Parental & Family Engagement

Our motto is: "Working Together To Better Serve The Children of Bessemer".  An engaged parent is the greatest advocate a school can have. You are your child's first and most important teacher. Learning begins at home.  It is within this natural partnership between the parent and child that the foundation for learning to read is laid.  As a parent you need to continue to teach throughout every stage of your child's life.  Parental engagement in almost any form improves student achievement.  A joint and coordinated effort by parents, teachers and community partners is essential to dealing with problems of discipline, instruction and the development of good work habits at home and school.  Your support and guidance can create a powerful alliance between your child's home and school which can positively affect his or her academic performance. Have a successful year!

About the Program

The Parental and Family Program of the Bessemer City School System is federally funded. It is designed to provide parents and families with meaningful experiences that they can use to help their children. Also, it gives parents/families opportunities to build and strengthen the partnership between the home and school.

Components

• Annual Meetings
• Parent Advisory Work Session Committees
• Parent Workshops/Seminars
• Parent Resource Center
• Virtual Options for Parent Activities 
• Academic Nights (Literacy, Math and STEM)

Goals

• To increase communication between parents, families and teachers.
• To provide programs that strengthen parenting skills and help parents to provide educational assistance to their children.
• To promote two-way communication between the school and the family.
• To provide parents/families with knowledge and techniques designed to assist children in learning.

Objectives

• To establish a positive working relationship between parents and the school.
• To keep parents/families informed of the issues that affect and impact their children's educational development.
• To make parents/families aware of the resources and services available in the school, central office, community, and Parent Resource Center.
• To provide training for parents via workshops, which will enable them to assist their children with homework and reinforce skills taught in school.

Activities

Annual Meetings

Parent and Family Engagement meetings are held in the fall and spring of each school year. Information is provided on the expenditures of the Federal Programs.

Parent Work Sessions

Parent/Family work sessions are held twice a year. School-Home Compacts and Policy Statements are reviewed. Topics are selected by parents and teacher representatives and presented in workshops that are held at each school and the Bessemer Board (Parent Resource Center).

Workshops

Parent workshops are held monthly at each school on various topics selected by the Parent Involvement Specialist and the Parent Advisory Committee Members.

Resources

Parent Resource Center

The Parental Engagement Program (PEP) provides a well-stocked resource center with pamphlets, books, tapes, games, puzzles, flashcards, workbooks, and reinforcement materials for parents to borrow and keep at home with their children.

A math series that contains everything students and parents need to reinforce math skills. It is available for K-8, and we have Algebra and Geometry for grades 9-12.

(Pre K-8 & up)

Parents may check out materials to help their children in reading, phonics, spelling, math, science, and social studies.

(Grades 9-12)

The ACT Online Account (Reading, Language, Math, Science, and Social Studies).