At British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park, we encourage all parents and students to get involved in our school community. We offer various opportunities for community engagement and parent involvement.
Parent Involvement
Parent Links, our parent classroom representatives, serve as important liaisons between the administration, the faculty and the parent body. Their primary role is to work with the classroom teacher in order to coordinate and organize volunteers that assist with classroom projects, parties and community service. By carrying out this role successfully, we aim to establish a community spirit throughout the school that fosters an understanding between the home and school leading to a successful, happy trusting and secure learning environment where all opinions are valued.
The Parent Advocacy Group is a volunteer group of parents combined with the school leadership team and staff representatives. The objective of the Parent Advocacy Group is to support the school in developing partnerships with parents, teachers, staff and the local and international community. Working in conjunction with the school, the Parent Advocacy Group provides long-term vision and works on specific projects for growth and development.
Parent Forums are held periodically throughout the year, and parents are welcome to attend these forums to meet with the Senior Leadership team to get an update on school activities. Each year group has an opportunity to ask questions and address the issues that matter the most to them.
We also invite our parents into the school to participate in a lesson, which provides an opportunity to see your child's learning environment first-hand. One favorite activity of our parents is being a "Mystery Reader," during which parents come to the school and surprise their son/daughter's classroom by coming in and reading their favorite book. Field trips are another fun way for you to take part in school life, and we encourage you to chaperone these trips when possible.
Consultations are held three times a year with the teachers, enabling you and your child to review the learning which has taken place and to discuss his or her upcoming targets for development. Two shortened reports and one narrative report keeps you informed of progress during the year. If you wish to meet with your child's teacher to discuss any aspect of their learning, teachers are available to meet before and after school by appointment.