Parent Involvement
At Somers Intermediate School, we believe that student achievement is directly linked to parental involvement, and therefore, we encourage such involvement in school educational planning. In addition, we also encourage direct parental involvement at home (for example, planned home reading time, informal learning activities, etc.).
SIS PTA
The Somers Intermediate School Parent-Teacher Association is comprised of individuals who are vitally concerned about the educational program. Members of the SIS PTA meet periodically to discuss educational matters and plan various functions for students, faculty, and parents. We strongly encourage your active membership and financial support of the organization. Please visit their website!
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
Parents and other citizens are encouraged to visit the school periodically during the course of the school year. Persons who are not students or staff must be checked in and given a visitor's pass when they enter the school building. Student visitors from other schools, unless they have a specific reason and prior approval of the building principal/assistant principal, are not permitted to enter the school. Visitors to Somers Intermediate School shall be governed by the following rules:
- All visitors must have their ID checked and be issued a visitor's badge
- The building principal must be contacted by the person or group wishing to visit, and prior approval must be obtained before the visit.
- Parents may only visit teachers and any other school staff members by appointment, in order to discuss any problems or concerns the parent may have.
REPORT CARDS AND PARENT CONFERENCES
The Somers Intermediate School makes a sincere effort to provide parents with a clear understanding of each child's progress in school. Report cards are issued on a trimester basis and are supplemented by parent conferences during the year. Parents may initiate a conference by contacting the teacher through e-mail. When a parent requests a conference, the teacher will make every effort to arrange a mutually convenient time. Such conferences will be planned around the teacher's schedule so as to not interfere with class time. Report cards are posted in the parent portal in November, March, and June.
WAYS TO CONTACT TEACHERS
While parent-school communication is encouraged by our district, parents are asked to bear in mind matters of practicality when contacting teachers. Elementary teachers hold full responsibility for each and every aspect of the education of up to 27 young children. Therefore, while every effort will be made to keep parents informed of their child’s progress, there are practical limits to the extent to which ongoing communication is possible.
Nonetheless, teachers will make every reasonable effort to keep parents informed of progress through scheduled report cards, progress reports, and other means of personal contact, as practical and warranted. From time to time, parents may want to contact a teacher about a particular issue. Teachers vary in preferred means of contact and will inform parents of the best way to contact them during our open house in September.
Each teacher has an e-mail account via the school district which can be accessed by substituting the staff member’s first initial and last name into the following format: [email protected]
While parents may choose e-mail as an initial point of contact with a teacher, it should be understood that some teachers do not have access to e-mail on a regular basis, and only check their account once in a 24-hour period, during school days only. Therefore, e-mail should not be used for emergency contact purposes. As noted, each teacher will designate his/her preferred means of contact from parents. Teachers generally will choose to regard e-mail as a mechanism for quick exchanges with parents to arrange for a meeting or other means of contact.
Teachers can also be contacted via voice-mail. As with e-mail, teachers only have the opportunity to check voice mail during school days, once within a 24-hour period. In the event of an emergency, therefore, it is best to contact the school office, not to e-mail or leave a voice message, in order to ensure a timely response.
Nonetheless, teachers will make every reasonable effort to keep parents informed of progress through scheduled report cards, progress reports, and other means of personal contact, as practical and warranted. From time to time, parents may want to contact a teacher about a particular issue. Teachers vary in preferred means of contact and will inform parents of the best way to contact them during our open house in September.
Each teacher has an e-mail account via the school district which can be accessed by substituting the staff member’s first initial and last name into the following format: [email protected]
While parents may choose e-mail as an initial point of contact with a teacher, it should be understood that some teachers do not have access to e-mail on a regular basis, and only check their account once in a 24-hour period, during school days only. Therefore, e-mail should not be used for emergency contact purposes. As noted, each teacher will designate his/her preferred means of contact from parents. Teachers generally will choose to regard e-mail as a mechanism for quick exchanges with parents to arrange for a meeting or other means of contact.
Teachers can also be contacted via voice-mail. As with e-mail, teachers only have the opportunity to check voice mail during school days, once within a 24-hour period. In the event of an emergency, therefore, it is best to contact the school office, not to e-mail or leave a voice message, in order to ensure a timely response.
CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATIONS/RESOLVING CONFLICTS
Parents are important partners in our schools. Their input, involvement, and awareness of what is happening in school are the keys to program success. To this end, school personnel will make every effort to keep parents informed about educational and co-curricular programs, school goals, policies, and individual progress.
From time to time, it is inevitable that parental concerns may arise. In such cases, the Board of Education believes that the best possible means of resolving an issue is to address it directly with the individual involved. If, after a good faith effort to resolve an issue at the point of origin, no resolution is reached, the matter may be directed to a staff member’s supervisor.
From time to time, it is inevitable that parental concerns may arise. In such cases, the Board of Education believes that the best possible means of resolving an issue is to address it directly with the individual involved. If, after a good faith effort to resolve an issue at the point of origin, no resolution is reached, the matter may be directed to a staff member’s supervisor.