Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Contact

Jessica Smith, Principal
1815 Utility Road
Rocky Face, GA 30740
(706) 673-6531
jessica.smith@wcsga.net

Parent & Family Engagement Policy and Plan for Shared Student Success

Updated May 14, 2025 — Westside Elementary will take the following measures to promote and support parents as an important foundation of the school in order to strengthen the school and reach our school goals. We will:

Ensure that all information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities are published in both English and Spanish, and posted on the school website and social media.
Provide monthly training for staff in the value and utility of contributions of parents as well as strategies to improve communication with parents and ideas to increase family engagement with reading and math activities. Staff will also share best practices during regularly scheduled grade-level meetings.
Partner with early childhood programs, middle and high schools, college and career-ready resources or organizations, parent resource centers, or other programs (as applicable) to help prepare parents and their children for successful school transitioning.
Share information in English and Spanish at meetings, on the school website, on school newsletter, and on social media for parents to understand the school’s academic standards and assessments, their child’s academic assessment results, and how parents can monitor their child’s progress and work with educators to support their child’s academic achievement.
Communicate with all families and the community on a regular basis regarding school-wide events and activities, through phone messages, social media, and flyers.
Work with our families to develop relevant training and helpful presentations to educate our staff on the importance of family engagement.
Provide necessary materials and handouts for families at conferences, meetings, and activities to help families work with their child to improve their child’s achievement.
Use our community stakeholders to improve awareness of the activities and events listed in the school's parent and family engagement policy.

Resources

School Plan for Shared Student Achievement

What is it?
This is a plan that describes how Westside Elementary will provide opportunities to
improve parent engagement to support student learning. Westside Elementary
values the contributions and involvement of families to establish an equal
partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. This plan
describes the different ways that Westside Elementary will support parent
engagement and how families can help plan and participate in activities and events
to promote student learning at school and at home.

How is it revised?Westside Elementary invites all guardians to attend our annual Title I Open House Night, where they were asked
to offer feedback via survey to review and revise this family engagement policy, as well as the school improvement
plan, our school-parent compact, and the family involvement budget. Additionally, family input and comments
regarding this plan are welcome during the school year through various means. The plan is available on request for
guardians to view and submit feedback throughout the year. All family feedback received during the year will be
used to revise the plan for the next school year and will be submitted to the district. We also distribute an annual
survey online and on paper to ask families for suggestions on the plan and the use of funds for family engagement
and parent involvement. Guardians can also give feedback during several parent meetings and activities during
the school year and may request additional meetings if needed.

Who is it for?
All students participating in the Title I, Part A program, and their families, are encouraged and invited to fully
participate in the opportunities described in this plan. Westside Elementary will provide full opportunities for the
participation of parents with limited English, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children.

Where is it available?At the beginning of the year, the plan and the school-parent compact are sent home with students once all
revisions have been made. The plan will be available for review at the Title I information meeting scheduled in the
fall. Guardians can also retrieve a copy of the plan in the front office and the attendance office waiting areas.

2025-2026 District & School Goals

2025-2026 District Goals

Goal 1: Increase the WCS graduation rate from 91.13% to 93.13% over the next three years for all students.
Goal 2: Reduce the achievement gap(s) in English Language Arts & Mathematics.
Goal 3: To increase the capacity of all WCS teachers and leaders to enhance student learning through evidence-based professional learning.

WES School Improvement Goals

Goal 1: 100% of staff will foster social-emotional learning in order to support students and the school community.
Goal 2: 100% of staff will participate in professional learning to support and improve student achievement.
Goal 3: 100% of staff will analyze student data in order to propel student growth.

School–Parent Compacts

As part of this plan, Westside Elementary and our families will develop a school-parent compact. This compact is an agreement created
collaboratively by families, teachers, and students that outlines how guardians and teachers will work together to ensure all students reach grade-level standards. The compacts will be reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from guardians, students, and teachers throughout the school year. School-parent compacts are sent home with students and are also available in the front office.

Parental Resource Center & Involvement

Parent Resource Center

Resources are available in the Parent Resource Center. Parents have the opportunity to check out
books, study materials and activities to use at home with their child. Parents are invited to contact the school office for more information, Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Parental Involvement

Westside Elementary believes that family involvement means the participation of families in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:

Families play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning.
Families are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school.
Families are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.

The carrying out of other activities such as those described in Section 116 of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Parental Involvement Standards
Westside Elementary and our parents have adopted the National PTA Standards for Family-School
Partnerships as the school’s model in engaging parents, students, and the community. These
standards are:

Welcoming All Families
Communicating Effectively
Supporting Student Success
Speaking Up for Every Child
Sharing Power
Collaborating with Community

Helping at Home

One of the most frequent questions we get from parents is, “How can I help my child at home?” Fortunately, there are lots of ways. Here are just a few:

Read to and with your child each day.
Find fun ways to apply skills being learned at school.
Utilize the Internet and other web apps with your child (AR, Reflex Math, etc.).
3rd-5th grade parents can access Infinite Campus to help keep track of grades throughout the year.

What is Title I?

Westside Elementary is identified as a Title I school as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Title I is designed to support State and local school reform efforts tied to challenging state academic standards to reinforce and enhance efforts to improve teaching and learning for students. Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support parental involvement. All Title I schools must jointly develop with all parents a written parental involvement policy.

Parental Involvement Events

Here are a few of the events that Westside Elementary will host to build the capacity for strong parental involvement to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement. Dates subject to change.

Annual Title I Meeting- Fall 2025 – Date & Time TBA
School Council Meetings- All meetings begin at 8:00 AM. October 3, 2025 -Superintendents’ Breakfast December 3, 2025 March 4, 2026 May 11, 2026
Milestones Meeting- Spring 2025 –TBA
Parent Informational Meetings- All meetings begin at 4:00-5:00 monthly.
Creative Discovery Museum Title I Family Night January 15, 2026 5:30-7:30

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