In August she goes with teachers to visit every new family in the district and every family with a child entering first grade. The home visits are more than courtesy calls. They reassure anxious children that school is a friendly, welcoming place. And they open a dialogue with parents that will continue for the next three years. In fact, all the parents have Pam's pager number.
PEP is a two-way street that also encourages parents to spend more time at school.
Parent instructional meetings are held several times during the year so parents can learn more about their children's schoolwork and how they can help at home. We always have more than 50 percent turnout for the parent meetings at school. The school has high expectations for parents, as well as students. Parents are asked to help their children with schoolwork for at least 20 minutes a day, four days a week, and they are encouraged make at least two positive comments about school to their children every day. PEP materials give parents another reason to visit their child's school.