Information Network (HSCIN)
Contact HSCIN@HSCIN.org
|
|
Registration for the 2008-2009 School Year
Proof of Residency Help
School Supply Lists
Back-to-School Meetings
2008-2009 School Year
Textbook Listing for
2008-2009 School Year
How Do You Plan to Get
Engaged?
Starting a New
School Year
Starting a New
School --- When You've Moved
Starting School ---
Kindergartners
Moving to Middle School
On to High School
College and Beyond
What Kind of Partnerships Does Your Child's School Form? -
posted 07/01/08School success is closely tied to the types of relationships that schools are able to form with their stakeholders. In their book, Beyond the Bake Sale, family engagement experts Anne Henderson and Karen Mapp offer a checklist for parents and educators to use to help determine what types of relationships they are forming with each other.
Different families at different schools feel very differently about how welcome they are at their child's school and what kind of partnership they have. Those that are currently actively engaged through PTO and other supportive activities typically believe they have a great relationship with the school. Families who believe that they are not welcome at the school don't believe a relationship exists at all.
We encourage you to work through the checklist to determine just what kind of school your child attends: the Partnership School, the Open-Door School, the Come-If-We-Call School, or the Fortress School. What you find may surprise you.
Click here to view the checklist.
Transitions and Back to School
Transitions occur when a child first begins school in Kindergarten, when the child moves on to Middle School, then on to High School, and when a child moves to a new school at any age.
The information provided on this page is collected from many areas to ease the transition for your entire family into a new school for whatever reason.
If you're just joining Hoover City Schools, welcome. There is a place for your child and indeed the entire family here in our City School system. Take the time to learn what is expected of your child and your family as a new member of our Hoover City School Family. Families are a major part of making and keeping our school system strong.
Check out the Resources below for great ideas on how to ease the transition for your student and how to get involved and engaged with your child's school. Be sure to check our Parent Resources page for more information.
Research shows that the more involved a family is in their child's education, the better the outcome for the child---and the family.
If you have any links to share, please send them to HSCIN@HSCIN.org. If you find the information helpful, chances are others will, too!
Welcome Back, Families! - posted 08/07/08
Welcome back to the New School Year! If you're like most of us, we went through the routine of waking our children up, making certain they were fed some semblance of a breakfast, and got them safely off to their first day of school. Then you took a deep breath.....AHHHH.
Well, the fun has only just begun!
Starting the school year right is so incredibly important for all of us stakeholders: families, students, and teachers. It truly takes all of us in a partnership to make sure our children get the education they need to become productive citizens and self-sufficient. Your children will spend an average of 35 hours each week with these folks. You can help create a great learning environment while your child is at school.
So how do you get started on the right foot? Start by visiting our Transitions Page for information pertaining to back-to-school needs and ways to better support your child's education.
Maintaining an open line of communication with your child's teachers is crucial to making sure your child performs at the standard you expect.
So how do you set up an open line of communication with your child's teachers and other faculty that help your child learn?
(1) Send an e-mail to your child's teachers thanking them for becoming a teacher. (You can find your child's teachers' e-mails on the school's web site.) It takes special folks to become educators and work with our children to teach them things that (sometimes) they don't know why they need to learn. Don't lay it on thick, just a quick thank you to introduce yourself and mention your child's name. The first couple of days of school are very hectic for teachers, so don't expect much back.
(2) Tell your child's teacher you want to keep the line of communication open this year. It is very important for teachers to understand that you actually WANT to hear from them----the good and the bad. Oftentimes the first communication we get from teachers other than the standard back-to-school information is that our child is having some kind of difficulty, either with discipline or classwork. It can be difficult for families to hear this type of information, but if you've established an open line of communication, the conversation can be more productive when conflict arises.
(3) Send an e-mail to your child's direct administrators (principals, assistant principals) letting them know the same things as listed in #1 and #2. (These e-mail addresses are on your child's school's web site.) Better yet, introduce yourself at the soon-to-come Open House. Remember, these folks are a part of the team that is responsible for educating your child while your child is at school.
And most important, vow to be careful with how you speak about your child's teachers and others in the classroom. Children pick up on what we adults say. If you don't believe in the efforts of your child's teachers, chance are your child won't, either. If you have a conflict with something going on in your child's classroom, address the problem with the teacher if you truly want to see it resolved. See our "Steps to Resolving a School Problem" on our Parent Resources page for more information.
We'll all be spending the next nine months together, so let's make it the best nine months possible! Stay informed by checking our web site regularly, and check the Hoover City Schools web site regularly as well. If you need more information, ask for it. You'll never find the answers if you never ask the questions.
Have a great day. And a great year.
