Conference 7.286::maynard

    I absolutely agree, so much so that my home phone number went out with
    every child Greenmeadow School.  My wife Valerie is the coordinator for
    volunteers this year.  Many parents volunteer, but with all this
    synergy in the MAYNARD file, I think we could get more.
    
    As much as I hate to answer the phone at home, I hope to hear a
    continuous ringing, as more parents GET INVOLVED.
    
    Anyone interetsed in volunteering this, please call Valerie Galvin,
    897-9588.
    
    Thank You!

    
    Recent enabling legislation has been passed to allow for the creation
    of independent education foundations to fund programs outside the
    regular school budgets. If you wish more info send me mail.
    
    

.2>    Recent enabling legislation has been passed to allow for the creation
.2>    of independent education foundations to fund programs outside the
.2>    regular school budgets. 

    Yes, that is quite a good idea. At least a couple people on the School
    Committee (that I know of, anyway) are strongly in favor of
    establishing an educational foundation. 

    The Superintendant is bringing in his proposed goals to the School
    Committee meeting tonight, and the establishment of an educational
    foundation is one of them. 

    -Steve    

    My husband and I have a son who is all of 14 months old. We would like
    to get involved in the Maynard School system some how, but don't know
    where to begin.

    I, personally, don't know how welcome our views would be, where we don't
    actually have children in school, yet. We have both talked about the
    fact that we would like to get involved NOW so that we KNOW what's
    going on in the school system by the time our son becomes part of the
    student population.

    Are there ways for us to be involved at this stage of the game? I
    realize that there are all kinds of committee being formed to research
    what the school needs are, but which ones are willing to hear from
    parent of infants?

    We were part of the silent majority during all of the regionalization
    pow wows, but didn't know enough about the school system to really
    voice an educated opinion.

    I am a MHS graduate and can relate to the small school atmosphere. My
    husband, on the other hand, graduated for Arlington High with
    classmates he didn't even know. "And I survived just fine", he says.

    The real issue at hand is not the SIZE of the school, but the EDUCATION
    it provides!

    A concerned parent,
    Norma (Dwinells) Donahue

Joining and becoming active in the parent groups (each school has one) is
probably the easiest way to get your foot in the door.   Each group has
its own character and you may have to weasel your way into certain activities,
etc. until you become a known quantity (you know, 80% of the work is done
by 20% of the people).  Lemme see: for Green Meadow, contact Ann Pratt;
for Fowler you could contact Betsy Griffin (she's not the head of the parents'
group, but she knows who is); and for the high school I suppose that Karen
Derby would be a good person to contact.

The friends of WAVM is another group that meets occasionally and you can
meet with other parents, students, and staff - get to know them and help out.
The WAVM telethon is this weekend and there is no shortage of volunteer space.
[Sleeping overnight in the school will certainly give you an interesting
perspective on both the students and the school itself :-)]   We're preparing
for the telethon both tonight and Friday.   Do what I did - just watch for
a few minutes and then start pitching in....   Participation in the
extra-curricular activities provides both a window and a doorway to the
educational side of school.

We've had a couple of interactive satellite Horace Mann forums at the MHS
library -- at least one of them was advertised in the Beacon.   We've had
parents, school committee members, and school staff attend these.  It's a
nice place for serious discussion - coupled with the points of view of other
people in the state (plus the panelists).

Attending sports events is a nice way of wading into the parent/teacher
community.  I'll admit this is a lot easier in the upper grades (Fowler+)
when team sports become a bit more organized, etc.   I think I've learned
about as much about the schools, teachers, etc. from attending soccer games
the past couple of years than from any other forum.

Several people have become "regulars" at school committee meetings -- another
window into how the community and the schools deal with the conflicting
goals and resources we have.

Once you know who to talk to, it becomes easier to learn about and eventually
contribute to the classroom.   This is not an overnight process - it takes
time to work your way into a community/group.


How's that for a start?


- dave

Dave Griffin's list is very good.  I have a few more.

Many people teach the after school classes: languages, theatre, computers,
etc.  Trish Demars organized that in the past.  Some classes are in progress
right now; perhaps they are preparing for classes in the Spring or Fall.  
If Trish is no longer putting that together, she would know who is.  Look
for her husband Art in the phone book.

You could call Green Meadow and volunteer as a classroom helper.

Dave, doesn't Betsy have a group of people making videotapes for the schools?
I think the idea is that they tape TV or cable programs for use in the
classroom.

.4>  I realize that there are all kinds of committee being formed to research
.4>  what the school needs are, 

The committees are being formed by Superintendent Greg Ciardi.  For example,
there will be a curriculum committee to look at coordinating the goals of each
grade level.  It sounds to me, Norma, like you're talking about being more than
just a pair of hands to volunteer, but that you would actually like to have an
influence on what happens in the schools.  One of the committees would be a
good opportunity for that.  Call the central office: 897-2222. Lorraine
Lochiatto is the Superintendent's secretary.  Talk to her or to Dr. Ciardi. 

.4>  but which ones are willing to hear from
.4>  parent of infants?

I see no evidence that anyone would resent your ideas.  Did anyone in this
notesfile object to Hal Shubin's ideas, just because he didn't have kids?
Rather, I think that most people look favorably on anyone interested in
promoting good public education. 

Another way to find out what's going on in the schools, and to potentially
influence them, is to talk to a school committee member.
It so happens that I know the phone number of one of them: Cindy Ruzich at
897-6160.  She's been in the kitchen making candy for Christmas gifts all week,
so she could probably use a break, anyway. 

.4>  The real issue at hand is not the SIZE of the school, but the EDUCATION
.4>  it provides!

A good point.

-Steve
    

    RE: 4
    
    If you would be interested in volunteering at the Green Meadow, you can
    contact my wife; Valerie Galvin 897-9588.  She is in charge of
    coordinating the volunteer activity for the school.  Call anytime.
    
    Tracy G

    I wish I had asked sooner!! Thank you all for giving me some leads on
    how to become more involved with our school system. 

    I'm just trying to get first hand knowledge of what the school system
    is all about and where I may help. 

    Thanks for the pointers!
    Norma