Happy November!  Students have been in school fortwo months now and the feeling of a fresh start to the school year has faded.  Students are realizing that they must prioritize responsibilities, keeping their schoolwork at the top of the list. Unfortunately some of our students have found other priorities, resulting in low or failing grades.  As a person who has dedicated my career to education, where growing a person's knowledge, understanding and skills is foundational;  thinking that school isn't important is very hard for me to understand. When I see great differences among students, I ask, "What is it that makes some students put forth their best effort; having the tenacity to stick with it in tough times and rising to challenges while other students simply do not care and throw in the towel when things get hard?"  I have read a variety of research articles and there is a reoccurring theme, the critical role parents or other adults play in forming and supporting attributes needed for academic success and positive character development.  As we continue with the 2017-18 school year, we wish to remind parents that your role is very important to the success of your child.

The article  Parent and Family Engagement: 15 Tips to Help High School Students Achieve is an excellent article that summarizes the strategies for parent involvement of high school students, which recognizes it is different than what was needed in elementary school.

In closing, as an essential partner in the education of students, I hope parents will take time to review this article.  Together, we can and will make a difference in the quality of education and experiences a student has at Central High School.