PEOPLE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE !
VOLUNTEERS IN
SCHOOLS (V.I.S.)
Volunteers in Schools is the
volunteer component of the Portsmouth School
System. The objectives are:
1. To provide educational
support services for the students and staff
of the Portsmouth schools.
2.To expand communication
between schools and the community.
Parents who are interested in
volunteering their time and services at
school are encouraged to fill out the V.I.S.
forms which are distributed at the beginning
of the school year or to contact the school
coordinator or the V.I.S. Director at
683-0918.
PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT
Community and parental
involvement in the school are necessary
ingredients in a quality educational program.
The Portsmouth School Department has always
recognized the parent as the primary educator
of children. Home-school cooperation is a
vital part of each child's educational
program and community-school cooperation is
essential for strong programs and financial
support. In an effort to achieve
parent-school involvement the following
program is followed:
 | Parent conference days are provided
for afternoon and evening parent teacher
discussions. |
| Open Houses are scheduled in each
building each Fall. |
| A special program for parents who
will have students entering kindergarten is
held in the Spring prior to entrance. The
program is called Kindergarten Information
Program (KIP). |
| A special program for kindergarten
parents is provided to introduce the
Developmental Placement Program and the
instructional program offered in Pre-One and
Grade-One. |
| Formal Parent Groups are encouraged
and operating at each school. Monthly
meetings are planned as well as special
events. |
| Parent Study Groups are provided by the
School Department four times yearly. These
multi-session groups are designed to improve
the parenting skills of parents/guardians. |
| Advisory committees which include
community representatives and parents are
presently operational in the areas of gifted
and talented education, special education,
Chapter I/Remedial education, vocational
education and drug abuse prevention
education. |
| American Education Week is
celebrated each year and parents are
encouraged to view classes in operation in
the school system. |
| The quarterly grade reporting process and
interim report process encourages parents to
make appointments to see their children's
teachers. |
| The remedial reading program, Project
RIPPS, requires a parent conference to
discuss test results, and the planned
program. Parent involvement and consent is
required. |
Portsmouth
Schools 
