September Meeting Notes: Panel Discussion with PPS and PTAs

Special thanks to our PTA moms: Amy and Rebecca and also to our Portland Public Schools reps: Judy Brennan and Nancy Hauth!

Resources:
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/kindergarten/1591.htm
There are some great materials on this page, including a calendar of activities to do before kindergarten and also, the ABCs of Kindergarten.  Great stuff!

Question 1 – How to start getting involved at your school

• Be very specific with the teacher about wanting to be involved
• Be open to the teachers style and what that teacher needs; focus on learning achievement
• Don’t be afraid to ask how to do things or asked to shadow a more experienced volunteer
• You can volunteer for other things as well
• Cafeteria or library – ask the office about what they need
• Kindergarten round-up always needs volunteers and it will get you plugged in early
• Room parent – kids love it!
• PTA is a great place to be involved on committees and get to know other parents
• Each school is different but PTA generally focuses on fundraising, e.g. events, books for library, support artists-in-residence – budges vary depending on the schools
• Sometimes it’s best for committees if working parents pair up with stay-at-home parents to spread work and time
• Site Council – governance with staff and teachers; there are usually 2-3 parent positions
• Anecdotally, there is not much difference between working and non-working parents
• Get to know parents of students in upper grades – helps you navigate the school, teachers, etc.
• Keep yourself grounded in achievement and learning for your child and other children in the classroom

 Question 2 – Communicating with your child

• If your teacher sends out weekly communications, then you can use that to ask lead-in questions of your child
• You have to pretend you are the talk show host and they are the guest
• Be open to teacher’s communication style
• Facebook parents in the PTA or in your child’s class – get to know them
• In Portland, the Parent Assist tool is being revamped and will be a good online tool

 Question 3 – What about before/after school care

• Many schools have programs but you need to inquire early and often because space is limited
• Ask about this at Kindergarten Round-Up
• When you meet teachers, administrators or other parents ask them what questions you should be asking.
• There are other programs, not specific to the school, that are good alternatives – YMCA is an example
• Multnomah County Child Care Resource and Referral can help you find a good program
• When you start interview programs for your child be “business-like” about it.  Figure out what you need most to make your schedule and life work and focus on those things.

 Question 4 – What is the best way to work with the principle

• Always start with the teacher.
• If you have worked with the teacher, send an email or letter to both the principle and teacher about what happened. 
• Be diplomatic
• Focus on the issue
• Keep written communication for a record
• The principle and/or vice principle is usually at the PTA meetings, so you can chat with them then
• Don’t wait until you are really upset or until you have to say “We’ve been having trouble all year long.”  Address things right away so you can be level-headed and get it resolved before it becomes a big problem.
• Try to act like your child is an employee and you are addressing a concern with their manager.  Don’t be in “mom mode”, be a business woman.

 Last words of advice

• You are your child’s 1^st teacher.  Be open with them and set a good example of how to deal with difficult or frustrating situations.
• Give yourself credit – this is hard
• Maintain a good sense of humor
• Pick your battle wisely – think if this is really worth the anxiety
• Always speak positively about school, tell your child about your good school experiences
• Keep an open mind about the teacher – they may not be your favorite but they may be doing a great job teaching your child. 
• Practice opening lunches before school starts (some kids have trouble with juice boxes, containers, etc.)
• Remember that many teachers are also working parents

St. Ignatius School (K - 8) Open House

St. Ignatius School (K - 8) is having an Open House on January 28th, Thursday, at 9am or January 31st, Sunday, at 1pm. St. Ignatius School is located in the heart of SE Portland at 3330 SE 43rd Avenue on Powell Blvd. Any questions, you can contact Kathy Koch at 503-823-3494.

Notes from Sep's "Back to School" Mtg

I tried to post this as a comment to the mtg announcement, but it was too long to allow it. I'll just start tagged the NOTES so that you can find them easily. Have a great weekend!

cityMamas’ Affinity Group
September 2, 2009
12:00 – 1:30
Portland Development Commission – Commission Room

Welcome!
The meeting was hosted by Estee Segal and Lisa Gramp, who are both working mothers at PDC. Thanks!

Introductions
Brief introductions and check-ins about what we’re dealing with lately.

Discussion
There were three “panelists” brought in to share their perspective on the topic of School Choice, Olivia, Marlys and Julie. All of the moms happen to live in N/NE, despite trying to more moms from other areas. Below are the questions we made beforehand, and most were covered, but not necessarily in this order:

• Can you tell us a bit about your family, like how old are your kids and what neighborhood you live in?
• What research did you do to learn about your school options?
• Did you feel like you had a choice? What recommendations do you have for parents whose neighborhood school has a bad reputation?
• What factors were most important to you in choosing a school (location, test scores, diversity, special focus)?
• What's most important now that your kids are in school; good principal, teachers, ratio, etc? Are you happy with the school?
• Is joining the PTA the best way to get involved in your school? Are there other mechanisms for getting involved? Is fundraising key? Or legislative lobbying?
• What do you wish you would have known earlier? Or still want to learn?