Family Engagement Plan

The Family Engagement Plan (FEP) is organized into four impact areas. We will be working together this year to build positive and goal-oriented relationships in each area. Families and staff at school developed this plan together.

Welcoming Environment

Our school has staff member(s) available for families to discuss this plan and ask questions

• Family Engagement Lead: Karen Shanahan karen.shanahan@spps.org or (651) 325-2492

Our school communicates with families in many ways.

• Friday Folders will be sent home with important school and classroom information each week, on the last school day of the week, to be returned to school on the next school day. 
• Teachers will inform families of how whole class announcements will be shared and will share individual progress throughout the year. 
• Our monthly digital newsletter, Spotlight, is sent at the beginning of each month and provides families with information about our Four Seasons A+ community, including what is happening at each grade level. 
• Keep informed about Four Seasons A+ through our website www.spps.org/fourseasons. 
• Keep up-to-date with student work through Seesaw.
• When families call, email, or send a note, we do our best to respond in 24 hours during the school week.
• Four Seasons A+ uses technology and Language Line to have two-way communication with families in their home language when possible.

The achievement gap, or rather the “opportunity gap,” between students of color and white students in Saint Paul Public Schools is unacceptable. Our school is working to change practices and systems by identifying the barriers that make it harder for students of color to succeed and for their families to support their learning.

• For more about our work on racial equity, contact: Ryan Fell,  Principal ryan.fell@spps.org or (651) 290-7595.

Transitions between schools can be challenging, and we work to help families as their children start and leave our school. 

For new students and families, we support the transition by:

• Four Seasons A+ holds an Open House for prospective families in January. Before school begins in Fall, we host an Open House for new and returning families. 
• Language Academy families will have a Welcome & Orientation event in September.
• For students joining Four Seasons during the school year, families are provided a welcome packet and given a school tour. Families are also invited to the ongoing Coffee with the Principal events. 
• We acknowledge that families entering Pre-K and Kindergarten face a big transition. We provide additional support to these families including a spring Family Welcome Event and Family Conferences before school starts in September. We also host Pre-K Family Days in fall and spring. During Family Days, families experience what,  and how, their child is learning and are invited to ask questions and discuss learning at home and at school.  
• Four Seasons A+ has an Early Childhood Special Education program that provides half and full day programs. This program is an excellent entry into our DHH (Deaf/Hard of Hearing) program.

For students and families moving to the next school in their pathway, we support the transition by: 

• Our School Counselor leads 5th grade classrooms in discussions and workshops around middle school transition including handling peer pressure, exploring expanded opportunities, and understanding middle school schedules.
• Four Seasons A+ is an arts integration school with a pathway to further arts integration at Global Arts Plus and Creative Arts High School. The transition is supported by collaborative events in the arts community and visits between schools.  

Family Partnerships

Our school-parent compact establishes the shared responsibility for student success between the school, families, and students. Families and teachers work together to develop the compact. 

• Copies of the compact are available: At Fall Conferences, in our main office, and posted on our website (www.spps.org/fourseasons) 
• The compact will be updated:  Every spring as part of our May Coffee with the Principal and Celebrate Four Seasons A+ events. We will also gather information to inform the Compact revision through the ongoing Question of the Month.

There are many opportunities for families to build connections to the school and to each other.

• Title I Annual Meeting where we will share information about how Title I supports a Four Seasons A+ education, September 22, 2025, 5:00-6:00 pm. 
• Events throughout the year (Open House, We Are Four Seasons A+, ongoing Coffee with the Principal, National African American Parent Involvement Day, three Academic Parent Teacher Teams Conferences, and Celebrate Four Seasons A+) will allow families to recognize progress, share concerns, raise questions, and plan together for the success of our students. The monthly digital newsletter, Spotlight, and website (www.spps.org/fourseasons) will post the dates/times of events and texts will alert families. 
• Opportunities to celebrate arts integration through student work occur throughout the year.
• National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) will be February 9, 2026.       
• Home Visits – Four Season A+ teachers participate in Parent Teacher Home Visits. Staff who participate in the Home Visit program are trained by both educators and parents about how to respectfully and authentically engage with families. A key aspect of this training is ensuring that families and educators are meeting each other as equal partners in their student’s education. 

We work to make these meetings and events available for every family in the school.

