MAST Annual Title I News

McKissick Academy is a Title I school based on our poverty percentage. We are one of seven Title I schools in our district. This allocation enables schools to provide opportunities for children served to acquire the knowledge and skills contained in the challenging state content standards and to meet the challenging state performance standards developed for all children. This allows us to add teaching positions for lower class sizes, additional instructional materials, and create unique experiences for families. These funds also provide a parent resource room, Title I Curriculum Coach, Family Involvement Coordinator (bi-lingual), and Family Liaison.

Title I (of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation and the Every Student Succeeds Act) is a federal program that provides resources to schools where student needs are the greatest. Students receive additional opportunities to help them meet our state's education standards.

MAST monitors the implementation of our Title I Plan and includes all stakeholders during planning, including parents, community members, and school staff. If you would like to serve as part of our Title I Planning Team, School Improvement Council, or make comments about the plan, please contact Lauren Phillips (Title I Curriculum Coach) or Heather Touchberry (Principal) by phone at 864.397.2200 or email at laurenphillips@pickens.k12.sc.us or heathertouchberry@pickens.k12.sc.us.

Title I Planning Members:

Heather Touchberry - Principal

Steve Gilstrap - Assistant Principal

Lauren Phillips - Title I Curriculum Coach

Fran Carden - Reading Coach

Andrea Atkins - parent

Courtney Winn- parent

Leah Pangel - Community Member

Anna Spatafora - Community Member

Whitney Moore - Pupil Services Personnel/School Counselor

Caroline Stephens - teacher

Meghan Garcia - assistant

Emily Wilkey - teacher

Zaira Morales - Parent Involvement Coordinator

Donna Mansell - Family Liaison

Amy Turner - District LEA

Parent and family engagement is a vital part of our Title I Program. Families are encouraged to become an active partner in helping their child achieve and become involved in all aspects of the process of the Title I program.

MAST hosts parent workshops and family nights, as well as conferences and PTO events. MAST also has a Parent Resource Center in the media center where parents can check out materials to use at home with students. Parents can contact Lauren Phillips or Heather Touchberry with any comments or suggestions regarding the school's parent engagement expenditures.

Click here to access our schedule of Family Events for the current school year.

We are pleased to notify you that in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, you have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s teacher. Specifically, you may request the following:

● Whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.

● Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria has been waived.

● The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.

● Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

If you would like to receive this information, please contact your child’s school to make a request for information.

It is the procedure of The School District of Pickens County that the staff of McKissick Academy of Science and Technology responds to all written and oral parent concerns, problems, recommendations, or commendations related to the Title I school program within 24 hours or by the next school day, whichever comes first. If needed or requested, school officials also inform parents or other interested parties of the issue/request. All issues related to Title I compliance submitted by parents or other interested parties are filed with the principal and with the Federal Programs Office.

As a Title I school, we ask for input from all stakeholders regarding the development of a Parent and Family Engagement Policy as well as the Parent/School Compact.

The Parent and Family Engagement Policy explains how the school plans to work with parents to review and improve parent programs. This policy also describes ways that parents can participate in planning these programs.

The Parent/School Compact summarizes how parents, the school, and students will maintain a partnership throughout the year for improved student success.

Rough drafts of these documents were sent home for parent input. At conferences, parents will receive both documents and have the opportunity to ask more questions if needed.

You can access our current plan here.

There are many ways to communicate with our school. Here's a helpful list of who to contact and how they can be reached. In addition, at the bottom of this newsletter, you can access the links for our social media accounts along with our website.

Schoology - SDPC uses this as our learning platform. This is where you can access student grades, assignments, and attendance information. You will also find school updates there, and you can message your child's teacher in Schoology as well.

Teacher E-mail - All teachers and staff have email addresses listed on the website.

Classroom Phones - All teachers and staff have phones inside their classrooms or offices. These phones receive calls before and after school hours. During school hours, you can leave a voicemail. For calls that need a more immediate response, such as transportation changes, please contact 397-2200. A list of extensions is available on our webpage.

School and Teacher Newsletters - Each week the school will send out a school newsletter called, Fins Up. Teachers will also send a weekly newsletter specific to your child's classroom.

Conferences - Teachers will meet with you regarding your child a minimum of twice a year. Additional conferences can be requested at any time.

We have a parent resource room housed in our school with resources you can use to help your child academically at home. This ranges from games, manipulatives, and books. Please see Mrs. Zaira or Mrs. Martha in the front office to check out materials.

Email: laurenphillips@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: http://mast.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: 156 McKissick Rd. Easley, SC 29640
Phone: 864.397.2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MASTFINSUP
Twitter: @MASTFINSUP