Friday Open Thread
My husband just happens to be in a conference in South Africa. He said they had a moment of silence this morning for Nelson Mandela and their first speaker said this:
"He shamed us into putting aside our petty differences by shaking the hand of his tormentors when he was released from prison."
I wouldn't say I have tormentors but I would like, as an early New Year's resolution, to try to talk with those whose work/opinions are different from mine and see if we can find common ground (especially in trying to get the Legislature to fulfill McCleary). I have tried in the past to do this with some of the bigger names in ed reform in Washington but did not get any response or not a favorable one. But it matters to keep trying if only to follow Mandela's example.
For the kids:
- amazing shadow sculptures created by artist Tim Noble using trash (note: not for elementary students and sensitive teens)
- Da Vinci invented many things that he never actually made. One was the viola organista and here's what one sounds like (a cello played by a piano).
- my favorite - a giant ant colony excavated. Jaw-dropping.
No Director community meetings tomorrow as the Board has their retreat from 10:15 am to 5 pm at City University at 521 Wall Street in Pioneer Square. Open to the public but parking can be tough. UPDATE: Agenda. The agenda is vaguely straightforward. "welcome" "review of last year" "board members areas of interest" "code of conduct" (don't know if this is for the Board or who),
"overlap/extension of Policy 1620, 1620BP" (again what is this extension?).
What's on your mind?
"He shamed us into putting aside our petty differences by shaking the hand of his tormentors when he was released from prison."
I wouldn't say I have tormentors but I would like, as an early New Year's resolution, to try to talk with those whose work/opinions are different from mine and see if we can find common ground (especially in trying to get the Legislature to fulfill McCleary). I have tried in the past to do this with some of the bigger names in ed reform in Washington but did not get any response or not a favorable one. But it matters to keep trying if only to follow Mandela's example.
For the kids:
- amazing shadow sculptures created by artist Tim Noble using trash (note: not for elementary students and sensitive teens)
- Da Vinci invented many things that he never actually made. One was the viola organista and here's what one sounds like (a cello played by a piano).
- my favorite - a giant ant colony excavated. Jaw-dropping.
No Director community meetings tomorrow as the Board has their retreat from 10:15 am to 5 pm at City University at 521 Wall Street in Pioneer Square. Open to the public but parking can be tough. UPDATE: Agenda. The agenda is vaguely straightforward. "welcome" "review of last year" "board members areas of interest" "code of conduct" (don't know if this is for the Board or who),
"overlap/extension of Policy 1620, 1620BP" (again what is this extension?).
What's on your mind?
Comments
From Paula Montgomery, the JAMS Planning Principal:
_________________________
While it is early in the process (we have not hired team leaders), I know that parents have many, many questions, want to meet me, and want to start to give input.
The agenda is the same for both meetings. And we will have monthly meetings after the school year, including a day time option.
Jane Addams Middle School Community Meeting
Jane Addams Middle School Library
(Same agenda both dates)
Wednesday, December 11 6:30-8:00
Wednesday, December 18 6:30-8:00
Agenda:
Overview of timeline , teacher hiring, and spring processes
Review of facility work
Q & A
Opportunity for parents and community to give first input into the educational design
Brief school tour
- North-end Mom
http://ourschoolscoalition.org/2013/12/bubble-on-a-form-makes-an-obstacle-for-native-education/
It's short, read it through to the end.
39% making standard in math is beyond unacceptable.
discouraged
Monday, December 9, 2013, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Professional Library
John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence.
K - 5 Mathematics Instructional Materials Adoption Committee
Ann D.
I heard from one mother of a bi-racial child that she had to check one box or her child couldn't be enrolled.
The permission forms given out by schools are non-standard and aren't very clear. I actually attempted to redesign the permission form last year and shared it with District staff and was ignored. Our neighborhood school's secretary told me no, they only used the district forms but when I compared what the teacher sent home to what the current district forms template from the main site it was completely different.
Perhaps SPS could initiate a secondary process through the school newsletters and the phone system to encourage folks to help make sure that special designations that help get the districts more funds are noted in the kids records. That said, given SPS's track record in using SPED and funds for Native American children -- why bother? They have misappropriate them in the past and it is questionable as to whether the students and their schools see any benefit anyway.
Sigh.
Ann D.
There is a new blog for tracking the Meany Middle School planning.
http://meanyms.blogspot.com/
Any suggestions for content is welcome.
Ann D.
-concerned parent
Concerned mom in WS
at the Board meeting Shauna Heath told the Board that they had sent out a Common Core letter to parents. Director Carr had to gently tell her one long letter wasn't enough and they needed to have more (or at least an "elevator explanation.")
It might be good for schools to advocate for this outreach or maybe schools should be doing this themselves.
Franklin Parent
http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/program-tools/school-travel-trends-2007-to-2012
Via planetizen.com, a great aggregtor/curator of planning and development news.
-parent
That's puzzling, since the OSPI report cards LIST a category for "two or more races" for enrollment (apparently, statewide, it's about 6.3% for the 2012/13 school year). The same report-card form lists a slightly higher level for SPS, as well: 6.6%. SOMEONE must be able to, at some point, put that down. Puzzling: I wonder where the OSPI forms get their data from?
I will just say what I used to tell tour groups at Roosevelt:
You don't have to come to school dressed as if you are going to church or Grandma's house but please don't come dress as if you were going to a party.
School is their workplace. No time like the present to think about that especially as teens think about jobs and internships.
Common sense
Do they have a different review board now for education articles? There was one small snide comment about parental involvement in high-income schools, but overall the article was a good read and highlighted what sounds like a great program with the potential to grow in other places, like Seattle.
Check all that apply. Please circle your primary choice." but when I did in fact choose both 'white' and 'african-american/black', of which she is equally both, I was told unequivocally that I must choose only one. I think this is what Ann D is also alluding to - that the people helping at enrollment for people with questions are telling folks to do something other than what appears to be instructed on the form. You can see the application for yourself at http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Forms/Enrollment/registrationform.pdf.pdf?sessionid=e4e5786f00cf6a983788632b30c0c78a
Also, once enrolled, they do list only one race under your kids info so you don't really have a choice - you just have to pick one. Perhaps some folks have been able to leave their other choices checked on the form and that is where OSPI gets that info. But I was told I could only have one choice.
Franklin Parent