Parent Groups

Many parents who are actively involved in the education of their children at the elementary school level become less involved when their children reach middle school. However, parent involvement in a child’s education during the middle school years (ages 10 to 14) is just as important in a child’s success at school as it is in earlier grades. If the school doesn’t have a formal participation plan for parents, it is important that parents take the initiative to continue their involvement and collaboration in their children’s school.

Davis staff encourage parent engagement and involvement during students’ intermediate school experience.

The School Site Council meets five times during the year and develops the Safe School Plan and the Single Plan for Student Achievement.

The Hispanic Parent Group meets every second Tuesday of the month. All parents are welcome to join these meetings where we discuss and share information about the academic and social programs and the school.

As children grow, they begin to experience physical, intellectual, and emotional changes. The way they learn, feel, see the world, and relate to other people becomes different from when they were younger. These changes, along with demands from present-day society and peer pressure, create conflicts and tension in the adolescent, which are reflected in their behavior in school and at home.

Young people at this age show a good number of contradictions and conflicts, which is normal. There is no “model” adolescent. All young persons are individuals with strong and weak points and with positive and negative qualities. There are some common characteristics that should be kept in mind in order to understand and help the middle schooler in daily activities at home and at school:

 

• Adolescents have high levels of physical and emotional energy, which may contrast with long periods of idleness, generally disapproved of by adults. 
• They take risks, are curious, and love danger and adventure, yet their feelings can be hurt easily. This is the time when they feel immortal, but they worry a lot about what their friends think about them. 
• They want to be independent from their families, and at the same time, they need to be pampered and protected. 
• They withdraw and want a private life, and at the same time, they worry about being accepted by their peers. 
• They demand privileges but avoid responsibilities. At the same time, they are developing an awareness of social problems and the welfare of others.