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| Principal Education Officer, Mrs. Jennifer Hodge |
Charlestown Nevis (September 4, 2006) Principal Education Officer in the Nevis Island Administration, Mrs. Jennifer Hodge called upon parents to become involved with their children as the new school year begins.
She was at the time delivering a televised address to parents on Friday, September 01 on NTV Channel 8 on the importance of their involvement with their children for the new school year.
"For the new year (school year), we have embraced it as Year of Parents" involvement and we're making an aggressive effort to have all teachers, students, parents and community work as a partnership, so that we can give the best to our students," said Mrs. Hodge.
The Principal Education Officer suggested to the parents that success of their children in school depended on a large measure of their children's ability to read and their role in helping their child to become a reader.
"Every parent wants his child to succeed. However, as parents you must demonstrate that interest in your children's progress at school by your involvement and monitoring of your child's progress at school," she said. "Of course, as the child grows older, the type of support you provide will change."
Mrs. Hodge pointed out that the involvement in school activities could be in various forms. "Through action not just words, you show your child that school is important," she added. "It is of paramount importance that you monitor your child's progress from the class teacher's reports or from report cards that comes home.
~~Adz:Right~~"It is also very important to attend open week and teacher conferences, where teachers are available to discuss your child's progress with you. If you think that your child should be doing better, meet with the teacher privately and the teacher should be able to shed some light on your child problem areas. Seek additional help for your child," explained Mrs. Hodge.
"One of the most critical roles you may play in relation to your child's school work is that of motivator. You can be your child's hero and cheerleader, applaud his efforts and successes and help him to have courage to keep trying. For this term, limit his television watching and listen to your child."
While encouraging the students on their return to school, Mrs. Hodge noted, "You have a new page to work with, the successes that you had over the past school year, that's in the past. You have a new year and a need to start again. Consolidate on what you had for the past year and push ahead, move beyond your comfort zone and pushed ahead to achieve even more," she said.
