Flower City Parents Network News
www.flowercityparents.org
Volume 26 April 12, 2010
Do you know how cuts in next year’s budget will affect your school? The budget is scheduled to be voted on by the school board on April 29, so there’s still time to find out what’s on the chopping block. Ask your principal, ask members of your School Based Planning Team, ask your PTA. And make sure you let the board know what’s important to you! You can speak at tonight’s Public Hearing if you sign up by noon today (see below), or you can write board members individually. If you’re really energetic, write your state legislators too, since everything depends on how much funding the District gets from Albany.
Check out our new “Ask Parent Services” feature, where you can post questions for Dorothy Evans-Flaherty, the District’s new coordinator of the Office of Parent Engagement. Dorothy’s most recent post summarized the school changes in the works for the District, including new high schools phasing in and old high schools phasing out and the reconfiguration of grade levels at other schools. She also let us know that school is starting before Labor Day again next year - September 2.
Flower City Parents is on Twitter: @cityparents
From our latest posts:
On Wilson Foundation’s reconfiguration (6th grade starts next year):
Q: Will the IB Program be up and running for 6th graders in September 2010?
A: Teachers will be trained over the summer; we will not have “full authorization” from IB — it takes a few years. However, once you apply (application already submitted), IB curriculum is expected to be taught and teachers trained. Our 6th grade will eventually be a part of the Primary years Program (K-6), but the 6th graders will receive the IB curriculum.
Q: If a student decides not to start out in the 6th grade program in September 2010, will there still be spots for students interested in going there as incoming 7th graders in September 2011?
A: No; (Wilson) will no longer be a part of the 6-go-7 School of Choice process.
On the importance of arts and music in the curriculum:
As a child I did not play an instrument, and music class had minimal impact on me. Art class was very enjoyable, but not a subject I would necessarily leave in the curriculum if something had to go.
But seeing how art is woven into the schools my children now attend has opened my eyes to its potential. It’s used more as a vehicle, particularly at my kid’s elementary program. Art and music are a part of the school culture, the glue that holds the student body, staff and parents together. Art is used to introduce concepts, build on and solidify learning and often as a means to express the culmination of a body of knowledge.
In this sense art brings the learning to life at the elementary level.
At the secondary level, it seems more specialized and appears to be the “raison d’etre” for some students to continue their education, or at least continues to be a vehicle for delving into the core subjects.
And come to think of it, at the preschool level, art is the primary subject, period. Why it becomes dispensable after that is puzzling.
On Rochester Education Award nominations:
Do you know an amazing City School District educator, volunteer, business partner or mentor? Rochester Education Foundation, a non-partisan, charitable organization, is seeking nominations from the Rochester community for its 2010 award winners to be recognized at its Fifth Annual Partnership Awards Dinner, October 20, 2010, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Nominations are being accepted for educators (teachers, administrators and others working in city schools), volunteers, businesses and individuals until May 1, 2010. To submit a nomination, please write a one-to two-page letter explaining what, specifically, the nominee does to support city students and how long they have been offering this support. Send it to: info@rochestereducation.org or REF Awards 2010, 250 Mill Street, Rochester, NY 14614.
On the new Arts & Technology High School:
My husband attended the integrated arts & technology open house over the weekend with my daughter and was impressed enough to call me at work to tell me about it.
The new principal Kevin Klein spoke along with 2 national expeditionary learning staff. A former GCCS 6th grade class presentation (the kids are now 10th graders) of rewatering the canals http://www.elschools.org/video.html was presented as an example of what this new school will strive for. A 7-12 school that wants kids to be the work not just do the work has me so excited as i have witnessed what it can do at the elementary level.
This school will also partner with RIT, including overnight campus visits in the summer. It will employ extensive use of technology - tests will be taken on itouch’s, tracing student progress will be computerized and accessible on a daily basis. state of the art apple equipment for all students etc…
Outward Bound team building activities, two major expeditionary projects a year and partnerships with local arts organizations.
The lottery will be drawn early next month, I guess, from the pool of applicants who filled out the 2-page application and attended one of the sessions.
I got a little teary-eyed when my husband was describing the community partnerships, the resources, the thought that has gone into making an opportunity of excellence for 75 fortunate 7th grade city students next year. I love the city…
Plus … high school signups still going on, the mayoral control forum, superintendent/teacher relations, Wegmans v. Tops … and much more!
Question of the Week: How do you feel about report cards?
Too much information? Not enough? What kind of comments do your teachers write?
Join the conversation – and feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!
Monday, April 12 6:30 p.m.
Public Hearing on RCSD Budget
To speak, call 262-8525 by noon
Thursday, April 15, 5:30-7 p.m.
Wilson Foundation Open House for 5th grade students and parents
200 Genesee St.
Saturday, April 17, 10a.m.-12 p.m.
Office of Parent Engagement Open House
690 St. Paul St.
Thursday, April 29, 6:30 p.m.
Monthly RCSD Board Meeting
Call 262-8525 by noon to speak.
September 2
School starts!
Final Thoughts
In response to our questions, Mayor Duffy has offered to meet with Flower City Parents. We’re trying to work out a time for a meeting — probably an evening in the last week of April or first week of May. We’ll let you know as soon as there’s a date to save. In addition to answering questions, the mayor says he would like to hear from parents what we would like to see change in the district, should the change in governance happen. In his words, “It would be a great chance for me to listen and then follow through.”
We’ll keep you posted!
Thanks - as always - for your support.
Sincerely,
The Flower City Parents Network