× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Ongoing support Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Involving migrant or refugee parents in the initiatives you plan is vital to the success of your engagement strategy. A model which includes parents at every level is more successful at engaging parents in a long-term, sustainable and meaningful way than programs in which parents are simply the recipients of information (Even Start Learning Center, 2005). Studies have found parents are much more motivated and take more active leadership when they participate in decision-making roles in programs (Bromley, K.C. 1972, and Gillum, R.M. 1977). Examples of meaningful activities for parents include: attending and assisting with school excursions or sports events joining in social activities helping with development of culturally relevant policies e.g. establishing a prayer room providing advice on culturally appropriate food for the canteen fundraising participating on parent advisory and decision-making groups using specialist skills to support teaching and learning within or across subjects including individual or professional skills or cultural or linguistic knowledge and abilities inviting parents as guest speakers to share their professional knowledge being a mentor to a student, e.g. seeking work in a related industry participating in curriculum working groups, e.g. the selection of community languages or culturally appropriate resources attending working bees Resources 0 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 1 Overview 2 Deciding on a format 3 Setting the agenda 4 Seeking parent and student input 5 Choosing an appropriate time 6 Finding a suitable location 7 Arranging childcare 8 Arranging catering 9 Arranging transport 10 Inviting families 11 Translating information 12 Arranging 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 1Overview 2Creating a welcoming environment 3Seeking consent 4Addressing parent concerns about camps 5Catering for cultural dietary needs 6Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7Addressing discipline issues 8Reporting on student progress 9Holding parent-teacher meetings 10Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 0
× EXIT Opening the School Gate | Ongoing support Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Involving migrant or refugee parents in the initiatives you plan is vital to the success of your engagement strategy. A model which includes parents at every level is more successful at engaging parents in a long-term, sustainable and meaningful way than programs in which parents are simply the recipients of information (Even Start Learning Center, 2005). Studies have found parents are much more motivated and take more active leadership when they participate in decision-making roles in programs (Bromley, K.C. 1972, and Gillum, R.M. 1977). Examples of meaningful activities for parents include: attending and assisting with school excursions or sports events joining in social activities helping with development of culturally relevant policies e.g. establishing a prayer room providing advice on culturally appropriate food for the canteen fundraising participating on parent advisory and decision-making groups using specialist skills to support teaching and learning within or across subjects including individual or professional skills or cultural or linguistic knowledge and abilities inviting parents as guest speakers to share their professional knowledge being a mentor to a student, e.g. seeking work in a related industry participating in curriculum working groups, e.g. the selection of community languages or culturally appropriate resources attending working bees Resources 0 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 1 Overview 2 Deciding on a format 3 Setting the agenda 4 Seeking parent and student input 5 Choosing an appropriate time 6 Finding a suitable location 7 Arranging childcare 8 Arranging catering 9 Arranging transport 10 Inviting families 11 Translating information 12 Arranging 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 1Overview 2Creating a welcoming environment 3Seeking consent 4Addressing parent concerns about camps 5Catering for cultural dietary needs 6Discussing welfare concerns with parents 7Addressing discipline issues 8Reporting on student progress 9Holding parent-teacher meetings 10Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement Acknowledgements 1 Acknowledgements Resources 0
