Title I

We welcome parents on our campus and encourage you to take an active role in participating in your child's education.

Parents as Partners in Education
Parents are encouraged to visit, volunteer, and participate as equal partners in the education of their children. For security and safety reasons, however, all visitors must register in the office at the beginning of any visit, no matter how brief. This includes arrival on campus in the morning. You may arrange to visit during the school day by contacting your child's teacher or the office. Please schedule conferences either before or after school.

For safety reasons, District procedures for parents being on campus during school hours are in effect. Parents who wish to walk their children to the classroom before school must first sign in at the office. Parents may eat lunch in the cafeteria with their children if they have signed in at the office, but are not permitted on the playground.

Times and locations of special events will be arranged in advance and parents will be notified prior to such events. A variety of special parent and/or family programs are offered each year to meet the needs of our community. An example of such programs is our Family Literacy Night program which focuses on learning activities parents can do with their children. These events are held several times throughout the year. An annual parent meeting is convened in the fall to explain the Title I Program to parents and inform them of their right to be involved in the program. More information about current programs can be received by contacting the school office or by checking the school website.

In order that parents may participate fully in such parent-only activities as adult literacy classes and parenting classes that may be offered,  child care and translation services are provided whenever possible.

In order to assist our parents in becoming full partners in the education of their children, teachers will communicate with parents regularly through newsletters, phone calls, e-mails, notes, and conferences. Parents may have access to their child's grades through the Power Schools computer program. Parents will receive copies of their child's performance on various assessments and regular progress reports on their child's performance in class. In addition, parents will receive useful tips in monitoring and helping to improve their child's performance through our school newsletter and on the Park Meadows website. Student learning goals and the AZ State Standards are discussed during Back-to-School Night and parent-teacher conferences.

A parent library is located in the Library Media Center. Educational games, books, and other resource materials that parents may check out to use with their preschool through 6th-grade child are available. Interested parents should call the office at 623-445-4100 to speak with one of the reading teachers if interested in checking out any of the materials.

We ask that parents ensure their child's regular attendance and prompt arrival; establish a time for homework and review it regularly; support school policies, including dress code and behavior guidelines; and communicate regularly with their child and with the school.

Input from parents and teachers are solicited for the development of our Home-School Compact, which outlines the shared responsibilities of parents, students, and educators in meeting the needs of our students.

Like all schools in the Deer Valley Unified School District, Park Meadows has a Campus Improvement Team (CIT). The team is a representative body of teachers, parents, staff, and administrators. Membership on the CIT is rotated on an agreed upon time line. This team is empowered to make recommendations and decisions focused on school improvement. Decisions made by the CIT are research-based, data driven, and consistent with district goals and the school mission statement. The goals formulate the annual Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP). This plan then becomes the action plan for all school staff and community to use in improving learning for all students. A copy of the current CIP is online or in the school office for your review.

We feel that it is important for parents to communicate their concerns, questions, and desires about the educational process and our school. By using the steps outlined below, we can work together to address any concerns that may arise.

1. The parent meets with the teacher to explain the concern and reach a resolution. A plan of action may be needed. Please schedule a follow-up either by phone, note, e-mail, or in person.
2. If the concern is not resolved, then it is appropriate to contact the school administrator. The administrator will schedule a meeting with the parent and the teacher. The concern and actions taken will be reviewed. A new plan of action will be developed and carried out. Another meeting will be scheduled to check on progress.
3. If the concern persists after the administrator and the teacher have attempted resolution, then parents may contact the appropriate administrator at the District office.

Parents as Volunteers
We welcome our parents who have time to help our students, teachers, and staff. Our goal is to use volunteers to help our children receive a more rewarding academic and social experience in all school programs. Volunteers do a little bit of everything, wherever and whenever the need arises, under the supervision of school staff and teachers. Parents who volunteer in any capacity on campus or on field trips must complete the District's one-hour volunteer training program scheduled at various times throughout the year. Parents should work with the classroom teacher in scheduling approved times to help out as needed in the classroom. All volunteers must be under staff supervision at all times. Please first check in at the office with the office staff who will call the classroom teacher to let him or her know that you have arrived. All volunteers must sign in and out on the Volunteer sign-in sheet in the office and log their volunteer hours. Please visit the Volunteer section for more details about volunteering and training dates.

Children who are not enrolled at Park Meadows are NOT PERMITTED to visit or join class activities at Park Meadows during the school day due to liability and supervision considerations. Please, when volunteering, leave younger children at home.

Parents as Models
Parents have a tremendous impact on children's behavior. What they observe in adults becomes a standard of behavior.

Behavior: Parents on campus are expected to model appropriate behavior. Behavior expectations are described in detail in the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook. It is especially important that  parents model the problem solving process; that is, concerns are addressed with the classroom teacher and administration. At no time will adults on campus interact with children other than their own in matters of behavior and/or discipline.

Parents are also expected to follow guidelines for picking up students, waiting outside the gates at either end of the campus as students will be escorted by their teachers to ensure your child is able to exit in a safe and orderly manner. Please also follow guidelines for dropping off and picking up students when driving in the parking lot, modeling respect, responsibility, and safety awareness for students. Parents who respect other drivers and parents will pull all the way forward along the blue line, allowing others to enter the parking lot. Be sure to avoid blocking the school entrance.

Dress: Parents on campus are expected to model appropriate dress. Parents should follow dress guidelines as described in the student/campus/District dress code.

Language: Parents on campus are expected to model the use of appropriate language everywhere students are present. This includes slogans, advertising, and sayings on clothing worn on campus.

Tobacco: Tobacco products should not be used or carried onto school property, including the parking lot.