Daily Archives: April 3, 2012

Parent Meeting Tonight

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Once again, we have a Cleveland Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) Meeting tonight at Cleveland School (7:00 pm in the library). Dress warm, as schools turn off the heat at 4:00 pm to save money (no comment needed on adequate funding of public education).

The CPAC plays an important role in our school culture. I may have blogged a bit about the PAC before, but I think it is important to keep talking about the ways in which a PAC support a school.

Involvement & Student Success – We often hear that research shows that children do better in school when they know that their parents are involved and present. I have read many articles in the past, although I don’t have the links to them for this blog. Trust me – your involvement helps. Not all parents can come out during the school days any more, but by becoming involved in a PAC, you show your children that you are doing your part to support the school. Every little but helps, and you don’t have to volunteer to do major projects.

Parent Advocacy – The CPAC, teachers, support staff and school administration (your friendly neighbourhood Principal and Vice-Principal) keep in touch via phone calls, emails and/or meetings to discuss issues that have come up or are brewing in our school community. Having open channels of communication are important to assist us in being a team that supports all of our 500 students and their families.

Event Organizers – Parents have been involved this year in organizing (or assisting with organizing) the Terry Fox Run, the Welcome Back ice cream social event, Pancake Breakfast, grade 7 craft fair, school directory, the Harry Potter fund raiser, Walk to School Wednesdays, Free the Trees (and building new planters and planting new plants), a grade 2 dance, Student Safety Patrol, Mediated Reality (Internet Safety for kids and families) and Stand By Me (social responsibility student workshops and parent session). I am sure they have done more, but this was off the top of my head. Looking at the next few months, parents are organizing a Father/Daughter dance, Bike week, and supporting the Kindergarten Orientation meeting. I’m sure there will be more.

Volunteer support – Parents show their support by helping us with field trips, the Band & Strings Festival, the library circulation desk, in the classrooms, Fun at Lunch programs, basketball, volleyball, cross country, shore cleanups, Diplomats of the World, arts & crafts, reading to students, listening to students read, emergency preparedness, and the CARE committee. Parents also help us by keeping us informed of milestones, achievements, and challenges that are part of the lives of our students. There are many other ways parents volunteer, but the meeting is less than an hour away, and I still have to write about…

Fund Raising – This is not the only role of the PAC. Honest. The PAC may do a lot of things that provide financial support to classrooms and to the school, but as you can see from above, there are many ways that parents support the school beyond find raising. That being said, however, the fund raising activities (food days, the Harry Potter event) are important, and are successful thanks to the time and dedication of many people (or some people doing many jobs). The food days require technical support (on-line ordering), research and planning (food-safe guidelines), organization (come to the school on a Tuesday and 11:45 am – you will see organization in action) and patience (our volunteers are brilliant with our students who are not happy with their lunch). For the fund raising night, it was wonderful to see parent volunteers in our hallways, painting with children, and encouraging the children to be creative (within reason). The amount of effort it took to pull the whole thing off was outstanding, so thanks once again to all the volunteers and organizers.

Thanks again for all the support the Cleveland Parent Advisory Council. I better go get ready for the meeting now.

Take care.

 

Thinking About Novels

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In my class visits yesterday, I walked in on a class discussing their thoughts on the C.S. Lewis novel, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The teacher, Mr. Baldonado, had the class in groups of 4 or 5 students discussing their opinions of the novel. Each child had rated the book (1 star to 5 stars) and had to be prepared to defend their position. The class then came together for a whole class discussion.

I found some of the comments fascinating (quotes below are paraphrasing of some of the discussions):

  • The book was too short.
  • I could not relate to the characters. They were all so good. Well, except Edmund.
  • Too few details were given to help us create an image of the story.
  • The whole book was a build up to the war, and then the was scene was way too short.

In the class discussion, the students were able to compare this story to other series, and provide some possible explanations to some of the complaints. As one student pointed out, it was a children’s book, therefore, the author may not have wanted to put as much details in the war scenes.

I joined in on the conversation, because I was curious about the comparisons some children made to other books that they have read (i.e. the series about Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan).

Thanks to Mr. Baldonado, I was able to ask the class a question about their thoughts on single novels vs a novel series. It seems that the majority of students in the class liked series better than stand alone novels. In a series, we can get to know a character and the author can provide more details to help us create the images in our mind. There was some caution about series though, as some series go on far too long.

For the fans of the stand alone novel, the preference was for moving quicker towards the climax, and the author letting us use our imaginations more.

One of the items I found most enlightening was when one student mentioned The Hunger Games, by Sue Collins. He liked the first book, but does not like the second book (he is currently trying to read it). This caused quite a stir among the other students. It seemed that they took exception to the idea that someone did not like the book. I think it is very important that we teach children to learn to hear opinions that are different from their own without getting upset. Some one might not like what you like – and that’s ok.

Back to books. When I visit a library or bookstore, I try to look for the stand alone novel, but that is becoming harder and harder. Quite often, new books seem to be Book One in a series. I have been thinking that I prefer the single novel, but upon reflection, I realize that some of my favourite novels as a child (or as a teenager) were part of a series.

I loved The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by Tolkien and I thought the Dune series was brilliant (Frank Herbert). Other  favourite series included: Asimov’s  Foundation Trilogy, The Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer and the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.

I am of two minds now when I think about series. I obviously liked them as a kid (can’t forget the Hitchhiker novels), but I still like short stories and single novels that make me think (i.e. John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids).

Do people read short stories now? Issac Asimov wrote a lot of excellent short stories, and I also enjoyed stories by Rudyard Kipling and Edgar Allen Poe.

I think what is important is that one reads a lot, and is open to new stories. I think we adults need to be reading role models, and to talk about what we read with children.

I think it is also important that children talk with each other about what they read. I was so pleased to hear the class discussing their thoughts on a novel, and listening to one another defend their opinions. It is great to see the students thinking about what they read. I listen, and have now try to read a book they suggest. Percy Jackson does lead an interesting life.

I look forward to more book talks.

Take care.