Parent-teacher conferences are held in the fall. Students will bring home notice slips with the date and time of each individual conference. These slips are to be signed and returned to school. If it is not possible to attend the parent/teacher conference, due to the date or time, please phone the school to re-schedule. The following tips are from the National Education Association for parent/teacher conferences. These tips will help to ensure a successful conference.

1. Relax. Teachers want to help your child do his/her best. Working together will produce success during the school year.

2. Take notes on things that the teacher should know; your child's personality, problems, home life, habits and hobbies. Write down concerns about the school programs or policies.

3. Talk to your child before the conference. Find out what he/she thinks are his best subjects and what he likes the least, and why. Ask if there is anything that he would like to have you, as the parent, talk about with his teacher. Make sure he does not worry about the meeting. Tell him you are meeting because you are interested in his school life, and you want to know if there are ways you can help.

4. Be on time, and try not to run over the allotted time. Request another time to continue the conference if need be.

5. Ask questions about your child's participation in class, readiness, changes in study habits, group discussions and activities.

6. End the conference by summing up decisions you've made together. If need be, meet again.

7. After the conference, start on the action plan that was worked out. Stay in touch regularly with the teacher to discuss progress.

TEACHER REQUESTS

While the school wants, and needs, to know about your child (needs, strengths, areas of concern, and specific parent concerns), we will not honor requests for a specific teacher.

Parental requests for teachers cannot be honored because they impede the balance of the class makeup. In the spring, a form will be sent to help develop classroom lists. We ask you to help us place your child correctly by listing their strengths, areas of concerns and needs on this form. In determining placement from one year to the next for all our children, the following factors are taken into consideration:

•academic functioning

•social/emotional development

•individual needs

•class size

•gender make up of class

•peer interaction

•student/teacher compatibility

•parent input

Class assignments are done in April/May, and parents are informed as to whom the next year's teacher will be on the report card given the last day of school. The process is done by the teachers on that grade level and the principal. The ultimate responsibility for student placement rests with the principal.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards for Grades 1-5 are issued in December, March and June. Kindergarten report cards are only issued in January and June. Note: report cards will NOT be issued to any student owing money to the cafeteria and/or for lost/damaged textbooks and/or library books.

STUDENT RECORDS

Parents have the right to access their child's permanent record and/or authorize in writing the release of the records to another school.