How can we help???

[Anonymous]

For those of you that are happy with your public school as far as lunch, academics, or recess, can you share ideas for the rest of us that need help making a positive change at the school we are zoned for? For instance, did you and other volunteers run a fundraiser to raise money? Did you and other volunteers work with the principal and superintendent to lengthen the lunch period for the students? Please share. How do we increase standards? How do we get more parents involved? How do we make sure that our kids have enough time to eat and socialize? I know that cafeteria size is an issue. How did you overcome that in the elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

OP here. No responses yet? I have read numerous posts from people bragging about the high standards of their school or how the lunch system is pretty good at their school or how recess is appropriate at their school. I was expecting more feedback here.

[Anonymous]

Maybe this is a good forum at least for FCPS. Not the same focus, but I'm sure people who are able to make changes within FCPS will be there.

http://www.fcps.edu/news/summit.shtml

[Anonymous]

OP here again. Just cchevking in to see if there were any posts. Not sure what the PP is for. I started this thread to hear about successful efforts made to make improvements... not just for FCPS. I am not even in FCPS. This site has a lot of presence and participation from parents who seem to be passionate about their opinions in the other areas of this forum. How come there is nothing coming from those parents who post that things are great where their kids are attending school. Even if it is not you who did something, please share a story of what made the difference. I am really looking to hear some success stories as a parent Whois not so happy with the recess, lunch, and academics at the school where my daughter attends. Did any of you work with the principal or other parent volunteers to make changes? Anyone?

[Anonymous]

You're pushy, insulting and ungrateful. Not the best approach when asking people to take the time to help you.

[Anonymous]

You asked how people have made improvements. Most of us haven't had to make improvements. I've personally done nothing. My kid's school has long enough lunch, plenty of recess, and great academics. We researched the school before we purchased our home. No need to fix was is not broken. My advice, research your district before you move to a home zoned for a school you're not going to like.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Apologize if I came off as pushy, ingrateful or insulting. I have started a number of threads on dcum and am used to getting reply posts very quickly. I just wanted to make sure that it didn't get lost in the threads. As for the PP, I don't even know how to respond to you except to ask you kindly to leave this thread because you have nothing of value to add to this thread besides your self righteous , "My s***t don't stank attitude." Please leave. And I did say Please.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP I agree with the PP. A lot of the posters here that are happy with heir school have schools that were already in good shape, have active PTAs, involved parents, etc. Maybe posting in DC public/charter schools will garne more responses as their are parents who at newer or improving schools.

[Anonymous]

Hi! I am in FCPS and have been, overall, quite pleased with our experience. Our school is one of the schools that the uninformed worry about, count me in that group, as I was listening to others whose kids went to private and was nervous to send DD there. WOW! Amazing how talking trash is the pastime of the uninformed. I really LOVE our teachers and respect the administration. I did have a few hurdles along the way, but worked through the chain of command and went up as far as I needed to, in order to get the desired result. I am active in the PTA and volunteer in my DCs' classes. I work part time and try to get a schedule that allows me to be in the school a few days a week. I have friends who work full time and they ask me to watch their DC, they happen to be in my DC's class and I do. I have been at this school for 6 years.

If you have any concerns, take it to the teacher or the administration. Always go with email, as to provide a paper trail. If they call to talk, follow with an email about the conversation. Again, creating a paper trail.

Get active in your PTA. I happen to work on the evening that our PTA meets. However, I am able to be an active member by organizing activities and participating on the nights that I don't work and during the day, when I am free. I know your PTA board, I just make it a point to get to know them, and keep myself informed. This is hard to do, as schools seem to be lacking in the sharing information department. You really need to ask and know what to ask. No one is forth coming. It is a tough nut to crack. But you will!

Ask other parents about what their impressions are. A friend had major bullying issues at her DC's school, also in FCPS, last year. Over the summer, she found out that about 4 other kids were also having issues with the same kid. No one knew and the school didn’t/can't share that information. Dialogue with other parents in your kid’s grade and parents of kids on the bus. Just be a PITA parent! Kidding, sort of.

