Sep 22 2021
Positive Action Staff
•
Community
Education is not all about finding X in a mathematical equation or writing book reports. It extends to how students will fit into the real world during their school days and afterward.
A good education produces young people with a positive sense of self-concept and sound emotional and mental well-being.
These young people will be able to form healthy, positive relationships with their parents, family members, and the rest of the community. Plus, they will become good future employees and employers.
The school on its own can not instill these values. In the same vein, parents and social groupings alone can not produce well-rounded individuals.
This is why the school and the community must work together to get the best outcomes for young people.Today, we will offer strategies for building relationships between the school and the community to promote student success.
Why Promote Positive School-Community Relations
When schools and communities work together:
- Students score better grades
- They skip fewer classes
- More students achieve higher qualifications
- Lower incidences of bullying and delinquency are recorded
In a case study of the Oakland Unified School District, researchers found that community involvement positively impacted school outcomes.
According to the case study, The Oakland International High School is a successful case of a great school and community partnerships.
In 2010, 29% of the schools' population were recent immigrants from other countries. The majority of the school’s students were refugees who had endured difficult trauma, which was pulling down school outcomes.
Through successful community-school engagement programs, they managed to turn the situation around. For instance, they offered after-school language classes for school learners and their parents.
Here are some of the positive results of these initiatives.
- In a 2015-16 survey, two-thirds of students reported being "happy" or “very happy” with their educational experience.
- Oakland International Academy had the highest graduation rate in Oakland.
- 72% of students were able to graduate, with a high number taking and passing all required courses for admittance into California state universities.
- 51% took enough rigorous college-prep classes to make them eligible to attend either UC or CSU schools—6 times higher than peers district-wide.
It’s plain to see that the community and school can help young people achieve more when they work together.
Here are some strategies for bridging the gap between the school and the community.
Consider the School and Community Equal Partners
Research on school-community partnerships in rural Tennessee schools established that the community is more invested in learning outcomes if they are treated as equal partners.
If school leaders make it clear to all stakeholders that they are an equal partner in the children’s development, the result is a solid school-community relationship.
The school should view communities and families as equal experts in a child’s education. In addition, schools should tap into the values and strengths that the outside parties bring to the table.
Plus, it helps cultivate a sense of trust and belonging among students, educators in the school districts, and families by partnering with the community.
For instance, schools can invite community organizations and families to take the lead in some school programs and events, such as quiz competitions, athletic events, or talent shows.
Find Ways to Join and Connect With Communities
In his best-selling classic, Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam demonstrates a huge concern over the declining social capital in America. He notes communities are no longer as engaged in running organizations such as schools as they used to, leading to a decline in social capital.
How can school administrators engage and restore social capital in a society where nobody seems to care?
A great way to do this is to become joiners and connectors.
Connect with external stakeholders through taking part in community-based organizations which support learning and children’s education.
For example, linking your school’s learners with institutions like the Rotary or Kiwanis that have strong links with local community members.
That way, students learn positive ways to care more about their communities.
Another way to join is through Positive Action’s school climate program, which shines at tapping into social capital.
For instance, by using Positive Action’s school climate kit, schools in Pennsylvania recorded a tremendous improvement in their Boys and Girls club.
Establish Community Building Activities
To establish community-building activities, involve all members in the learning process.
For example, a social studies teacher could bring in a guest speaker from the school district to interact with the students and share issues facing the district. This gives students real-life experience while building a strong bond between the school and the community.
Schools can also involve former students as peer mentors or role models.
Studies show that school-based mentoring programs result in improved performance and reduced absenteeism. These buddy/mentoring programs naturally link the school with their communities.
Visit the Community and Participate in Events
By going out into the community, schools can forge bonds with stakeholders. Teachers can interact with the school neighborhood and local businesses.
Sharing your school’s vision as you engage with social groups helps instill a mutual understanding. These collaborations serve to strengthen school and community partnerships.
Some examples of community participation include:
- Getting involved in faith-based activities, especially in communities with strong knit ties to faith and religious activities. By doing so, you get to understand any unique needs or cultural expectations they have in your school.
- Creating a neighborhood garden on school grounds and teaming up with local organizations/businesses that share this interest.
Involve the Community in Internet Safety Conversations.
Internet safety continues to become a significant concern for learning institutions. In a study conducted by Scoology on the state of digital learning, a third of respondents specified that they’re concerned about the internet safety situation in schools.
