As the PTFA begins to plan and implement fresh and new ideas for the school, we would like to make all parents, students and teachers aware of the PTFAs purpose, mission, goals, objectives, and primary focus.

Mission: To serve the needs of all children

• Parents participate in their children’s education
• Parents volunteer and support the school
• Parents participate in decision making at the school

Purpose: To provide a volunteer association that seeks to unite home, school and the community

Primary Focus of PTFA is parenting, education, and family support:

• Communicating - communicating between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful.
   
• Parenting - parenting skills are promoted and supported. Provide resources, classes, and workshops to support and strengthen the skills needed by all parents to effectively fulfill their role.
   
• Student Learning - Parents play a big part in assisting student learning. Treat parents as partners in the education process by providing them with the necessary resources to assist in the child’s learning process.
   
• Volunteering - Parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought. Create a school climate that is open, helpful, and friendly.
   
• School decision making and advocacy - parents are full partners in the decisions that affect children and family. Encourage parents, [formally/informally] to comment on school policies and to share decision making opportunities.
   
• Collaborating with the community - community resources should be used to strengthen schools, families and student learning. Establish partnerships that are mutually beneficial and structured to connect individuals, not just institutions or groups.

We refer to the 6 bullets as "The key to successful school-family-community partnerships."

However, parent involvement is the key. Parent involvement is the participation of parents in every facet of the education and development of children from birth to adulthood. Parent involvement takes many forms, including parents as first educators; as decision makers about children's education, health and well being; as well as advocates for children's success. It is recognized that parents are the primary influence in their children's lives.

The National PTA recognizes the research that demonstrates when parents are involved, students achieve more, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnic/racial background, or the parents’ education level. The most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student’s family is able to:

• Create a home environment that encourages learning and nurtures their children’s physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.
• Communicate high, yet reasonable, expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers.
• Develop knowledge of how their children function in the school environment by becoming involved in their children’s education at school and in the community.

This involvement is essential for the positive emotional and social development, cultural growth, and academic achievement of every child.

One of the first things that we would like to do is a monthly school newsletter. This newsletter will be one of many steps that we will take in order to build home-school-community partnerships. The goal of this newsletter is to :

  1.  Inform parents/community of PTFA/school activities
  2.  Provide opportunity for ongoing, two-way communication

Purpose : To provide information, resources, news, etc. to everyone in the school community; make information accessible to people in more than one way; and provide opportunity for community input and feedback.

Who will accomplish? A committee of school staff, parents, teachers, community volunteers, and even students will write, edit, and design the newsletter.

When? The newsletter will be produced and distributed each month throughout the school year.

We look for to working with you all and we will see you at the first PTFA meeting. Dates and details will be available in next weeks “Thursday s Tidings.”

Respectfully,

Pilgrim Christian Day School PTFA Board