Effective Communication between School and Home

Hello Parents and Families,

As the Pendleton School District, students and families prepare for the end of the 21-22 school year; there may be reasons for you to have conversations with your child’s teacher, school principal, or counselor about progress this year, plans for next school year or concerns or challenges facing your child in the classroom and beyond.

Parenting and teaching are perhaps two of the most challenging endeavors. In order to be successful in either role, we need accurate information to make the best decisions for our children.

Here are some guidelines that may help in conversations with school staff:

1. Always start at the lowest level. If the issue occurs in the classroom, start by talking with the teacher.
2. Avoid having a conversation when you are emotionally elevated. Very few of us can have a rational and objective conversation when we are upset.
3. Make an appointment in advance so ample time can be provided.
4. Try to get the facts first. Don’t assume your child or another party has provided you with all the details. Rushing to judgment without the facts makes it difficult to be objective and doesn’t help the situation.
5. When addressing an issue, avoid words that label or imply judgments. Describe what you saw or heard and keep the focus on the current issue.

Educating children requires schools and parents/families to work together. That collaboration between home and school can only be accomplished through healthy and trusting relationships, which are built through open and honest communication.

As always, if you have concerns about your child at school, please communicate with their school.

Pendleton School District. Every Student. Every Day.

Chris Fritsch
Superintendent