Fostering the School-Home Connection

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 75

Wow! What an amazing year for students and their families at Gulfview Middle School. As students get older and more independent, children and their families have less naturally occuring opportunities to connect. Children are able to do things by themselves, and want to explore that newly found freedom, also lessening the opportunities for parents to step in and actively work in their child's life. We also know tah as middle schools, we sometimes don't offer the same family-connection points that elementary schools do, as the types of activities children enjoy also changes as they grow older. 

However, we know from research and study after study that a connected child is a successful child. This research shows that family engagement can have a positive impact on student success, including better social skills, improved grades, higher attendance rates, decreased disciplinary issues, and more (youth.gov). But how do we as a school foster those relationships students have with their families?

This year, Gulfview Middle School, funded by a generous grant from Champions for Learning, hosted several events focused on helping children and families connect in meaningful ways. In December we hosted a holiday movie and dessert night called "Sweets at the Silver Screen". We had holliday-themed games set up around the environment, include "Ring the Reindeer", "Candy Cane Pull", and even a photo station where families could take a photo and then create a picture frame to hang with the photo inside. And we served a crazy amount of desserts. Cupcakes, cookies, pies, cake, and more. Focused at creating memories and connection points for our family, this was the perfect way to kick off our year of events.

Then in February we hosted "Pizza and Trivia" night. This was so much fun! Families worked together to compete against other families to answer trivia questions focused on history, music, art, and pop culture. The winner received a $50 gift card to enjoy dinner together, and of course, we served tons of pizza. Each family was able to have their own whole pizza. It was really a great night. 

Our last event of the year, "Blacktop Bash" is a BBQ and Field Games event. Parent vs. Child Kickball, an outdoor movie, balloon toss, cornhole, and more. Just one more way for families to connect with their children during this pivotal time. 

Additionally, I love that these events we were able to host, only because of you, was affordable for all families. Each event, with all its activities and games and FOOD cost just $5.00 for the whole family. Not per person. Five dollars for the entire family to attend. These events helped children connect with their parents, siblings, and helped parents connect in a positive way with the school community, and it was accessible to everyone. 

I have to admit, I'm not great at remembering to take pictures because I'm hosting the evnet, but please enjoy those I did remember to snap below.