By Dr. Annette Weissman, Principal SIB Community School

The votes have been counted and the results are clear! Student achievement is positively impacted by parent involvement. This is a very simple sentence that makes a huge statement. Just type parent involvement into any search engine and you are directed to a host of websites that all support the simple fact that parent involvement makes a difference in your child’s academic performance. According to the National Parent Teacher Association website (http://www.pta.org), “When you’re involved in your child’s education, your child achieves more.”

As the principal of Sunny Isles Beach Community School (SIBCS), I recognize that parent involvement is a two-way street. The school has a responsibility for fostering the community partnership as well as the parents. SIBCS was founded on the philosophy of cooperation with all the stakeholders and this theme has been prevalent throughout the process of making the dream of a new school a reality. I am committed to sustaining that spirit of partnership as we prepare to open the doors of the school. The community will always be welcomed and encouraged to share their ideas. My open door policy means just that. My administrative team and I will be available to parents and community leaders. However, there are two main vehicles for parent involvement – the PTA and the Educational Excellence School Advisory Council (EESAC).

This week the local leaders of the Miami-Dade PTA will be meeting with interested parents to create a SIBCS PTA unit. This group will spearhead the formation of our PTA and begin holding meetings to develop a tentative calendar of events for the school year, to create committees, and to encourage membership. I truly believe that a vibrant PTA is an asset to the students, families, and staff members of any school so I will be working very closely with this organization. There will be a meeting on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers, Sunny Isles Beach Government Center. Check the SIBCS school website at www.sib.dadeschools.net for additional meetings.

Another avenue for community involvement is through the EESAC. Every school is required to have an EESAC which is composed of business and community leaders, teachers, staff members, and parents. The EESAC has very specific mandates from the state legislature and operates under the Sunshine Laws. When school opens in August, this group will be established and will hold monthly meetings open to the public.

A strong partnership between the home, school, and community is dependent upon excellent communication. SIBCS will reach out to its stakeholders through newsletters, websites, phone contacts, emails and local newspapers. We invite you to stay in touch by whatever is most convenient for you. In just a couple of weeks we will be able to invite you to visit us at our new school. For now, feel free to email us with your questions and concerns. Make a commitment to yourself and your family to join the SIBCS team as we soar to success!

PTSA Charter Meeting set for June 9th pg 1
PTSA Charter Meeting set for June 9th pg 2