Title I Parent and Family Engagement Workshops and Opportunities

Click here for a printable copy of the Parent and Family Engagement Activity List for 2019-2020.

This policy is Sweetwater Elementary's plan for parent involvement for this school year.  This plan is revised annually.  All parents are invited and encouraged to provide input on this policy and the parent workshops at any time during the year.

(* indicates Title I Parent Workshop)

Parent Observation Days
Parents are invited to sit in their children’s classrooms and see our teachers and students in action. Please also visit the Parent Resource Center while you are here to enjoy refreshments and browse our great selection of resources you can check out to use at home with your child! You will receive an invitation and we ask that you please return the reservation slip so that we will have enough extra chairs available for our parents.
     • Wednesday, October 2
     • Thursday, February 13

Parent Advisory Council/School Council
     • Wednesday, Aug. 28 9:30 am and 5:00 pm
     • Wednesday, November 13 and Thursday, November 14 both days 5:30 pm
     • Thursday, March 10, 9:00 am and 6:00 pm
     • Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30, both days 6:00 pm

Attendance Matters
Our counselor and social worker will discuss the attendance policy and the importance of being in school every day.
     • Wednesday, August 28, 9:00 am

Annual Title I Meeting
     • Tuesday, August 20, 6:00 pm
     • Wednesday, August 21, 9:00 am

*Class Conferences
Parents will meet with their child’s teacher and receive scores and data on their child. Teacher will present information on school data and explain the testing and scores on their child’s data sheet. Teacher will give an overview of the curriculum that will be covered in that grade and go into detail on how math will be taught and what parents can do at home to help their child with math skills. This will count as one of the two required parent-teacher conferences. Teachers will conduct individual or small group conferences with parents unable to attend or with parents who request an individual conference.
     • Kindergarten and 5th grades: Tuesday, September 10, 6:00 pm
     • 1st and 4th grades: Thursday, September 12, 6:00 pm
     • 2nd and 3rd grades: Tuesday, September 17, 6:00 pm

*2nd Semester Class Conferences
     • Week of March 30 – April 3, 2020 (Grade Levels will select date within this week)

Goodies with Grandparents
     • Thursday, September 5 (K, 2nd, 4th) and Friday, September 6 (1st, 3rd, 5th), 8:45-9:30 am

*Superhero Literacy Night
Come listen to spooky stories, enjoy thrilling tales by the campfire with flashlights, create a spooky craft, and learn strategies to increase your reading power!
     • Tuesday, October 29 9:00 am Reading Make and Take Hands on engagement for parent
     • Tuesday, October 29, 6:00 pm

Thanksgiving Feast
Come enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving lunch with your child and browse the Book Fair! We would love to have some of our parents and grandparents serve as Mystery Readers in our classes.
     • Wednesday, November 13 (K,2,3)
     • Thursday, November 14 (1,4,5)

*Social Studies Night
Children will participate in games and activities that are based on the essential knowledge required at each grade level to meet the Georgia Performance Standards for Social studies. We’ll end the evening with hot chocolate and a story.
     • Tuesday, December 17, 5:00 pm
     • Holidays Around the World Concert – LSHS Dec. 17 6:30-7:30 pm

Donuts with Dad
     • Thursday, January 16 (K, 2nd, 4th) and Friday, January 17 (1st, 3rd, 5th), 8:45-9:30 am

*Technology Talk
Ms. Kenya Elder, Professional Learning Director or Dr. Emily Felton, Principal, will demonstrate some of the great technology our students and teachers use every day! Learn how to use technology to help your child at home.
     • Thursday, January 16 (K, 2nd, 4th) and January 17 (1st, 3rd, 5th), 9:30 am

*STAR WARS STEM NIGHT
Join us for an hour of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Engagement Stations. Activities for all ages to participate in and prizes to win! Every station will have an opportunity to learn about STEM.
     • Thursday, February 27, 6:00 pm

Winter Wonderland Breakfast
Come enjoy breakfast and hot chocolate with your child before you begin your busy day!
     • Wednesday, January 22 and Thursday, January 23, both days 7:15 - 7:45 am

*Testing Tips
Hear from our counselor and assistant principal and others about how to support and prepare your child for the upcoming Georgia Milestones assessment. Learn how the scores impact your child’s future. We will also cover testing for GKIDS and CDAs. All parents attending will receive free student workbooks (as long as supplies last).
     • Tuesday, March 10, 9:00 am and 6: 00 pm

Muffins with Mom
     • Thursday, April 16 (K, 2nd, 4th)
     • Friday, April 17 (1st, 3rd, 5th), 8:45-9:30 am

*Movin’ on Up! Grade Level Transition Workshops
Parents of children going into Kindergarten through 5th grade will preview the grade their child will be in next year. Meet the teachers and find out what they will be covering in the next grade and what you can do over the summer to have your child ready to learn in August.
     • Wednesday, April 29, 6:30 pm, grades 1st and 2nd
     • Thursday, April 30, 6:30 pm, grades 3rd, 4th , 5th 

*Real Men Read
     • Friday, December 13
     • Friday, March 13

*Fine Arts and Talent Showcase
     • Thursday, March 19, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

*Professional Development on Parent Involvement for Faculty
     • Tuesday, September 3, 3:15 pm
     • Monday, January 6 during planning

Kindergarten/Middle School Transition
Kindergarten and middle school transition activities will take place during April and May and will include:
     • Parent meeting at Head Start
     • Kindergarten Roundup TBD
     • Grade Level Transition Workshop
     • Placement of flyers at area daycares advertising Kindergarten Roundup and Transition Workshop
     • School visit from pre-K students at Sheltering Arms including activities in kindergarten classrooms and lunch in the cafeteria
     • Visits from middle school counselors to our 5th grade classes
     • Invitation to middle school counselors to attend Muffins for Mom as a resource for 5th grade mothers

Other projects to explore in 2019-2020:
• Sweetwater Parent Resource Center will be move to a room closer to the front office. This room is connect to the Media Center. Moving the PRC, parents will have an easier access to visit and checkout available resources. I would like to produce a Parent Resource Pamphlet with a list of all the resources available for checkout. I would give to teachers to share with parents during conferences. I would also like to have a monthly newsletter highlighting material for Hispanic parents. For our Muffins for Moms, Donuts for Dads, and Goodies for Grandparents, parents/guardian will have an opportunity to visit the Parent Resource Center.


Parent Advisory Council

The purpose of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is to facilitate communication between parents, caregivers, teachers, and school staff.  Each Title I school is required to have a Title I Parent Advisory Council (PAC).  The Principal of the school selects parents to serve as chairman and co-chairman of the school's Title I PAC.  Title I teachers work with the school's principal and Parent Advisory Council chairmen in developing a Title I Parent Policy for the school.  All Title I schools are required to hold a Title I meeting at the beginning of the school year, a midyear meeting, and one at the end of the year.  This affords the parents an opportunity to learn more about Title I and begins a communication process between parents/teachers/school administrators.  The Parent Advisory Council plans and carries out other Title I programs throughout the school year.

The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is made up of a parent representative from each grade level, the principal, a teacher, and the Parent Outreach Facilitator.  As stated, the PAC meets at least three times a year and gives input and direction for the Title I program, including the school compacts, the school policy for parent involvement, and the parent workshops.  ALL parents at Sweetwater Elementary are invited and encouraged to attend and participate in all PAC meetings.  The meetings will be advertised on the school website, on signage, and through flyers.