NMS Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences & Student-Led Conferences on Thursdays, 4/9 & 4/16

Parent-Teacher and Student-Led Conferences on Thursday, 4/9, 6-8:30 and Thursday, 4/16 4-6:30 PM

We are almost two-thirds of the way through the school year; it is truly hard to believe.  

With this knowledge, we also have our Parent-Teacher and Student-Led Conferences scheduled for Thursday, April 9, in the evening from 6-8:30 PM, and Thursday, April 16, in the afternoon/evening from 4-6:30 PM.  

Last year, we successfully piloted some Student-Led Conferences in the Spring, and we have continued this practice this year in pockets in the Fall and within all of our grade levels in this upcoming Spring Conference times led by our ELA2 teachers at each grade level.

We believe Student-Led Conferences put the student, your child, at the center of his/her own learning.  Your child will sit and discuss with you how he/she is progressing, what he/she has been working on, and what things he/she still believes he/she needs to improve upon. 

Research tells us that when we have students at the center of their learning and give them a chance to explain it, they will achieve more.

These Student-Led Conferences were a great success last Spring, and we look to continue this enterprise.

When these conferences are Teacher-Led, they are only five minutes in duration and may not be enough time for a complete discussion regarding your child’s progress or lack of it.  

If you feel that more time is needed, use your meeting to reschedule a time that would offer both you and the teacher enough time to adequately discuss your child’s present situation.  This will open the door and begin the communication that is necessary to bring all of us to the same page on your child’s educational growth.  

Even with Student-Led Conferences, all of our Teachers will be on hand to meet with you and discuss how your child is doing in each and every class.

But with Student-Led Conferences, what you will see and hear is your child will have a better understanding of how she/he is doing and why it is that way.  Many times parents and teachers are just using conjecture to figure out why it is the way it is, but in the Student-Led format, your child discusses it with you.

The Teacher-Led Conference is not a perfect system at all, which is why we are moving in the direction of Student-Led Conferences.  

The Unified Arts teachers will be in their rooms and are available throughout the night.

We will have our Spring Book Fair in the Media Center and also PTA selling goods and raffles outside the main hallway.  It is usually a very bustling evening for all.

We hope to see as many of you as we can either on Thursday, April 9, 6 to 8:30 PM, or on Thursday, April 16, from 4 to 6:30 PM.

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in contact with us.

Thank you,

M. R. Geoghegan