For those of you who missed it or would just like a recap, here is a summary of what happened at the September PA Meeting. Thanks to Joan Simmons from who’s detailed notes I’ve borrowed heavily.

The new President, Arlene Mays-Johnson, opened the meeting with some prepared remarks focusing on the need for parents to participate in and volunteer for PA activities.  She then welcomed the Director of the Laboratory Schools, David Magill.

Mr. Magill introduced two new members of the staff:  Bill Newman, Director of Admissions, and Dr. Kenneth James, Director of Student Services.  He also presented a list of ten objectives of the UCLS for the upcoming year.  They were grouped into two broad goals:

Goal I. To Improve the Educational Program

1. Continue to Develop an Institutional Climate of Decency
2. Clarify Procedures and Practices for Children with Learning Differences
3. Complete All Activities Associated with Accreditation
4. Create Time Line for School Schedule Changes
5. Determine Future for Advanced Placement Offerings
6. Introduce Longitudinal School Improvement Measures

Goal II. To Improve Related Services

1. Develop Architectural Design with Project Timelines for Facility Improvements
2. Clarify Admission Procedures and Continue to Monitor Demand
3. Complete Negotiations with Faculty Association
4. Achieve Comprehensive Capital Campaign Milestones

Next, Carol Rubin, one of the co-chairs of Connections, reported on plans for this year’s event that will be held on Saturday, April 18 at Navy Pier.  Twenty-five percent of the funds raised will be earmarked for student financial aid with the remainder used to support the capital campaign, specifically the planned “Teacher Suite”.  She invited parents to attend one of two kickoff meetings to get involved.

Returning to administration presentations, the Principals then gave their reports focusing on the theme of civility.  Carla Young, N/K School Principal, and Beverly Biggs, Lower School Principal, reported jointly on their schools’ programs to address the topic of civility.  They discussed the use of the book, Choosing Civility, in exploring this issue.  During some of these discussions it was decided that a preamble should be added to the Schools’ Code of Conduct to give additional context to the rules.  They gave examples of teachers’ plans and efforts to teach civility and appropriate conduct in the classroom and showed a video made by one of the classes.

Amani Reed, Middle School Principal, thanked the Middle School Council for planning and hosting its Back to School Barbeque.  Despite rain, over 650 people attended the event.  He then discussed the Middle School’s efforts to adopt a consistent approach to teaching civility and enforcing appropriate conduct.   Last year the Middle School reviewed and discussed the entire Code of Conduct and the faculty issued a statement on it.  He also highlighted some curricular work done over the summer:  revising the sixth grade math program, developing a more integrated math and science program in 7^th grade, and discussing how to teach young adult literature to middle schoolers.   Lastly, he announced three parent presentations to be made during the upcoming school year:  author Rosalind Wiseman will speak this February, there will be a computer safety seminar, and, at the end of the year, parents can hear about the PE program’s new Health and Wellness curriculum.  He closed by letting us know that you can’t lick your elbow (but I can get REALLY close).

Matt Horvat, High School Principal, also discussed civility. He said that students in the High School are typically too academically focused to engage in the types of undesirable behaviors that you sometimes find in Middle School students and that civility issues manifest themselves most in the areas of alcohol and substance abuse. Therefore, there will be a continuation and expansion of the 9^th and 10^th grade advisory programs looking at substance abuse.   There will also be two opportunities for parents to meet with outside groups, once in winter and once in spring, to find out what they can do to help their children navigate this difficult issue.  There will also be a required meeting on Wednesday, October 1 for 9^th grade parents who want to let their children attend the dance where rules and regulations for dances will be discussed.  Parents who cannot attend the meeting can meet with Mr. Horvat individually.

After the administration concluded, the School Councils made some brief remarks.

The last speaker was Evan Zemil who is the PA Chair for Bizaarnival.  Bizaarnival will be taking place on October 25, starting at noon.  It is a carnival-like event with a Halloween theme.   If you want to help out, fill out a volunteer form and check the Bizaarnival box.  It is a big event and Evan does a whole lot of work, so anything you can do to lighten his load would be appreciated.

The next PA Meeting is November 10^th at 7:00PM in Judd 126. As always, I hope to see you all there.

Posted on September 25th, 2008 by Ken Housinger
Filed under: - HS, - LS, - MS, - N/K, - School-wide, PA Issues/Reports, Special Issues/Interests