EDUCATION
the beginning of the relationship, putting on the table all the elements the parents need to know about the culture of the school, the total cost, the profile of the school community etc. No information should be hidden in this relationship, and it is important that all of the family’s ques- tions are answered.
3. Honesty. Te establishment of an hon- est relationship with parents is the most crucial element upon which the connec- tion between parents and a school is built. A child’s education plays a large role in de- termining his or her future and there may be moments when parents need to make a strong decision about their child’s educa- tional journey. Tey should be able to rely on the school to support them by provid- ing honest information and advice.
4. Delivering the promise. Parents defi- nitely trust a school when their expecta- tions are met. To ensure that those expectations are realistic, it is the job of the school to present an educational journey that truly reflects the experience the stu- dents will have.
5.Te extra mile. Customer service ap- plies, of course, to schools as much as any other business, and sometimes the little details count. When a school goes the extra mile for a parent, it is always a win- win situation and provides a positive im- pact on the trust within the relationship. For example, a boarding student’s parents called to say they were having difficulty buying flowers for their daughter’s birth- day as they live on another continent. Of course I helped – a small detail – but one that showed sympathy with their situation. As a parent myself, I can understand how hard is to be away from your child.
tance when a child boards at school, but also applies to day students.
Te estalihment o
an hons relationship wih parents i th
mos crucia elment upon whic th
conection btwen
parents and a scol i buit.
Trust is a living element, one that needs
to be constantly nurtured by the school. International school communities often display an innate empathy for families within their community, with relationships made all the more important by distance from home. Tis is of paramount impor-
Because of the way our society is struc-
tured now, with parents often working long hours and students participating in after-school clubs and activities, during term time our children spend more waking hours at school with the teachers than with their parents at home. Tis fact alone un- derlines the importance of establishing a partnership of trust between parents and schools as we work together to ensure that children flourish, not only academically but also as principled, open-minded and compassionate members of the global community our world has become.
Angel Lozano is the Director of Institutional Advancement at TASIS The American School in England. Find out more about this international school at
www.tasisengland.org
www.focus-info.org FOCUS The Magazine 27
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