Holland High School Family Engagement

Throughout the year, we’ve hosted both traditional events—such as Open House and Parent-Teacher Conferences—as well as additional opportunities designed to strengthen family voice. This fall, our Pastries & Principals event brought families together to share input on extracurricular involvement and school engagement. That conversation led to the creation of our Parent Partnership Form, resulting in valuable volunteer connections and community support.

We’ve also appreciated having parent representatives serve on our Building Leadership Team, meeting monthly and working alongside staff to review data and help shape school improvement efforts. One outcome of that collaboration was our Partnership & Pizza event during February’s Student-Led Conferences, where families and students participated in interactive stations focused on time management, budgeting, goal setting, and communication.

We gathered helpful feedback from families during that event, and the summary is included below: 

Family Engagement Feedback Summary (February Partnership & Pizza Event)

• Strong overall positive response—most families would attend again
• Many reported improved communication with their student, due to the intentional conversations
• Meaningful takeaways centered on listening, asking better questions, and understanding student experiences
• Stations were well-received; pacing and structure felt “just right” for most participants
• Most valued moments included student presentations and one-on-one conversations
• Families appreciated dedicated time together in a structured, low-pressure setting
• Suggested future topics: 
  • Mental health, technology use, friendships, FAFSA/college planning, and understanding school programs/opportunities
  • Interest in more interactive experiences (e.g., cooking classes, hands-on activities)
  • Feedback reinforces desire for continued events that build connection, communication, and partnership between school and families

We also gather family voice through our Family School Climate Survey. Our most recent results reflected strong positive feedback, particularly in the area of “Teachers Care,” with families indicating that staff consistently show care and respect for students. Families also expressed appreciation for continued opportunities for meaningful engagement and communication, reinforcing the importance of efforts like these.

Building on this feedback, we are excited to continue creating spaces for connection, conversation, and partnership with our families.  We invite you to join us for one more family engagement opportunity this school year:

Join Us: Spring Pastries & Principals – April 23

Thursday, April 23
8:00–9:00 AM
Performing Arts Center Lobby
(Doors open at 7:45 AM—stop in after drop-off)

Enjoy light refreshments while engaging in open conversation with school administrators about our strengths and opportunities. Whether you have a freshman or a senior, your voice matters—and we would love to hear from you.

We hope to see you there!  Thank you for your continued engagement and partnership!