Send feedback to HSCIN@HSCIN.org.
How Do You Plan to Get Engaged? - posted 08/01/08
Research shows that families who get involved in their children's education enjoy better success at school! So do you know how to get involved? Do you know why you need to get engaged?
Education is the key to getting a great job and being a productive member of our community. But not every parent or family member knows how to support their child's education.
We're not talking about joining the PTO or chaperoning a field trip. We're talking about helping your child understand WHY it's important to work hard in school and get the most out of every class and every school day.
Talk to your child about why it's important to
participate in class discussions. Talk to your child about
why it's important to complete homework.
Talk to your child about why it's important to listen to the
instructions that a teacher gives.
And don't forget how important it is for YOU, their parent or family member, to support the teacher who is teaching your child for the next 180 school days. Starting a new relationship with a new teacher (or set of teachers in middle and high school) can be difficult, but it IS worth your time. If your child's teacher knows they can count on you to support them at home, teaching your child becomes a much easier task.
Take the time to find out what your child is learning. Ask your child, and ask your child's teachers. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you want to know more from your child's teacher. Teachers are happy to fill you in on how they plan to teach your child....reach your child....in their classroom. Be respectful in your communications with your child's teacher, and you'll be amazed at the response you'll get!
Stay tuned for more tips on how to really engage in your child's education.
Registration for School! Be Prepared - posted 07/05/08
Listing of Dates and Times of Registrations. These dates and times were obtained from the Hoover City Schools Activity Calendar published on their web site.
The first day of school is August 7! Do you know when you are supposed to register your child for school? Most schools have provided you with forms to fill out and bring with you on Registration Day. If you haven't received any forms, you can either check with your child's school, or just show up on Registration Day.
REMEMBER - Proof of residency must be shown before you can register your child for school. Here's the article regarding the proof of residency requirements:
Hoover Schools Now Require Proof of Residency, Offer Online Fee Pay - June 18, The Birmingham News
Anyone who has ever been through Registration Day knows how long it can take. You can help reduce the amount of time by coming fully prepared to Registration. Paperwork is required, not something made-up by school officials. So do your part by being cooperative and producing the materials you are required to produce to enroll your children in Hoover City Schools.
And before you leave, why not take a moment and thank the folks working registration! Most are parent volunteers who have given their time to help all of us. If you would like to help with your school's registration, contact your PTO/PTSO President and offer to help. It's a great way to get to know the families in your child's school.
Proof of Residency Help - posted 07/08/08
You must submit proof of residency in Hoover BEFORE you can register your child for school. If possible, you should try to have your residency verified PRIOR to Registration Day. Call your child's school for the times you can take your proof of residency information to be verified.
You must submit a copy of your RECORDED Deed (check the last page for the "Recorded" stamp) AND a current (June or July) utility bill with the name of the parent indicated on the bill. The utility bill may be an Alabama Power Company, Alabama Gas Corporation, or Birmingham Water Works bill. Telephone bills will NOT be accepted.
If you do not have a copy of your recorded warranty deed, you may obtain a copy at the courthouse where your deed was recorded.
Shelby County residents can access their county’s website using www.shelbycountyalabama.com/probate.
Unfortunately, Jefferson County does not have this availability.
If you rent your home or apartment, check with your rental manager for a current copy of your lease. Leaseholders, please check your lease for valid dates and signatures.
When you bring these required items, make sure you bring copies for the school. School personnel will not be available to make these copies for you.
Ensuring you have the proper forms submitted will make your Registration Day experience much easier. Do your part. Be prepared.
School Supply Lists - posted 08/02/08
The links below will take you to your child's school's supply list. If your school doesn't have theirs posted, you can either wait till the first day of school, or call the school to ask for a copy of the list.
Sending your child to school ready to learn on the first day of school helps start the school year off on the right foot, so be prepared!
Deer Valley Elementary School
Rocky Ridge Elementary School
South Shades Crest Elementary School (scroll to bottom of
page)
If your child's school has a link posted that we didn't find, please send it to us at HSCIN@HSCIN.org.
Back-to-School Meetings for Families - updated 08/01/08
Click to view the Hoover City Schools' District Calendar for August. It lists dates and times of upcoming Open Houses and Parent Nights at Hoover's schools. Make sure to write the date down on your calendar and make every effort to attend that first meeting of the year.
Make the time to attend this first parent meeting
of the year. It's a great opportunity to
get to know some of the people who will be a part of your
child's life for the new school year. Many parents and
family members believe that if their child isn't actually
changing schools, there's no
need to attend orientation and
parent meetings.
On the contrary! Each new school year brings new teachers
and new expectations!
