Intentionally Planning for Family and Community Engagement

At Professional Children’s School (PCS), we believe that a vibrant, connected community is essential to the growth and well-being of every student. To create this kind of community, we shape our annual calendar to include opportunities for authentic family and community engagement and events that celebrate our students outside of their classroom accomplishments. 

Events to Engage Families

We want to create opportunities for families to engage with each other, as well as with the school staff, so we intentionally plan events to do just that. First, we begin every school year with a kickoff celebration during which families, students, and school staff all come together. This event empowers new and returning families to mingle with each other, building connections that last all year long. All students, families, and staff wear name tags so it is easier to make introductions and connections. This event always happens before the first day of school so that by day one, students and families can already feel like they are a part of our community. 

PCS hosts Family Breakfasts as an informal yet impactful way to foster communication, collaboration, and transparency between school and home. The Family Breakfasts take place on a monthly basis, and the agendas often include a balance of curricular highlights, academic topics, and upcoming events, along with family-submitted questions or concerns. These events build trust and shared goals for our students’ success but also allow parents to forge community bonds and share their own experiences with each other. 

In addition to these events, we take a unique approach to family conferences throughout the year. Each family has the chance to meet with all of their student’s teachers at once, allowing for more open collaboration and communication. Coordinating this is no small feat—bringing all the teachers together requires careful planning and a significant commitment of time. We set aside a dedicated day and create 15-minute slots for families to sign up.

During this time, teachers and advisers keep their calendars clear to fully participate in the conferences. Families engage in meaningful and productive conversations with the full teaching team, who present students’ progress, accomplishments, and areas for growth. Teachers also benefit from hearing their colleagues’ perspectives, which help them to better understand how to support each student across subjects.

Events to Connect with the Community

PCS strives to build a compassionate community of leaders and givers. While we aim to inspire students to give back every day, we dedicate a day in the calendar each year to specifically focus on philanthropy—the PCS Day of Giving. On the Day of Giving, students facilitate a sandwich-making event to provide packed lunches to a local food kitchen.

In addition to the Day of Giving, PCS students are empowered to consider other ways to be charitable throughout the year. Through a variety of student groups, including the Student Association, the Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA), and the Chinese Culture Club, students plan fundraising events and drives for causes that matter to them. As these initiatives are student-driven, they are often added to the calendar as the year progresses. In order to stay up-to-date on student leadership activities, we utilize our monthly family newsletter, weekly intercom announcements, our family-centered School Information System, and other digital communications to provide weekly, monthly, and semester-based updates.

Beyond these special events, students connect as a community throughout the year during our monthly all-school community meetings. These assemblies bring the full school community together, giving students a platform to speak, share accomplishments, and discuss important topics. Students, teachers, staff, and other community members are invited to share their unique experiences and perspectives, creating powerful moments that promote empathy, inclusivity, and understanding. 

Assemblies often highlight global and multicultural events and address issues of equity and inclusion, which are then followed up with small group activities in classrooms to deepen the conversation. We also use these gatherings to celebrate the legacy of great leaders—such as Martin Luther King Jr.—with assemblies that explore his work, engage students in conversations about justice through topics like the Exonerated Five, and conclude with reflective practices such as guided meditation.

These intentional and thoughtful experiences foster a sense of community, awareness, and connection that extends far beyond the assembly itself. They also provide students with the leadership opportunities that empower them to be more confident public speakers, advocates, and global citizens.

Events to Celebrate Students Outside the Classroom

While we recognize the importance of celebrating students’ academic achievements, we also know and want to celebrate that our students are well-rounded young people. One way we do this is through a yearly student talent showcase called the All School Night. This event takes place in the evening after school on the chosen day and invites students, families, and community members to come together to acknowledge the talented students we serve.

The evening begins with a potluck dinner—families contribute dishes that we all share together. Then, the performances begin. All School Night highlights who we all are outside of the PCS halls and brings us together in appreciation of the powerful impact the arts have on our community.

In addition to All School Night, we host an annual fundraiser during which students perform as well. PCS is unique in that it serves many students who are aspiring actors, singers, and dancers, so these types of events feel authentic to our community. Even without this schoolwide focus, such showcases can still be incredibly impactful, as all schools have students with talents beyond the classroom. Celebrating these gifts helps students feel seen and valued for who they are and what they contribute to their community. 

As we prepare for the next school year, we remain anchored in the belief that when we engage families, the community, and students collectively, we cultivate a school culture that is joyful, inclusive, and purpose-driven.