Family Engagement Plan

Our richly diverse neighborhood school is next to Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center on St. Paul's East Side.  Dayton's Bluff is a neighborhood school that focuses on raising student achievement.  Our school and community partners work together to provide resources that help students and families continue to succeed.  Collaboration with our community partners gives us many on-site resources including: assistance with basic needs, dental services, and mental health services.  Students at our school are encouraged to ask questions, solve problems and discover how things work.  Our instructional leaders help students understand their skill level and learn how to monitor their academic growth.  With classes in science, music and physical education, each child receives a full day of learning through core academics and other activities.

The Family Engagement Plan (FEP) is organized into four impact areas. We will be working together this year to build positive and goal-oriented relationships in each area. Families and staff at school developed this plan together.

Welcoming Environment

Our school has staff member(s) available for families to discuss this plan and ask questions

• Amanda Musachio, Principal
• Cindy Torguson, Partner Liaison

Our school communicates with families in many ways.

• Provide information to families in a variety of ways
  • Monthly school-wide newsletter
  • Classroom newsletters
  • Flyers
  • Mass  notification emails and texts
  • "Home and School Connection" weekly take home folders
  • SeeSaw
  • Translated materials
  • DB Connects monthly meetings
• Families have the ability to engage in two-way conversations with school staff via SeeSaw, email, phone calls, in-person communication, text messaging, or preferred family communication method
• Family communication with school staff is answered within 24 business hours
• Families are frequently asked preferred communication methods
• Interpreters or Language Line is always available for families and staff to communicate

The achievement gap, or rather the “opportunity gap,” between students of color and white students in Saint Paul Public Schools is unacceptable. Our school is working to change practices and systems by identifying the barriers that make it harder for students of color to succeed and for their families to support their learning. For more about our work on racial equity, contact: 

• We work to recruit and retain staff of color
• Students will see themselves in materials, lessons, staff, displays
• We find many ways to celebrate our students, families, community and school throughout the year.  Each month students participate in read alouds, activities, lessons and school-wide events relating to the monthly focus area.  In this way students see mirrors of their own identity throughout the year and are given windows to other identities building up tolerance, empathy, and understanding.

Transitions between schools can be challenging, and we work to help families as their children start and leave our school. 

• Each year a PreK/K transition event is held for PreK families that includes a visit to Kindergarten classrooms
• Each year our counselor teaches lessons to current 5th grade students to support their transition to middle school
• Middle school students visit our school so current 5th grade students have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insight on what middle school is all about
• Counselor services are also available for individual or small group support

Family Partnerships

Our school-family compact establishes the shared responsibility for student success between the school, families, and students. Families and teachers work together to develop the compact.

Copies of the compact are available:	The compact will be updated:
Compacts are available in the family portion of the school conference room, during Open House, at Conferences, and on our website (www.spps.org/daytonsbluff).	Monthly "DB Connects - Coffee and Donuts" in-person meetings inform, gather feedback and input from families, hear about successes and areas for improvement. Meetings are staffed with a variety of staff to help with individual concerns as needed.

There are many opportunities for families to build connections to the school and to each other.

• Staff will begin building relationships with families in the firs 6 weeks of school:  home visits as needed, phone calls, school visits
• Families have opportunities to connect with school staff and other families during
  • Family events
  • DB Connects: Coffee and Donuts
  • School-wide assemblies
  • School conferences
  • Volunteering

We work to make these meetings and events available for every family in the school.

• Information is sent home in multiple languages or with translation instructions
• School events offer transportation, childcare (if appropriate), and interpreters
• Interpreters are provided for events.  Interpreters wear vests with "Interpreter" written in a specific language to be easily identified by families

Our school supports families as advocates and provides opportunities for parent leadership

• Families and community partners are always welcome to be members of school teams
• Families appreciate school programs and are willing to advocate for them
• Families are encouraged to stay in contact with their student's teacher
• Families can offer input or suggest a topic for staff PD
• School administration, social workers, and school counselor are available to address concerns and problem-solve with families
• We provide engagement opportunities for families to support their student academically and socially and for families to engage in projects and events

Teaching and Learning

Our school shares information about state standards, assessment and student achievement with families in multiple ways

• Use CAMPUS portal for online reports and information
• Student report cards and assessment reports are distributed to families
• Student conferences are held in November and March
• Information is provided in the school-wide newsletter
• DB Connects shares information regarding assessments and curriculum

Our school will engage in personalized learning as a key strategy to accelerate student achievement. Families can get more information using many tools.

• Family log-in information can be accessed at spps.org/onestop or by contacting the school office
• Teacher websites
• Flyers and newsletters
• Families will receive information about using Clever and associated apps at home
• Staff are available to consult individually on student learning
• Families can gain access to messging the teacher, checking on student work, etc. by using SeeSaw or email

Before and after-school enrichment and support opportunities are available for students

• Rec Check

Community Partnerships

Our school develops community partnerships to provide additional support for students and their families

• St. Paul Parks and Rec - Dayton's Bluff Rec Center
• Family Values for Life
• Wilder Foundation - Mental Health
• Children's Dental Services
• Faith City Church/Storehouse Grocers
• Hope for the Brave
• Lutheran Social Services
• East Side Health and Well-being Collaborative

This plan is available as part of our school’s SCIP, or School Comprehensive Improvement Plan at spps.org/scip, is on our school website at https://daytonsbluff.spps.org/about/title-i, and printed copies are available in our family section of the conference room.