Introduction
The Winfield School recognizes, along with our School District, that effective school-family partnerships are critical to student learning and success. Research illustrates that students receive several benefits from a collaborative partnership with the school, the family, and the community. Some of these benefits include: higher grades and test scores, better attendance and homework completion, fewer placements in special education, more positive attitudes and behavior, higher graduation rates and greater enrollment in post secondary education. The gain for families include improved ability to assist their children with school and learning, and improved relationships among all stakeholders.

In the process of planning for this Family Engagement Plan, the school involved the following groups: Parents/families, school board members, school faculty representatives, and community members. The Scott County School District's Plan was used as a guide to comply with local mandates.

A family advisory group was formed within this plan to assist the school and the administration with all future planning and visionary/goal setting perceptions.

The Winfield Elementary School Advisory Committee consist of the following members:
School Team:
Tina Anderson, WES parent
Stacy Kidd, WES parent
David Marlar, Board Member Kenneth Davidson, Principal
Michelle Norris, Librarian
Alma Wilson, Attendance Monitor
Kim King, Teacher
Crystal Stanley, Teacher
Tara Lay, Teacher
Hope Reynolds, Teacher
Jordan Sims, Teacher
Savannah Norris, Student
Brad Lay, PTO President

Section I - Goals
A. WES endeavors to not only maintain the two-way communication between families and the school both verbally and in writing using a variety of strategies and methods, but to increase communication from 63.3% (baseline data) to 70 percent
The proposed means to measure this will be by the following:
1. The school will conduct Parent/Teacher Conferences at least twice a year to
inform parents of their child's progress in school, including academic performance,
and assistance with understanding their child's individual classroom grades and test
results to address specific academic needs of their child. Sign in sheets will be kept
as part of this plan and monitored on a yearly basis to determine if there is an
increase in attendance. Teachers will be encouraged to offer incentives to encourage
more participation. It is a goal that the attendance will improve in the fall of 2006
by 25%. This year, grade cards were passed out on Parent/Teacher Conference
night to those attending. The remainder of the students received grade cards the
next day. These conferences will be held at the end of the first six weeks and at the
end of the fourth six weeks. The District will mandate exact dates.
2. Parent/Teacher Compacts have already been returned. These are on file in the
Principal's Office. Although there was a large number returned, it will be the
school's goal to have 80% by next fall, 2006. Teachers will be asked to call the
parents not returning them as part of the communication process. Documentation
that the parents have been contacted and do not wish to sign and return the
compacts will be considered as successful communication.
3. "Back to School" Celebration will be an annual part of the WES Family
Engagement Plan. The Family Engagement Committee will meet prior to the
beginning of school to plan the activities in conjunction with local mandates. The
purpose of the celebration will include, but not be restricted to, the following:
o Purpose of the Family 1 Engagement Initiative
o Family Engagement School Board Policy
o Title I Requirements
o Assessment Results on ill State Tests
o AYP Requirements
o Curriculum - "Blueprint for Learning"
o School-Parent Compact
o School Policies
o Teacher Information
o Parent Information
o Parent Rights
o Family Engagement Activities
4. All parents will be invited to a Title I meeting. This year, WES wishes to host this meeting in conjunction with the annual Mission of Hope Christmas party. This will be an excellent opportunity for Mr. Duane Limburg to meet with parents in the gym prior to the Christmas party. Parents/families will be informed of their child's participation in the program and will explain Title I requirements and the right of the parents/families to be involved. Parents will be informed of the following information:
o Current student assessment scores
o Curricular information including any changes
o Parent Engagement Evaluation Form
It is the desire to make this annual meeting very informative and increase the attendance each year. This fall, WES plans to have Grandparent's Day the day before the annual meeting, which will also be our Christmas dinner. Again, sign in sheets will be maintained, tallied, and compared with colored charts from year to year.
5. Teachers will send home to families/parents, in writing, classroom information
including teacher information (phone numbers, classroom number, planning period
times, and, email addresses), classroom rules and procedures, grading policy, etc. at
the beginning of the school year. Copies will be provided to the principal to be
included in the Family Engagement Plan notebook.
6. WES will assist in the development of a "Welcome Packet". At present, the
District is in the process of that development. This packet will be given to the
parents/families of all new students. The district will include a letter welcoming
them as part of the school family, contact information for the district and school, the
student handbook, lunch forms, bus routes, and curriculum and testing
information. The WES Committee will add additional information that may he
needed for the WES community.
7. A Student Handbook is sent home at the beginning of each school year to inform
parents of district and school policies for enrollment, attendance, homework, safety
and discipline procedures, bus routes and bus behavior, technology use policy and
Parents Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Parents are required to sign and
return to the child's teacher the appropriate form attached to the front of the
handbook stating that they have read the handbook.
8. Teachers will communicate with families/parents concerning their child's
successes and/or problems on a regular basis through reports, notes, letters, phone
calls, awards, etc.
o Report cards will be seat home at the end of the six weeks.
afore mention organization. All programs, meetings, and activities associated with the plan will be included in this communication/informative procedure.
12. The school district will place the Parent Engagement Policy on the district
website and will begin to publish it in the Student Handbooks. This is scheduled for
the 2005-2006 school year. WES has not been able to get the school web site
modified in five years. It will be a goal to get the Technology Department to help
up-date the site.
13. Parents/families have been notified in writing that they may request
information about their child's course of study and have access to all learning
materials by making a request to the principal of their child's school. Sample
materials were displayed for review at the fall parent-teacher conferences and will
Be displayed in the individual rooms at all future conferences. These skills will include, but not be limited to, Blue Book standards.
14. Parents/families have been informed in writing (see the Scott County Schools'
Student Handbook) of their right to access their children's official school records.
15. Parents/families have been informed in writing of their rights to access the Scott
County School District Policy and curriculum information on the district website.
B. Family/Parents' opportunities for involvement in the classroom, school, and district activities will be increased from 56.8 (baseline data) to 65%. A flexible schedule will be provided.
