Creating Welcoming School Environments for Back to School Events

Dual Capacity Tip Sheets

Page 1 of 6

Back to School Night Tip Sheet for Teachers

Before school starts or at the beginning of the year have some form of introduction with each

family in your class ( home visits, class play date, summer letter introducing yourself and asking

for a response to learn about the child and family, sending getting to know you surveys, etc.).

Teacher introductions prior to or in the beginning of the school year establishes a positive

relationship, eliminates nervousness from families, shows professionalism, and opens lines of

communication.

Know the date for Back To School Night at least a month in advance and start promoting it

through: Attaching flyers to HW assignments, newsletter, school messenger, face to face

interactions, and personal invitation from students, etc. Get your students excited about parents

attending Back to School Night by creating classroom incentives; they are your best recruiters!

Create a classroom environment where all students are reminded that they are able to

accomplish their goal by designing with school staff a school wide “Achievement for All”

theme for the year. For example, “Read To Succeed”, “Yes We Can”, etc. During back to

school night share with families the importance of the theme and classroom strategies to reach

classroom goals and how these goals are connected to the school wide theme (Success of all

students). In addition, for families to support the theme at home, have home school connection or

linked to learning strategies to share with families (ex. reading at home, help with cooking, read

labels, environmental print, etc.).

Create an agenda that includes a community building icebreaker -this will allow families to

interact and get to know each other. Also, include your vision of teaching - How will you

encourage a love of learning through Social Emotional Learning? What skills and knowledge

will your students gain over the year and why (Common Core Standards)? Discuss how you will

create differentiated lesson plans to reach all students learning levels. Describe your commitment

to making sure that every student does well and how family support is needed.

Let families know when benchmark assessments will occur and when/how progress reports will

be sent home. Provide this information on paper or by email so families don’t have to write it

down. Present the effects of truancy on students and how families can support students to get to

school on time every day. Give families the school support staff and services brochure.

Creating Welcoming School Environments for Back to School Events

Dual Capacity Tip Sheets

Page 2 of 6

You can also prepare your students to explain work areas in the classroom or have families visit

work areas and learn a support strategy to use at home with their students. Include time in the

agenda for Questions and Answers.

Provide sign-in sheet not only to see who attended, but also to collect contact information (name

of caregiver, email, best phone number, best time to contact, etc). Decide on best ways to

collaborate by presenting a two way communication tool. For example, create an email/text

group to share classroom information. Make sure the tool is accessible to all families. Provide

information on how to use the tool.

Quick check list before Back to School Night:

Make sure to ask families ahead of time if they will need translation services.

Make sure your classroom is clean and organized

If possible have snacks in the classroom.

Some families have more than one child, come up with a schedule that provides an opportunity

for families to hear from all teachers. This can be done by staggering grade level meeting times,

having Back To School week, etc.

To ensure every family receive information in their home language confirm translation request

(SFUSD Translation Department or on site resource) ahead of time (SFUSD requires 3 weeks in

advance)

http://tips-for-teachers.com/Back%20to%20School.htm

Back to School Night Tip Sheet for Principals

To ensure a positive interaction between families and teachers; create expectations on the

importance of teacher and family partnership, provide and discuss best practices with school

staff. For example, provide classroom sign in document of families best contact information.

Discuss best ways and times for families to contact teachers. In addition, provide procedures for

parents to create a class yahoo group. Provide Professional Development opportunities to

Creating Welcoming School Environments for Back to School Events

Dual Capacity Tip Sheets

Page 3 of 6

teachers on two way communication tools (written and spoken interactions between families and

teachers) that they can use with their families.

Prepare teachers to create talking points for discussion that provides continuity across grade

level. Monthly check in regarding process and strategies have personal conversations with

families to discuss what their short term and long term goals for their students are, and modifies

these goals over time to ensure support for progress. Classroom goal should be presented at

Back To School Night and dates for follow up, check-ins, or progress reports should be available

for families.

Create a school environment where all students are reminded that they are able to accomplish

their goal by designing with staff a school wide achievement for all theme for the year, For

example, “Read To Succeed”, “Yes We Can”, etc. The importance of the theme should be

presented at Back To School Night. School should define strategies to reach goal expressed in

the theme. Decorate the school and classrooms with inspiring quotes and pictures of positive

role models that students can identify with.

For inclusion of all families and for staff recognition, make sure there are welcome signs in

different languages and directions to classrooms visible. Provide a Support Staff Brochure with

names, pictures, contact information, and brief description of resource provided prepared for

Back To School Night. Allow time for introduction of support staff and share their services

either by resource fair or presentation.

