Schooling is not just about engaging children. The partnership with parents and guardians is just as critical to a child’s success at school. At Christel House Jamaica we pride ourselves in this partnership. 

Our hard work is paying off. This year marked a major milestone: the successful restructuring of our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings. Previously, due to challenges like the pandemic, violence and social divisions within some communities, our PTA’s Annual General Meetings were split into two sessions, making it difficult to engage all parents and guardians in meaningful discussions.  

We hosted one unified PTA meeting in September and another in January, bringing parents and guardians together from all communities for the first time. 

This important achievement has turned the school into a unifying force, providing a safe space where parents and guardians from different backgrounds could come together as one. It also allowed for a smooth and cohesive election process for the PTA Executive. 

Mr. Scott, Executive Principal shared, “We pride ourselves on parent involvement, with around 70% of parents attending the last Annual General Meeting. Our PTA structure is strong, and we saw them elect the new PTA Executive, including president, secretary, and treasurer, who is also one of our teachers.” 

He added, “We also have support from parents in our Early Childhood Department, who are committed to helping us in our certification process by being involved in the activities in our classes and school.” 

Since the school’s inception, the Parental Involvement Points System has encouraged parents and guardians to get engaged by participating in PTA meetings, workshops, volunteering at school, and supporting community projects. Parents and guardians earn points for their participation, with higher involvement leading to Gold and Green rankings. Those who exceed 100 points per child and complete all categories receive Gold recognition.   

The success of the program is reflected in our numbers—of the 333 parent-families at Christel House Jamaica, 96.7% are actively participating and earning points. One parent has gone above and beyond, reaching an impressive 368 points so far this school year. Additionally, 70 parents have exceeded the 100 point-minimum and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their children’s education and the school community. 

Weekly workshops designed to enrich their parenting journey are another way parents can actively engage. Hosted by our Social Services Department every Friday on campus, these sessions discuss important topics including child abuse, mental health for both adults and children, safer sex practices, effective communication, conflict resolution and stages of child development.

The workshops are structured to encourage participation, with feedback collected at the end to assess learning and improve future sessions. Attendance is strong, with over 40 parents and guardians participating each week. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, as they leave feeling empowered and better equipped to support their families.