Supporting DCPS when children are in private school

[Anonymous]

I still feel some guilt about putting my children in private school and would like to do more to support DCPS than just pay my taxes (and occasionally give money through the way-overpriced DonorsChoose). I hesitate to get involved in DCPS politics/policy discussions because I fear DCPS parents may see me as an interloper (although I think we all have a stake in strong public schools). I'm thinking of volunteering once a week at our local elementary. Has anyone found other good ways to get involved?

[Anonymous]

Don't feel guilty about choosing a private school over DCPS. As a DCPS parent who has been happy with our choice, your willingness to support DCPS is most welcome. Volunteering as a tutor once a week would be great. You can also support your local public school by attending their auction, fall festival, bookfairs, etc. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

"Such condescension"

[Anonymous]

If you are not a parent of a child in the school nor a staff member who has had a criminal background check, I would hope that my kids DCPS does not let you anywhere near the children. Maybe you could help clean the bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't word it in such a nasty way, you would have to go through a background check, fingerprinting and TB test to volunteer with children.

While the DCPS schools in upper NW raise significant funds (think $500K) to help out, most Title I schools don't have the same fundraising muscle.

Donating supplies or a cash gift to the student activity fund would be helpful. Even gift cards to Dominoes (so the teachers/principal) can hold celebratory pizza parties for goals achieved, etc... are all welcome.

I can tell you though, as an affluent parent of a child at a low-income school, money for field trips and supplies are very welcome. If you offered to pay for a bus for a field trip, you would make a tremendous difference for at least 2 classrooms of students.

Thanks for thinking of DCPS students. There are so many wonderful children in the system that could use your help.

[Anonymous]

OP, my daughter was at DCPS for nine years and just started attending a private school. Thanks for your thoughts about DCPS kids.

You can support DCPS by volunteering in a tutoring program aimed at local kids. It doesn't have to be associated with a particular school. I have been tutoring a DCPS kid for about 4 or 5 years through a small program in Capitol Hill (was called Friends of Tyler Students but is morphing into Jan's Tutoring House this year) but there are others throughout the city. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of one of the larger ones but if you google a bit you should be able to find it.

I don't feel guilty about sending my child to private school now because I'm sending her to the school that fits her best. But I still see myself as involved in DCPS because I'm committed for the long-term to tutoring. (I also learn a lot from doing it, in addition to any good that comes of it for my student.) You're right that strong public schools are good for all of us, whether we have children or not. Thanks for being willing to go the extra step!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are not a parent of a child in the school nor a staff member who has had a criminal background check, I would hope that my kids DCPS does not let you anywhere near the children. Maybe you could help clean the bathrooms.

Given that DCPS solicits volunteers through local listservs, I think this is quite uncalled for.

[Anonymous]

WTF? Could someone please explain to me the meaning/motive behind comments 10:22 and 10:24? I honestly don't get the hostility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't word it in such a nasty way, you would have to go through a background check, fingerprinting and TB test to volunteer with children.

While the DCPS schools in upper NW raise significant funds (think $500K) to help out, most Title I schools don't have the same fundraising muscle.

Donating supplies or a cash gift to the student activity fund would be helpful. Even gift cards to Dominoes (so the teachers/principal) can hold celebratory pizza parties for goals achieved, etc... are all welcome.

I can tell you though, as an affluent parent of a child at a low-income school, money for field trips and supplies are very welcome. If you offered to pay for a bus for a field trip, you would make a tremendous difference for at least 2 classrooms of students.

Thanks for thinking of DCPS students. There are so many wonderful children in the system that could use your help.

What does being affluent have to do with anything? Odd thing to add!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't word it in such a nasty way, you would have to go through a background check, fingerprinting and TB test to volunteer with children.

While the DCPS schools in upper NW raise significant funds (think $500K) to help out, most Title I schools don't have the same fundraising muscle.

Donating supplies or a cash gift to the student activity fund would be helpful. Even gift cards to Dominoes (so the teachers/principal) can hold celebratory pizza parties for goals achieved, etc... are all welcome.

