Answer:
A welcoming school environment creates the foundation for making families feel comfortable with the school community. ... By creating a welcoming atmosphere that reflects families' backgrounds, schools let families know they are valued members of the school community.To ensure that all families feel comfortable engaging with the school, students and families from diverse backgrounds should “see themselves” throughout the school. By creating a welcoming atmosphere that reflects families’ backgrounds, schools let families know they are valued members of the school community.
October is a great time for schools and districts to assess how well they’ve done in creating a welcoming school environment in the first few weeks of the school year, and to make any changes or improvements needed that will benefit families for the rest of the year.
Below are quick and effective tips for creating a welcoming school environment, many of which take under an hour to implement.
Create learning opportunities for both adults and students, such as inviting parents and the community into libraries to read to children.
Host English language classes and job-search coaching sessions for families.
Partner with external organizations to provide school-based support to parents.
Ensure all parents know how to get into the building, especially if doors are locked during the day.
Ensure signs are posted in multiple languages.
Display student work on the walls.
Post maps and flags of students’ native countries in classrooms.
Post a large map in the front lobby where parents can mark native countries with a pin.
Establish a bilingual morning greeter to welcome students and families.
Ensure bilingual staff and volunteers are visible throughout the building.
Create a parent room (such as a classroom or lounge) with bilingual information and magazine subscriptions, a bulletin board, lending library, and computer.
Stock the school library and classroom with bilingual books.
