[expired-member]

What has worked for some schools

– Coffee mornings once a week with different topics and year groups. Quite informal and a chance for parents to meet up with friends and enjoy cake and listen to a speaker on a topic. Topics like “How to get your student organised.” Parents have choice as to what they want to attend

– Schedule coffee mornings right after students’ arrival. Advertise the coffee mornings through school communication and homeroom teacher

– Having parents invited back into school post covid

– PTA organised events, eg dumpling making, flower arranging for students to do with their parents

– Family Fun Days organised by students

– Film Nights, Carnivals, Christmas Fairs etc

– Flexibility with ways of communication (eg school phone Whatsapp/Wechat)

What has not worked for some schools

– Some workshops (eg workshop on how to use new school platform)

– Parents do not want to give up their time

[expired-member]

Barriers:

– parents who are not proactive do not engage

– language barrier – how to get messages across?

– generational/cultural acceptance

– what is needed? what is best? what is accessible?

Ideas:

– Translators

– YEH research framework on Chinese relationships – how to engage /tips

– The Palgrave – Indigenous Psychology PDF

– ASK parents what works/is needed

– Liaise with marketing team to know how to engage with families/communities

– WeChat mini app for school – share weekly/monthly bitesize CP content – policies, responses, advice etc – sensitive approach, strength based

– Discuss impact of CP behaviours on success – parents more responsive to strength based approach

– Positive vocabulary across cultures

– Character development sessions

– Community Days – families invited, raise awareness of teams/CP teams – presence in social setting

– Opportunities for parents on campus – conference days, curriculum, community – what works best for parents?

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[Ruben du Plooy]

Problem:

How do we get parents more involved and share information about activities/plans/policies?

Insight/Solutions:

1. Use different social media channels to promote activities/policies/plans that the school offers.

2. When meeting with parents/students, the use of a strength-approach, positive psychology strategies are great ways to build connections with students/parents.