You can involve your school’s community in alleviating their fears. Chances are, you’ll find people who specialize in cybercrime and internet crimes against children within your local law enforcement agencies.
These professionals are invaluable resources. Have them as guest speakers and allow them to share their ideas and technology policies. This is a great way to start the conversation about preventing cyberbullying and protecting your learners.
Most local enforcement agencies partner with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC). Access to ICAC provides you with lots of resourceful content, such as videos, which can come in handy for your school.
Set up a Community Resource Map
A community resource map is a visual representation of various skills available in your community which your school can benefit from.
There are many experts and services within your community which can greatly benefit your school. By creating a resource map, you’ll get to know what services or materials people can advance to your school for free or at an agreeable cost.
Once you map out these resources, you can tap into your local people to create mutually beneficial results.
Building Strong School-Community Networks
A great school-community relationship creates a sense of belonging among students, teachers, and parents. It increases student learning opportunities while creating an inclusive learning environment.
On top of that, it creates a great sense of responsibility for all stakeholders. This is because all community members understand that they play a vital role in the learning of pupils.
The key to strong relationships is to come up with a clear, shared vision. Turn to Positive Action to bridge the gap between school and community.
Positive Action provides you with a comprehensive kit on how to engage directly with the community. Learn how to organize the steering committee and involve local businesses and diverse groups in the school, community, and families.
Introduce Positive Action’s family and community kits to your particular community to help align their vision to the schools.
In addition, get on board with the evidence-based Whole School Reform Model, which has been proven to revolutionize the school’s ecosystem.
The program holistically improves:
- Students
- Teachers
- Families
- Communities
Get in touch with Positive Action today and get the ball rolling on establishing educational leadership through community support in your school.
FAQs
How do you promote a school in the local community? ›
- Start a podcast. ...
- Make promotional videos. ...
- Promote your school on social media. ...
- Create posters and flyers that are appealing to students. ...
- Take part in the school's activities. ...
- Create a school gardening program. ...
- Create a program where students can donate old electronics.
- Spend 1-On-1 Time with a Student. ...
- Look for Something to Comment On. ...
- Develop an Interest in Their Interests. ...
- Share Your Stories. ...
- Have a Sense of Humor. ...
- Attend Student Events.
This empowers students to take learning into their own hands, while enhancing engagement with parents, families and the wider school. School communities are a powerful way to build a sense of connectedness and belonging and improve educational and teaching outcomes within a school.
What are some key strategies for involving community members in school planning? ›Reach out: Meet families where they are. Don't ignore the elephant in room: Create a welcoming environment and have honest conversations. Tell your school's story: Be visible in the community. Stay on course: Continually assess progress.
Why is it important to promote community involvement in schools? ›Community involvement in school management has shown to increase accountability for both learning outcomes and school resources; involvement in curriculum development, which ensures the cultural relevance of subject content and teaching styles, leads to a wider embrace of the educational process.
What is school and community relations? ›The main objective of a school-community relations program must be to. create and foster an interest in the education of the community's citizens, both youth and adult. A partnership must be created between the citizens. of the community and the educational system, with the citizens realizing that.
How can we build strong bonds with parents school and the community? ›- Wear a smile. ...
- Learn their names. ...
- Learn to communicate effectively. ...
- Ask questions. ...
- Don't wait to call until there's trouble. ...
- Show genuine kindness and compassion for the child. ...
- Always start with the good news first. ...
- Treat them like a customer.
One of the strongest ways teachers can connect with students is by making them feel valued and respected. When students feel their teachers care about them, want what's best for them, and have confidence in their abilities, this can be powerful enough to move mountains.
How do you build relationships and trust with your students? ›- Talk about Trust. Establishing trust should start the moment your students enter the classroom. ...
- Give Students Responsibilities. ...
- Develop a Classroom Atmosphere of Trust. ...
- Be Tolerant. ...
- Be Consistent.
Community-based partners such as child care providers, afterschool programs, resource connectors, mentoring and mental and physical health providers do as well.
How can we improve parent and community involvement in schools? ›
...
Here are some innovative ways to fuel parental involvement:
- Online advice videos. ...
- A dedicated blog and online calendar. ...
- Use social media at your school to connect to parents. ...
- Home visits and parent/teacher conferences. ...
- Family nights. ...
- Volunteer Opportunities.
- Mentor a student. ...
- Volunteer at school events. ...
- Join a parent organization. ...
- Donate Supplies. ...
