We also do a buddy family program. To take it a step further, we also do a back-to-school potluck dinner and the hosting buddy family invites the new family. New families don't have to bring anything to the potluck. Our theory is that it is really hard to meet people and to jump into volunteering. It's even harder to attend a social event when you are new to the school. Knowing that you have been invited to the event by someone you kind of know and that you have someone to sit with makes all the difference. It makes people feel like they are part of our community sooner if they go.

How do you get over the hump of privacy rights when obtaining contact information for new parents and a school administration that is fearful of treading here?

We have a "welcome packet" for them, that supplies all the necessary news information in it: Old school and PTA newsletters (to show what we have done), map of the school, school schedules and phone number along with the most current copy of our school directory, calendar and events, bio of the teachers and staff, even district and community information (chamber of commerce is great for this stuff) just in case they are from out of town, but best of all...we provide each new student their very own school T-shirt with our name and logo! There is more, but can't think of it all...any information is great! One goes to each student, not family...so they each have their own copy to feel like its their own.

We have a buddy family program. Parents volunteer to call new families to see if they have any questions and then at our first social event of the year the buddy family calls their family again and invites them to the event and makes arrangements to meet up with them if they want. We match up families who share the same native language if at all possible so the new family is comfortable relating to their buddy family.

We put welcome signs on the yards of all the new families, including kindergartners.

In October the PTG sends a note to the new children, not kindergartners, checking in that the new child/ren is enjoying their new school, and we include our business card with our contact information.

As a retired counselor and special education teacher, I also teaching an ESL program featured in NEA, I feel that there is a very different need to help parents who are not English as a First Language Speakers. There are two problems here. The parents usually speak their native tongue at home and want their children to follow their native customs. But the kids go to school and resist, they wan to be American. They learn English quickly and usually translate for their parents. They may be ashamed of their parents and they want to be Americans.
So this problem is very difficult in areas where there are few foreigners. Usually engineer fathers will be at work and speak English, while the mother is left home isolated and dealing with the schools. She has no idea of the protocol and is even nervous to go to the grocery store. Where there is a large group of foreigners from the same local, they have a built in social system and can push the schools for ESL training. Public training of ESL is lacking.
In a town with few ESL student cultures,there could have a culture day to devop pride. Have kids bring in parents, foods, native costumes etc. Have a liason who works with these parents. But most of all get them involved in the school-the best way is the PTO. Also have another member be a mentor to this parent and make sure that her contributions are recognized.
Invitation to school for new parents and ESL parents with exhibits are great ways to get them involved.
I am a retired counselor and sped teacher in the middle school for 28 years. So there are ways to help the school. Most importantly make the PTO a part of the school, make sure that there is comraderie with teachers and administrators. This will make you an feel part of the school not just a guest.I also write for our newspaper and have been published in ESL magazine"Teaching ESL STUDENTS WITH ADD AND ADHD.
Thank you for reading my article. I would appreciate some feedback This are is important.
Elizabeth J. Cygan. Ed.D.