January 2019 Parent Meeting Minutes
PCEP PARENT MEETING MINUTES
January 8, 2019
MAPLEWOOD COMMONS
7:00 – 7:34
CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME: Mr. Jourdan
The Meeting called to order by Mr. Jourdan at 7:00 PM. Mr. Jourdan welcomed everyone and shared the snack table will now be at the back of the room, reminded everyone to sign-in, pay the pig or your pledges online and wished everyone a happy new year.
PCEP News & Announcements
International Night: Kristie Larsen
Ms. Larsen spoke on behalf of Ruth Gurgel and shared the information would be in the Newsflash. International night is February 22nd from 4:30-7:45. The theme this year is childhood education. The activities include booths, live music and a potluck. Different countries will be represented by the classes and the kids will be eligible to be in a raffle for a magazine subscription to Faces. Everyone should bring a potluck item, either from your family history or from Dick’s Burgers, whatever works well for you. Please label it if it has nuts in the dish. Ms. Gurgel needs additional help for potluck set-up, raffle entries and the sound system. Mr. Jourdan encouraged everyone to come out and bring food if you can and shared it always a fun event.
SCHOOLHOUSE REPORT: Michelle Mathis
Ms. Mathis thanked everyone for being in attendance and wished everyone a happy new year. Ms. Mathis celebrated Gillian Malacari, she was one of 13 teachers who became a National Board-Certified Teacher. She is the 5th-8th grade Orchestra teacher. She went on a sabbatical for two years and was very missed. In addition to these new Edmonds Board Certified Teachers, Washington State has the highest number of National Board-Certified Teachers.
Ms. Sison asked Ms. Mathis to share about the holiday giving program and let the PCEP know the generosity was above and beyond what was expected. It was almost double. In previous years, gift cards were $25 per child and this year because of the generosity it was $50 per child. Ms. Mathis shared 30 lives were changed for the positive.
Ms. Mathis collects data on bullying. More incidents occur on the school bus than anywhere else, so provide a little levity Ms. Mathis shared a video clip about a school bus from Sixteen Candles. It might be helpful for you to have a better understanding about expectations on the school bus. Ms. Mathis wanted to remind us of the handbook on our website and the common set of ground rules it sets for our kids. Ms. Mathis shared the big rules on the bus are seat to seat, back to back and conversation-level voices. All our buses have video and audio recordings. Ms. Mathis shared it is helpful at times to watch the videos from the bus with the kids and to ask tell me what is going on here. The school bus is a place where students can demonstrate independence in a positive way, they can act with integrity and do the right thing when no one is looking. Ms. Mathis asked us to imagine the job of the bus driver, which is a job with enormous pressure. The drivers would appreciate it and so would Ms. Mathis if you reiterate seat to seat, back to back and conversation-level voice.
Ms. Mathis wanted to share what we are doing about bullying behaviors. We are being proactive. There are several programs happening or will happen before the end of the school year to help kids learn to make better choices, learn to solve problems with words, socio-emotional learning, cyber bullying awareness, personal safety and signs of suicide. The steps Ms. Mathis outlined are reducing bullying behaviors by building positive relationships with our kids, teaching the skills and modeling appropriate behavior. Ms. Mathis is addressing even unkind comments, because when we don’t address it, we are giving tacit approval it is OK. Ms. Mathis stresses how important it is to review with our kids, just joking. She has heard homophobic, racist, sexist jokes and things they have heard on YouTube they don’t know the meaning of, and it is not funny to share these kinds of jokes. In our school we have children of all abilities, so when the R word is used, it like another four-letter word. It is not a word we use. Some people are born with abilities and limitations, we need to be accepting, helpful and inclusive.
Ms. Mathis shared how to report bullying. Ms. Mathis thanks families for stepping forward. Reports can be made to a trusted staff member, administrator and some families go onto the Edmonds School District Website and download the harassment, intimidation and bullying report or it can be provided in the office.
