WHAT IS A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN?
It is a plan that describes how our school will provide opportunities to improve family engagement that will support student learning at school and at home. All students and their families are invited and encouraged to fully participate in the opportunities described in this plan. The school will provide information and as many opportunities as possible for the participation of all family members.
WHAT IS A SCHOOL-FAMILY PROMISE?
It is a written agreement that outlines how the school, the students, and the family will work together to ensure your child’s academic success. An effective School-Family Promise contains the following elements:
- Clear learning goals that are linked to the school’s improvement plan
- Specific skills students will learn during the year
- Strategies that staff, families, and students will use to improve student learning
- Ways to extend learning at home
- Methods teachers and family members will use to communicate about student progress
- Opportunities for family members to observe and participate in the classroom
- Jointly developed by families, school staff, students, community business partners, and other stakeholders during our Planning Meeting
- viewed and revised throughout the year via School Messenger, website, Parent-Teacher conferences, newsletters, PTA meetings, postcards, and Building Parent Capacity activities.
LET’S TALK
Methods of regular two-way teacher-family communications:
- Email, text, website, and phone calls
- Parent Square, ParentVUE
- Zoom meetings
- Paper correspondence, Friday Folders (K-2)
- Surveys
If you need interpretation and/or translation services, please contact: Ms. Melody Sledge @ (470) 785-2317
ACTIVITIES TO BUILD OUR PARTNERSHIP
Curriculum Night
Annual Title I Parent Meeting
Building Parent Capacity workshops
School-wide Service Projects
International Night
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Schoolwide Community Council Meetings
Parent Volunteer Opportunities
WHERE IS THE PLAN AVAILABLE?
The Family and Community Engagement Plan and all other Title I information are available on our school’s website under the Title I Section. Families can also find paper copies of this Family and Community Engagement Plan in our Family Engagement Center.
HOW IS THE PLAN DEVELOPED AND REVISED?
It is reviewed and revised at least annually during the Planning Meeting in the spring. All feedback forms from the Planning Meeting are submitted to the Office of Federal Programs for review. Families who are not able to attend the Planning Meeting have the opportunity to review draft documents and provide input during the draft document review period.
COMMUNICATION
Written communication is available to all parents in both English with additional languages available upon request. In addition, interpreters are available for parent-teacher conferences, family workshops, and individual parent meetings.
ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES WITH…
- Title I Program Information: Program information is available during the Title I Planning Meeting in the spring and Annual Parent Meetings in the fall, on the school website, and in the Parent Center.
- Curriculum Information: Knowing what your child is learning at school is important. We will keep you informed throughout the year about what your child is learning during parent meetings, conferences, eCLASS, and on our school website.
- Student Progress Monitoring: The Parent Portal is an online resource that allows families to view grades, attendance, schedules, assessment, and your child’s results, course history, and much more. Monitoring your child’s progress in school is an important way to be engaged.
- Parent Resources: We have many resources available for checkout to use at home with your child. We also host several parent workshops to empower you as you work with your child at home.
- Staff Training: We will train our staff to effectively communicate with you. Your input on how we train our staff is valuable.
- Communication: We will communicate, to the extent feasible, all information with you in a language and format you understand. Whenever possible, we will provide interpreters during parent workshops, and academic events. Translation is available for most documents.
- Transition Support: Entering a new school can be scary for both students and families. We will host events to make sure both you and your child are aware of what is expected and how you can prepare as your child transitions to a new school level, college, and career.
DID YOU KNOW?
Title I is a federal program designed to support school reform efforts to improve teaching and learning for all students.
Title I programs are based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support family engagement.
The Title I Office reserves at least one percent of the district’s allocation to fund family and community engagement programs. The use of these funds is based on suggestions gathered at our spring Planning Meetings from families and community members. Funds are distributed equally to all our Title I schools.
Childcare and/or transportation may be provided for meetings and school events.
MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT
The mission of New Life Academy of Excellence, Inc. is to assist the parents of Gwinnett County by providing a school of choice. We achieve our mission by providing an educational environment for academic achievement and individual growth and development while we prepare students to be successful in a global economy,
OUR DISTRICT GOALS
Empathy: Cultural competence, staff and student wellbeing, educator diversity.
Equity: Multi-tiered system of supports, opportunity and access, equitable resource allocation.
Effectiveness: Results-Based evaluation system, talent management, educational return on investment.
Excellence: Preferred education destination, post-secondary and workforce readiness, world-class communication and engagement.
OUR SCHOOL GOALS
We will provide all students with a high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment to meet high academic standards.
New Life Academy of Excellence will...
- Utilize innovative teaching techniques that ensures the success of each student presented by a superior faculty
- Offer a challenging curriculum that prepares children for lives of leadership in a rapidly changing world
- Work with parents and local communities to help students develop intellect and character.
WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE SUCCESS
New Life Academy of Excellence will . . .
- provide strategies that families and students can use to improve student achievement in reading and math.
- provide resources and website links for families and students to practice activities.
- create ongoing opportunities for two-way communication with families and students to strengthen achievement
As Students, we will…
- Actively engage in daily learning activities
- Monitor our progress & use our agenda
- Seek help and guidance from teachers and family when needed
As Families, we will…
- Attend family workshops and school-wide events
- Support teacher efforts: communicate with teacher as needed
- Encourage my child to practice reading and math skills at home
VISIT OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CENTER
Our Family Engagement Center has resources available for families to check out and use at home. Our Parent Outreach Liaison is Theresa Caine. She is available to help you find resources, navigate the Parent Portal, connect with teachers, and learn about ways you can help your children at home.
Our Family Engagement Center is located at
New Life Academy of Excellence- Middle School Campus (Room # 1)
3425 Corporate Way, Duluth, GA 30096
Hours of Operation
Monday -Friday
8:00 AM-9:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
*Additional times are by appointment
Please contact Theresa Caine for additional information about our
Family Engagement Center and resources available for check-out.
(470) 785-2317
[email protected]
Please contact your child’s teacher for volunteer opportunities and the classroom observation policy.