- Attend school board meetings. ...
- Follow local education reporters. ...
- Volunteer for career day. ...
- Share your story.
For the education quality facet, BE complemented through Brigada Eskwela Plus seeks to increase learner participation and reduce dropouts, and improve education quality in participating schools to increase student performance.
What are the different strategies in community development? ›This paper distinguishes among six strategies of community change: mass mobilization, social action, citizen participation, public advocacy, popular education, and local services development.
How can you influence other students to participate in school community? ›One of the best ways to help influence your students to be involved in the community is to bring the community to the classroom. Set up a project in which students are to pick a community organization or club to research.
What is your role promoting community involvement? ›Volunteering is one of the most common and popular ways to encourage community involvement in schools. Connect with local businesses, civic organizations, charities, nonprofit foundations, and other groups in your community to enlist volunteers to come in before, during, or after the school day.
What are the goals of school community relations? ›It is the general goal of the District to foster relationships with parents, which encourage cooperation between the home and school in establishing and achieving common educational goals for students.
What is the importance of community relations? ›The Importance of Community Relations
Community relations is considered a two-way benefit to its society. It positions businesses as civically and ethically responsible in their local communities, fosters goodwill among the locals–your potential customers, and helps the community thrive as a whole.
- Participate in community-wide school/district events.
- Promote high levels of student achievement.
- Listen and respond to citizen inquiries.
- Recognize staff and student success.
- Cultivate partnerships in the community.
- Engage the community in school/district initiatives.
A school strategy is a fully documented plan that tells people what your school wants to achieve in the future, and how it plans to get there.
How do schools promote their school? ›
Schools need to promote the positive aspects of their schools by connecting with the media and by using their own communication networks and social media platforms to connect with the community and create a brand that stands out in the minds of the “customers” schools serve.
What is a good way to improve relationships between school and home? ›- Make building home-school relationships a goal for Open House.
- Reach out the first week of school to get the ball rolling.
- Try to understand the child from the parents' perspective.
- Communicate regularly via weekly or monthly newsletters.
Your child might be involved in organisations like sporting clubs, music or art societies, religious organisations or volunteer groups. These can give your child opportunities to build skills, follow interests and 'give back' to the community. They're also ways for you to connect with other parents.
How do you keep a good relationship at school? ›...
Top 5 Ways to Maintain a Good Relationship with Others in Your School/Institute
- Understand Cultural Differences. ...
- Pick your battles. ...
- Be nice. ...
- Hear others. ...
- Pull your weight.
- Accept and celebrate differences. ...
- Listen effectively. ...
- Give people your time. ...
- Develop your communication skills. ...
- Manage mobile technology. ...
- Learn to give and take feedback. ...
- Learn to trust more. ...
- Develop empathy.
A simple but effective way to build classroom community is to hold meetings with your class once a week. These meetings don't need to be long; they can simply provide a way for students and educators to touch base on how everyone is doing.
Why is it important to build relationships with students? ›Why are strong relationships important? Strong relationships provide a foundation for student engagement, belonging, and, ultimately, learning. The more high-quality relationships students have with their teachers, the better their engagement in school.
How do you gain respect at school? ›- Feel safe around their peers and their teacher;
- Don't yell or talk over others;
- Listen to others even when they disagree;
- Don't try to control others;
- Talk openly about their needs and wants;
- Write a Weekly Newspaper Column.
- Have a Monthly Open House/Game Night.
- Thursday Lunch With the Parents.
- Implement a Greeter Program.
- Have Monthly Potluck Lunch.
- Recognize Teacher of the Month.
Actively cultivate respectful, supportive relationships among students, teachers, and parents. Supportive relationships are the heart of community. They enable students from diverse backgrounds to bring their personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences into the classroom.
What does community Action Partnership do for schools? ›
Community Schools Partnerships offer communities the opportunity to support the needs of children and families with an intentional, enhanced and supported academic, social and emotional health experience in the school setting as well as at other local agency and community-based sites.
In what ways can parents and community leaders be involved in the school to improve school performance and impact in the society? ›Parents help with homework, community members assist with school events or make decisions with teachers and principals about how to improve student achievement. Some volunteer as a teacher's aide or chaperone a field trip or collaborate with community groups to build support for a neighborhood school.
Why the involvement of community is beneficial for the school and children? ›All school community members have a role to play in learning, solving problems and contributing to the learning goals of pupils. By being connected, there is shared responsibility and an overall increase in the learning opportunities for K–12 students.