1. Many activities will be provided at the district level and at individual schools to
allow parents/families to be involved in their child's school and learning:
o WES held an Open House on Thursday, September 15, 2005.
o Family Reading Night will include a dual opportunity with Mrs. Michelle
Norris working in the Library and Mrs. Crystal Stanley providing
opportunities for parents/families in the computer lab. Sessions are
scheduled to begin on October 27 at 6:00 p.m. Families will be notified by
flyers that will be sent home with students.
2. WES has already began their Parent Volunteer Program with a sign in sheet
located in the office.
o Many parents have served in the past, but the time has not been logged. The
log will be submitted on a quarterly basis to the District Office.
o A parent recognition program has been started by the district to include one
parent from each schoo1. Tina Anderson was the first parent to receive this
recognition. WES wishes to start a monthly teachers' parent of the month
with a finalist to receive the School and District honor of Parent of the
Month.
o Transition program with a pizza party have been held for pre-k/k. Future
plans will be expanded to K/l, 4/5, and 8/9. The 8/9 transitions are in place
with Scott High School making visits in academic registration, field trips, and
sports information.
o Grandparents Day
o Special Student Programs
o Carnivals/Festivals
o PTO Meetings
o Mission of Hope
o Retired Teacher Associational Meetings
o Awards Day
o Promotional Ceremonies
o Multiplication/Spelling and other types of Bees.
o Room Mothers/Fathers to help with classroom events
o Parent Appreciation Day to be scheduled sometime during the school year
C. Parents/families will be assisted by district/school staff to gain the knowledge and skills in parenting and fostering conditions to assist and support their children's learning and development at home.
1. Since parents are a child's first and most important teacher, they will be given
parental support for their child's academic success in school.
o The "Parents Make the Difference" newsletter is presently being copied and
sent home by each student in the school. This newsletter contains
information on how parents can help their child with homework, discipline,
etc.
o The school will develop a school calendar and send home each month. Plans
are to distribute them along with the "Parents Make the Difference"
newsletter.
o Parents are invited to support their children through attending various
school events including student program, performances, assemblies, sports
events, etc.
o It is hoped that a school calendar can be used on the school web site if the
Technology Department can help the school modify the site.
o Parents are provided with curriculum information from the "Blueprint for
Learning" detailing skills that are tested in each grade level and subject area
on state tests. The Scott County School District website has a link to the
"Blueprint for Learning" on the State Department website.
o Parents are provided with pamphlets and brochures with suggestions for
successful parenting skills. The Scott County School District website has a
link to additional parenting education resources.
o Parents are encouraged to monitor and/or supervise homework and daily
reading activities that reinforce or enrich their child's classroom learning
and a list of selected books to read is providing.
o Parents are encouraged to monitor their children's television viewing as well
as their use of free time.
2. Parents/families are encouraged and supported in joint projects such as the
Science Fair, Math Fair, and read-a-thons that involves children and teachers.
o Each year, every elementary school participates in a school and countywide
Science Fair with winners being able to compete in the Regional Science Fair
at TTU in Cookeville.
3. Through the School District, WES will provide multiple opportunities for parents to develop their parenting and child-rearing skills to help their children succeed in school and life.
o The Even Start Program and Family Resource Center will provide Parenting
Classes using the "Active Parenting" series on a regular basis (dates will be
advertised in the local news media) to give parents information on providing
a home environment for their child that
a. is safe, drug-free and positive
b. Fosters self-confidence
c. Provides developmentally appropriate behavior
d. Holds high expectations
e. Clear rules a; id boundaries
f. Provides balanced nutrition and quality health care
o Additional parent training sessions will be held once or twice per month at
the Scott County Office Building conducted by Sarah Johnson, UT Extension
Agent. WES will copy and send all information that Ms. Johnson delivers
for distribution by students. The first meeting is scheduled for October 25
from 6:00 P.M. on "Low-Fat Express" My Pyramid: Nutrition Using the
Food Triangle."
D. Parents/Families will be given increasing opportunities to share in decision-making and to become leaders in governance, advisory, and advocacy roles.
1. WES will invite parents to participate as partners in decision-making activities.
o Invitations will be issued through the previously mentioned newsletter. A
survey form has been designed and will be banded out at various activities
and placed near the suggestion box for input into school decision making.
o One or more parents have been, and will continue to serve on all committees
including the S.I.P., Family Engagement, and advisory committees.
o A Parent/Family Advisory Committee will be developed and become an
inclusive part of the School Improvement Plan along with help in the Family
Engagement Activities.
E. WES will increase the collaboration with business and community organizations
o WES provided dinner und a place for the monthly County Court meeting on
September 19.
o WES provided a break fast for the Chamber of Commerce on October 17,
2005.
WES is providing opportunities for civic groups to use the facility and will
host the 1st National Bank Offices Meeting on November 8th with a tour of
the building.
The Family Resource Center will be utilized more in the future to collaborate
with the community an d businesses to link parents to school and community
resources.
A Parent/Community/business Resource Program in which parents and
community members' expertise, talents, and experiences will be
established.
Community and business partners will be recruited to provide incentives for
good attendance, etc.
1. McDonalds
2. Flonnie' s Drive- In
3. Sonic
4. Subway
5. Burger King
A handbook containing a list of community resources found in the school district will be provided to give the district and schools information regarding community resources.
Collaboration with The Clinch-Powell Head Start Program has been established in which they share playground equipment with our Pre-K classes. Clinch-Powell will be using one of WES's classrooms until their modular unit is installed at the new WES center.
Collaboration with Head Start in transitioning from Head Start to Pre-K or Kindergarten has always been a joint effort and will be expanded in the future. Head Start has been included in all school functions that they have desire to participate. The one major one is Mission of Hope and this year it is desired they participate in the annual Music Festival. The Upper Cumberland Children's Center is partnering with our school district to provide a program entitled "Safe Touching" to our students and also provides "Prevention of Child Abuse" Training for teachers and assistants. Due to the proximity of the school to the center, WES is being provided with assistance in other areas to include psychological counseling.



