Christmas is very much a “family” time of year. One of the major goals of any school is to actively work to engage the families it serves. So how does MCS try to satisfy this goal? MCS has worked very hard to engage our families and surrounding communities in helping us to meet our mission. We've focused primarily on major areas of best practice as it concerns family and community engagement: school climate, effective home school communication, educating and supporting families, and involving families in school planning and leadership activities.
In creating a welcoming school climate, we make sure all visitors are directed to the front office where they are immediately acknowledged and welcomed warmly. New families are provided a welcome packet and assigned an ambassador family to mentor them throughout the year to help them make the most of the MCS experience. New potential students, thinking of enrolling at MCS, shadow along with a student ambassador who acts as their guide. MCS staff make personal contacts with families through emails, phone calls, school meetings as needed and often attend student events outside of school to show their support and interest. The school emails a weekly newsletter to all families, staff, board members, and community supporters to keep them informed on current events at MCS. A newly installed video monitor graces our lobby and features all the up to the minute news involving MCS. Finally, Open Houses and parent conferences are held 2-3 times yearly in an effort to provide our community an opportunity to interact and be suitably informed about our school.
Our school makes a great effort to communicate with our families in the best interest of providing their children with the highest standard of education. Our family handbook is available in hardcopy and on line. Teachers send home folders of student work weekly or monthly for parent review and comment. MCS uses EDLine which is an electronic grade book that families can use to frequently monitor their children’s progress. Translators are used to clearly communicate school policies to all families in their home language. MCS also has formal mechanisms for families to communicate to administrators and teachers as needed (e.g., direct phone numbers, e-mail addresses, regular hours for families to call or meet, etc.).
MCS also believes it's important to strengthen families’ knowledge and skills to support and extend their children’s learning at home and in the community. To that end we provide formal and informal training and materials for parents on how to improve children’s study skills or learning in various academic subjects.
Many of our staff make regular homework assignments that require students to discuss with their families what they are learning in class. We also make known community resources and activities that link to student learning skills and talents, including summer programs for students. MCS also sponsors workshops to inform families of the high expectations and standards children are expected to meet in each grade level.
Finally, MCS attempts to engage families in school planning, leadership and meaningful volunteer opportunities. Current parents and parents of alumni serve on our advisory board and subcommittees. In this way families share in decision-making once they have been provided proper training in areas in which they will serve (e.g., curriculum, budget or school safety). We also conduct a yearly survey of parents to identify volunteer interests, talents and availability, matching these resources to school programs and staff-support needs. Volunteer recognition activities such as events, certificates and thank-you cards are all part of our process to acknowledge the generous efforts of our families. Thank you for sending your children to MCS.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very blessed and Merry Christmas.
Dr. F
