Families are encouraged to set a time with teachers to visit their child’s classroom and discuss their child’s progress. Teachers send progress reports to parents and guardians, hold conferences, and are ready to help our families with additional meetings or reports as needed.

Parent-teacher partnerships benefit the individual student and strengthen the greater LaFollette School community. Our teachers are always ready to recruit and train family members as classroom helpers and field-trip chaperones.

You can contact our parent coordinator, Francine Buckley Monroe, at bucklefp@milwaukee.k12.wi.us to learn more about volunteering at LaFollette, joining our School Engagement Council, and visiting our Parent Resource Center. Learn more about volunteering with MPS.

LaFollette School Family Events

We enjoy getting to know our LaFollette families during monthly family theme nights, and other annual, all-school celebrations like:

• Holiday program in December
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in January
• Black History Month in February
• Read Across America in March
• Muffins with Mom in May
• Donuts with Dad in June
• Our School Engagement Council meets at 4:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month.

Supporting Your Student

Family involvement leads to better grades, better attendance, improved test scores, higher self-esteem, and better behavior for children. Helping your child succeed at LaFollette School includes practices and priorities like:

• Make sure your child arrives at school on time every day (9:10 a.m.).
• Call the LaFollette School attendance line when your child will be absent: (414) 267-5200. We must be sure every student has arrived safely and follow up with any who are absent. We must also record absences correctly.
• Ensure that your child gets at least nine hours of sleep every night.
• Dress your child appropriately for the weather. Please tell us if your student needs a coat or other outerwear.
• Help your child follow the school dress code: Navy pants, skirt, or shorts; Navy jumper; powder blue or white shirt; LaFollette spirit wear.
• Check your child’s bookbag every day for homework or important messages.
• Help your child with homework. At home, have a quiet time and place for homework.
• Read with your child every day.
• Volunteer in the classroom.
• Ask how you can join our field trips.

Helping with Homework

At home, be sure to provide a quiet time and place for your child to do homework. At home, your child can easily access the same online programs they use in class. Have your student log in through Clever to find learning programs like Smarty Ants, Discovery Education, Flocabulary, and others.

To access additional homework resources for your student, find out if your child’s classroom teacher uses Google Classroom or Seesaw as their preferred interactive learning platform.

Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher

Stay in touch with your child’s teacher and you’ll be up to date on your child’s academic goals and accomplishments. Students feel extra motivated when they see teachers and parents working as a team to reinforce high expectations and positive learning strategies. Here are some tips for building a strong parent-teacher relationship to support your child.

• Collect current school/teacher contact information at the beginning of each school year. You can gather this information from teacher handouts, during open-house events, or visit our staff directory.
• Attend parent-teacher conferences in person or virtually. Students are proud to “show off” their school and feel supported when teachers and caregivers make time to meet at a conference or school event.
• If a scheduled conference time does not work for you, contact the teacher to choose a different time. Or schedule a virtual appointment or phone call with the teacher. Ask if your child should attend.
• Send your child to school with a bookbag every day and check the bookbag when they come home at night. Lots of important paperwork travels from school to your home – and back again – in your child’s bookbag: assignments, permission slips, classroom updates, and school calendars.
• Use digital communication apps like ClassDojo or Class Messenger. Teachers and coaches use these apps to communicate easily and directly with families. Your child’s teacher should provide you with Class Messenger or ClassDojo log-in information at the beginning of the school year or sports season.
• Volunteer for a field trip or family event at school. LaFollette School needs volunteers during and after school. Ask a teacher or school staff member how you can get involved in a way that fits your schedule. Learn more about volunteering with MPS.