Welcome to the Annual Parent Involvement Meeting

1. Welcome to the Annual Parent Involvement Meeting Presented by Gaye Lynn Seawright Assistant Superintendent

2. Thank you Spanish Interpreters! • Mrs. Patricia Ammann • High School Interpreters

3. Why are We Here? • To Meet the Requirements for Title I, Part A • To Review Parent Involvement Policies for the District and each Campus. • To Identify ways to be Involved in your child’s education. • To Share Information/To Gather Information

4. Title I, Part A • What is Title I, Part A • Comprehensive reform strategy designed to update the entire education program in a Title I campus. • The goal is to ensure that ALL students, particularly those who are low-achieving, demonstrate proficient and advanced levels of achievement on the STAAR State Assessment.

5. How to we qualify for this Federal Program/Funding? • Have a 40% poverty threshold • Valley Mills ISD has a 55.8 % poverty threshold based on October 2013 PEIMS data.

6. What Do We Do? • What do we need to do to meet the requirements? • Conduct comprehensive needs assessments • Identify and commit to specific goals and strategies that address those needs. • Create a comprehensive plan (CIP/DIP) • Conduct an annual review of the effectiveness and revise as needed.

7. Which Students Does the Program Serve? • The emphasis is on serving ALL students, improving ALL structures that support student learning, and combining all resources, as allowed, to achieve a common goal. • These school-wide programs maximize the impact of Title I.

8. Overview • Research shows these schools share common characteristics: • A clear focus • High expectations of students and staff • Environment focused on learning • Strong leadership • Curriculum, instruction, and assessment aligned with standards • High quality professional development • Collaborative spirit • Meaningful parent involvement • A commitment to continuous program review and improvement

9. 10 Components to Meet • Complete a Comprehensive Needs Assessment • Incorporate Reform Strategies School-wide • Instruction is Provided to Students by HQ Teachers • Professional Development • Strategies to Attract HQ Teachers • Parent Involvement • Transition from Early Childhood Programs • Include Teachers in Decision-making • Provide Effective, Timely Additional Assistance • Coordination and Integration

10. Title I, Part A Funds • These federal dollars can be combined with campus budgets. These dollars are for leveraging overall improvements in teaching and learning for schools with high levels of poverty. • Implementation of special programs are to benefit ALL students.

11. Special Programs Offered on Each Campus…Ways to Volunteer District Programs Special Education Programs/Bosque County Special Education Co-op-(Meetings, ARDs, Special Programs) All Campuses have tutoring programs/Summer School/College Readiness, Financial Aid Workshops, Parent Information Meetings, College Tours Band Program – 6th through 12 Grade. SAFETY #1 Priority - TEEN Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) (5th -12th Graders) Community Project - RipRap Renovation Team (HS Students, Lions Club, City of Valley Mills)

12. Ways to Volunteer • High School Dual Credit with MCC, Articulated Credit with TSTC, UIL Academic Events, Fine Arts (Marching/Concert/Jazz Band), Theater, OAP, Art/Year Book & Art Shows, Athletics (Boys & Girls fall & spring sports, track meets hosted, UIL competitions) Upward Bound Program through UTA, Financial Aid Workshops, Parent Information Meetings, College Tours Special Club or Groups: Student Council, FFA, FCA, Special Art Shows, Spanish Club, PALS, Chess Club, Outdoor Club, Robotics Club, Mock Trial, One Act Play, FCCLA, Jazz Band

13. More Ways to Volunteer • Junior High • Advanced Classes, and Algebra I – high school credit • Athletics, UIL Sports Events – Boys and Girls, fall and spring sports competitions, host track meets, etc. • Fine Arts (Band, Theater, Art) Ag Classes/FFA, One Act Play, UIL Academic Events, • *8th Graders must create a 4 year graduation plan before entering 9th grade.

14. More and More Ways to Volunteer • Elementary Campus • ACE After School Programs • Band at 6th Grade • Fine Arts (Art & Special Class Productions) • Field Trips • Class Parties • Academic UIL • Book Fair • Student Council • Grandparents Day Celebration • Open House • Fall Carnival

15. Being Involved • You can get involved with your child’s education by volunteering with any of the programs just listed. • Athletic Booster Club • Band Booster Club • Ag Booster Club • PTO/PTA • Start a NEW BOOSTER CLUB

16. Another Way to Be Involved: • Valley Mills ISD Education Foundation • Nonprofit 501(C)3 organization formed 6/2013 • Purpose: to raise funds to give to the school district teachers to assist with enhancing the education in the classroom. • Presented over $9,000.00 this year in teacher grants. • Funds raised from individuals, businesses, grants, memorials

17. Grant Presentation by VM ISD EF

18. Parents Involved • Video http://www.ptotoday.com/video/13-more-videos/detail/211-parent-involvement-matters

19. Communicate! • Get to know your child’s TEACHERS • Get to know your child’s ADM • Get to know your child’s teacher/conference times. • Call, visit in person or communicate in writing when you have questions, need information, want to be involved. (Be aware of the school’s safety check-in procedures.)

20. Communication Tools • Traditional – call or visit • E-mail • School website, parent portal for grades, School Messenger, School Face Book Page, Skype, telephone conferences, etc.

21. STAAR Testing Information • Grades 3-8 test - Reading & Math • Grade 4, 7, and 8 – tests Writing as well • Grade 5 – also tests Science End of Course – English I, English II, Algebra I, US History, Biology – must pass all five to graduate. Retests – Grades 5 & 8, EOC

22. HB 5 Community Involvement • Assessment/campus evaluations • Go to www.thecasesolved.com • See handout for instructions. • Library computers are available to use.

23. Graduation • Friday, June 6th • 7:00 p.m. • High School Gym • Come EARLY!

24. Summer School Info • Secondary – June 9th-26th • Monday through Thursday • 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Elementary – details to be announced

25. Registration for 2014-2015 • Secondary • Week of August 11-14th • 11th – Seniors and Juniors • 12th – Sophomore and Freshmen • 13th – 8th grade and 7th grade ELEMENTARY Details to be announced. (Usually the same dates as high school.)

26. First Day of School • August 25, 2014 • See website for 2014-2015 Calendar

27. Review of District Policy • District Policy Review: • Any additions or changes needed?

28. Campus Policies • Divide into groups: • Elementary • Junior High • High School Review the policy and determine if any changes need to be made. Group consensus is necessary.

29. Student Handbook • The District and campus parent involvement policies will be included in next year’s student handbook. • Hard copy or Online Version

30. Resources • www.vmisd.net – Valley Mills ISD Website • School Messenger – announcements (make sure phone numbers are updated) • School Signs • Newspaper (Valley Mills Progress) • Fliers, letters sent home • Google: Friends of Texas Schools Parent Involvement Region 12 ESC Region 16 ESC

31. School Contacts • Elementary • Gail Wimberly, Principal • Misty Gerik, Assistant Principal Raegan Deeley, Secretary Phone: 254-932-5526

32. School Contacts • Junior High and High School • Jason Sansom – High School Principal • Joe Crownover – High School Assistant Principal Toni Light, Secretary 254-932-5251

33. School Nurse • Holly Crawford Both Campuses 254-932-5526 – Elementary 254-932-5251 - Secondary

34. Others • Jim Guest, Transportation Director • Athletic Director, Eric Blenden • Band Director, Jon Schriver • Cody Gibson, Maintenance Director • Kristi Taylor, Food Service Director

35. Interim Superintendent • James Baize

36. Thank YOU! • Thank you for attending tonight’s meeting! • Your input is valued and respected.