Ask anyone in education about some of the challenging years for students, and middle school is bound to come up in the conversation.

Looking at test scores and using common sense, it is easy to see that middle school is often the time when students begin to struggle. With so many outside pressures and changes, it can be difficult for students to succeed at their schoolwork. And just at the time they need parental guidance most, they try to give the impression they don’t need them at all.

But Robert Lewis Middle School, which held its first PTA meeting of the year last week, is working to boost that parental involvement.

New Principal Bettye Bell hopes to attract more and more parents to the PTA meetings, where they can also recruit parental help with tutoring and other activities at the school.

But even parents who don’t have time for tutoring or other in-school activities can help simply by being their for their own children. Educators at Robert Lewis say the most successful students are those whose parents stay involved throughout their academic careers.

Their advice:

4Monitor your child’s progress, including through visits to the school.

4Send your child to school with the right attitude and materials.

4Visit the parent center, which offers a variety of tools for parents looking to help with their children’s education.

4Support the school rather than criticize it.

Bell and her teachers are really stressing an open-door policy at the school. They want and need parental involvement to help the students succeed. We will be following their progress as they year goes on, and we encourage parents to become active participants in the educational process. The next PTA meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 7. We hope all parents will be there.