24. COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
There are five primary means of communication between school and parents:
1. Our Lady of Grace website located at http://ourladyofgrace.co
2. E-Alerts: Text and email reminders or notifications of school events or emergency information
3. A digital "Family Bulletin" posted on the website weekly
4. A "Family Packet" that is sent home as warranted
5. ePACT emergency information system
It is essential that every parent:
1. Register his/her mobile phone number and e-mail address for Emergency Alerts. (The school will send short, important text message "reminders" about upcoming events and deadlines. You will only receive these text reminders if you are registered for Emergency Alerts.
2. Regularly review his/her child's teacher/PTO classroom page(s), and the Family Bulletin.
3. Maintain an accurate and up-to-date ePACT account for each student, particularly with information about authorized after-school pick-ups, etc.
Directions on how to perform these tasks are posted on the website and will be reviewed at Back-to-School Night. Parents can also direct their questions to the school's STEM and Technology Coordinator, Ms. Arceneaux at larceneaux@ourladyofgrace.co.
24.1 Family Bulletin and Family Packet
A bulletin from the principal will be posted on the school website each Monday. Parents will receive a text alert with a direct link to the bulletin page when it is posted. It is important to read these weekly bulletins and all attachments (flyers, surveys, response forms, and other administrative forms.)
At least once a month a Family Packet (with the Family Bulletin, flyers, response forms) will be sent home with your oldest child. It's important to read the Family Bulletin on Monday and return any requested forms to school with your child the next day. If you are sending money to school, please put it in a sealed envelope along with the order form. Please put your child's name on the envelope along with a notation (i.e. Yearbook, or Field Trip.) Parents should always drop cash payments off directly in the school office to obtain a cash receipt. Lost cash payments that are not dropped off in the office and for which no receipt is provided will not be credited.
24.2 Parent-School Communication
Parents/guardians have the primary responsibility for the education of their children. The school supports, enhances, and complements this role. The school makes every effort to regularly inform parents about the educational and behavioral progress of their children.
Parents and students are expected to follow the appropriate chain of communication (contact teacher or specific school personnel first; if issue is not resolved, then contact the principal, then the pastor, and then the Archdiocese) in communicating inquiries, concerns, or issues with the school.
24.3 Parent-Teacher Communication
The primary relationship that impacts student academic performance is that between parents and teachers. At Our Lady of Grace School we, therefore, strive to nurture healthy and productive relationships between parents and teachers. This relationship, if it is to be effective and fruitful in the life of our students, must be characterized by the following qualities.
- Mutual respect - healthy relationships demand that we recognize our interdependence and mutual, God-given dignity as persons.
- Always assume positive intentions - we always do our best to get things right, even when sometimes we miss that mark. Assuming positive intentions means that we each appreciate one another's efforts and trust that we have our students' success and well-being in mind, despite mistakes. We, therefore, look for the good in one another and tackle questions and concerns from this mindset.
- Communicate with dignity - we understand that despite our busy lives, we can never take one another for granted. We, therefore, will make extra effort to ensure that our communications are timely and respectful in every way. Questions and/or concerns for any teachers or staff should always be expressed (in person, on the phone, and/or writing) with respect. Parents and guardians may 1) re-state the problem that their child has shared and 2) ask the teacher and/or staff member for help in understanding what is happening. This approach affirms the important relationship between parents and teachers and assumes positive intentions – that there is likely more to the story and our teachers will share that objectively.
Parents who are unable to adopt these important qualities in their communication with teachers and/or staff may have their communication rights revoked. In certain grave situations, families may be asked to leave the school as a result of a parent's continued disregard of these expected communication guidelines.
Parents are welcome to discuss the progress or problems of their child/children with the teacher or the principal. PARENTS MAY NOT, HOWEVER, DISTURB A TEACHER DURING SCHOOL HOURS OR WHILE ON YARD DUTY. An appointment to meet with a teacher should be made by e-mail, phone call, or with a note to the instructor prior to the parent's arrival at school. The teacher will contact a parent/guardian to discuss the situation and/or make an appointment to meet. BEFORE SCHOOL AND DURING DISMISSAL ARE NOT APPROPRIATE TIMES FOR A CONFERENCE UNLESS AN APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE IN ADVANCE. Teachers should not be called at home. If you see a teacher off campus, it is appropriate to say hello, but not to discuss your child's progress.