Textbook Listing Now Available! - posted 06/23/08
A complete listing of all textbooks used in grades 6 through 12 in Hoover City Schools is now available!
The HSCIN conducted a survey on community concerns about backpacks last October. Many parents indicated that, if a home set of textbooks is not available in their child's classroom for that particular subject, they purchase them used through Amazon.com or other bookstores.
Remember that many of the textbooks that Hoover is adopting are available electronically and/or on CD.
If you are concerned about your child lugging a heavy backpack, check with your child's teachers (a quick e-mail should do it!) to ask if a duplicate textbook might be available for your child to keep at home. If there are none available, consider purchasing a used textbook, for instance, through Amazon.com. Make certain you have the ISBN number to ensure you are purchasing the correct textbook.
Starting a New School Year. From FamilyEducation.com.
E-mail us your Helpful Hints for starting a new school year here in our Hoover community! We'll compile them and share them as they come in!
PTO Today's Back to School 2008.
Back to School Transitions, Help for Parents - from the National Association of School Psychologists
Back to School Checklist - regarding Academics and Curriculum (PDF)
Back to School at USA.gov - helpful resources for parents and others
Starting a New School --- When You've Moved
With 30% of Hoover City Schools' students being new to Hoover in any given year, transitioning into a new school district---the right way---is extremely important. Take the time to introduce yourself to your child's teachers if they are at registration.
If you've moved in the middle of a school year, check out your school's PTO or PTA meetings. These are often full of good information about what's going on in a school. While our PTOs and PTAs would love your assistance, just attending a PTO meeting doesn't commit you to volunteering for a position. Be sure to check the official School Website for more information as well.
Make sure to attend any Open Houses and Parent-Teacher Conferences. These are excellent places to get to know other families at your school. Schools will send notices home of meetings being held at the school, but feel free to ask the school directly if you can't find information on their website or in your child's backpack.
Send an e-mail requesting a meeting with your children's teachers. It might be only 15 minutes, but teachers really like to know that you care what's going on in their classrooms.
Ask what teachers and administrators expect from you. And let teachers know what you expect from them. Setting these initial expectations is extremely important to "getting off on the right foot". If you are unavailable during the school day, let teachers know that. It's always better to start with a clear set of expectations---for both teachers and families.
Take time to compliment your child's teachers when appropriate. Don't let parent-teacher conferences be the only time teachers and administrators hear from you. If your child has something good to say about what's going on in class, take a moment to send an e-mail or write a note thanking your teacher. Teachers appreciate the positive feedback.
Getting to know the teachers and administrators at your child's school can prove more daunting if your child is older when they move into the District, but not impossible. Check the Extracurricular Activities available at your child's school and attend Booster meetings if a Booster Club has been organized. If your child is not involved in Extracurricular Activities offered at the school, make the opportunity to get to know your child's teachers.
We are very pleased that you and your family are members of our School Community. We are a growing and diverse district. There is a place for you and your family in our schools. Finding it can take some time, but the rewards are great.
Check out "Bright Ideas: Parent-Teacher Ties" from greatschools.net for more ideas on how to connect with your child's teachers.
Starting School - Kindergartners
Countdown to Kindergarten. From Scholastic.com
Your Kindergartner. From FamilyEducation.com
Best Books for Kids Trying to Survive Middle School, an Amazon.com Reader's List.
Middle School Transition Tips for Parents. From SchwabLearning.org. Great list of tips.
Middle School Transition Tips for Kids. From SchwabLearning.org. For your emerging Middle Schooler.
Making the Move to Middle School. From Scholastic.com.
Making the Transition from Fifth to Sixth Grade. From middleweb.com
How Parents Can Help Children Transition to Middle School. From Associated Content.
Smoothing Your Child's Transition to Middle School. From SchwabLearning.org.
How to Stay Involved in Middle and High School. From Greatschools.net.
How to Stay Involved in Middle and High School. From Greatschools.net.
Countdown to College. From Greatschools.net. Excellent resources including an action plan for each year of high school to follow in preparation for college.
Countdown to College. From Greatschools.net. Excellent resources including an action plan for each year of high school to follow in preparation for college.
Be sure to check your school's web site for more information about college planning. Hoover City Schools is fortunate to employ college counselors at both of our high schools.
- Registration
- Proof of Residency
- School Supply Lists
- Back-to-School Meetings
- SchoolCast Replays
- Textbook Listing for 2008-2009 School Year
- How Do You Plan to Get Engaged?
- Starting a New School Year
- Starting a New School --- When You've Moved
- Starting School -Kindergartners
- Moving to Middle School
- On to High School
- College and Beyond
