Title I

Myrtle Grove Middle School Family Engagement Policy 2025-2026

School mission and vision statements: We are a community of students, families and staff whose vision is creating a respectful, encouraging and safe place to learn and grow. We value honesty in our interactions which fosters healthy relationships and a sense of trust among our community members. Through both personal and team development we strive to keep integrity and compassion at the heart of our vision. We believe in us.

We are a community committed to growing and learning together.

List of assurances Myrtle Grove Middle School will:
● Engage parents in developing a family engagement policy and make parents aware of their right to be involved in their children’s education.
● Host annual Title 1 meeting.
● Dedicate at least 1 percent of Title 1 funds for family engagement activities, which parents involved in deciding the best use of funds.
● Develop a compact that outlines shared responsibilities for student achievement for parents, students and school staff. This is posted on our school website and located in the front office.
● Build parent capacity by explaining state academic standards, showing how parents can support student learning at home.
● Provide take-home educational materials.
● Coordinate with other federal, state, and local programs, including early childhood and English learner programs.
● Provide materials in a language parents can understand, to the extent practicable.
● Provide meaningful, two-way communication with families. School messages are delivered through a family engagement smartphone app, auto phone calls, and emails.
● Offer numerous opportunities for families to interact and work with their children and teachers. The School year begins with a cookout. The last quarter of the school year ends with a skate or movie night to encourage students to end the year on a strong note with their best effort. Parents are encouraged to volunteer at school.
● Provide monthly professional development for teachers in areas such as equity in schools, relationship building and innovative educational practices.

FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES
We will ensure our child gets enough sleep.
We will monitor and support attendance.
We will actively participate in school events.
We will support learning by checking assignments, websites, and newsletters.
We will create a respectful culture by speaking positively about school, teachers, and children. Provide up to date contact info.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
I will communicate my school responsibilities, grades, and assignments with my family atleast 2x month.
I will strive to improve my schoolwork by setting personal goals.
I will check email, Google Classroom, and Infinite Classroom regularly.
I will communicate my need for and accept help from teachers and my family when needed.
I will be an active learner.
I will maintain a positive attitude by working as a team with staff and show respect towards others.
I will leave my electronic device off.
I will attend school unless I am TOO sick to attend.

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES
COMMUNICATE
Myrtle Grove teachers will communicate with families about student learning through weekly newsletters, teacher webpages, phone calls, emails, or messaging apps.
INSTRUCT
Myrtle Grove teachers will provide every student with high quality instruction aligned to the NC Standard Course of Study. REACH ALL LEARNERS
Myrtle Grove staff will provide students with the opportunity to explore areas of interest, provide opportunities for enrichment, and remediation when needed. We will provide students with study skills and organization strategies that will last a lifetime.

OUR GOALS FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
MGMS will create a safe and supportive school environment for all students to grow and learn.
MGMS will meet the needs of all learners to effectively grow students academically and socially.
MGMS will strengthen the partnership between school and home to positively impact the growth of all students.
MGMS will increase student attendance by implementing proactive engagement strategies, consistent communication with families, and targeted support for students with chronic absenteeism, resulting in improved average daily attendance and reduced rates of chronic absenteeism by the end of the school year.

Testing and Accountability

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Federal law requires school districts to notify parents of children attending a Title I school of their right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct their child. 

Additionally, as a recipient of Title I funds, we will provide you with additional information in a timely manner if you request it. Specifically, you have the right to request the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:

• Whether the teacher meets the state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grades and core academic subjects they teach.
• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency status because of special circumstances.
• The teacher’s college major, whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
• Whether teacher assistants provide services to your child and, if so, their qualifications.

New Hanover County Schools is committed to providing quality instruction for all students by employing the most effective individuals to teach and support each student in the classroom. If you would like to receive any of the information listed above for your child’s teacher, please contact the school at 910-350-2100.

November 21, 2025

Dear Parent/Guardian:

I hope the school year is off to a successful start for you and your child. I am writing this letter to let you know that Myrtle Grove Middle has been designated as an Additional Targeted Support & Improvement (ATSI) school by the North Carolina State Board of Education. Per ESSA Section 1111(d)(2)(C), schools are identified as ATSI schools in North Carolina because one or more of the following subgroups received a subgroup performance grade score at or below the highest identified CSI-LP school's All Students group during the identification year; and is on the TSI-CU list for the subgroup(s) for the previous year. Subgroup performance scores are provided for the following subgroups: (1) Students with Disabilities, (2) Economically Disadvantaged, (3) Black, (4) White, (5) Hispanic, (6) Asian-Pacific Islander, (7) Multi-racial, and (8) English Learners. This letter is to notify our parents and guardians of Myrtle Grove Middle's intentions to improve educational outcomes for underperforming student subgroups and close achievement gaps for all students.

As a ATSI school, Myrtle Grove is required to develop an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) plan that specifically addresses how the school will improve outcomes for underperforming subgroups. The plan will also include strategies that our district will employ to support MGMS's improvement efforts. The ATSI plan will address the following areas:
Classroom Management
Standards-aligned Instruction
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Instructional Leadership
Recruitment & Retention of Effective Teachers
Support for Grade-to-Grade Transitions
Implementation of a Tiered Instructional System
Data-Driven Decision Making
Student Support Services
Family and Community Engagement

This is a planning year. This is the time for the goals and strategies to be reevaluated and guide our work over the next three years of this designation cohort."

Also, parent engagement is at the heart of our school improvement efforts. Here are some ways we can work together:
Ensure that both you and your child know the academic expectations set for your child this school year. A list of learning objectives in student-friendly language is available from your student's teacher(s).
Call MGMS at 910 350 2100 if you have questions or concerns about your student or to set up an appointment to meet with a school staff member who will be working with your child.
Make sure that your child is prepared and attends school each day.
Monitor your child's homework.
Monitor the progress your child is making and attend meetings with your child's teacher(s).
Keep track of our website and social media sites [insert links].
Volunteer.
Join the MGMS PTSA

Additionally, listed below are a few resources available to help:
Graduation requirements: www.ncpublicschools.org/gradrequirements/
K-12 standards in academic subjects: www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/
State student achievement test results: www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/
N.C. School Report Cards: https://ncreportcards.ondemand.sas.com/src

We are committed to improving student performance. It is important to remember that just as no single score or grade tells the whole story of a student, neither does it tell you everything about a school's performance or the opportunities that our school provides. The intent of receiving these designations is to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. We're excited about this school year and are working to make it a success for your child. If you have questions about the content of this letter, please contact Ms. Bliss at cyndy.bliss@nhcs.net

Sincerely, Cyndy Bliss