Parent Involvement

OCLM is a program for parents who WANT to participate and be actively involved in their
child's education. Research shows that children whose parents are involved in their education
are more motivated in school; thus the Open Classroom Leadership format serves to establish
an educational team where teachers, parents and children all collaborate in a student's
learning. Parents provide extra support both to students and teachers while adding to the safe,
welcoming, and caring ambiance of an extended school 'family'. In this context, parents help to
enrich the instructional program by sharing their unique knowledge, skills and experiences,
while simultaneously demonstrating, by their physical presence, the high value which they
place on the educational process.

Because extensive parent participation enables us to provide a variety of small groups
activities, and to create a learning environment that can more adequately provide individual
attention and meet individual needs, parents who wish to enroll their child in The Open
Classroom Leadership Magnet must commit to being actively involved in their child's education
in the classroom, on campus, and at home.

Parent Volunteer Opportunities for our classrooms are varied and will be worked out with
individual teachers. It is crucial for parents to understand that their presence in the classroom
is not merely a privilege of being in the program; the consistent participation of all parents is
actually essential both to each child's success and to the success of the program as well.
Therefore, EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE ADULT INVOLVED IN THE
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES OF THE CLASSROOM FOR A MINIMUM OF 1.5 HOURS A WEEK.
(On average, over the course of the year)

Just as importantly, because the tremendous benefits of Open Classroom Leadership are
only possible through the deep and ongoing commitment of all involved, enrolling parents
need also be engaged in the whole program. Parents are encouraged to take seriously their
responsibility to attend parent conferences and quarterly Open Classroom Leadership
meetings and to volunteer for committees organizing festivals (at least one during the school
year) and/or to assist with PFA, SCOPE, SSC, the Open Classroom Advisory Counsel, Art
Projects, the school office, library, whole school events, or other support organizations.

Participating in the Open Classroom Leadership Magnet has been a very positive experience
for our whole family. Not only does our son receive a “private school” education within the
public school system, but we all benefit from the parental participation component. Working
in the classroom with students and other parents, becoming involved with committees and
with planning special events has allowed us to form a strong community with the teachers,
administrators and other OCLM families. As parents, we have the opportunity to model
leadership and community service for our children. This program reaches far beyond
academics in educating the whole child; for our son, the intangible aspects of his education
have proven to be just as important as the academics!

Kelly A.

As a father with two children in the program for five years (and another joining next), I truly
look forward to my parent participation time in the classroom every week. OCLM is
community schooling at its finest.

Larry S.