OPEN FORUM: Budgeting and Redistricitng of Amherst Elementary Schools

We created this OPEN FORUM for ALL community members. Please feel free to voice your honest opinions, what ever they may be. All voices are respected and welcome! You can be anonymous or sign your name, it does not matter, as long as you are participating for the betterment of all the kids in the Amherst Elementary Schools.

Many parents have expressed opposition and agreement about proposed plans set forth by both the Interim Superintendents and the School Committee. We encourage all parents to attend the February 10th School Committee meeting 7:00 p.m. in the High School Library to learn more. We also encourage all parents to review January 13th's School Committee Meeting on ACTV website.

You can also voice your opinions by emailing the town representatives listed in this link:
Kathleen Anderson andersonk@arps.org
Elaine Brighty Vice Chair brightye@arps.org
Andy Churchill Chair churchilla@arps.org
Sonia Correa Pope Secretary popes@arps.org
Catherine Sanderson sandersonc@arps.org
And the Interim Superintendents.

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
Superintendent Candidates visit our district's schools and are having public forums. See dates and time click here. Click our Calendar for a list of all events.

Search the Community Choices Committee Web site for information on proposed budget cuts and the District Budgets.

PRESS
Amherst Bulletin February 6th: Don't erase history keep Mark's Meadow open, For the good of the children
The Gazette February 2nd: Lesson Plan: Keeping our schools small is worth a LARGE effort.
Amherst Bulletin January 30th: Let's get community input and School Board blogger spurs heated debate.
The Gazette January 26th:School Committee member's blog furthers heated debate about potential school closure
The Gazette January 24th: Amherst Schools Budget Wittled
The Boston Globe: Deval Patrick: Sparing Schools in Budget cuts.
Amherst Bulletin: January 23 see at very bottom.
Amherst Bulletin: January 16th and more on the 16th and one more from Mary Carey

OTHER BLOG DISCUSSIONS
http://myschoolcommitteeblog.blogspot.com/
http://clarebertrand.blogspot.com/
You can also post you comments on our blog by clicking below.

Mark's Meadow PGG Update

Enclosed you will find.... great ways to celebrate with our kids, ways to volunteer for Mark’s Meadow in 2009, a look at our fund raising efforts, and a way to help Amherst Education Foundation support our Public Schools.

VOLUNTEER SURVEY:
The volunteer survey form sent home on Friday 12/12 lets the PGG know where you want to volunteer. Attached to the volunteer form is a raffle ticket. Just return the form with your name and ONE of the raffle tickets to be entered into winning $30 Gift Certificate for A 2 Z Learning Store. Raffle will be during on the last assembly in January.

BROWN ENVELOPE FUN RAISER:
We have raised $1355 so far. That makes us 1/2 to the way of our goal of $2500. Please give what you can before January 30th. You can pick up a brown envelope in the Parent Information Room and all contributions can be left in the office or with your classroom teacher. You can also give online at Amherst Education Foundation website.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING? REMEMBER MARKS MEADOW!
STOP and SHOP, BIG Y, TARGET, ATKINS, FOOD FOR THOUGHT, TOY BOX and BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION:
Donna Stetson, a Kindergarten parent, is our new Passive Fund Raising Coordinator if you have any questions on how to participate in these easy fund raising programs. Her email is dmstets@comcast.net
So far this year we have:
1. STOP and SHOP cards registered: 57. Almost twice as many as last year, which earned us over $700. You need to renew at the beginning of every school year in this program so sign up (if you haven't already) at Stop and Shop there are cards in the Parent Information Room. Or register online at http://www.stopandshop.com/aplus.
2. Big Y: 87 cards registered and 80,800 points earned. A few years ago we earned enough points to get a new Yamaha drum set for our Music Department. You need to renew at the beginning of every school year in this program so sign up (if you haven't already) at Big Y there are cards in the Parent Information Room. Or register online at http://www.bigy.com/education/edexp_sign_up.php
3. Target Take Charge Of Education: 14 Red Cards registered. $190 in September. $75 in our account for our next payment and from 2007 to Sept. 2008 we have earned $1082!
4. Atkins is issuing new cards in January and we have a potential of earning up to $400 by the end of the school year. Put your "Remember Marks Meadow" stickers on your ATM cards or your credit cards as an easy reminder to show your card when shopping at Atkins.
5. A 2 Z, Food for Thought Book Store and Toy Box, These locally owned stores could use your help during the Holidays and we could use the money they are willing to donate to our PGG, so please put your "Remember Marks Meadow" stickers on your ATM cards or your credit cards as an easy reminder to show your card when shopping at these terriffic stores.
6. Box Tops: Keep sending in your Box Tops For Education Debbie Timberlake, Parent of a 4th grader, is coordinating this and we appreciate your participation.