What are your strategies to encourage parental involvement in classroom? ›- 1)Use a school parent communication app. ...
- 2)Communicate effectively. ...
- 3)Build trust with parents. ...
- 4)Treat parents as a partner and the major stakeholder. ...
- 5)Share accountability. ...
- 6)Organize volunteer programs. ...
- 8)Provide home activities. ...
- 9)Share positive news.
- Get social. ...
- Invite staff members to your meetings and events, but be understanding if they can't attend. ...
- Help build a parent-principal connection. ...
- Use multiple methods to communicate with school families to make your group more visible and feel more accessible to parents.
- Identify An Adult Ally In School. ...
- Have A Real Conversation With A Teacher. ...
- Propose A Student-Adult Partnership Program In Your School. ...
- Lead Other Students In Taking Action. ...
- Have A Mixer. ...
- Meet With School Leaders. ...
- Support Non-Tokenized Meetings. ...
- Hang Out At School.
School community relationship is a mutual understanding through which the school and the community link with each other for the achievement of goals of the community and school too. School is a social organization functions properly on the effective interrelationship within it and with its associate communities.
How can you establish a good working relationship with the people in the community? ›- Pay attention to people. Check in with people when you need to. ...
- Communicate openly. ...
- Appreciate each other. ...
- Extend yourself. ...
- Volunteer to do some work for their organization (if they are not already in yours). ...
- Challenge each other to do better. ...
- Back each other when things get tough.
Community Schools Partnerships offer communities the opportunity to support the needs of children and families with an intentional, enhanced and supported academic, social and emotional health experience in the school setting as well as at other local agency and community-based sites.
In what other ways can parents and community leaders be involved in the school to improve school performance? ›Parents help with homework, community members assist with school events or make decisions with teachers and principals about how to improve student achievement. Some volunteer as a teacher's aide or chaperone a field trip or collaborate with community groups to build support for a neighborhood school.
What are the examples of school community partnership? ›
Community-based partners such as child care providers, afterschool programs, resource connectors, mentoring and mental and physical health providers do as well.
How do school and community influence each other? ›Community is a part of the society and education is the counterpart of both the above mentioned elements. School is the social institution where consciously designed learning experiences are provided with the objectives of achieving social aim at large, over a period of time.
How does the Brigada Eskwela help in promoting good school and community partnership? ›For the education quality facet, BE complemented through Brigada Eskwela Plus seeks to increase learner participation and reduce dropouts, and improve education quality in participating schools to increase student performance.
What are the steps in creating a community relations? ›- Review your company's mission statement and core values. ...
- Brainstorm ways that you can make a difference in your community. ...
- Connect with other organizations in your community. ...
- Encourage your employees to get involved.
There are three major types of community relationships: symbiosis, predation, and competition.
How do you build relationships in society? ›- Meet More People. This is an apparent paradox, but the quality of the people you meet has considerably to do with the quantity of people you meet. ...
- Talk about the Things That Matter To You. ...
- Express Vulnerability. ...
- Have Integrity. ...
- Be There for Others.
Community involvement in school management has shown to increase accountability for both learning outcomes and school resources; involvement in curriculum development, which ensures the cultural relevance of subject content and teaching styles, leads to a wider embrace of the educational process.
How can we build strong bonds with parents school and the community? ›- Wear a smile. ...
- Learn their names. ...
- Learn to communicate effectively. ...
- Ask questions. ...
- Don't wait to call until there's trouble. ...
- Show genuine kindness and compassion for the child. ...
- Always start with the good news first. ...
- Treat them like a customer.
- Mentor a student. ...
- Volunteer at school events. ...
- Join a parent organization. ...
- Donate Supplies. ...
- Attend school board meetings. ...
- Follow local education reporters. ...
- Volunteer for career day. ...
- Share your story.
- Type 1: Parenting.
- Type 2: Communicating.
- Type 3: Volunteering.
- Type 4: Learning at Home.
- Type 5: Decision Making.
- Type 6: Collaborating with the Community.
What are the six components of family engagement? ›
The principles describe expectations, or standards, for districts to engage family members in supporting their children's education. The principles address capacity building, leadership, resource allocation, progress monitoring, access, and equity.
Why school and community partnerships and collaborations are important? ›School and Community partnerships can provide students today with a better education and help with the demands put on the schools to meet expectations set by federal and state education mandates. The partnerships can provide monetary and non-monetary support.