More than 100 moms, dads named to first Battery Creek parent honor roll

Encouraged by a crowd of cheering teenagers and teachers, about 125 parents of Battery Creek High School students accepted certificates and bumper stickers identifying them as members of the school's first "parent honor roll."

Thursday's ceremony preached "parent power" and included musical performances and door prizes -- such as BCHS baseball caps and license plates -- to honor parents that showed adequate involvement in their children's education over the past nine weeks.

The honor roll, which was launched this school year, recognizes parents for promoting good attendance, monitoring homework, visiting the school and supporting extracurricular activities.

"It encouraged me to get more involved," said Darene Scott, whose daughter is a freshman at Battery Creek. She said she plans to the join the school's athletic booster club and hang her honor roll certificate near her desk at work to show it off.

School board members and principals have long lamented a lack of parental involvement in the district. When a senior Donisha Myers approached Battery Creek Principal Edmond Burnes with the same concern last year, he decided it was time to take action.

"Just as much as they support kids in athletics, parents should support kids' academics," Myers said.

A committee developed a set of minimum criteria and tracked parental participation in the school. Burnes said 467 parents made the honor roll this year. About 1,300 students attend Battery Creek High School.

Although parents didn't meet his original goal of qualifying 50 percent for the honor roll, Burnes thinks the effort has made a difference.

"Overall, parental involvement is better because we see them at more events," Burnes said.

Myers said some students are treating the honor roll as a competition and are nagging their parents to get involved. She said she saw results at the school's dance and drama showcase in October.

"Usually you can count the people there, but I can guarantee you, the auditorium was filled," she said.

Gloria Bockelman, a parent of two Battery Creek students, agrees. She said more parents have attended School Improvement Council meetings -- about 25 this year, compared to five or six last year.

"It's always been a struggle to get parents to be involved in School Improvement Council," Bockelman said. "I have seen some new faces, which is great."

Brian and Andrea Canaday, who both made the honor roll for supporting their sophomore daughter, said the ceremony was a good start but want to see a better turnout next time.

"There are too many parents who aren't involved," Andrea Canaday said. "(The students) act embarrassed sometimes, but they like it when you're involved."