Parent / Guardian Role in Education
In keeping with its stated values, the CBE is committed to establishing a working partnership with parents as an essential part of providing students with effective education. Staff at North Haven School strives to nurture relationships based on mutual respect. We encourage parents to serve as advocates for their children by participating in parent programs such as school councils, becoming familiar with the school's program, policies and operations, and actively supporting expectations held by staff for the behaviour of students at school and school activities.
An exemplary school facilitates student growth and development to master skills as defined by the Alberta Programs of Studies. Staff will use a variety of instructional approaches to personalize learning for each student.
At North Haven School, instruction will:
- Be based on outcomes from the Program of Studies and be organized by staff in a purposeful manner
- Recognize and celebrate the diversity of our learners
- Be focused on the creation of engaging, authentic, rigorous tasks that take into consideration the individual strengths and needs of each learner
- Infuse technology and available resources to support student learning
- Include clear criteria for success
- Be guided by timely formative assessment practices (i.e. planning is guided by ongoing assessments, feedback of progress and necessary supports for learning)
- Encourage students to take ownership of their learning through metacognitive processes and personal goal-setting (i.e. What am I able to do? What do I need to do next? What well help me accomplish this goal?)
- Include communication to foster a caring, respectful learning environment.
We recognize that these virtues already exist within each child, so our goal is to make meaningful connections among the virtues, daily choices and learning.
The Benefits of Mixed-Age Grouping
Opportunity to Nurture
When we ask a five-year-old to be tolerant of a four-year-old's first fumbling efforts to put on his or her jacket, or a six-year-old to be appreciative of a five-year-old's early efforts to read, we have the beginnings of parent education. Our young children need real contexts in which their dispositions to be nurturing can be manifested and strengthened. Furthermore, the young children who are encouraged, comforted and nurtured by older children will be able to emulate their older classmates when they themselves become the older ones in a group. Children need opportunities not only to observe and imitate a wide range of competencies, but also to find companions among their peers who match, complement, or supplement their interests in different ways.
Homework Guidelines
Parents are encouraged to be aware of their child’s daily school activities and assignments. Children whose parents show an interest in their schoolwork, assignments and homework are more motivated to succeed. The assignment of formal exercises for completion is the prerogative of the teacher, but every encouragement shall be given to students (and parents) to set aside some regular time each evening for home study. Please communicate to the teacher in writing, email or by phone if there is a concern with homework.
The CBE has the following guidelines for the duration of homework activities.
Kindergarten: sharing a library book each evening is recommended.
Division I (Grades 1 – 3) – The motivation that comes from parental interest in children's school work can be valuable to a child. Parents and teachers should encourage children to read from books suggested by the school. Pressures can bring about negative results. No formal assignments shall be made, but from 5 to 10 minutes of systematic study per night is recommended.
Division II (Grades 4 – 6) – Formal assignments may be given at the discretion of the teacher, particularly for pupils who need special attention or help, but in general, assignments should be of the reading or study type. Parents should be made aware of the teacher's general requirements with respect to home study, and CBE expectations, but no school requirement should exceed 20 minutes in length.
