Question about Parent Involvement

[Anonymous]

First - forgive my likely lack of ability to articulate exactly what I am asking but it's something I'm wondering about.

As many others in Arlington - we are a family where both parents work full time and do so because it is a necessity.

That being said, we're hoping to be one of the many who participate in the ATS lottery.

I've heard that ATS is high on parent involvement. That is a good thing. My question though, is what are the expectations - really (community wise and administration wise)?

Outside of doing everything to help my child do well in school (assist w/projects/homework etc, extracurricular activities), will we be expected to participate heavily in PTA, other groups? Will the inability (some may say unwillingness..) to "dive in" to everything impact our child in any way or is the culture supportive of those who do what they can (not everything..)?

We value our time with our child, and are going to be unwilling to compromise what little we actually have on a weekly basis...and my worry is that this will be perceived incorrectly.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

OP, you might get more responses if you include ATS in the subject line. Current subject line seems like it's going to be a broader topic, when what I think you really want/need is current ATS parents to respond to you.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Not in Arlington but FFX County. I am heavily involved in the PTA and can do so during off hours. PTA meetings are held in the evenings once a month.

I feel like my child's kindergarten class has many activities involving parents during the day. There was a breakfast, field trips, class parties, random requests for volunteers for different themes, reading volunteers and fun Fridays. I work part time so I can participate but even with my flexible 30 hr per week job, I felt it was a lot. It probably feels worse for work because of the sheer number of school delays and snow closings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you might get more responses if you include ATS in the subject line. Current subject line seems like it's going to be a broader topic, when what I think you really want/need is current ATS parents to respond to you.
Good luck.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I'm an ATS K parent. (working mom/single mom.) yes, we have a very involved PTA for schoolwide events and committees. You are strongly encouraged to volunteer at events like the Fall Fair and International Night, which occur outside of work hours. There's a back-to-school picnic and a spring BBQ and an end-of-year event. You're encouraged to attend these events, donate to various things and bake for bake sales. There are other committees with which you can be involved, but that's your call.

Outside of the school-wide events, kindergarten is supposedly the year when they expect the most involvement from parents. You are expected to attend kindergarten orientation, kindergarten night in the fall and a kindergarten potluck/info night in late January. You are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom and on field trips, or to help out the teachers in other ways. Some parents do, some don't. The "room parent" tends to be a SAHM, often a parent of an older child in the school who knows the lay of the land.

A lot of kids participate in sports - we have two soccer teams at the K level in the spring and fall, and softball/baseball in the spring. Many kids participate.

Nobody gets penalized for not doing this stuff. I don't think the other moms would shun you or anything. I just have the attitude that someone has to do this stuff, that it takes a village and all that, so I do whatever I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ATS K parent. (working mom/single mom.) yes, we have a very involved PTA for schoolwide events and committees. You are strongly encouraged to volunteer at events like the Fall Fair and International Night, which occur outside of work hours. There's a back-to-school picnic and a spring BBQ and an end-of-year event. You're encouraged to attend these events, donate to various things and bake for bake sales. There are other committees with which you can be involved, but that's your call.

Outside of the school-wide events, kindergarten is supposedly the year when they expect the most involvement from parents. You are expected to attend kindergarten orientation, kindergarten night in the fall and a kindergarten potluck/info night in late January. You are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom and on field trips, or to help out the teachers in other ways. Some parents do, some don't. The "room parent" tends to be a SAHM, often a parent of an older child in the school who knows the lay of the land.

A lot of kids participate in sports - we have two soccer teams at the K level in the spring and fall, and softball/baseball in the spring. Many kids participate.

Nobody gets penalized for not doing this stuff. I don't think the other moms would shun you or anything. I just have the attitude that someone has to do this stuff, that it takes a village and all that, so I do whatever I can.

This is a HUGE help..thank you. I'm also part of the "village" mentality...but value my sanity as well! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ATS K parent. (working mom/single mom.) yes, we have a very involved PTA for schoolwide events and committees. You are strongly encouraged to volunteer at events like the Fall Fair and International Night, which occur outside of work hours. There's a back-to-school picnic and a spring BBQ and an end-of-year event. You're encouraged to attend these events, donate to various things and bake for bake sales. There are other committees with which you can be involved, but that's your call.

Outside of the school-wide events, kindergarten is supposedly the year when they expect the most involvement from parents. You are expected to attend kindergarten orientation, kindergarten night in the fall and a kindergarten potluck/info night in late January. You are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom and on field trips, or to help out the teachers in other ways. Some parents do, some don't. The "room parent" tends to be a SAHM, often a parent of an older child in the school who knows the lay of the land.

A lot of kids participate in sports - we have two soccer teams at the K level in the spring and fall, and softball/baseball in the spring. Many kids participate.

Nobody gets penalized for not doing this stuff. I don't think the other moms would shun you or anything. I just have the attitude that someone has to do this stuff, that it takes a village and all that, so I do whatever I can.

Another ATS parent here. I would agree with this. My only "warning" would be: Be careful how many things you agree to help with -- I volunteered for one activity, and lo and behold, that parent also runs another one, so now I'm on multiple volunteer lists -- it's fine; I've learned to say "No", but it's taken a little time. I am a working parent as well, with a decent amount of flexibility in my schedule. DH is not generally available to volunteer for things as much as I am, but he's gone on the occasional field trip and worked at some evening events (that I've signed him up for!). I also served on the PTA Board for awhile -- there was never any talk about parents who don't volunteer (except for one occasion when it was a generic "if we can't get anyone to work at it, we shouldn't have it" kind of thing.)

[Anonymous]

14:17 - the demands/asks are more at certain times of the year. I found September/October a little overwhelming, because of all the new routines - school, PTA stuff, soccer (practice+game each week), other activities. Plus that's a very busy time for me workwise. I'm hoping next year (1st) will be easier now that I know the routine.

15:54 - I agree! that has happened to me too. And it stresses me out a bit, but I do it anyway.