Department of Defense Education Activity

Smith ES: Get Involved


Parent Involvement

Research demonstrates that parent involvement is essential for student success. Although you may not become involved in all committees and support organizations in the school, we encourage the following activities for your parental support:

  • Join the school parent/teacher association (PTA) and participate in meetings and activities.
  • Have lunch at school with your child regularly.
  • Volunteer in your child's classroom.
  • Establish a daily study time at home (even when there's no homework).
  • Participate in the Continuous School Improvement (CSI) efforts at your child's school.
  • Keep informed of school events and activities by reading school newsletters and your child's classroom newsletter.
  • Communicate frequently with your child's teacher.
  • Prepare for and participate in parent-teacher conferences.
  • Ensure your child has a well-balanced breakfast and comes to school with completed homework, lunch money and school supplies.

Visiting the School

Parents and other responsible adults are always welcome at school. If you know in advance that you will be visiting your child's classroom, we encourage you to notify your child's teacher ahead of time so they are prepared for your visit. We do not allow students to bring friends or other non-registered students to school due to liability and space restrictions. In addition, parents may not bring younger siblings, other children, or babies with them when they visit or volunteer in a classroom. This can be a serious distraction from the learning environment for all students.

Visitor Badges

DoDEA policy mandates use of visitor badges and positive identification of all visitors and contractors. In compliance with this policy, upon arrival, ALL visitors are required to come to the school office, sign in, show identification, and receive a visitor's badge. All visitors MUST sign out and return the visitor's badge upon leaving the building.

Visitors and Volunteers

For safety reasons, all visitors and volunteers must report to the school’s front office immediately upon entering the school.

A visitor/volunteer is someone who is not a school employee or enrolled student and enters the school during operating hours. The school administration has the final determination on visitors/volunteers authorized to be at the school. When visiting, visitors/volunteers may go only to the approved area indicated as their destination when signing in at the front office. All visitors will receive an appropriate visitor’s badge, which is to be displayed conspicuously at all times while on school grounds. Any change to the designated location must be approved by the school’s front office before the visitor/volunteer can access a different location within the school. Upon finishing their visit, visitors/volunteers must check out at the front office, return the visitor’s badge, and exit the school. Parents are welcome to visit the school and classrooms to observe the school’s programs for brief periods of time that do not interfere with instruction. Approval by school personnel is required for this type of visitation.

Learn more about volunteering at your school's Get Involved page.

Background Check DD2981
To require each employee, DoD contractor, family child care provider, adult family member of a family child care provider, and specified volunteers of a DoD C&Y program to undergo a background check and to annually self-report changes to his or her criminal history.
 
DA 5018R Client Consent Statement
ADAPCP Client's Consent Statement for Release of Treatment Information
 
DD2793 Volunteer Agreement Form - Blank
Volunteer agreement fillable form and agreement.
 
Volunteers DoDEA Operational Guidance
DoDEA Operational Guidance for Volunteers - There are many volunteer opportunities for interested community members and/or parents to get involved with their students education through DoD sanctioned programs.

DoDEA Europe Advisory Councils

Parents, teachers, students, administrators, and military commanders share the responsibility to support the schools through advisory councils and boards. Participation in advisory councils and boards enhances and improves educational programs and services, as well as the overall quality of life shared by all Department of Defense (DoD) American overseas communities.

Dependents Education Council (DEC)

The DEC reports to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy. Members include general or flag officers representing the commanders of unified combatant commands, major service commands, and the military services. Council members make recommendations on policy matters relating to facilities, logistics, and administrative support provided to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) by the military services.

European Schools Council (ESC)

The ESC is composed of European Command (EUCOM) Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy representatives. ESC work with subordinate command representatives to develop programs for improving dependents' education and recommend helpful initiatives to the DoDEA Director. The ESC chairperson also represents the European Command on the ACDE.

District Advisory Council (DAC)

The DAC advises the district superintendent on matters of interest to the district.

School Advisory Committee (SAC)

The School Advisory Committee (SAC) and School Advisory Board (SAB) are organizations that fosters participation in school affairs by members of the school and military communities and provides a coordinated process to address and resolve issues at the lowest practical level. SAC members advise the school principal on school matters, deal with issues brought to their attention by the school community, and establishes goals and objectives for the academic year.

SAC meetings are held at least four times a year and notices are sent to parents prior to each meeting. These meetings are public meetings, though they are not meetings of the public. Parents and staff members are encouraged to attend SAC meetings to learn more about school programs and issues, and are invited to submit items to SAC members to be placed on the meeting agendas.  The function of the SAC is to make recommendations and advise the principal on: 

  1. school policies, student activities, and administrative procedures
  2. instructional programs and educational resources within the school
  3. allocation of resources within the school to achieve educational goals
  4. administrative and logistical support services provided by the installation commander and applicable service commands
  5. policies and standards of the installation command and military services related to the above.

Neither the SAC nor the SAB addresses matters pertaining to personnel policies or practices, compensation of school staff, grievances or school employees, or internal management of DoDEA or their programs. If you have any questions or concerns about the school's curriculum or environment, give one of the SAC representatives a call (a list of current representatives is available in the office) or attend one of the SAC meetings.

SAC Elections

Elections are held at the beginning of the school year, typically during Open House. SAC Officers are elected by the committee. The SAC president is also the representative to the Installation Advisory Committee (IAC).

Meeting Information

Meetings:

Please look at the school calendar for SAC Meeting dates. SAC meetings are open to the public. You may contact the school's principal to place an item on the agenda.

 

Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO)

The PTO is a school spirit and fund raising organization requiring the support of all parents to fully satisfy our objectives in supporting the school. Meetings are held each quarter. Anyone interested in working with the PTO should contact the President or Vice-President by calling the main office.

School Deployment Support Information and Contact Info

Deployments, Redeployment and Permanent Change of Station are transition stages that can cause stress within the family environment. Many of you have experienced these transitions numerous times and are aware of the dynamics involved. The return or departure of the spouse alters the routines of the home bringing new adjustments and challenges. Children can be affected by these changes and problems can develop. Instability of mood, anxiety, irritability,sadness, rebelliousness and risk taking behaviors can emerge that may affect relationships and school functioning.

To a degree, it is important to view school functioning as a barometer of children adjustment. Sudden changes in behavior and/or persistent underachievement may be the way they communicate that things are not well.

At our school, we have different ways of supporting students during difficult transition times. It is critical that you share your concerns with us. Throughout the year we conduct surveys to identify students with deployed or redeployed parents. Our teachers are knowledgeable and sensitive about these issues. The guidance counselors and school psychologist can provide direct assistance or guide you to additional community resources. Our school counselors are also conducting deployment groups so that students can be of support to one another and share their concerns and common experiences. Please feel free to contact your child's counselor or school psychologist with any concerns.