Parent Survey Results Winter 2013

During last weeks Parent Teacher Conference Week we opened up a parent survey in both Spanish and English.  Even though the survey was posted outside classrooms, on our website/Facebook/Twitter pages, and with QR Codes, only 35 parents respond.  Yet, this was double the parent feedback from last year, so we are thrilled with increased feedback.  As promised, I am sharing those results with our Sonora Family. 

 

The results were divided by grade level responses as follows:

 

 

When both English and Spanish results were compiled the results were definitely something to be pleased with in our 2nd year!

Of course, my goal would be for areas of agreement to be 90% and above.  With that goal in mind, we need:

• to continue communicating our vision and mission to "Innovate to Educate"!
• communicate most with parents when student have been rewarded for achievements and behavior.
• ensure we invite every parent as they enter Sonora, whether to have a meeting or at our after school events.
• create a survey for our students to get feedback.

We do appreciate the comments we received from this survey:

• Go Sonora!!!!
• When going into the office to check out/in my child I feel unnoticed and have to call attention to get someone to greet me.
• Great school.  Great experience.
• I think this school is great. And I am happy that my kids were able to start their schooling here at Sonora.
• Thanks                 
• I would like to say that I am very impressed with all the teachers and staff that I have had the pleasure to work with.  My child's growth from the beginning of the year until now has been tremendous and that is all thanks to the teachers and staff.  The only suggestion I have is that sometimes I feel there is a lack of communication for special events in a timely manner; things are communicated but sometimes not early enough to plan time away from work.  Thanks to everyone for all they do!!
• Just a little better communication when the child is in trouble or just having trouble at school. Sometimes the only time I know my son has been in trouble is because he tells me not the teacher.
• Everything is always clean and organized.
• I agree with everything. I like how my daughter is learning and getting the right education.

We do take your feedback seriously.  As of today, I am working on setting up another form of communication through texting.  I will be sending home a note for you to sign up.  In the mean time, please follow us on Facebook (Sonora Elementary, Sonora Elementary PTA, and EAST at Sonora Elementary), Twitter (@SonoraScholar), and our webpage (http://springdalese.sharpschool.net/). We also send all notes home in Tuesday folders two weeks in advance, with a reminder to follow the next week.  Finally, I am working over the next two days to create a text announcement system that parents can sign up to follow for updates and announcements.  The sign up papers will go home in the Tuesday folders.  Please help us to spread the word!  We want our families fully informed of all activities, as well as their child's progress.

 

Thank you for sharing your child with us each and every day!  We love seeing them mature and grow academically and socially. 

 

At Sonora, we "innovate to educate!"

 

 

 

 

Can learning also be fun? Yes, at Sonora!

 

Does this picture look educational?  Intrigued?  More to come . . .

State of Sonora

Tonight in our Nation's Capital President Obama is giving the State of the Union Address.  The State of the Union is an address from the president intended on informing the public of what the leader is doing, his own opinion and how he would solve the problems at hand.  Based on the time frame, I thought it was most appropriate to share the State of Sonora Elementary.



Picture of Sonora on 2/12/13

As you know we are in our second year at Sonora!  This year we have been joined by Sonora Middle School to form the Sonora Campus.  As you drive outside the city limits of Springdale, you will see our schools situated on the left hand side of the road.  What a beautiful setting!

What is occuring inside our four walls is just as beautiful!  I can honestly tell you that the staff at Sonora Elementary inspire me daily to be a better person and educator.  The teachers and support staff truly love the children that attend our school.  It is our vision and mission to "Innovate to Educate".  This means that we truly want to be innovative in how we educate in the 21st century to engage students to be the leaders of our future.  I believe I speak for our teachers when I say that the children insprire all of us.  They are why we chose this profession and get up each morning ready to tackle a new day!

With all that being said, we want you, the parents and family members, to be just as invested in our school.  First we need your feedback.  Please follow the link below to fill out a survey on Sonora.  Let us know how we are doing, and how we can better serve your child. 

Sonora Parent Survey 2013

 

 

Secondly, we want your help in increasing our parent engagement.  We have increased PTA memberships, but we would love to have you in the building or contributing in other ways.  There is a place for you and your talents.  Research shows that when parents get involved in their child's school the child the better the child will perform in school.  The earlier in a child’s educational process parent gets engaged, the more powerful the effects.  Your involvement could be the direct work you do with your child at home to increase their success.  If you want to do more in this area, please contact your child's teacher.  You can also call or e-mail me anytime.  Tell me your talents and skills and we will find a place for you to serve. 

We want to remind you that next Monday, February 18th, our new securtiy system will be activated.  All parents and visitors to Sonora will need to come to the front doors, push the buzzer to the right hand side of the door, and be admitted to our building.  This will provide one more safety feature to protecting every adult and child in our building.  Please be patient with us as we learn to work the new system, too.

Our main purpose, educating every child that walks in our doors, is another topic that I am extremely eager to tell you about!  There are some amazing educational experiences going on in our school on a daily basis.  Upcoming posts will be on our progress in meeting the academic needs of each child.  I plan to start with reading, so stayed tuned!

My final thoughts tonight come from a previous United States President, Abraham Lincoln.  Did you know that today was Lincoln's 204th birthday!  Therefore, I want to leave you with a quote from our 16th President:  "Upon the subject of education … I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.” ~~ Abraham Lincoln.

Engage with us to educate the children at Sonora!  It takes all of us! 

If I can ever be of any help, please feel free to contact me at rstewman@sdale.org .