× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Planning meetings & events Seeking parent and student input Parents are unlikely to remain engaged with your school if their current concerns are not addressed. One way information flow from staff can leave parents feeling frustrated and powerless, so it is important to seek some input into what issues are of concern to your target group (see Appendix 1). Involving students will enhance the success of initiatives. A student’s active approval or disapproval can influence family members. Students can feel a sense of stigma if their parents are contacted or appear at school without their knowledge. If you are focusing on a particular cultural group, or a few different groups, it is important to explain why they have been chosen, to avoid perceptions of racism. Students can offer practical advice on the most effective approach to take with their families and what may be appropriate for their community or religion. It is also important to give students an opportunity to discuss school issues. For some groups, it may be regarded as culturally inappropriate for young people to voice opinions or challenge the ideas of their parents or other adults in public. This reaction to student involvement has to be handled sensitively. It may not be appropriate for students to attend meetings at the same time as adults, but it is worth exploring other avenues for their involvement. Parent cafe A culturally diverse school in south western Sydney established a parent café to improve engagement levels by newly arrived parents and carers. The café provides a relaxed and supportive environment for parents and carers to raise issues and for staff to gain valuable feedback from their school community. At the café, various topics chosen in consultation with parents and carers, are discussed on a weekly basis. Teachers and executive staff as well as guest speakers from community organisations and other government agencies present information on the selected topics which are then discussed. The school’s Community Liaison Officer plays a central role in promoting the parent café and facilitating the weekly meetings. As a result of this initiative, parent and community engagement has increased significantly at the school with parents and carers contributing regularly to school planning and decision making processes.Teachers and executive staff as well as guest speakers from community organisations and other government agencies present information on the selected topics which are then discussed. What you can do Ask for input from parents/carers when you are starting an initiative, to make sure it is in keeping with their ideas and concerns. Ask parents/carers what issues they would like to discuss (see Appendix 1 in resources). If your school is beginning a whole school strategy for parent involvement it may be worthwhile having Appendix 1 translated into the school’s largest language groups. Although individual translations are not provided free of charge to the school, the benefits gained from this approach may far outweigh the costs involved. For guidance on preparation of documents for translation send an email to interpreting@det.nsw.edu.au or call 9244 5311. Discuss your intentions with the school’s parent association to gain their support for multicultural initiatives in the school. Ask for feedback on what worked well and what should be changed after you have engaged a number of families. Explain your strategy to students and why you are focusing on particular groups. Ask advice from students and bicultural workers about what families may find culturally appropriate before launching into your strategy. Work separately with students to support them in exploring issues. Seek ways to include students’ ideas in the parent session. Invite students to speak at meetings to represent students’ ideas or views. Structure a dialogue between parents, students and teachers in a non-confrontational atmosphere of sharing. Resources 1 Issues for parental discussion Course menu Introduction 1 Welcome tour 2 Getting started 3 Overview 4 Benefits of engaging families 5 Issues for migrant and refugee families 6 Issues for schools Planning for engagement 1 Overview 2 Involving key staff 3 Identifying the target groups 4 Targeting communities 5 Working with community partners 6 Setting objectives 7 Allocating resources Planning meetings & events 1Overview 2Deciding on a format 3Setting the agenda 4Seeking parent and student input 5Choosing an appropriate time 6Finding a suitable location 7Arranging childcare 8Arranging catering 9Arranging transport 10Inviting families 11Translating information 12Arranging interpreters Meeting management 1 Overview 2 Arranging seating 3 Preparing and managing interpreters 4 Greeting parents 5 Keeping the discussions on track 6 Building trust 7 Exploring expectations about school involvement 8 Explaining practical systems and roles 9 Seeking feedback from parents 10 Sustaining parent involvement Ongoing support 1 Overview 2 Creating a welcoming environment 3 Seeking consent 4 Addressing parent concerns about camps 5 Catering for cultural dietary needs 6 Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7 Addressing discipline issues 8 Reporting on student progress 9 Holding parent-teacher meetings 10 Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 1 Issues for parental discussion
× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Planning meetings & events Seeking parent and student input Parents are unlikely to remain engaged with your school if their current concerns are not addressed. One way information flow from staff can leave parents feeling frustrated and powerless, so it is important to seek some input into what issues are of concern to your target group (see Appendix 1). Involving students will enhance the success of initiatives. A student’s active approval or disapproval can influence family members. Students can feel a sense of stigma if their parents are contacted or appear at school without their knowledge. If you are focusing on a particular cultural group, or a few different groups, it is important to explain why they have been chosen, to avoid perceptions of racism. Students can offer practical advice on the most effective approach to take with their families and what may be appropriate for their community or religion. It is also important to give students an opportunity to discuss school issues. For some groups, it may be regarded as culturally inappropriate for young people to voice opinions or challenge the ideas of their parents or other adults in public. This reaction to student involvement has to be handled sensitively. It may not be appropriate for students to attend meetings at the same time as adults, but it is worth exploring other avenues for their involvement. Parent cafe A culturally diverse school in south western Sydney established a parent café to improve engagement levels by newly arrived parents and carers. The café provides a relaxed and supportive environment for parents and carers to raise issues and for staff to gain valuable feedback from their school community. At the café, various topics chosen in consultation with parents and carers, are discussed on a weekly basis. Teachers and executive staff as well as guest speakers from community organisations and other government agencies present information on the selected topics which are then discussed. The school’s Community Liaison Officer plays a central role in promoting the parent café and facilitating the weekly meetings. As a result of this initiative, parent and community engagement has increased significantly at the school with parents and carers contributing regularly to school planning and decision making processes.Teachers and executive staff as well as guest speakers from community organisations and other government agencies present information on the selected topics which are then discussed. What you can do Ask for input from parents/carers when you are starting an initiative, to make sure it is in keeping with their ideas and concerns. Ask parents/carers what issues they would like to discuss (see Appendix 1 in resources). If your school is beginning a whole school strategy for parent involvement it may be worthwhile having Appendix 1 translated into the school’s largest language groups. Although individual translations are not provided free of charge to the school, the benefits gained from this approach may far outweigh the costs involved. For guidance on preparation of documents for translation send an email to interpreting@det.nsw.edu.au or call 9244 5311. Discuss your intentions with the school’s parent association to gain their support for multicultural initiatives in the school. Ask for feedback on what worked well and what should be changed after you have engaged a number of families. Explain your strategy to students and why you are focusing on particular groups. Ask advice from students and bicultural workers about what families may find culturally appropriate before launching into your strategy. Work separately with students to support them in exploring issues. Seek ways to include students’ ideas in the parent session. Invite students to speak at meetings to represent students’ ideas or views. Structure a dialogue between parents, students and teachers in a non-confrontational atmosphere of sharing. Resources 1 Issues for parental discussion Course menu Introduction 1 Welcome tour 2 Getting started 3 Overview 4 Benefits of engaging families 5 Issues for migrant and refugee families 6 Issues for schools Planning for engagement 1 Overview 2 Involving key staff 3 Identifying the target groups 4 Targeting communities 5 Working with community partners 6 Setting objectives 7 Allocating resources Planning meetings & events 1Overview 2Deciding on a format 3Setting the agenda 4Seeking parent and student input 5Choosing an appropriate time 6Finding a suitable location 7Arranging childcare 8Arranging catering 9Arranging transport 10Inviting families 11Translating information 12Arranging interpreters Meeting management 1 Overview 2 Arranging seating 3 Preparing and managing interpreters 4 Greeting parents 5 Keeping the discussions on track 6 Building trust 7 Exploring expectations about school involvement 8 Explaining practical systems and roles 9 Seeking feedback from parents 10 Sustaining parent involvement Ongoing support 1 Overview 2 Creating a welcoming environment 3 Seeking consent 4 Addressing parent concerns about camps 5 Catering for cultural dietary needs 6 Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7 Addressing discipline issues 8 Reporting on student progress 9 Holding parent-teacher meetings 10 Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 1 Issues for parental discussion
