TMA Parent Involvement

The Montessori Academy of Arlington-Private PreK-6th

The involvement of parents is extremely important at TMA. The Parent-Teacher-Child Triangle is at the core of our school's philosophy. Our vision of a student equipped for success in life is depicted within the parent-teacher-child triangle. Parents and teachers work collaboratively to role model these attributes for children and to provide opportunities within the classroom and at home for the child to develop these attributes.

Parent-Teacher-Child Triange - Click for more
Click for a more detailed view of the Parent-Teacher-Child Triangle
which includes the roles of the teachers and parents

The following are some of the ways parents can be involved with our school.

Year–Round Activities
Classroom Parents	Room Parents are responsible for coordinating classroom parties and projects: Fall Festival booth, International Feast art and basket projects, and the yearbook classroom collage. Sign up through classroom teacher.
School/Classroom Volunteer	For available opportunities check with your classroom teacher, volunteer opportunities bulletin board, or the front office staff.
Field Trip Driver and/or Chaperone	Field trips are coordinated by classroom teachers. Prerequisites: completion of Field Trip Policy Assessment and current background check.
Substitute Teacher	Serve as a substitute classroom teacher. Prerequisites: completion of substitute teacher training and current background check.
Classroom Cultural Presentations	Share your cultural heritage with students; schedule with classroom teachers.
Office Help	Help with the assembly of the monthly school newsletter, binding of the school directory, and other occasional office tasks or projects.
Classroom Fundraisers	These fundraisers are coordinated by classroom teachers. Examples include Read to Feed and St. Jude Math-A-Thon.
Committees	Various. Sign-up at the September school community meeting or at the front office.
Board of Directors	Elections of parent representatives are held in May of each year. Members serve 3-year terms.
Board Meetings	Board meetings are open to all parents and are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the school library.
School Community Meetings	A list of meeting dates, times, and topics is published and provided at the Annual Business Meeting in September.
Parent Education Opportunities	Information about parent education opportunities is published in The Messenger, TMA's monthly newsletter, and through flyers sent home in student backpacks.

Special Events
Annual Business Meeting	September The annual report is shared with the parent community. Parents have an opportunity to meet Board members and sign up for volunteer opportunities and committees.
Open Houses	October and March Parents are invited to watch their children work in the classroom environment.
Book Fairs	October and March Fundraisers that benefit the TMA Library are held in conjunction with Open House weeks.
Parent-Teacher Conferences	October/February/May Veteran's Day and Presidents' Day are designated for parent/teacher conferences. These are student holidays. Childcare is available during your 20 minute conference period. May conferences are optional.
Fall Festival	October This event, which is primarily for community-building, features food and fun-filled activities sponsored and manned by the parent community.
People Plates	October-November This fundraiser turns children's art into dinnerware. A parent is needed to coordinate prepaid sales and family art sessions.
International Classroom Feasts	November These classroom feasts are held just before the Thanksgiving break and celebrate our cultural diversity through ethnic dishes. Check with your classroom teacher for details.
Annual Giving Campaign	November Opportunity for parents to give of their financial resources to fund TMA development projects.
Music Program	Spring Preschool and Elementary music programs are typically held in February or March; Toddler and Preschool Bridge music programs are scheduled separately by classroom teachers.
International Feast and Auction	April TMA's primary fundraiser which typically occurs in April. Includes dinner, entertainment, and silent and live auctions.
Board Elections	May New members from the parent community are elected to serve on the Board.
Stepping Up Ceremony and Family Picnic	May The end of the school year is celebrated with a picnic and student ceremony at Veteran's Park in early May.

Community Building
Book Club	Monthly book discussion. For more information visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tmabookclub/.

Other Ideas for Connecting with TMA Families Outside of School-Sponsored Activities
Parents' Night Out	Contact other parents in your child's classroom. Parents take turns hosting a pot luck dinner (with or without children) at their house.
Family Trips	Contact other parents in your child's class to set up Family Trips to area attractions and events. Ideas for outings include: area parks, Fort Worth Zoo, Casa Manana and CATS productions, Fossil Rim Wildlife Park, Dallas Aquarium, The Science Place, and Fort Worth Museum of Natural Science, and overnight or weekend camping trips.