Tuesday Open Thread

I note that President Obama had the time to issue a proclamation about National Charter Schools week but not one for Teacher Appreciation Week.  I called the White House Press office and Arne Duncan's office about why this might be but no answer yet.  

What's on your mind?

Comments

Anonymous said…
This is meta, but this morning I had my second dream about this blog. In this dream there was an announcement that commenting would be shut down owing to many comment abuses (impersonation, posters regularly responsible for over 40% of a post's comments, unsolicited commercial spam). I was going to make one of the last comments, titling it "Comment Courtesy", when I understood that rules regarding commenting are entirely subjective and it wasn't my blog, so who was I to be Miss Manners?

The first dream I had back in January, when I was at some Seattle Schools community meeting and talked with early arrivals who were also blog habitués. One said that the music one listened to at age 15 was the music s/he'd forever consider gemütlichkeit and I disagreed, as I was listening to Can and thought it was gemütlichkeit although they stopped recording well before I was 15. The blog habitué looked sternly at me and said "Can is NEVER gemütlichkeit, no matter how old you are." I mention this as I picked up Can's "Monster Movie" CD at the same library and on the same day the blog habitué and I attended a School Board Director's community meeting at my local library. It was my first attendance at a director's community meeting and also the first time I picked up a Can CD, which had just been made available after being on hold for me for weeks, from that library. I didn't say much at the meeting for fear I'd say "gemütlichkeit" and someone would respond, "but nobody has sneezed yet!"

--- Adrenal Fatigue Messes With My Dreams
Anonymous said…
Does anyone know what schools have applied to be Creative Approach schools? Is there a way to get access to that list and what the applications entail?

- Curious
mirmac1 said…
Adrenal,

Can I have some of your meds? : )
Anonymous said…
Yes, I'd like to know what schools applied to be Creative Approach Schools too. We do not have enough alternative schools. I have applied every year to get my son transferred to a school that does not "teach to the test" we are always on the very long waiting list. After watching the movie "Race to Nowhere" I feel even stronger that our children need more creative approach to learning.
Charlie Mas said…
The process for Creative Approach Schools begins with the schools filing a Statement of Intent. That's due this week.

It will be followed by an application, which is due in October. A committee will review the applications and make decisions in November 2012, and the programs can start in Fall 2013.
Charlie Mas said…
On Friday, May 18 at 6:30pm, the Quest Life Together Women's Group is offering a free screening at Q Cafe of Finding Kind, a documentary about girls bullying girls. The film is already creating buzz at film festivals and schools across the country, and documents the 10,000-mile cross-country journey of Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson, two first-time filmmakers who were both teen victims of "mean girls." After the film, a brief discussion will be held about the issue of girl-against-girl bullying.

The event is free, but seating is limited, so we ask that everyone who wishes to attend to RSVP at http://bit.ly/findingkind and print out their confirmation email to bring on the 18th.

The Finding Kind Trailer can be viewed here.
Anonymous said…
I highly recommend 'Finding Kind'. Many of the schools in the district have shown it to their middle school and high school girls. Discussion after the movie can be wonderful.

FHP
Anonymous said…
Bishop-Blanchet has cancelled school for next two days, since more than 150 students called in sick today. They fear it is a pertussis outbreak. There is a epidemic right now, please get your booster shots, it is a nasty disease that can make you very sick (and kills babies).

CCA
SE Mom said…
The Bishop Blanchet website and Seattle Times have an update: sickness likely caused by influenza rather than pertussis.

But the reminder to get a pertussis booster is still a good idea.
Anonymous said…
Charlie,

Thanks for the on-going Enfield photo. I especially enjoyed the synchronicity of seeing it next to the blurb about the documentary.

No association intended, I'm sure--but pure comedy, much needed.

--enough already
Jim said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
The Orca K-8 annual plant sale is this Saturday! We'll have lots of veggie starts, raspberries, native plants, environmental education opportunities, a mobile art makery, baked goods, and a Full Tilt ice cream truck - something for everyone! 46th Ave. S. and S. Dawson in Columbia City, 10-3.

--southpaw
mirmac1 said…
The BEX IV Work Session presentation is posted.

Interesting. The intro slide states that "The Seattle Public Schools (SPS) 2012 Facilities Master Plan will serve as the platform for project selection. The Board has developed policies and guidelines that direct capital planning staff to prioritize potential projects:
• Seismic mitigation
• Capacity
• Building Condition"

Yet, when discussing the (now named) Downtown School, the district states:

City and District forecasts of school population growth in the area are not fully validated at the present time.

So where does that fit with the three priorities? And is "not fully validated" synonymous with cooking the books? Are ANY forecasts and growth projections fully validated anyway, or are these especially squirrelly? Finally, why don't I see mention of a Downtown school (or SLUSH) in the 2012 Facilities Plan?

Oh well, they must think it looked good on the intro slide.

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