Section II -Training
A. Training for Teachers/Staff on the importance of Family Engagement and
"Family Friendly Schools" will be provided.
o Training for Teachers/ Staff on the importance of Family Engagement and
"Family Friendly Schools" will be provided on a district level and on a
building level through teacher meetings and School Improvement Plans.
o The school district provided professional development sessions on "Family
Friendly Schools" with Dr. Steven Constantino on March 24, 2005, and Jerry
King on August 30, 2005, for all teachers and staff to educate them on how to
reach out to, communicate, and work with parents as partners. Each school
center invited parents to the session.
o The building principal received training at the March 22, 2005, Principal's
Meeting and the August 1, 2005 Principal's Meeting. Principals also received
a copy of Dr. Constantino's book entitled, "Engaging All Families" to be kept
in their schools. Mr. Davidson has purchased additional books and has them
in his office for check out to any teacher, parent, or staff member wishing to
read them.
o Mr. Davidson also attended other sessions on Family Engagement during the
2005 LEAD Conference held in Nashville on October 11 - 13, 2005. The
most significant session being "Bridge over Troubled Waters" by Jason
Pearson who is the Principal of Hillsboro School in Williamson County,
Tennessee.
B. WES will continue to provide training to support in planning and implementing
their School Parent/Family Involvement Plan.
o The principal will schedule one day to meet with the staff and parent
volunteers by using teaching assistants and substitutes to cover classes.
Substitutes will be provided for by Title I funds.
o The principal will continue with training and development in Family
Engagement Awareness. He has volunteered to attend the district meetings
with The School Parent/Family Involvement Plan to further his awareness of
the district plan.
o Incentives may be offered to those parents/teachers reading additional
information. Some short articles may be assigned as reading for the staff in
place of teacher meetings.


Section III. - Annual Evaluation of Family Engagement Advisory Council
A. In early May of each school year, the WES Family Engagement Committee will
meet to determine the progress of the plan. Problems, modifications, amendments,
and other ideas will be discussed to modify and evaluate the plan for initiation for
the next school year.
B. WES will identify barriers that prevent parents from participating and seek
solutions to address and dissolve these barriers.
C. WES will strive to identify strategies in the first year of our Parent/Family
Involvement Plan.
D. WES will utilize the data of above-mentioned areas to facilitate a more effective
and growing Parent Engagement.