Kaylee Davis

Writer

With the spring semester moving along, classes are becoming more challenging and students and teachers alike are more busy.

As students become busier with schoolwork and school activities, it is more important than ever for students, teachers, and parents to work as a team to maintain students’ success.  

Though good communication is encouraged throughout the academic year, Marlow schools set aside two nights in the fall semester and two nights in the spring semester to encourage one-on-one communication between parents and teachers.  

Monday, Feb. 20 and Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 4pm to 7pm were the eventings set aside to foster this communication district wide.  

All three Marlow campuses in the district participated, with the most parent attendance from the elementary, the second most from the middle school and the least from high school.

According to a study by Purdue University, success in academics is more influenced by parent involvement than improvements made to the school itself.

The study claims that with parent involvement, students make higher grades, are less likely to drop out and typically enjoy school more overall.

Purdue University also stated that not all parents are involved in their children’s school life, nearly one-third of parents being completely uninvolved with their students’ school lives. 

Uninvolved parents are able to become more involved, the Urban League of Louisiana offering a solution with their Family Engagement Toolkit.

According to the toolkit, there are nine major ways parents can stay involved with their children’s school lives, ranging from volunteering to help at school events to simply encouraging them to do their best.

Sophomore Jackson Witt often keeps his family involved with his academics and school involvement.

“My parents set higher standards and always push me to my fullest,” Witt said. “I think that’s positively affected me because I have higher expectations for myself. I think that will help me get into college and overall be a better student.”

Marlow will continue encouraging parent involvement as time passes and education grows more advanced.