I can tell you though, as an affluent parent of a child at a low-income school, money for field trips and supplies are very welcome. If you offered to pay for a bus for a field trip, you would make a tremendous difference for at least 2 classrooms of students.

Thanks for thinking of DCPS students. There are so many wonderful children in the system that could use your help.

What does being affluent have to do with anything? Odd thing to add!!!

I think they are just trying to explain that they have been able to afford to pay for field trips & supplies and have found them to be well received. Perhaps not the best way to explain that, but I wouldn't read too much into it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. First, thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for ways to get involved.

Second, while I was really pissed when I read 10:22 and 10:24, I realize in retrospect that prefacing my comments with the mention of guilt and private school may have made it sound like I see myself as some sort of Lady Bountiful scattering alms to the poor. I don't. I'm just looking for ways to support a public institution in which I believe strongly, even though I believe that our private school is the best choice for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't word it in such a nasty way, you would have to go through a background check, fingerprinting and TB test to volunteer with children.

While the DCPS schools in upper NW raise significant funds (think $500K) to help out, most Title I schools don't have the same fundraising muscle.

Donating supplies or a cash gift to the student activity fund would be helpful. Even gift cards to Dominoes (so the teachers/principal) can hold celebratory pizza parties for goals achieved, etc... are all welcome.

I can tell you though, as an affluent parent of a child at a low-income school, money for field trips and supplies are very welcome. If you offered to pay for a bus for a field trip, you would make a tremendous difference for at least 2 classrooms of students.

Thanks for thinking of DCPS students. There are so many wonderful children in the system that could use your help.

What does being affluent have to do with anything? Odd thing to add!!!

it's relevant, when you know your kid can pay all the fees for school-related outings, yet other kids are left behind for lack of, say, train fare to Philly etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't word it in such a nasty way, you would have to go through a background check, fingerprinting and TB test to volunteer with children.

While the DCPS schools in upper NW raise significant funds (think $500K) to help out, most Title I schools don't have the same fundraising muscle.

Donating supplies or a cash gift to the student activity fund would be helpful. Even gift cards to Dominoes (so the teachers/principal) can hold celebratory pizza parties for goals achieved, etc... are all welcome.

I can tell you though, as an affluent parent of a child at a low-income school, money for field trips and supplies are very welcome. If you offered to pay for a bus for a field trip, you would make a tremendous difference for at least 2 classrooms of students.

Thanks for thinking of DCPS students. There are so many wonderful children in the system that could use your help.

What does being affluent have to do with anything? Odd thing to add!!!

it's relevant, when you know your kid can pay all the fees for school-related outings, yet other kids are left behind for lack of, say, train fare to Philly etc...

Inclusion of the fact that you are affluent does not add any relevant information. The OP wanted to know of opportunities to help DCPS. Simply stating the need is sufficient. Adding you are affluent is irrelevant and, if I may say so, inappropriate

[Anonymous]

Hmmm. Let's see.

We are on the DCUM Forum.

We are in the portion of the forum that discusses independent/private schools.

Now somebody is troubled by the fact that someone else happened to mention that s/he is affluent? Got news for your honey - at least 95% of the people to whom this sub-section of the forum is relevant are affluent. Rich? Perhaps not. Affluent - yes.

I think the poster mentioned her/his affluence to explain why she, as a public school parent, was able to afford these extraordinarily generous gifts to her public school. Many wealthy people send their kids to public school. Despite this, in DC proper (as opposed to the 'burbs) the presumption is that if you are wealthy your kids go to private. She also could have mentioned it to make clear this is just something she was able to do, not something she thought every other public school parent should be doing.

Cut her some slack.

~ A private school mom.

[Anonymous]

You are right PP, I need to let it go. Could be many innocent reasons for including that comment. Not sure why it irked me so much. My kids are also in private school which is why I am on this forum but as I have no idea about public schools I have no business on this post anyway. I was just being nosey and irritable.