AMHERSTOPOLY:
This is a project you want to know about. Meg Rosa and Tracy Hightower have been collaborating with the Parent Groups from Wildwood, Crocker Farm and Fort River, on this historical game in celebration of Amherst’s 250th Anniversary. This could earn as much as $10,000 for our PGG. Visit Amherstopoly.blogspot.com to find out what it is all about. Contact Tracy or Meg if you own a Amherst Business or know someone who may want to be on this Historic game board.

AMHERST EDUCATION FOUNDATION and FLORENCE SAVINGS BANK:
If you have a FLorence Savings Bank account please vote in FSB’s Community Choice Awards Grant Elections. Our PGG is endorsing AEF because they have given so much to our school. Ballots were sent home with a letter from Stephanie Burbine our treasurer on 12/12/08. It explaines why we are support this great organization. You can also vote on line at Florence Savings Bank.

THREE CHEERS FOR OUR TEACHERS. Amherst Education Foundation’s new way to give. Sure, there are a thousand reasons to thank a teacher this holiday season, but here are three to get you started: If you make a gift in honor of a teacher (or up to three) by December 31, AEF will: 1) match all contributions from new donors, 2) notify teachers of your generosity in their honor, and 3) send you a receipt for your tax-deductible contribution to the Amherst Education Foundation, Inc. Just log onto AEF's Donation site for this campaign.

Our Next PGG meeting is January 5th, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the Mark’s Meadow Library. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely, Tracy Hightower and Meg Rosa, PGG Co-Chairs

Diversity Committee Meeting Notes

Diversity Committee Meeting Notes
January 13, 2009

In attendance: Nick, Jocelyn, Linda, Meg, Irith, Mary Lou, Anna, Erold, John


Review of Agenda/goals for the committee
Discussion opened with quick review of the work the committee has done thus far and agenda for the meeting. New members shared their motivation for joining the committee: concerns about diversity at MM, contributing to the work being done at the school, desire to come together with others from the community.


· Diversity Evening Event
Members settled on a final date of Wednesday evening, February 25 for the Open Discussion Night from 6:30-8:00 Childcare (through funding from the PGG) and refreshments will be provided. As we get closer to the date, the information will be made available to families through the MM blog and the school memo. Members proposed the following for content and structure: presenting a video concerning one or more of the following topics as they relate to our school community: positive racial/ethnic attitudes, talking to children about bias/racism, school issues related to classism/sexism.

Members agreed to review a number of videos for choosing the most pertinent at the next meeting including: Illusions of Race (A set of five videos focusing on race/stereotyping) suggested by Ruthie, Body Language/Cultural Communication suggested by Jocelyn, It’s Elementary (focusing on LGBT issues in schools) suggested by John, In My Shoes (LTGB families), and Enough (class and power) suggested by Felice Yeskel, The videos can be viewed by signing them out from a box located in the school office. John will try to get the videos from Felice Yeskel if they are available. Other contributors can add their videos to the box as they acquire them.
Note* Please keep only a short time so that all members may have the opportunity to view these for selection at the next meeting.