• Four Seasons A+ have staff who can interpret in Pashto, Spanish, and ASL.
• Staff use the Language Line to connect with families.
• Spanish and Pashto Interpreters are available for Fall Open House and Coffee with the Principal.
• Efforts are made to provide Interpreters in all home languages for APTT three times a year. Additionally, childcare and a light dinner are available during each APTT.
• Translations are available upon request.
• Understanding our families have varied schedules, Four Seasons A+ holds meetings at a variety of times.
• Four Seasons A+ holds both virtual and in-person events.
• Transportation is available upon request to events and school meetings.
• MLL staff collaborate with classroom teachers, our building interpreters, and the Language Line to reach families whose first language is not English.  

Our school supports families as advocates and provides opportunities for parent leadership.

• If parents have concerns about their child’s learning, the process at Four Seasons A+ Elementary School is to start discussion with the classroom teacher (involving MLL staff or Special Education staff as needed). Then to approach the Principal. If the concern has been referred to the Principal and a resolution has not been gained, next involve the district Ombudsperson.
• The district has an Ombudsperson available to help resolve conflict between families and schools. The Ombudsperson is a person who listens to and investigates complaints against Saint Paul Public Schools, its programs, offices and staff. The Ombudsperson does not take sides. She works with parents, community members and the school district to clarify and resolve questions, concerns and complaints in a fair and timely manner. The services of the Ombudsperson are free. Our Ombudsperson is Desiree’ Payne, at (651) 767-8394 or desiree.payne@spps.org.
• Four Seasons A+ staff engage in professional development around family engagement during Opening Week. A Family Engagement Committee meets regularly throughout the year to continually improve our family engagement practices.
• In spring, families will be invited to a Celebrate Four Seasons A+ event where the Family Engagement Plan, SCIP, and Compacts will be reviewed and revised.   

Teaching and Learning

Our school shares information about state standards, assessment and student achievement with families in multiple ways.

• Report cards and progress reports will be distributed during fall conferences and sent home in student backpacks in spring. The final progress report of the year will be available to families online (Campus Parent).  
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are held November 6th, 7th, and 13th. We offer in-person, virtual, and phone conferences.     
• APTT (Academic Parent Teacher Teams) – Four Seasons teachers use an alternative conference model, APTT. During APTT, families look at standards, review progress, engage in activities to support progress, and plan goals. Academic Parent Teacher Teams meet in fall, winter and spring.
• Reading Progress: Four Seasons A+ Elementary provides  information on students’ reading in K-3, if not at grade level through fall/winter/spring Progress Reports, APTT conferences during the year, and to families with children receiving interventions through the Student Assistance Team (SAT).   
• Literacy Support: Classrooms participating in Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT) share  literacy activities with families during APTT conferences. These activities are differentiated to meet the needs of the student. 
• A SIPPS (Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words) reading specialist will work with grades 3-5 to provide additional small group support in literacy.

Our school will engage in personalized learning as a key strategy to accelerate student achievement. Parents can get more information using many tools.

• Campus Parent login information can be accessed at spps.org/onestop or by asking the school clerk.
• Saint Paul Public Schools is a one-to-one district supplying each student with an iPad to help differentiate instruction within the classroom.
• Seesaw is used to inform parents of student progress and share student work.

Many before- and after-school enrichment and support opportunities are available for students

• Four Seasons A+ connects families to opportunities in the community through: St. Paul Parks & Recreation, Community Education, Boys & Girls Clubs and other organizations through our website, Friday Folders, monthly Spotlight, and PeachJar. 

Community Partnerships

Our school develops community partnerships to provide additional support for students and their families

• AMAZEworks - supports school Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS)
• Bell Museum - exploration of science through art 
• Children’s Dental Services
• International Institute of Minnesota - supporting immigrant families
• Lutheran Social Services - supporting families for improved attendance and academic success
• Macalester College - Bonner Scholars enrich our students’ classroom experience
• Merriam Park Recreation Center - Rec Check program
• Merriam Park Library - ongoing work with 4th & 5th grade classrooms
• Minnesota Orchestra - arts exploration
• Ordway - arts exploration
• Phillips Eye Institute
• Playworks - supports school Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS)
• Science Museum of Minnesota
• University of St. Thomas - classroom volunteers
• Walker Art Center - arts exploration
• 3M - material support for students and classrooms 

This plan is available as part of our school’s SCIP, or School Comprehensive Improvement Plan at spps.org/scip, is on our school website at https://fourseasons.spps.org/about/title-i, and printed copies are available in the office.