Curriculum Nights: Strengthening the home-school connection

     Attending your school's Curriculum Night is another way to take an extra step in supporting your student’s educational journey. Curriculum Night is an event that helps families better understand what their student is learning in the classroom. Teachers will guide families through key highlights of the Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS), which shape the foundation of students’ daily learning experiences.

     “Our goal for families who attend curriculum night at Jenkins Elementary is first to make them feel like they belong and that this is their school,” says Principal Tameika Haynes. “The overall goal is to provide them with a clear understanding of what their children will be learning, how instruction is delivered, and the expectations for academic and social growth. We want to create a collaborative space where families feel welcomed, informed, engaged, and empowered to support their child’s learning journey.”

     Curriculum night is not only an opportunity for parents to learn more about the AKS and classroom expectations, but also to learn about their school’s focus and administration team, and to provide families with the space to build stronger relationships with the staff at their school. Jordan Middle School committed to this by enhancing the Curriculum Night experience with a new approach.

   “Parents were provided with their students’ class schedules and had the opportunity to follow their child’s daily schedule, moving from class to class just as their student would,” says Jordan Middle Assistant Principal, Ada Hamlette. “By walking through their child’s schedule, parents were able to better understand the academic journey and daily experiences of their student.  It also helped strengthen the connection between home and school by making the learning environment more visible and relatable.”  

     You can learn more about the GCPS curriculum, AKS, and courses offered at various grade levels on the GCPS Course Catalog page.