Other aspects of the evening may include a social activity and/or breaking into groups to discuss how caregivers talked to/can discuss with their children the topics presented. It was also suggested to create a brochure in advance of the evening to help attendees process the video and focus discussion. We may need a volunteer who is willing to create this once a video has been chosen. A final video selection will be made at the next meeting.


· Multicultural Fair
The school Kindergarten teacher, Scott McGinley, has volunteered to assemble the organizing meeting for the Multicultural Fair. Scott has proposed whether we might want to incorporate the district social justice curriculum and/or anti-racism perspective in the vision for the Fair. Nick presented that the Fair will be held later in the year this year and that the current ideas being considered are to expand it into perhaps a week long event or more. Committee members discussed how this might look. While the planning committee for the Fair currently has only teachers on it, the plan is to bring caregivers into the planning process once a clearer plan is formed.

Members considered a number of possibilities for content:
A traveling African museum (Institute of Black Invention and Technology) , storytellers, multicultural events held during school assemblies, a Brazilian Dance Troup performing Capoeira, a West African Drumming/Dancing group, and tapping into the community at our school.

Members also suggested a few ideas for structure:
different educational events which focus on culture as the week progresses, cultural show and tell at all grade levels, decorating the hallways, inviting families from other school in the district, classrooms focused on all aspects of one culture, a week devoted to multiculturalism, a fashion show, parents from the community invited into classrooms to share their heritage, culture, classes choosing a continent to study the cultures connected to it and sharing at an assembly, all focus on one aspect of many cultures: music, Spring festivals, etc. These recommendations will be passed on to the Multicultural fair committee.


· Community Survey
Members present discussed creating a survey in order to gather information about MM community members’ perceptions regarding the needs, strengths etc. of diversity at our school. Nick mentioned a website service called Survey Monkey in which we may be able to create an on-line survey for this purpose. As well, print copies could be made available to community members who don’t have ready access to a computer.

A compilation of possible survey questions follows:

· How do you think your child feels about their classroom environment?
· Do you feel that your child is comfortable/has opportunities to express their beliefs/background at our school?
· What do you think could use improvement in the area of diversity at our school?
· Do you feel your culture is respected/well represented at our school?
· What have been barriers/supports in adapting to the culture of our school?
· In what ways can our school bridge gaps for your child in adjusting to our school?
·In what ways do you feel our school can support your child in maintaining their heritage while helping them adapt to the culture of our school?

Members will choose two-three questions at the next meeting to incorporate into an School Governance Council survey in the process of being developed.

It was wonderful to see a number of new caregivers attend the Diversity Committee meeting this month.
A Future meeting date was set for:
Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30 in Nick’s office. Childcare will be available. Joseph Smith’s daughter has expressed interest. Many thanks to Khalea Glasgow for taking good care of the committee member’s children at the last meeting.

The committee would like to extend an invitation to all staff members and caregivers from the Mark’s Meadow community interested in attending the Diversity Committee meetings to come and join us. Please feel free to attend. The only prerequisite is a desire to engage in dialogue about diversity at our school.
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Diversity Committee Meeting Notes
December 8, 2008
In attendance: Nick, Jocelyn, Linda, Meg, Stacia, Mary Lou, John


Undoing Racism Training for MM staff
Discussion opened with a focus on the Undoing Racism Training which Mark’s Meadow staff have been participating in. This is offered through the People’s Institute via a grant obtained by members of the committee. So far, the staffs have devoted two afternoons to the training and one more afternoon is planned for January. Staff members present shared that they felt the workshop was enlightening and that there are many things to work on in curriculum, staff training, and outreach to the school community. The workshops have focused on looking at the history/effects of racism and applying this knowledge to our school. Next steps include a staff meeting in December in which staff members will problem solve their “homework” about how to transform our school into a fully inclusive and anti biased institution. Jocelyn expressed that she has had experience with this group of trainers and found the experience meaningful and relevant. Overall, the trainings have provided an opportunity for staff members to be reflective about their own attitudes and beliefs.


