Every child will have many teachers before they walk across the stage on graduation day. They’ll learn about reading, math, science, art, and so much more. They’ll learn how to interact with others. They’ll learn about life.

But a child doesn’t meet their first teacher inside a school building – they meet them inside their home. Parents and families have an immense, lasting, and irreplaceable impact on a child’s education. The month of November is Family Engagement Month in our nation, a time to collectively recognize and honor the contributions of parents and families to student success.

Summerour Middle School is committed to educating the whole child. We strive to provide high-quality programs that improve teaching and learning across and equip our school with the information and resources we need to help parents actively engage in their child’s academic achievement.

Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools and other community organizations are committed to communicating with, reaching out to, and building ties to engage families in meaningful ways.

Research on family engagement suggests that when schools, families, and communities support each other, students of all backgrounds and abilities achieve at the highest levels.

First and foremost, to every parent and family member who pours their time, resources, efforts, and hours into their child’s education: thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Nothing could be more important than your engagement and involvement with your child’s education, and in their school.

I want to invite you to join the celebration throughout November and all year round, as schools and districts across the state plan special events and recognitions to honor the crucial role parents and families play in students’ education. Additionally, November 17 is National Parent Involvement Day, a time reserved, as a nation, for all parents to reflect on ways they can get more involved in the education of their children.

For ideas on how you can get engaged, please visit the Information for Parents page on our school’s website at https://www.gcpsk12.org/SummerourMS. Here you can access an array of resources including parent newsletter, Parent Portal and My Payment Plus applications, social media tips, videos, Title I and activities to build partnership, as well as testing and PTA information.

Again, I want to personally thank you as a parent or family member of a child in Summerour Middle School. Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We could not do the work of educating Georgia’s future without you.

Dr. Natalie Looney, Principal