Ms. Mathis asks how to determine if it is just mean or is it bullying. Bullying is when it is ongoing, pervasive and there is a power differential. Each of those four components stands on its own. Ms. Mathis asks us to give the gut check – is my child afraid to go to school, to use the bathroom or ride the school bus.
Safe Schools Report is a way to report. Ms. Mathis doesn’t hear who reported it unless the reporter wants that information known. Privacy is important and Ms. Mathis acknowledges not everyone wants to come to her office and report. Ms. Mathis and Ms. Sison will go into classrooms, so kids have this information as well.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Brian Johnston
Mr. Johnston wanted to point out pledge participation. We are $26,430 year-to-date and last year at this time we were at $27,157. We are below, but hopefully that will tick up after the holidays. Pledge totals will be out in the next couple weeks. Mr. Johnston reminds us pledge totals are tax deductible.
Mr. Johnston shared companies who match dollar for dollar. Email Mr. Johnston if you are aware of other companies who match or email him if you need help navigating the system for company match.
Mr. Johnston highlighted a field trip to the aviation museum. Mr. Johnston attended and said it was a really fun tour. The kids loved it and had a great time. This is an example of what your pledge dollars support.
Parent Education: Peggy Farah – Diversity Committee
Ms. Farah shares a mandate of the diversity committee is to explore different aspects of schoolwide and parent education. Ms. Farah shares a video and then asks people to think about it from the lens of Maplewood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD5f8GuNuGQ
Ms. Farah invited us to experience the Maplewood version of the privilege walk and mentally take a step forward or backward knowing your own circumstance. Ms. Farah shares we want to explore how privilege infiltrates all aspects of our lives. There are aspects of our unique program that privilege impacts.
Questions:
If there are no other adults, no local extended family, a member of your family who travels frequently for work or is deployed and that impacts your ability to fulfill your rotation, take one step back.
If you do not work, are self-employed, or have a flexible work schedule take one step forward.
If you ever struggle or feel stress about covering your monthly pledges or difficulty paying for your rotation subs take one step back.
If English is your first language or you feel confident in your ability to speak English, step forward.
If you have a physical or mental health condition that can make fulfilling your rotation or field trips difficult, take one step back.
If you never had the experience of hearing your race, your religion, your sexual orientation or your gender identity being described in a negative manner by a member of our community or on school property take one step forward.
If you have reliable access to childcare take one step forward.
If you feel confident in your ability to perform your assigned tasks here, take one step forward.
If you do not have a driver’s license or are not comfortable or not confident transporting on field trips because of the vehicle you posses take one step back.
Ms. Farah shares those are just a few examples, there might be other aspects of your family situation which allow you to take steps forward or backward. Some of us have the privilege of not having to consider privilege. Ms. Farah shares we want to create a culture at Maplewood of kindness and curiosity, we already have it and want to foster it and have it grow. Ms. Farah encourages to be curious about the experiences of other families and about how aspect of fulfilling commitments can be more challenging for certain families. Ms. Farah says that sometimes lack of ability or barriers to fulfilling requirements can be mistaken for lack of will or lack of commitment. Ms. Farah encourages us to be curious and wonder if there is a privilege that is impacting their ability to fulfill a commitment, access our program or feel a sense of belonging. Ms. Farah says we are hoping for a 100% hand’s on deck commitment, but also an understanding we don’t all come with the same level of privilege or ability. Ms. Farah shares Mr. Jourdan will create a group to look at our structure and requirements.
Mr. Jourdan thanked Ms. Farah and reminded us about the nominating committee. There are a number of open positions. The nominating committee will begin next month, and the committee does important work, including voting on open positions. Please contact Mr. Jourdan if you are interested in the nominating committee.
ADJOURN:
With no further business to discuss, Mr. Jourdan adjourned the meeting at 7:34 pm.
Submitted by Laurel Blanco.
