A student looks at her transcript in preparation for fall parent-teacher conferences which will take place on Oct. 14-16. Students, parents and advisers will review progress report grades and analyze where the student stands after the first nine weeks of school. “We are very fortunate. Some counties do not have (parent-teacher conferences) or they do have them but only the parents who have students that are failing are offered to come in. This is for everyone,” Principal Robbie P. Hooker said. Photo by Aneesa Conine-Nakano.
By ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Digital Managing Editor
Clarke Central administration believes parent-teacher conferences are an effective way to get and keep students on track.
Fall parent-teacher conferences will run Oct. 14-16. During the three days conferences occur, students will be dismissed early at 1:30 p.m. Principal Robbie P. Hooker views the conferences as a way to keep parents active in their child’s education.
“Parent-teacher conferences inform parents about grades, but also helps kids if they struggle with something and it offers programs like PSP or 21st Century,” Hooker said. “We just want parents to know we are working together to ensure that students are successful.”
Students will meet with their parents and adviser to check grades and progress. According to Associate Principal Marie Yuran, students staying with the same adviser all four years is a benefit in terms of accessibility.
“I say this to every incoming ninth grade parent, ‘Your first line of defense is your child’s adviser. Sometimes it is hard to get in touch with the counselor or Dr. Hooker or myself, but really your child’s adviser is the first place to go.’,” Yuran said.
Senior Scholl Wright agrees with Yuran in that having the same adviser for four years has helped him.
“My advisor is Mr. Barner and he’s awesome,” Wright said. “You get to know your advisor really well over four years and become friends with them. I feel really comfortable asking Mr. Barner anything just because I’ve known him for a while now.”
Sophomore Zipporah Daniel, however, believes that having the same adviser has had little effect on her progress due to infrequent advisement periods.
“I barely meet with my adviser and rarely see her so I don’t think (having the same adviser) makes a big difference,” Daniel said.
Regardless, Yuran believes the fall parent-teacher conferences could not be held without a team effort.
“Everybody has a little piece they are responsible for. On the day of, if it is planned right, it kind of runs itself but everyone is involved from our front office staff welcoming families here to JROTC guides around the building helping families get where they need to go,” Yuran said. “It is a large undertaking, but when we all share a piece of it, it makes all the difference in the world.”
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