Home Visits
Date:July 16, 2008
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"This is a wonderful thing," said Susan Griffin, who greeted Lawhon Elementary School staff at her front door nearly four weeks before the 2008-2009 school year begins.
"This is our third year to be at Lawhon and they've never done this before, but they're very good about keeping the parents informed," said Griffin, whose 7-year-old son will start the second grade on Aug. 8.
Scott Griffin's new teacher, Sharronda Evans, was among the visitors who also included Principal Christy Carroll, assistant teacher Katrena Lewis, reading teacher Cindy Pike and home/school liaison Angie Haynes. They brought him a green balloon and Scott's first-grade yearbook, along with paperwork for his parents to fill out before an Aug. 5 open house.
"By visiting a student's home before school starts, we're building a relationship early," Evans said. "This shows parents that they can be a part of the learning and success of the student. You also get to know the children and the parents on a more personal basis."
Discussions about districtwide home visits have been bandied about by the TPSD Board of Trustees for more than a year, and retired district personnel have said they once were commonplace in city schools. A renewed initiative has been rolled out this school year but is strictly voluntary.
The concept isn't new to Lawhon, Carroll said. "We have always made a special effort to communicate effectively with parents and provide quality customer service," she said. "Lawhon staff members have mailed letters and made phone calls in the past to communicate and get to know our students. Our main goal is to ensure student success." Daily Journal, July 16, 2008
