Special to The Post-Searchlight

The Decatur County Schools will be offering a variety of parent-volunteer training and parental guidance classes during the summer months.

Parent Volunteer Training

Any parent or caretaker who wishes to volunteer in their child’s school must attend one of the training classes. The participant will learn about the do’s and do not’s of volunteering, and other ways to be engaged in their students’ education to increase academic success.

Planned times (all classes are at the Decatur County Support Center, 507 Martin St. in West Bainbridge) are: July 16, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; July 17, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; July 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; and July 30, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Kindergarten Transitioning

Kindergarten will be a time of many changes for a child. He or she will have to adjust to new teachers, new children, new schedules, and new routines, among other changes. Having a successful entry into kindergarten will help a child have a positive attitude about school and learning. This class is designed to inform parents, so that they may better prepare their future kindergartners for the coming school year. This class is July 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library.

Middle School Transitioning

A key indicator of a successful middle-school experience is a positive transition from elementary school. Unfortunately, positive anything is difficult for soon-to-be middle school students, if all they can think is: “Will there really be that much more homework?,” “What if I can’t find the bathroom in that big school?,” “Will I be able to open my locker?” or “Do the big kids beat you up?” This workshop is designed to help prepare parents and their rising fifth graders for the transition between elementary school and middle school. It is July 24, from 11 a.m. to noon, at the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library.

Parent Portal Training

A student’s academic success relies heavily on communication between the home and the teacher. Parents will learn how to access their students’ grades, attendance and more through the Parent Portal. This is a great way to monitor academic progress beginning the first day of school.

The scheduled class times are as follows: July 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Decatur County Support Center; July 18, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Decatur County Support Center; and July 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Friendship House, 220 N. Russ St.

CLIP Review

Decatur County Schools is reviewing and revising its Title I Parent Involvement Plan and its CLIP (Consolidated LEA Implementation Plan). Individual school wide Title I improvement plans and Parent Involvement plans will also be available. A meeting will be held to allow time for parents and stakeholders to view these plans, and offer feedback and suggestions. This public review will be July 18, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Decatur County Support Center.

Anger Management and Impulse Control

Parents can participate in this free online training to learn how to control anger before it controls themselves. Parents who don’t have a computer can contact the Parent Resource Center at (229) 243-6847, to schedule a time to use one there. The class will be available from May through July, at dcboe.ilamp2.com.

For more information about parent involvement and other parent-assistance resources, contact Parent Involvement Coordinator Dr. Cheryl Guy at (229) 243-6847 or cguy@dcboe.com, or Special Education Parent Mentor Janie Kelley at (229) 243-6844 or jkelley@dcboe.com.