How to help other APS elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Designate another school to receive donations via your Harris Teeter, Giant, Safeway purchases maybe?

Remember when Drew ( one of the neediest schools) screwed that up, and ended up not getting any money from that? Some of those schools are their own worst enemies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Designate another school to receive donations via your Harris Teeter, Giant, Safeway purchases maybe?

Remember when Drew ( one of the neediest schools) screwed that up, and ended up not getting any money from that? Some of those schools are their own worst enemies.

That wasn't the school, it was one crazy parent. It's not like the PTA instructed people to go harass Teeter shoppers.

[Anonymous]

I try to do this too. Each year we drive our G550 from McLean to the Home Depot at Seven Corners. I have our 7 YO approach some of the families standing in the parking lot and give them some school supplies. I taught her to say "benevolo! benevolo!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Designate another school to receive donations via your Harris Teeter, Giant, Safeway purchases maybe?

Remember when Drew ( one of the neediest schools) screwed that up, and ended up not getting any money from that? Some of those schools are their own worst enemies.

That wasn't the school, it was one crazy parent. It's not like the PTA instructed people to go harass Teeter shoppers.

Ok. What? Please explain this! Who was doing what at Harris teeter?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to do this too. Each year we drive our G550 from McLean to the Home Depot at Seven Corners. I have our 7 YO approach some of the families standing in the parking lot and give them some school supplies. I taught her to say "benevolo! benevolo!"

Your post is not funny.

[Anonymous]

A few years ago our N Arlington school PTA used to hold various drives (school supplies, winter clothing, holiday gifts, grocery cards, books) to help support the families at a S Arlington sister school. Then the S Arlington school got a new principal who felt this was condescending toward their families and put an end to it. Meanwhile the N Arlington school PTA every year raises over $100,000 and is constantly looking for ways to spend that money. Surely there has to be a way to support our fellow Arlington families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago our N Arlington school PTA used to hold various drives (school supplies, winter clothing, holiday gifts, grocery cards, books) to help support the families at a S Arlington sister school. Then the S Arlington school got a new principal who felt this was condescending toward their families and put an end to it. Meanwhile the N Arlington school PTA every year raises over $100,000 and is constantly looking for ways to spend that money. Surely there has to be a way to support our fellow Arlington families?

What was the s arl school? Asking as a s arl parent who finds this outrageous. I can not fathom turning down that sort of help. Shame on that principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago our N Arlington school PTA used to hold various drives (school supplies, winter clothing, holiday gifts, grocery cards, books) to help support the families at a S Arlington sister school. Then the S Arlington school got a new principal who felt this was condescending toward their families and put an end to it. Meanwhile the N Arlington school PTA every year raises over $100,000 and is constantly looking for ways to spend that money. Surely there has to be a way to support our fellow Arlington families?

I kind of understand where the school principal was coming from, in a way. I can see where someone might see shades of paternalism. The sense of noblesse oblige that prompts a wealthy N Arlington school to "help" a poor school in S Arlington, that may be segregated to an almost apartheid level, all while the civic association that the N Arlington school is located within will fight tooth and nail (and sue the county) to try to prevent lower socioeconomic status families and children from living within their neighborhood and attending their school.

That said, the principal cut off her nose to spite her face. She should have just accepted the donations, because it is likely that they were needed, and then blessed some hearts and muttered under her breath. This is a really tricky thing to navigate and I think your PTA was doing what you believed to be a kind and generous thing. You were acknowledging your privilege and trying to help, within a messed up system that is not of your making. It's a first step. And maybe one day we won't need donations from individuals outside of our own school community, or partner schools, and/or a CCPTA fund. One can dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's an idea: at the next auction or whatever, why not have up for bid, a "Be a Student in a South Arlington School for a Day!" item? Come with us on a tour of a school that is so close by, and yet ... so far away. Subsidized lunch and bilingual conversation provided. Be sure to sign a waiver!

Ha! Don't think the North Arlingtoners could handle it

These discussions always remind of Parks and Rec and the Pawnee vs Eagleton stuff.