Columbine places a high value on family involvement and parent support. On the 2006 District Snapshot Survey, parents overwhelmingly reported Columbine to be a welcoming school. There are varieties of ways for families to become active participants in the Columbine community, based upon their interests and available time. These include:
Columbine Family Nights - gatherings with food, family activities and discussions on topics of parent interest;
Parenting Groups - small groups of parents gather to discuss issues in parenting and techniques to set boundaries and expectations;
Parent Leadership Training - a training program for Latino parents to assume leadership roles in the school community;
Columbine Clean-up Days - twice a year, families gather to spruce-up the school grounds;
PTA (Parent/Teacher Association)- an organization of parents and staff that sponsor fund raising activities and special events;
SIT (School Improvement Team) - a team of parents and teachers that set direction and goals for the school;
Volunteers - classroom and home volunteers that support a variety of school functions.
Monthly coffee salon - casual chance for parents to connect over coffee and treats
In addition, Parent/Teacher conferences are held twice a year and a Community Potluck and Back to School Night are held in September.
A partnership with the Boulder Valley Schools, City of Boulder and Boulder County Mental Health provides the Family Resource Schools Program, FRS. The purpose of the program is to build parent/school connections and to provide parents with support in time of need. The program provides a full time FRS Coordinator, on-site counseling for children and families, referral to community agencies, after school activities for children and family/school activities. These efforts are supported with funding from a federal Title VII grant.
Columbine is fortunate to work in partnership with the University of Colorado School Education on several projects. CU students volunteer in classrooms and as individual tutors to children throughout the year.
For more information parents will find useful, click on the links to the left.