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School Parent Meeting

Q&A with School Management

Parents are given an open forum to ask questions directly to the principal or other senior school management regarding policies, facilities, or general school matters.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
John (Male)
Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming. We're now opening the floor for questions to the school management. Please raise your hand if you have something to ask.
2
Sarah (Female)
Yes, I have a question. My name is Sarah Chen. I was wondering about the school's policy on smartphone use during school hours for secondary students. Has there been any update on that?
3
John (Male)
Thank you, Sarah. That's a great question and a common concern. Mr. Lee, our Vice Principal, can address that.
4
Michael (Male)
Good evening, Sarah. Currently, our policy remains largely the same: smartphones are to be kept in lockers or bags and turned off or on silent during class time. We're exploring some new educational apps that require device use, but strict supervision will be in place.
5
Emily (Female)
Excuse me, I have a follow-up. My name is Emily Wang. Will parents be notified if there's a significant change to that policy, and how soon?
6
Michael (Male)
Absolutely, Emily. Any significant policy change, especially one affecting daily student life, will be communicated via email, the school website, and our parent portal at least two weeks in advance, giving everyone ample time to adjust.
7
David (Male)
I'd like to ask a question about after-school programs. My son, James, is in third grade, and we're looking for more options. Will there be new clubs or activities offered next semester?
8
John (Male)
That's a popular topic, David. We're always looking to expand our enrichment opportunities. Mrs. Adams, our Head of Student Activities, is working on that.
9
Lisa (Female)
Yes, David, we've received plenty of feedback. We're planning to introduce a robotics club and an advanced art workshop next semester, catering to different age groups. More details will be shared closer to the enrollment period.
10
David (Male)
That sounds fantastic! Thank you for the information. We'll definitely keep an eye out for those announcements.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

policy

A policy is a set of rules or guidelines that an organization follows. In schools, it often refers to official rules about student behavior or activities, like rules for using phones.

smartphone

A smartphone is a mobile phone that can access the internet and run apps. It's commonly used by students but often restricted during school time.

update

An update means a change or new information about something. In this context, it refers to recent changes to school rules.

concern

A concern is a worry or something that people are interested in discussing. Parents often raise concerns about school policies.

supervision

Supervision means watching over someone to ensure they follow rules. Schools use supervision for activities involving devices to keep students safe.

follow-up

A follow-up is an additional question or comment related to the previous topic. It's useful in meetings to get more details.

notified

To be notified means to be informed or told about something. Schools notify parents via email or apps about important changes.

enrichment

Enrichment refers to activities that improve or add value to education, like clubs or workshops that make learning more interesting.

feedback

Feedback is opinions or suggestions given by people. Schools collect feedback from parents to improve programs.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

I have a question.

This is a simple and polite way to start asking something in a meeting. It's useful for intermediate learners to participate in discussions. Use it when you want to speak in a group setting.

I was wondering about...

This phrase is a polite way to introduce a question, meaning 'I am curious about...'. It's indirect and courteous, common in formal situations like parent meetings. The past continuous tense softens the request.

That's a great question and a common concern.

This response acknowledges a question positively and shows it's shared by many. It's useful for moderators or speakers to build rapport. 'Common concern' highlights shared interests.

Excuse me, I have a follow-up.

This is a polite interruption to add to a previous discussion. 'Follow-up' means a related question. Use it in Q&A sessions to stay on topic without being rude.

Any significant policy change will be communicated via email...

This sentence explains how information is shared. 'Communicated via' means 'sent through', and 'at least two weeks in advance' shows timing. It's practical for understanding official announcements; passive voice emphasizes the action.

We're planning to introduce a robotics club...

This uses future tense 'planning to introduce' to describe upcoming plans. It's useful for sharing updates in meetings. 'Catering to different age groups' means suitable for various ages, showing inclusivity.

That sounds fantastic! Thank you for the information.

This is an enthusiastic positive response to good news. 'Sounds fantastic' expresses excitement. It's a natural way to end a question politely, showing appreciation.