AGAPE Family Engagement

AGAPE High School, a small learning community within St. Paul Public Schools offers young women who are  pregnant or parenting an educational option. We offer all core classes required for graduation, as well as  College In the Schools and other Post Secondary Educational Options.  

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. We invite  parents and community feedback and input on our plan. Please contact Stacie Jones for feedback / input. 

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

• Family Liaison: Addie See, AGAPE Social Worker
• Administrator: Stacie Jones 

Our school communicates with families in many ways, including:

• Watch our website for information  www.agape.spps.org
• AGAPE High School also sends out important Blackboard  Connect phone messages and emails.
• Our Bi-Monthly school newsletter, ‘The AGAPE Times’, is  emailed to all staff, families, and students and is posted on  our website under the ‘Families’ tab.
• When families call, email or send a note, we do our best to  respond within 24 hours.
•  Families and students are encouraged to contact our SAT  (Student Assistance Team) members via their work cell  phones via text if that is more convenient.
• Customer Service is an essential part of our welcoming  environment. We provide parents with easy access to staff  and resources. We offer flexible conference appointments.  We have adopted the practice of being responsive, available  and student centered. Our office staff are polite, friendly  and personable when interacting with our stakeholders. 

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 our  administrator: Stacie Jones
• AGAPE staff take part in district and site based professional  development and are also always learning and sharing with  each other about the equity work that we do individually.  AGAPE staff members have meetings every Thursday and  student achievement and barriers are addressed and  worked through as a team. 

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:

• Students and families that are new to AGAPE are welcome  to tour our building by appointment. After the tour, a  1  meeting with the Administrator and School Counselor will  take place where your daughter will develop an educational  & graduation plan.  

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

• The school counselor, social worker and support services  will work with the new school to coordinate the transitions.
•  AGAPE offers dual credits through Inver Hills, the UofM and  St. Paul College. These are helpful in transitioning to higher  education.  

Coordination with Head Start Programming:

• AGAPE Child care is serviced through the Head Start  program. AGAPE’s Students utilize Head Start for the  daily care of their children. They also are enrolled in the  home based program. Our partnership with Head Start  supports the transition of the infants and toddlers into  Pre-K education. 

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  : The Compact is  available  in our Family Involvement handbook and online on AGAPE’s  website,  www.agape.spps.org  or in printed form. Call  AGAPE’s  clerk 651-744-7970 for a copy.
• The compact will be updated  : 6/2026 

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

• Contact the high school counselor for information  about AVID participation, Career Fair, College Fair,  College field trips for your participation and get  information about Post Secondary Options for  your daughter. Also, contact the school counselor  with questions about continuing or completing  your own educational goals. 
• Title I Annual Meeting where we will share information about  school programs virtually via GoogleMeet. A recording of the  meeting will be uploaded for viewing.
• College and Career speakers will be invited throughout the  year to share their experiences and expertise via GoogleMeet  due to Covid, instead of career speakers and a college fair.
• Parent-Principal Partnership meetings will be held via  GoogleMeet.
• National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID),  and various celebrations (Events will be posted on AGAPE’s  website), our family engagement calendar and our school  newsletter, ‘The AGAPE Times’ which is emailed to students  and families.
• School Conferences and access to Schoology and Campus  Parent provide parents with opportunities to see student  progress. 

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

• All events at AGAPE will provide an interpreter upon request.
• We also partner with the Office of Family Engagement to  provide culturally responsive interventions and support.
• Transportation to and from FEP-related events, conferences  and family meetings is available. Virtual meeting opportunities  are also available to families.
• Use of Language Line and district interpreters to enable  families to hear about their daughter’s progress in their own  language.
• We will record any events or meetings that take place via  GoogleMeet and have them available for families to view in  their own time and provide feedback at their leisure. 

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

• Families are asked to attend conferences and/or Parent  Principal partnership meetings to give input on all areas of  their students education; including, staff development & PD,  Parent compact, and family engagement Plan.
• If you have concerns about your child’s learning, please attend  conferences or one of 3 Parent Principal Partnership Meetings  we will have throughout the year or feel free to email your  daughter’s teacher or AGAPE’s administrator at 651-744-7970  (email addresses for all staff are located in the AGAPE Family  Involvement Handbook and on  agape.spps.org  )
• Our staff works closely with the Saint Paul School District and  professional development. The staff continues to grow as we  meet to learn and discuss equity within the school.
• We welcome families to contribute to our mission, goals and  work. Please complete the Volunteer form found within the  AGAPE Family Involvement Handbook or contact the  administrator to discuss how you can assist. 

Parent Academy provides the foundation of  parents’ information and skills for becoming  more involved in our school. Parent Academy is a  six-week program for families. 

• AGAPE does not participate in Parent Academy. 

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

• Flexible Parent-Teacher conferences are held Oct, Dec, and  March.  Conferences will be held both in person and  virtually  (GoogleMeet or phone call) by appointment in October,  December & March. AGAPE endeavors to meet families where  they are at by opening up our conference opportunities,  allowing for flexibility with family schedules.
• Quarterly Honors Award assemblies will be held and our  Senior Recognition event in June 2025.
• ‘Good News’ phone calls, letters, emails and GoogleMeet  virtual meetings with families or guardians to share successes!

Our school will engage families in Personalized  Learning as a key strategy to accelerate student  achievement, as these changes come to our  school. 

• Campus Parent/Schoology  information is available in the  AGAPE Family Involvement Handbook and by contacting  AGAPE’s clerk 651-744-7970. Links are also on the AGAPE  website  and in our monthly newsletter.
• iPad disbursement happens in September and throughout the  school year in order to facilitate personalized learning. Please  email our iPad manager, Bryce Rasmussen, with iPad issues.
• Families can access the parent portal for updates on student  progress. Contact AGAPE’s clerk at 651-744-7970 to get login  information if needed. 

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

• Before and After school programs are not available at AGAPE.  The guidance counselor is available to help locate programs  and the Family Involvement Handbook also has support  opportunities listed. 

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

We have many partnerships.  Our top 6 partnerships include:  

1. Ramsey County Public Health (County-based visiting public  health nurse programs)
2. Esperanza United (formerly Casa De Esperanza)
3. Saint Paul College
4. Asian Women United
5. HealthStart Clinic @ AGAPE and at Gordon Parks, Diva Moms  program
6. Head Start Family Advocacy program