We can help you... engage parents and make use of community resources
Expeditionary Learning schools provide more opportunities for parents to engage with the school and their children's learning than ordinary schools do. And parent participation goes up as a result. Parents are sought out as experts for learning expeditions; galleries of student work, held several times a year, and parent-student-teacher conferences where students take their parents through portfolios of their work, attract parents in large numbers. When schools first start to work with Expeditionary Learning, faculties do deliberate explorations of the communities surrounding the school in search of experts and other resources for learning expeditions. Fieldwork in the local community and beyond -- not field trips, but focused work and research in the field -- is a regular part of the school week.
“Parent satisfaction at Genessee Community Charter School is very high. Last year, over 90% of our parents were satisfied of very satisfied with all aspects of the school. Our staff have found that when parents are dissatisfied, the root of the problem is usually a lack of communication.”
“Need a boost in the middle of the week? Nothing will warm you heart and lift your spirits as much as our weekly Community Circle, which takes place each Wednesday from 12:20-12:50, usually in the Eisenhart Auditorium. Parents and friends are welcome Community Circle brings our entire school together in song, movement and celebration. Parents will be notified if their children will be performing.”
-both from Currents, the Bi-monthly Newsletter of the Genesee Community Charter School, August 2004
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