Finish the school year with a dose of parent involvement

As the school year comes to a close, it's as important as ever to keep up your involvement in your teen's education. The school – and your teen – still need your help. To maintain your involvement in your teen's education:

• Keep track of important dates and deadlines – when final exams are, when half-days or days off are, when graduation practices are, etc. Your school will appreciate it when your teen shows up where he is supposed to be, when he is supposed to be there.
• Continue to volunteer at your teen's school. Even though school's winding down, someone is still needed to chaperone a field trip or collate school newsletters. Ask at your school to see how you can get involved – from your home or at the school.
• Get your teen to school – on time, every day. Attendance is as important at the end of the year as it was at the beginning, so be sure to check that your teen is attending classes. He can't learn if he's not there!
• Ask about summer learning options. Your school may have summer classes your teen is interested in taking. Or the school may have a suggested summer reading list for your teen. Either way, your school is sure to have some suggestions for avoiding the summer learning slump.

Reprinted with permission from the April 2008 issue of Parents Still make the difference!=AE (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright ©2008 The Parent Institute, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Mary L. Gavin, "Getting Involved at Your Child's School," KidsHealth, www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/school.html.