Our second wave of parent-teacher conferences is getting closer!!  On Wednesday, March 7, students will be dismissed at 11:15 and parent-teacher conferences will be scheduled from 11:30a.m. – 8:00p.m.  A second date that is set aside for conferences is Tuesday, March 13, from 3:30p.m. – 7:30p.m., with students attending school a FULL day. A conference confirmation letter with the date and time of your conference will be sent home in your child’s Tuesday Folder on Tuesday, February 21.

Please read through a few tips that will make the parent-teacher conference a targeted, positive experience!!

Parent-teacher conferences: 9 tips for parents

1.The most important tip for parent-teacher conferences is to show up!! Involvement from the home is very important to a child's education. Parents may learn things about their child or their school day that they didn't know. They will also get ideas for how to better help their child succeed in school and tips for what they can do at home. BE LOOKING FOR YOUR CHILD’S CONFERENCE TIME IN THE TUESDAY FOLDER ON FEBRUARY 21!!!!

2. Stick to your scheduled time unless prior arrangements have been made with the teacher. When you are late, please know that there may be another conference scheduled immediately after yours, therefore you may not get the full scheduled time with the teacher.

3. By the same token, don't stay beyond your scheduled time as it may have a domino effect causing each conference following yours to run late. Many teachers are happy to meet with parents at other times to continue the conversation if necessary. All you need to do is ask.

4. Make sure your child's teacher knows that you are willing to work at home with your child. Ask about specific strategies, activities or ideas you can do at home. Follow through and then follow-up with the teacher later.

5. Work together to come up with a game plan for behavior or academic issues. Students experience the highest levels of success when school and home environments are all working toward a common goal.

6. Try to interpret what is being discussed about your child in a non-defensive manner. Your child's teacher spends 7 hours a day, five days a week with your child and knows them very well. Some children are responsible, mature and self-controlled at school and only let down their hair when they get home, others are just the opposite. Be open to the idea that the teacher may see a different side of your child than you do. Please make sure the teacher knows what makes your child unique and special to you.

7. Ask about volunteer opportunities. Many teachers could use the extra help in the classroom or perhaps the PTO organization wants your help. The more involved you are in your child’s school, the more you are part of our Lakeview family community of people helping children, including yours, to succeed.

8. Make sure you know how to contact the teacher if issues should arise. Give our main office a call (766-5252) to leave a message for the teacher, or go to the Lakeview webpage on the School District of South Milwaukee website to find the teacher’s email address. Any issue that arises may be a simple misunderstanding that can be easily explained or it may be a problem that can be quickly solved. If not, you, the teacher and the principal can work together to help unravel the issue.

9. Leave the conference on a positive note. It's highly important for your child's success in school that the lines of communication are open between teacher and parent. The growth and development of your child IS the focus of parent teacher conferences. 

I look forward to seeing you on March 7 and 13!!

Cindy Dennis

Principal