'Sneak a Peek' of Douglas Schools

The Douglas County School System is encouraging parents to “sneak a peek” of the schools their children will be attending this fall.

With school starting Thursday, the county’s middle and high schools will have open houses on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. Elementary schools will hold theirs on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m.

For the locations of the five public schools in Lithia Springs, click your school:

Here’s a welcome message from Superintendent Gordon Pritz:

“Our school system strives to help every student meet high expectations and reach their full potential. It is essential we keep that goal at the forefront of our work with students each year.

While we promise to have a highly qualified teacher working with our students, we know that teachers cannot do the job alone. Involved parents make a substantial difference in the academic life and future of their children and in our school and community.

There are many ways you as a parent can actively and constructively help your children do their best in school. It may not be enough to nag them about homework. Here are a few ways to really help them out:

• Teach your child to love learning. Help them understand that learning is a way of life for adults as well as students and is not just about making a grade for a test. Take part in educational activities with your children beyond the school day whenever possible.

• Get Involved. Parent involvement is the key to academic success for children. It shows your children that you are really interested in what they do. Involvement also provides rewards for parents including the opportunity to closely monitor their children's performance as well as recognize and address any difficulty children may have in school.

• Stay in Touch with Teachers. Better relationships and communication with their children's teachers results when parents are in contact and involved. You can email your child's teacher about your child's progress or what is being taught in class.

• Help Your Child be Organized. Map out assignments and help your child plan ahead. Big assignments can be broken into manageable parts that your child can accomplish.

• Family Meals are Important. Children whose families eat together generally have better literacy rates.

• Keep Progress in Mind. Not all children learn at the same rate. Steady improvement is as important as the end grade.

• Expect a Lot. High expectations give children a reason to work harder and achieve more.

These are only a few of the many ways parents can directly impact their child's academic success. I encourage parents to have effective relationships with teachers that are built on mutual trust and cooperation.

These relationships will have a profound effect on how your children view the importance of school. Help children understand that you and their teachers are working together for their academic success. Relationships between parents and teachers play an important role in student improvement and the overall improvement of the school.

Get to know your child's teachers at the beginning of the school year and begin to build a collaborative relationship and shared understanding of how you both will work together to attain educational excellence for your children.”