I hope this helps. If you have a more detailed question, please ask. I will reply.

[Anonymous]

OP please tells us what you plan to help make the changes at your daughter's school and we can tell you if these plans are feasible or not. as a parent of FCPS, I am very happy with our school or AAP center. I am very grateful that the school does such a good job so I can work full time. if you have extra time, please volunteer at your school and the more you get involved, the greater the chances that the school will listen to you! good luck!

if you are frustrated with certain aspects of your school, let us know and we can help you deal with them!

you should avoid this kind of open-ended questions on this forum! be specific!

[Anonymous]

Actually I'm 9:21 and I felt exactly the way 21:18 described by just decided to leave it alone until you came back with another retort complete with another insult even including profanity . People are giving you advice, but it's not specific enough for you so you blow them off. I gave you an example of a way to get involved in FCPS. You could have taken that to think "oh, maybe there is a similar forum in my school district where I can meet some of the school leaders" or something like that. it is a VA DC area schools forum. It's not like I posted about DC or anything. Even the PP you got mad at was simply telling you that you had the wrong attitude about creating change. Affirm, Affirm, Affirm to everyone and work on problems slowly and one at a time.

[Anonymous]

I have found to make changes it requires getting lots of involvement from the community (parents, administration and teachers). There are things that are done for reasons that may not be apparent on the surface (for an example a 20 min lunch, because the cafeteria only holds 60 students and there are 600 students to feed).

Here are my suggestions:
1) come up with a list of items that concern you the most.
2) what questions can you ask to find out the reasons behind them
3) look for those already making changes in the school (is it the principal, assistant principal, teacher, pta president, etc).
4) ask them your questions and listen (don't be combative, be neutral to get the most information you can)
5) make an action plan
6) get others involved by telling them the logical argument and appealing to their emotional side, and tell them your action plan.

For great books/resources about being a change agent I recommend
1) http://kotterinternational.com/our-principles/our-iceberg-is-melting
2) http://www.heathbrothers.com/switch/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually I'm 9:21 and I felt exactly the way 21:18 described by just decided to leave it alone until you came back with another retort complete with another insult even including profanity . People are giving you advice, but it's not specific enough for you so you blow them off. I gave you an example of a way to get involved in FCPS. You could have taken that to think "oh, maybe there is a similar forum in my school district where I can meet some of the school leaders" or something like that. it is a VA DC area schools forum. It's not like I posted about DC or anything. Even the PP you got mad at was simply telling you that you had the wrong attitude about creating change. Affirm, Affirm, Affirm to everyone and work on problems slowly and one at a time.

Go away!

[Anonymous]

Wow! I have helped so many people here but honestly can't believe your tone and am happy to GO AWAY as you say. I would suggest no one help this woman. She will cause more harm then good. I was one of the moms who worked for a year to get full day kindergarten even though it wasn't even on the school board radar at the time and never once heard anyone speak the way you do. I've worked on several other matters to improve the schools as well. Everyone has always spoken in a helpful way. Telling people to go away will get you nowhere fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have found to make changes it requires getting lots of involvement from the community (parents, administration and teachers). There are things that are done for reasons that may not be apparent on the surface (for an example a 20 min lunch, because the cafeteria only holds 60 students and there are 600 students to feed).

Here are my suggestions:
1) come up with a list of items that concern you the most.
2) what questions can you ask to find out the reasons behind them
3) look for those already making changes in the school (is it the principal, assistant principal, teacher, pta president, etc).
4) ask them your questions and listen (don't be combative, be neutral to get the most information you can)
5) make an action plan
6) get others involved by telling them the logical argument and appealing to their emotional side, and tell them your action plan.

For great books/resources about being a change agent I recommend
1) http://kotterinternational.com/our-principles/our-iceberg-is-melting
2) http://www.heathbrothers.com/switch/

Great. Thank you for ideas.