Where are they at?

Dear Parent/Carer,

​Thank you for meeting with us this week to discuss your child's progress! We don't have many opportunities like that to sit and talk about how they are doing. You work and run your household, ferrying your child to various clubs, I'm at school all day before running a house of my own and taking care of my own family; we are all so busy, yet communication between us is so important.

​I enjoyed guiding you through your child's year so far, with strategies to build on their successes in the coming terms. Thank you for taking the time to wait patiently, and for showing an interest in your child's future; they're lucky to have you for that! It's worryingly rare.

​But there are a few things I didn't get to tell you...

At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's success is the positive involvement of parents.
Jane D. Hull

I know you said Maths 'isn't your thing', but the effort you have been taking to ask your child what they've been learning about really shows. They come in telling us about how impressed you were when you saw them tackle the homework, or how you laughed when their method was so different to how you 'used to do it!' (I totally agree; I've had to brush up too!)

​Thank you for explaining your own troubles with writing, yet still encouraging your child to work hard in English; the look on your child's face when you noticed their own improvement was a wonderful picture! The fact that you've made a life to support your own family, regardless of your own difficulties at school, is setting the best example for your young ones. Your child and I are so grateful for you reading what they've done; they worked really hard on it!

​The other day, they told us how you juggled dinner, with bath-time, followed by sharing a book with them, keeping a sneaky eye on your favourite soap (no one's got time for the weekend omnibus!) They really enjoy reading with you, and I'm envious of your multitasking. All of this practise you're doing with them is helping with so many areas; I wish there was time in the meeting to explain how! A love of books, subtly learning new language, experiencing new punctuation, beginning to learn about word-play, asking questions to aid understanding,...the list goes on!

The family teaches us about the importance of knowledge, education, hard work and effort. It teaches us about enjoying ourselves, having fun, keeping fit and healthy.
Kamisese Mara

Your words were extremely kind, and although you thanked me for my hard work, I didn't get a chance to properly thank you for yours. Educating your child, in a holistic sense, is a team effort.

​Their reaction to facing difficulties, how they interact with other people, their respect for authority, their manners...all come from you. How they share attention, show an interest in different cultures, settle an argument, work hard to chase their ambitions...are a direct result of how they are raised.

Loving a child doesn't mean giving in to all his whims; to love him is to bring out the best in him, to teach him to love what is difficult.
Nadia Boulanger

We only see them for a few hours a day, and it's good to know they're going to a home each night, hearing the same overarching messages.

​"Double check your answer", is essentially the same as, "Have you tidied your room?"
​"In my classroom...", is a direct translation of, "Under my roof..."
"Work hard" is our version of, "If you save enough pocket money," while, "See me," is the same as "Get downstairs now!"​

Thanks to the mixture of your example and our academic tools, they are quickly learning how they are in charge of their future. As a society, they are our legacy, our lasting impression. Following your work ethic, with an aim to emulate your success (alongside your relentless effort to help them at home), will set them on a great path, a preview of life's biggest lessons. Everything they know about family life, and where education plays its part, comes from you, and they're going to do so well thanks to the support you give them.

​Thanks again for meeting with us. Your child is a real credit to you.