Diversity Evening Event
Members discussed a possible date for an Open Dialogue Night and agreed upon planning for a Wednesday evening, possibly February 11 or 25. Childcare (through funding from the PGG) and refreshments will be provided. As we get closer to the date, the information will be made available to families through the MM blog and the school memo. Members proposed the following possibilities for content and structure: presenting a video concerning one or more of the following topics as they relate to our school community: positive racial/ethnic attitudes, talking to children about bias/racism, school issues related to classism/sexism. Members agreed to search for an appropriate video to share at the next meeting. Other aspects of the evening may include a social activity and/or breaking into groups to discuss how caregivers talked to/can discuss with their children the topics presented. A firm date for the event will be established at the next meeting.


Multicultural Fair
The school Kindergarten teacher, Scott McGinley, has volunteered to assemble the organizing meeting for the Multicultural Fair. Scott has proposed whether we might want to incorporate the district social justice curriculum and/or anti-racism perspective in the vision for the Fair. Nick presented that the Fair will be held later in the year this year and that the current ideas being considered are to expand it into perhaps a week long event or more. Committee members discussed how this might look. While the planning committee for the Fair currently has only teachers on it, the plan is to bring caregivers into the planning process once a more clear plan is formed. Members considered a number of possibilities including a traveling African museum, grants for Artists in Residence at schools, storytellers, multicultural events held during school assemblies, and tapping into the community at our school.


Community Survey
Members present discussed creating a survey in order to gather information about MM community members’ perceptions regarding the needs, strengths etc. of diversity at our school. Nick mentioned a website service called Survey Monkey in which we may be able to create an on-line survey for this purpose. As well, print copies could be made available to community members who don’t have ready access to a computer.

It was wonderful to see a number of new caregivers attend the Diversity Committee meeting this month. Nick began by sharing a pamphlet from Teaching Tolerance Titled Beyond the Golden Rule. He also spoke about the importance of hiring staff of color at our school and posed the question of what the committee might be able to do to increase staff diversity.


A Future meeting date was set for:
Wednesday, January 14 at 6:30 in Nick’s office

The committee is always interested in having staff and caregivers from the Mark’s Meadow community who are interested in attending the meetings come and join us. Please feel free to attend. We look forward to your participation.

AMHERSTOPOLY: Elementary Schools Collaborating To Raise Funds for Our Kids!

Mark's Meadow PGG is collaborating with Fort River, Crocker Farm and Wildwood Schools to create an Amherstopoly Board Game! If you are a business owner or if you know of a business that would like to sponsor a property on the board let us know!! Contact Becky Demling (beckydemling@yahoo.com) for more info. We hope to have the game ready for sale in March 09 - just in time for Amherst's 250th Birthday! This could raise as much as $10,000 for each school. More info at www.amherstopoly.blogspot.com

ACAC OPEN HOUSE

ACAC Open House
Saturday December 6th from noon-6pm. Visit ACAC and see what we're all about! Everyone is welcome!
• Meet ACAC instructors and board members
• Explore our art studios
• Make some art
• Watch demos
• And enjoy great food and drink
• Plus: free facepainting, door prizes, music & story-telling
SCHEDULE:
Noon: wheel throwing demo with Jana Silver, founding Executive Director of ACAC
1pm: singing & music with Jim Henry & Roger Tincknell
2:30pm: paper marbling demo with Hillary Milens, Executive Director of ACAC4pm: storytelling & music with Brendan Taaffe
5pm: rolling ring demo with Margaret Langdell, ACAC Jewelry & Enameling Instructor
All day: free art projects and face painting for all ages
-- Hillary Milens
Executive Director
Amherst Community Arts Center
(413) 253-9265
www.amherstarts.org