SOMS Principal Joe Uglialoro’s Four Tips for Parents

Feeling disconnected from your middle schooler’s school life? With less interaction with other parents and teachers, as well as increasingly independent children, we can all use a few tips on staying connected and engaged with our tween/teen’s during the middle school years. has some great suggestions.

1. As elementary as it may sound, ask your child each day what they are learning.  We are working with our teachers to emphasize learning goals at the outset and close of every lesson.  Students should be able to share these goals with you.  Use them to start conversation.
2. Model learning for your children:  One of the most important things we can do as parents is demonstrate to our children that learning is a never-ending process, and that we pursue and, at times, struggle with our own learning.
   
   
3. Learn with your children and model appropriate internet behavior: Ask your child each night what they would like to learn more about.  Once they have finished their homework, sit down with them at the computer, and research that topic with them.  Acknowledge their enthusiasm for that subject, and reinforce it by taking the time to learn more about it together.
   
   
4. Be proactive in establishing relationships with your children's teachers - use technology to facilitate this. We are up to 19 SOMS teachers with websites. Each has a calendar that shows upcoming homework, tests, and quizzes. Also, as of November 14th, the PowerSchool Parent Portal is going live for all students in grades 6-12.  The Parent Portal enables parents to get a live look at all of their child's grades and attendance information in each class.  This is an incredible opportunity to stay on top of your child's progress.