Sundown Elementary Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Statement ​of Purpose

Sundown Elementary seeks academic excellence. We believe with parent and teacher cooperation, children can learn and work as responsible citizens of the Sundown Community and the world.  Our goal is to build a collaborative partnership between our school and our parents which will then benefit the students of our school.  We recognize that parental involvement in a child's learning is essential in achieving academic success.  When the school and the home form a strong partnership together they promote high expectations, which helps all students succeed.  

 Developing the Policy

A committee which includes parents, staff, and community members will be formed to update and revise the Parent and Family Engagement Policy and the School-Parent Compact.  These will be translated into Spanish to meet the needs of our community. Notices will be sent to parents when the meeting will occur.  Information from the previous year will be discussed in order to make the revisions.

 Annual Meetings

Sundown Elementary will hold a minimum of three annual Title 1 Parent meetings each school year, along with our Title 1 Orientation meetings which will be held on multiple days and times to discuss the Title 1 program and the services available at our school.  During the school year, Sundown will also hold three Title 1 Parent meetings, or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Nights to encourage parents to be involved with their child's education.  Letters will be sent prior to the meeting followed by a reminder communication. Information will also be posted on the Sundown website.  The district will also hold a Title 1 meeting at the KISD Educational Support Complex (time and date to be announced) for parents to discuss the past year. At the beginning of April, we ask that all parents complete a Family Questionnaire evaluating the effectiveness of our program and to offer any suggestions that could help better our program.  Our goal is to meet the needs of the students, school, parents and the community.  

 Building Capacity

Parental involvement is a crucial component in the education of children because it enhances student achievement and helps create a positive school environment. Our School-Parent Compact is a voluntary agreement and a promise of commitment between the parents and the school.  With this agreement, Sundown Elementary promises to provide high-quality instruction of standards-based curriculum for each child and to be taught by highly qualified teachers.  We also promise to communicate with parents frequently and encourage volunteer efforts from parents. Staff email addresses are located on the KATYISD website.  If there are any questions about a child’s education, the curriculum, and/or grade level objectives, you can always visit the Katy Independent School District website at http://www.katyisd.org/ or the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/. 
 

​Programs and the School Community

Sundown Elementary seeks input from all parents in order to revise and improve our Title 1 program.  We expect all students to demonstrate continual growth in academics.  If a student needs academic support, we offer a variety of instructional programs to accommodate each child.    

Title 1 Support Service Programs

• E.S.L. (English for Speakers of other Languages)
• Compensatory Education Support 
• RTI (Response to Intervention)
• Dyslexia Intervention
• Tutorials
• Imagination Station (Computer Program for Phonics Instruction
• Bilingual Program
• Gifted/Talented Classes
• Technology
• Pre-Kindergarten
• E.C.S.E (Early Childhood Special Education)
• Speech/Language Intervention
• DREAMBOX (Computer Program for Math)
• Education Galaxy

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Staff-Parent Communication

Communication between the home and school is the key factor in helping our students succeed.  Sundown offers many different ways to communicate with our parents.  We want all parents to be informed on upcoming events, their child’s academic strengths and weaknesses and if there are any behavioral concerns. Teachers will send home progress reports, comment sheets and report cards to keep parents informed on their child’s progress.  Parent/Teacher conferences throughout the school year will be scheduled at the convenience of the parent so that progress can be discussed and any concerns that either party might have. Other forms of communication include the “Parent-Student Handbook” given to each student at the beginning of the year, a monthly calendar of events in Smore, the Katy Independent School District’s Discipline Management Plan and Student Code of Conduct, District and Campus Websites, e-mail addresses of teachers and staff members, KatyISD Automated Messaging System (E News), Sundown Facebook page, Twitter #SEarmadillopride, @Sundown_e, REMIND in English and Spanish, and telephones in every classroom. Every Tuesday, teachers will send home each student’s take home folder.  This folder contains information on upcoming events, conferences, and the most recent graded papers. Every parent has access to HAC (Home Access Center) through KISD with an individual login code which allows access to their student’s grades. Parents may contact the office if they do not have this code. 

 
Evaluation

Sundown Elementary will hold an annual meeting consisting of parents, Title 1 parents, teachers and staff, principals and administrators to evaluate the effectiveness of the Parent and Family Engagement Policy. Family/Teacher Questionnaires, parent suggestions and comments, and other resources will all be used to determine what adjustments need to be made to better meet the needs of our campus.  We asked that all parents provide us with their input.  Their input will help us develop revised strategies for student success.  Many parents suggest that work, lack of information, and communication are some barriers that limit parent and family participation in the parental involvement program.

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Funding

​Katy I.S.D. is required to set aside 1% of its Title 1 funds for the purpose of parental involvement.  The campus principal will consult with the Campus Advisory Team about allowable uses of the funds.  The campus principal will then authorize the use of the funds.​

Conclusion

Sundown is committed to the success of students.  We will continue to work together with parents to monitor the effectiveness of our parental involvement program and our Title 1 program.  Our goal is to provide excellence in education. ​

Comments and suggestions regarding the above document are welcomed. Please feel free to email or call