To promote family leadership participation, provide opportunities for families to learn about

parent organizations and how they can get involved. Share information that includes the purpose

or goals of groups such as roles, meeting times and dates, etc. Invite members to outreach

through information booths, flyers, presentations, posters, etc.

Do a walk through to make sure the building is clean, bulletin boards are up with appropriate

student work, visible end of year goals and benchmarks are family friendly, etc.

Schools find many ways to say "welcome back" :

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin319.shtml

Creating Welcoming School Environments for Back to School Events

Dual Capacity Tip Sheets

Page 4 of 6

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin231.shtml

http://crescerance.com/advice-for-successful-open-house-and-back-to-school-nights/

Back to School Night Tip Sheet for Family Liaison/Site Staff/After school

Program/Early Education Department/Out of School Time

Make sure your families are aware of the Back To School Night date, well in advance. Have

multiple reminders for them as the date draws near--suggestions include a ‘countdown’ board

visible for parents to see during pickup, information in different languages, Who’s Who Wall,

etc.

Coordinate with your administration and other involved staff weeks in advance of the following:

translation services and translation of certain materials needed for the evening, PTA and other

parent groups’ involvement in and assistance on that evening, (if needed) childcare staff and

materials, (if needed) specifics on refreshments and/or dinner and when they are to be

bought/ordered.

Make sure you have touched bases with Administration and attended staff meetings around

preparation for Back To School Night. Be aware of all school Family Engagement goals and

two way communication strategies used at the school site to inform families of them.

Make sure your information is given to be included in the Support Staff Brochure. Include short

bio, best contact information, office hours, and picture.

Make sure your room is welcoming and resourceful. Be accessible throughout the night to

answer questions. You may need to go outside of your room to reach parents, as not all of them

will enter--set up a table outside in the hallway (with resources) and acknowledge/speak with the

families as they pass.

Based on the parent/family contacts you made on BTS Night, schedule time in the following

days (and even the following weeks) to follow up with the parents--make sure they received the

Creating Welcoming School Environments for Back to School Events

Dual Capacity Tip Sheets

Page 5 of 6

information or service they were looking for (especially if you had to refer them to someone

else), use the contact to inform them of other offerings at the school or upcoming school events.

Back to School Night Prep Sheet for Families

Look for information for Back to School Night in the beginning of September. Save the date and

make preparations to attend. Check if child care and translation is provided if needed. Make it a

family celebration and invite your whole family! We want to meet everyone who supports your

child. (grandparents, aunts, cousins etc.)

Write a letter to your child’s teacher introducing your family. Include your child’s strengths, any

concerns that you might have, and any background information you feel the teacher should know

to best support your child.

If you have more than one child at the school, you’ll need to strategize. If your younger child had

the same teacher as your older child, you might decide visiting your older child’s teacher. If

both parents are able to attend, you can divide and conquer or take turns in the different

classrooms. Ask the school if they can stagger grade level class visit times so you are able to

visit both classrooms.

Make sure you find the best way and time to communicate with your child’s teacher. Give the

teacher the best ways he/she should contact you and the person(s) who will support the student

with school work at home.

Be sure to bring something to take notes. Remember this night is not designed to ask individual

questions pertaining to your child. You can ask questions on issues affecting the entire classroom

like homework, discipline, etc. If individual questions come to mind write them down for later

consultation with teacher.

Make sure you receive information and understand the end of the year expectations for your

child and benchmarks, what the teacher will do to help them reach it, and how you can support

them at home. Ask teacher best way to communicate about your child’s monthly progress.

Creating Welcoming School Environments for Back to School Events

Dual Capacity Tip Sheets

Page 6 of 6

Find out ways you can support the teacher and school. (Volunteer opportunities, Family

organizations, information about your child’s learning and social emotional learning) Families

are the child’s first teacher and your suggestions are important and valued.

Be sure to request interpretation services in enough time to give teachers time to find someone.

Find information/resources that will help your child’s learning. For example, effects of

attendance, additional academic support, after school programs etc.

http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/back-to-school-night/

http://student-tutor.com/blog/why-you-should-attend-your-childs-back-to-school-night/

http://imaginationsoup.net/2014/09/17/help-child-unmotivated-growth-fixed-mindset/

http://mrbuddoo.com/parents/blog/top-reasons-why-parents.html