Blue Ridge School is identified as a Title I school as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I is designed to support state and local school reform efforts tied to the challenging State academic standards to improve teaching and learning for students. Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support family engagement. All Title I schools must jointly develop, with parents and family members, a written parent and  family engagement policy.  All Title documents are shared at the September Title I Meeting.

This is a plan that describes how Blue Ridge School will provide opportunities to improve family engagement to support student learning. Blue Ridge School values the contributions and involvement of parents and family members to establish an equal partnership for the common goal of improving student achievement. This plan describes the different ways that Blue Ridge School will support family engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home.

Blue Ridge School invites all parents to attend our annual Title I Meeting in October to review and revise this parent and family engagement policy, as well as the school wide plan, our school-parent compact, and the family engagement budget. Additionally, parent input and comments regarding this plan are welcome during the school year through written form turned in to the main office. The plan is posted on our school website for parents to view and submit feedback throughout the year. All parent feedback received during the year will be used to revise the plan for the next school year. Parents and family members can also give feedback during Parent-Teacher school meetings, Family Nights, and School Council meetings during the school year.

All students participating in the Title I, Part A program, and their families are encouraged and invited to fully participate in the opportunities described in this plan. Blue Ridge School will provide full opportunity for the participation of parents and family members with limited English, with disabilities, and of migratory children.

DISTRICT GOAL:  Increase all District EOC and EOG scores by 6%.

SCHOOL GOALS: 

• 30% of students in third grade, 30% of students in the fourth grade, and 27% of students in the fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the ELA section of the Georgia Milestones EOG.
• 44% of students in third grade, 33% of student in fourth grade and 28% of students in the fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the math section of the Georgia Milestone EOG. 26% of students in the fifth grade will score at proficient or above on the Science section of the Georgia Milestones.
• In grades Kindergarten through second, 50% of the students will meet or exceed their projected MAP Growth Score in reading and in mathematics.
• During the 2022-23 school year, Blue Ridge will meet weekly to analyze data, reflect on lessons, design work, and learn professionally.

As part of this plan, Blue Ridge School and our families will develop a school-parent compact, which is an agreement that parents, teachers, and students will develop that explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade-level standards. The compacts will be reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from parents, students, and teachers during the September Title I Meeting and online feedback.

Blue Ridge School will host the following events to build the capacity for strong family engagement to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement. Times for all meetings for parents and family members are listed below.  In person events may become virtual as needed.

School Council – Sept. 16/Nov. 11, 2022, Jan. 13/March 17, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

A forum for parents and family members to participate in roundtable discussions with the principal and staff regarding the school wide plan, parent and family engagement policy, school-parent compacts, and the family engagement budget.

PTO/Open House – September 29, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.

Learn about the Blue Ridge PTO; meet your child’s teacher and our friendly and helpful school staff in September.  Join our PTO! We are looking for officers.

Annual Title I Meetings – September 2022

We invite you to a meeting of getting feedback, learning, and sharing about our Title I program, including our parent and family engagement policy, the school wide plan, the school-parent compacts, and parents’ requirements. Invitations will be posted on the school website, front door, and social media.

Parent-Teacher and Student Conferences – September-October 2022/March-April 2023

A scheduled meeting between parents and teachers to discuss your child’s progress.

Career Day – TBD

A connection with the school, parents, and community to share careers and future job opportunities for students.

Family Literacy Night – December 8, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.

Students and parents will move around to different literacy based stations throughout the school. Come and experience the many different cultures represented at Blue Ridge with food, music, and art.

Family Math/Science Night – February 9, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

Come participate in math and science activities with your child.  Each family will receive math resources to use at home to reinforce your child’s learning.

Kickoff to summer – May 18, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.

A celebration our academic success along with resources to help students over the summer.

Blue Ridge School believes that family engagement means the participation of parents and family members in regular two-way and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring: 

• That parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning.
• That parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school. 
• That parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child

Blue Ridge School will take the following measures to promote and support parents and family members as an important foundation of the school in order to strengthen the school and reach our school goals. We will: 

• Ensure that all information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is published in both English and Spanish and is posted on the school website. 
• Provide trainings for staff on strategies to improve communication with parents and ideas to increase family engagement with reading and math activities for our students outside of the classroom. Staff will also share best practices during Professional Learning Community meetings. 
• Partner with early childhood programs, middle and high schools, college and career ready resources or organizations, parent resource centers, or other programs (as applicable) to help prepare parents and their children for successful school transitioning. 
• Share information in English and Spanish for parents to understand the school’s academic standards and assessments as well as the ways parents can monitor their child’s progress and work with educators.
• Communicate with all families and the community on a regular basis regarding schoolwide events and activities, through phone messages, social media, and flyers. 
• Work with our parents to develop relevant trainings and helpful presentations to educate our staff on the importance of parent and family engagement and how to support student learning. 
• Provide necessary materials and handouts for parents at conferences, meetings, and activities to support their child’s academic learning at home. 
• Use our Partners in Education and School Council to improve awareness of the activities and events listed in the school parent and family engagement policy. 
• Work with the district to offer literacy and computer classes for parents and family members to help further enhance their various educational levels. 
• Collect feedback from parents and family members at all events in order to respond to parents’ requests for additional support for parent and family engagement activities.

This parent and family engagement policy has been developed jointly and agreed on with parents and family members of children participating in Title I, Part A programs. This policy was adopted by Blue Ridge School on 10/1/2022 and will be in effect for the period of the 2022-2023 school year. The school will distribute this policy to all parents of participating Title I, Part A children on or before October 30, 2022.

Blue Ridge School invites all parents to join the School Council to share ideas and ways to involve other parents and family members to build partnerships with school, families, and the community. The team will meet four times during the school year, but parents and family members can also submit their ideas or suggestions at school activities and meetings, as well as through our parent surveys and website. If you would like to learn more about the School Council, please contact the principal at 706-260-2700 or complete the interest form and leave it with our front office staff in the main office.