Message from Your Child's Teachers
Dear Parents:
Welcome to Rosa Parks Middle School! We have developed an outstanding program of classes for our students this year, and we are always working diligently to make it even better. We have high expectations of our students. We plan to challenge each student to achieve at his or her highest level, and we want each student to go on to high school having mastered important skills and developed good work and study habits. We will be asking you as parents to help your son or daughter to reach these goals.
We believe that parents are the key to a child’s success. Working together, we will accomplish what is best for your child--but we need your help and support. If your child has not been doing well in school, we will be asking for more of a commitment from you. The things that you do at home can make a difference in your child’s performance! Many years of experience have shown us that students who are achieving in school have parents who are actively involved in their child’s education. Research has shown that parents are their children’s most influential teachers. What you as parents do to help your children learn is more important to academic success than any other factor. The following strategies, when used by parents, have proven successful in helping children to achieve.
1. SHOW YOUR CHILD THAT YOU THINK EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT
Make sure your child is on time for school, actively attending classes, and engaging in the learning every day.
Discuss the importance of school with your child often, teaching him/her the value of hard work and personal responsibility. Explain why your child should always do their best!
Stay in touch with your child’s teachers. Email is preferred.
Set a good example by reading and writing yourself.
2. PROVIDE GUIDANCE
Make sure your child has a quiet place with adequate lighting and necessary supplies to do homework and study.
Help your child get organized. It is always helpful to have your child show you their binder, assignment planner, and digital documents to share what they have done and what work still needs to be completed.
Talk with your child about their school work, checking to be sure that they understand the assignments.
Ensure 1½ to 2 hours of homework and study time each evening, with no TV, radio, video games, or texting.
Understand and respect your child’s style of learning.
Encourage your child to develop good study habits (e.g., scheduling enough time for big assignments, following directions, and making up work missed due to absences).
3. MONITOR ASSIGNMENTS
Check myMCPS Classroom / ParentVue at least once every week.
Check your child’s homework for completion.
Ask to see all graded work, reading the teachers’ comments.
Do not allow your child to make excuses for not doing homework.
Encourage your child to store documents on their Google drive and to have a system to keep files and documents organized.
4. TALK WITH SOMEONE AT SCHOOL WHEN PROBLEMS COME UP
Talk with the teachers early in the year before any problems arise. We can communicate via email or arrange a phone call, Zoom conference, or a Google Meet to make sure your child's needs and your concerns are addressed promptly.
Contact the teacher immediately if a problem comes up. Email is the quickest way to connect with your child's teacher.
Collaborate with the teacher to develop a plan to help your child.
Follow up with the teacher and with your child to make sure the plan is working.
Above all else, don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any concerns. We are here to support your child's success!
Our e-mail addresses can be found on our school website: