APS PTA partnerships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

It’s the South Arlington Sh1tter who sh1ts all over everyone’s good intentions. What a miserable person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

It’s the South Arlington Sh1tter who sh1ts all over everyone’s good intentions. What a miserable person.

Must preserve his victim status at all costs...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

I think the PP is offering something very helpful for OP. Perhaps it would be better to ask if he/she has any specific examples to offer as ideas. I believe both of them are sincere and genuine and think it's highly unfortunate this is an anonymous forum because I would love to connect with those two posters and have a real conversation offline where we won't be so rudely and inappropriately antagonized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are in college, so it has been a while. When they were at Chesterbrook Elementary School (not an Arlington school, but close by), we had a partnership with Campbell ES through a friendship between our social worker and their social worker I believe. There were things like coat drives, supply drives, summer book drives and gift certificate drives for Thanksgiving and December holidays. It was not an official partnership between the PTAs, but our PTA was the one who organized things from our side. I think it petered out when the school closed for renovations, or changed names or the personal link no longer existed.

This is the problem with traditional partnerships - they tend to be "charity" oriented to meet basic needs of impoverished communities. While helpful, these partnership programs merely maintain the status quo. It's time for a new approach - teams/partnerships that go beyond material goods and a donation here or there. Schools and their PTAs need to look at teaming up as a unified group and fundraise collectively, fund enrichment programs collectively, give teacher mini-grants and funding for teacher training for teachers at all the schools, hold events for all the schools to participate/attend together, establish academic exchanges, go on field trips together, etc. Getting parents and children to interact is what will start to make a real difference.

This touches on some of the stuff I've been thinking over. I have a whole bunch of ideas for things that could be done collaboratively, but I'm concerned geography may be a significant impediment. Let's say we were talking about Taylor (which we're not) partnering with Randolph, for instance. If there were a joint 5K held near Taylor, how many Randolph families are likely to trek across the county to participate? And what if it were a fun fair held at Randolph, would Taylor families make the trip in the other direction? And will people be interested in socializing across the schools when they live no where near each other and their kids aren't ever going to be at the same neighborhood schools? If were were talking about Ashlawn and Carlin Springs, I think joint events could be a very promising idea, but my school doesn't have that kind of proximity.

I think you have to be thoughtful about which schools partner - or even which schools might form a team. And, you need to be thoughtful about the purpose of your joint activities. It will take some time to build a unified community between the schools. Social and fundraising events can help do that. Classes from both schools could coordinate field trips and take them together. iPads make it possible to do more joint academic work. it takes coordination and commitment from the staff at each school, not just the PTAs. But that will have so much more impact than two PTAs trying to throw a joint event or two. So why would Taylor's 5K have to be held at or near Taylor? Why not hold it near Randolph or somewhere in between? If the 5th graders want to get together for academic projects, they can take turns going to each other's school and/or meet at a community center. If they want to put on a joint-stage production, why not do it in a community theater where both schools families and other neighbors can go see it? Scheduling and transportation logistics are the only obstacles here, except for the lack of will to make it happen. It may not be feasible for kids at one school to attend enrichment classes offered at another one; but a true partnership in which the schools have expanded their view of community to embrace both school communities together instead of just their own, with the combined resources, could at least provide more comparable opportunities at both schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

It’s the South Arlington Sh1tter who sh1ts all over everyone’s good intentions. What a miserable person.

You're so wrong. It's the north's shit that flows south to the water treatment plant. Who says the north doesn't share with the south?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

It’s the South Arlington Sh1tter who sh1ts all over everyone’s good intentions. What a miserable person.

Actually, I am not in Arlington at all. However, I do recognize the bias the OP is projecting and it happens quite often in areas of gentrification when people come into schools and think they know what is best for them and do not listen or recognize what has already been there all along. The OPs post and the responses indicate to me that the OP will have change her mindset. If her idea is for it to truly be a partnership, then she has to go into it prepared to listen and learn too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

It’s the South Arlington Sh1tter who sh1ts all over everyone’s good intentions. What a miserable person.

Actually, I am not in Arlington at all. However, I do recognize the bias the OP is projecting and it happens quite often in areas of gentrification when people come into schools and think they know what is best for them and do not listen or recognize what has already been there all along. The OPs post and the responses indicate to me that the OP will have change her mindset. If her idea is for it to truly be a partnership, then she has to go into it prepared to listen and learn too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To layout the kinds of stuff I have been brainstorming about, yes, a bunch of it does fall into the category of charity/direct donation, but I was also envisioning things like if we had a volunteer-run enrichment program the other school would be interested in implementing as well, linking up our coordinators with some volunteers from their school to share materials we've developed and other resources to help them get up and running more efficiently. I'm happy to do joint projects, but would also like to do things that could be sustainable so that if the partnership did end at some point, all benefit would end with it.

I know you mesn well, but you are coming at it in an elitist way. You are assuming your way is better. If this is to be a joint partnership you need to change your assumptions and go in thinking you don’t know better than they do.

I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about replacing what they've done with our own stuff, I'm saying, by way of example, that if we've developed a program that they would like to develop in their own school, we could share resources for them to use as a jumping off point rather than them having to start from scratch. Let's say we had a STEM enrichment program where once a month, a parent volunteer came into each classroom and gave an introduction to a STEM topic the kids wouldn't otherwise cover in the curriculum and then did some kind of experiment/activity with them where the kids got to see the concept in action and interact with it. We've been running this program for years and have activities designed for all of the grade levels, created handouts to go with it, etc. A good amount of PTA funds and resources were spent over the years developing it, but now it's in a place where it can be run each year on a very low-cost basis. If the other school didn't have such a program but wanted to implement one, we could share with them our plans and materials so that if they wanted, they could start their own program without having to invest time and money creating it all over again. If they wanted to change or modify it, of course they could do so, it would be their program to run as they saw fit.

But again, I started this thread to find out what I don't know. If there is a reason why this kind of sharing of resources would be unwelcome, I do want to understand why.

You are only talking about transferring your “superior “ knowledge about something to them. You are not talking about the other school doing things differently and perhaps something that your school could do too. I only see you talking about it as a one way street. For it to work, you need to go into it thinking ‘I will learn more from them than they will learn from me.’ You need to stop thinking you can help the other school’s PTA be more efficient. That tells me you think they are inefficient and need your help.

FFS, do you have anything helpful for OP or are you only looking to shit on someone?

It’s the South Arlington Sh1tter who sh1ts all over everyone’s good intentions. What a miserable person.

Actually, I am not in Arlington at all. However, I do recognize the bias the OP is projecting and it happens quite often in areas of gentrification when people come into schools and think they know what is best for them and do not listen or recognize what has already been there all along. The OPs post and the responses indicate to me that the OP will have change her mindset. If her idea is for it to truly be a partnership, then she has to go into it prepared to listen and learn too.

PP, you are making a lot of assumptions and it seems like possibly projecting a bit yourself. That may be based on legitimate past experiences, but still, you don't know OP and don't know that she isn't trying to do better. Come on. Expecting everyone to become instantly woke is not going to get us there, nor is chastising someone who seems to want to know what she doesn't know.

I'm a NP to this thread, and a South Arlington parent. I think OP has good intentions and I did not assume nor did I perceive that he/she is going into it like a colonizer or gentrifier. That's why he/she's asking here first, so that he/she doesn't show her a** right out of the gate. I have every reason to believe that OP would be willing to listen and learn, and expects to get just as much as he/she's willing to give. Can we all just be a little kinder to one another, and assume that anyone who even wants to have this conversation is at least operating from a place of good faith and doing their best? We all make mistakes, or mispeak, or misinterpret tone on an anonymous forum. But asking questions and trying to understand is a first step, and some leeway should be granted. We want a big tent, people.

OP, thank you for wanting to talk about this. Come to CCPTA or approach your school's rep with any specific ideas. Join the conversation, you are welcome!