Curriculum Night
In September, we had the opportunity to host our annual Curriculum Nights with the teachers. These meetings offer another opportunity to strengthen the connection between home and school. Indeed, this connection is so crucial. We have to remember that for young children, and in a lesser way for adolescents, what happens at school and what happens at home belong to two different and—if we’re not careful—possibly incompatible realms.
Connecting Home and School
This we can do through daily actions, and you do not need an encyclopedic knowledge of the curriculum. For example, for a Maternelle student, listening to a story read by an adult at home—a story that they have already heard in class—can beautifully illustrate this connection through the written words. Words can be transported magically from one place to another and from one realm to another. Words have this amazing power of crossing borders. Students are enchanted by this power; it helps them to make sense of what we are asking them to do.
There is a direct correlation between how involved parents are and how much their children enjoy school. We know this, and the research proves it. This involvement must be based in the mutual trust of everyone in our community. Our families trust that the teachers and the entire school are providing a framework that allows students to learn in a safe and caring environment. In return, our teachers trust that their message is understood, passed on and supported at home for the good of the students.
Finding Moments to Connect
Within this framework, the school must provide the tools that make this trust possible. We have to be transparent about our methods, our expectations and also our needs. The goal of Curriculum Night was to explain the broad objectives of your child’s grade or cycle. The teachers carefully prepared their presentations. I would like to thank them for that. I believe that they answered most of your questions. For my part, I am trying to make myself as available as possible at drop-off in the morning and at dismissal. I would like to invite you to not be shy about speaking with me at those times, even if it is a rather informal setting. These are important conversations. They can help us to clarify, explain or even change some of the ways that we work.
These conversations are even more important as they can happen so seldom since I unfortunately do not often have the opportunity to see you, given the current situation. A huge thanks to my colleagues for their presentations. I would also like to thank our families for their support and for attending the Curriculum Nights.