Page 50 - EdViewptsSpring2017

Connecting to Impart Change:

A Proactive and Positive Approach

to Students and Families

By Peter Rattien, Principal of Constable School, South Brunswick

When the Constable School We all agreed that a shift needed to had been in school for a few weeks,
caller ID shows up on a occur. Our goal was the improvement teachers provided one comment on
of student academic achievement and
a Google Sheet about their progress.
parent’s phone, the reaction behavior through a proactive positive The spreadsheet included informa-
might be: “What did my child do?” home-school connection. Over the tion about the child’s previous school
Though we are starting with the obliga- last two years, we have put in place and community. An administrator then
tory, “he/she is ok,” which reassures initiatives to reach this goal. spoke independently with the child to
that their child is not injured, a typical We began by fostering positive rela- ask questions such as: Who are some
call to a parent causes much anxiety tionships with more than 70 families of your new friends?; What do you
and undue stress. We call when there who transferred into our school in think of Constable?; What are your
is a problem. September, 2016. With an increasingly favorite subjects?; Is there anything
you want to know from me? A call
Our administration and staff typically mobile population, these students home to the parent/guardian was our
call parents to speak about students often struggle to adjust socially and next step. Using the Google Sheet
with academic and behavioral concerns. academically. After these students

Educational Viewpoints -48- Spring 2017