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Helping Out During the Junior High Years
Getting – and Staying – Involved at Your Child's School
By Sharon Waldrop
Deanne says that she has developed wonderful friendships with the other parents volunteers at the private junior high her daughter attends.
Cindy also found volunteer work to do outside her son's classes. She scheduled parents to bring food for a teacher appreciation lunch and helped serve at another teachers' lunch.
"Remaining involved in my son's school life has resulted in better communications between his teachers and me, but more importantly it has brought me closer to my son by allowing me to glimpse his world," Cindy says.
Jean Manrique teaches Spanish at a junior high school in St. Paul, Minn. She notices a high level of parent interest and involvement at the school where she teaches. "There are parents wanting to be involved whom have not yet been called," Manrique says.
Manrique recommends several tasks for parents who want to get involved in their child's school. These tasks include individual tutoring in the classroom, participating in an event-planning committee, helping in the school office (if possible) and assisting teachers with some of their busy work. Teachers often need help with photocopying, recording papers and creating materials such as flashcards or other things needed for projects. Chaperones are often needed for events and field trips, too.
Manrique says she feels that some students may act like they would rather not see their parents at school because "it isn't cool to have your parents there." However, Manrique says "I think deep down they are glad that their parents are involved and care."
