students will be housed by the parent liaison and distributed to homeroom teachers for use during parent-teacher and/or student-teacher conferences to be used as working documents or as teachers contact parents regarding their child’s education. School-Parent compacts will be updated in May of each year by the Parent Advisory Committee and all parents expressing interest.

5. Describe procedures to allow parents to submit comments of dissatisfaction with the Continuous Improvement (CIP) Plan.
All parents are notified after the plan is finalized and approved, If a parent finds the plan to be unsatisfactory, they have the right to submit their concerns in writing to the school, and the school will submit their concerns to central office at the same time that the plan is submitted.