Principal believes parental involvement is key to student achievement

As many parents and guardians looked forward to the start of the new school term on Tuesday September 10, 2017, Principal Wendine Prince of St. Albans is advising parents and guardians to “Assist your children in organising and navigating their lives. Set out a timetable for homework. Get your children to revise. Teach them how to effectively manage their time.”

 

Prince told The Barbados Advocate during a recent interview, “The second term of school is often challenging for some students. Some of this can be attributed to activities such as sports and African Awareness Day where time is lost from the classroom. It is important for parents to teach their children effective time management with regards to their school work and any extra-curricular activities. Speaking from experience and my years as an educator, being able to navigate between the two helps students better function academically than when there is no structure, no organisation.” 

 

She further noted, “Parents also need to ensure from day one of the school term they are there as a guide. Keep in the know by maintaining contact with class teachers and the school to ensure your children are up to date in their work. Discuss with your children – what they are at school. Encourage them to use what extra time they may have between school and extra curricular activities to study and do homework.”

 

In response to the question "why does a student's work suffer mostly in the second term?" Prince stated, “This can happen because there is a lack of organisation. From day one of the term students should have an organisational chart. One structured around their school work and extra-curricular activities. This will help them to know what subjects they need to study for and what homework they are required to do, that way they are able to function efficiently because they have a work plan of what is expected.”

 

She revealed to The Barbados Advocate, “At St. Albans my teachers and I encourage the students to come to school at least thirty minutes early on mornings. Doing so gives us the opportunity to do additional work with the students which can be difficult to fit into their already packed timetable.

 

“Another initiative we have taken is a greater focus on student, teacher and parent involvement. This allows teachers to collaborate directly with parents to gage further insight into the child’s life, to better help them achieve academically throughout the school year so there is no disconnect. Extra target lessons are also offered on evenings for students to better help them improve their grades in areas where difficulty is shown.”

 

“One initiative she is looking to implement is the buddy programme at the school where students who are well versed in subjects are assigned to assist other students who are having difficulty. Students can do this by using the telephone or the tablet to connect with and assist those students  to ensure they are able to complete assigned tasks given for homework and any other relevant  areas.”

 

On a final note Prince said, “Parents also need to stay up to date in terms of technology and monitor their children’s use of tablets and smart phones. Too often children’s movements are unaccounted for. As a parent you need to know what your child or children are doing, so monitor their movements; keep on top of them! Build and maintain contact with their class teachers and ensure they keep on top of their school work, so that way regardless of what activities are going on at school – their school work will not become affected.”