Home-to-School Communication Guidelines in the Secondary School

For more information please click on our Secondary Handbook

Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that a strong partnership between school and home is positively related to student achievement. A strong partnership benefits students in other ways, apart from student achievement, that include attitude towards school, self-concept, motivation, time spent on homework, and expectations of one’s future.

Communication is the foundation of an effective partnership. The following set of guidelines is based on the understanding that whenever there is a need to communicate, to ask a question, to raise an issue, to express a concern, the solution is first to be sought at its source. In any situation of concern, it is best to go to the person directly involved in order to ensure that you:

• Gain first-hand information.
• Acquire a complete understanding of the situation.
• Communicate important information.
• Achieve a timely response.
• Support the concept of open communication to maintain optimal support for your child’s learning and well-being.
• Below are some guidelines that are designed to support sound home-to-school communication.

Method of Contact
The most effective method of contacting a teacher, a counselor, a program coordinator, an office assistant and/or an administrator is through email.  All AISL emails have the same format: first initial of first name and last name@aislusaka.org (e.g. Ty Smeins’ AISL email address is tsmeins@aisluska.org).  
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Class/Subject TeachersParents are encouraged to contact the class/subject teacher directly if they have a question or concern about their child’s experience in a particular class. Listed below are some issues that parents might address with a class/subject teacher(s):

• Subject or class information
• Class supplies and requirements
• Assessment and reporting
• Homework
• Curriculum information
• Project or research requirements
• Student progress and performance
• Teaching or classroom incidents
• Field trips relating to that particular subject and/or grade level
• Communication

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