How to Engage Parents in School Life
The idea that parenting requires community involvement is lasting wisdom, emphasising the importance of a collective effort to raise a child. This principle also applies to education. To provide children with a comprehensive and holistic educational experience, administrators, teachers, students and parents need to collaborate towards shared objectives. The consistent evidence shows that active parental participation in schools enhances the classroom atmosphere and leads to improved learning outcomes.
The Importance of Parent Engagement in Schools
When parents are able to play an active role in their child’s learning experience from Kindergarten to Primary School, the school community benefits. Parent engagement has been shown to improve:
- Academic performance When parents offer additional support and guidance, academic performance naturally improves.
- Classroom behaviour With greater parental involvement, children often assume more accountability for their actions.
- Communication between teachers, students and their families Parents who play an active role in the classroom often feel a greater sense of connection with their child’s teacher, which can enhance communication at every level.
- The sense of community on campus Parents are able to foster relationships not only with school staff members and teachers but also with other like-minded parents in the school community. This leads to a positive culture that extends beyond the classroom walls.
7 Ways to Engage Parents in School Life
Teachers and administrators can easily work in partnership with parents when they pursue opportunities for engagement. At One World International School (OWIS), we are dedicated to fostering strong partnerships with parents to enrich the school experience for our students. We maximise the benefits of parent involvement by:
Providing Multiple Opportunities to Meet and Greet the School Staff
Throughout the school year, parents have various opportunities to meet with school staff members, including the teachers, administrators and support workers who offer additional services to students at the school. This allows parents to put a name to a face and make a connection in the school community.
Prioritising Communication
Clear, effective and regular communication is necessary for a healthy school community. At OWIS, we utilise a variety of communication channels, including our exclusive OWIS platform, email and app to keep parents informed and involved.
Developing a Social Media Presence
Social media can play a powerful role in building connections in a school community.
We have a robust social media platform where parents can find an easy way to connect with others in the community at a time and in a way that is convenient for them.
Creating Parent Volunteer Groups
Parent organisations and leadership groups allow parents to work together and create new ways to support the school. At OWIS, we have a parent partnerships community which further deepens the connections within the community.
Showcasing the Positive Things Happening in the Classroom
Showering students with well-deserved praise and celebrating their accomplishments as a class goes a long way towards making parents feel like they are a part of the school community. We showcase and celebrate student accomplishments with parents, making them feel proud and involved in their child’s successes.
Planning Tours and Events that Invite Parents Into the School
Open house events, school tours and other events are a great way to provide parents with a behind-the-scenes look at life inside the school. At OWIS, we organise multiple events that every family is welcome to join.
Scheduling One-on-One Meetings When Needed
When school staff members are available and accessible, parents can easily address any concerns or issues they have. We provide personalised meetings with parents to minimise misunderstandings and improve the overall culture at school.
As OWIS offers globally recognised curricula, the International Baccalaureate (IB), we recognise that there are endless benefits of parent engagement at schools. At our upcoming OWIS Digital Campus* in Punggol, we will also actively engage parents in our school community to ensure the holistic development of students. If you are an involved parent who wants to play an active role in your child’s school community, then our upcoming OWIS Digital Campus* may be the best international school in Singapore for your family.
Our upcoming campus is scheduled to open in August 2023. For more information, contact our admissions office at admissions.pg@owis.org or +65 6914 7351.
*Proposed site for an international school that will open in August 2023 subject to regulatory approvals.
