(P&F) Meeting Minutes 10/13/09
Parents & Friends (P&F) Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
7pm MES Library
Attendees: Pam Bullock, Cathy Cunliffe, MiKaela Simms, Julianne Mills (treasurer), Vanessa Redfield (secretary), and Francie.
Discussion about Social Inclusion work
* Francie updated the group on the social inclusion progress:
- how that looks different in each classroom
- the preview/review process around recess
- Kim John Payne’s Nov 12th presentation
- increased communication about social inclusion process with part time staff
- a brief description of the “put-down diet” that the Social Inclusion Coordinating Group (SICG) is currently doing
* The group had an open discussion, sharing their and their children’s comments, ideas and feedback thus far in the social inclusion process.
* Pam shared an idea to anticipate high parent energy following KJP’s Nov 12th presentation and set a date ahead of time for interested parents to come together to debrief and/or begin the Put-Down Diet. Stay tuned for more information around the “debrief” date and what that night will offer/look like.
Buddy Families
* As an extension of the social inclusion work, the idea of Buddy Families was discussed with much support and enthusiasm. Buddy families will be “veteran” MES families (families with children who already attend MES) who are willing to be a supportive, go-to contact for families who are new to MES. Buddy families can help answer questions that families new to MES might have about school (staff names, homework, All-School Sing and the like) and even non-school things (food shopping, doctors/dentists, things to do, etc.).
* P&F/SICG will solicit Buddy Family volunteers via a Friday Note request. When new families enter MES, Gail or Francie can inform P&F and we can draw from our volunteer pool to match a “veteran” family with a new one.
Social Offerings
* We briefly discussed ideas for social events/gatherings that were generated at the last P&F meeting. As the night was getting late, we decided to table this conversation until the next P&F meeting.
next Parent & Friends/Social Inclusion gathering…
November 12th, 7pm, in the Outback
Kim John Payne
“Creating Socially Healthy Communities”
free event for MES parents
Posted: October 16th, 2009 under P&F.