APS 8th Grade Trip

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

DHMS has a truly great PTA. I volunteer, donate, and appreciate that so many neighbors do too.

[Anonymous]

Steering away from the PTAs are the worstest ever, and making a plea:

IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, when your middle school student has trips to things like Kings Dominion, please, please, please provide them enough cash to cover their peers. Every year I chaperone and every year I ended up paying out of pocket for food. Parents think that the fee to attend covers food and it doesn't. And the parks are prohibitively expensive once you are inside them. Kids cannot go without water and food all day, and yet, every year, I get kids who bring $20, which covers basically water. There is a kind way to teach your kids to quietly pick up the tab when they know they should. By middle school, and esp by the end of the year, they know who in their friend group needs a few dollars. Have your kid be the one who buys two pizzas, not one. Or who picks up extra fries with order. You'd think APS has a money tree, but it doesn't. If you can afford some kindness, please consider it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Steering away from the PTAs are the worstest ever, and making a plea:

IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, when your middle school student has trips to things like Kings Dominion, please, please, please provide them enough cash to cover their peers. Every year I chaperone and every year I ended up paying out of pocket for food. Parents think that the fee to attend covers food and it doesn't. And the parks are prohibitively expensive once you are inside them. Kids cannot go without water and food all day, and yet, every year, I get kids who bring $20, which covers basically water. There is a kind way to teach your kids to quietly pick up the tab when they know they should. By middle school, and esp by the end of the year, they know who in their friend group needs a few dollars. Have your kid be the one who buys two pizzas, not one. Or who picks up extra fries with order. You'd think APS has a money tree, but it doesn't. If you can afford some kindness, please consider it.

Great point. I always make sure to do this. The prices are insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

You are welcome to join and lead the PTA and make them not lame. The only way they can function is to have someone willing and able to make them amazing. It's a job with a lot of hours, no pay and little thanks

I think I was not clear. I think a lot of what PTAs do is completely unnecessary up to and including the Kings Dominion trip. So I'm not worried about it. The point is this idea that N Arl middle school PTAs are awash in money and organization that benefits students is not accurate. For whatever reason middle school PTAs tend to be very sleepy. It does pick back up in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

Unfortunately, it’s complicated as the national PTA is extremely bureaucratic and has rules that don’t completely make sense in the spirit of giving, but I suppose have to be in place to prevent fraud. What I mean is, it’s not easy to transfer money from one PTA to another. We tried to help a family who lost their entire home to a fire with PTA money and the national PTA told us we could not do that because it was not to the benefit of all students. I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer but just want to point out that many of us over the years have tried to find ways to share funds amongst schools and it’s very difficult. Pretty much a fundraiser would have to be done outside of the PTA, it would have to be like a community fundraiser. Just seems absurd with when some PTA’s raised 30-40,000 a year.

People donate money with the understanding and intention it's going to a certain thing. You can't then just pivot and have a handful of people decide it goes somewhere completely different. Honestly, PTA money is not for a family who lost their home (as sad as that is) so apparently your PTA officers had terrible judgment and that's why the rules exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

Unfortunately, it’s complicated as the national PTA is extremely bureaucratic and has rules that don’t completely make sense in the spirit of giving, but I suppose have to be in place to prevent fraud. What I mean is, it’s not easy to transfer money from one PTA to another. We tried to help a family who lost their entire home to a fire with PTA money and the national PTA told us we could not do that because it was not to the benefit of all students. I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer but just want to point out that many of us over the years have tried to find ways to share funds amongst schools and it’s very difficult. Pretty much a fundraiser would have to be done outside of the PTA, it would have to be like a community fundraiser. Just seems absurd with when some PTA’s raised 30-40,000 a year.

People donate money with the understanding and intention it's going to a certain thing. You can't then just pivot and have a handful of people decide it goes somewhere completely different. Honestly, PTA money is not for a family who lost their home (as sad as that is) so apparently your PTA officers had terrible judgment and that's why the rules exist.

I guarantee you most parents who stroke a check at the beginning of the year to a no-frills fundraiser have no idea what those funds are going to be used for at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

Unfortunately, it’s complicated as the national PTA is extremely bureaucratic and has rules that don’t completely make sense in the spirit of giving, but I suppose have to be in place to prevent fraud. What I mean is, it’s not easy to transfer money from one PTA to another. We tried to help a family who lost their entire home to a fire with PTA money and the national PTA told us we could not do that because it was not to the benefit of all students. I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer but just want to point out that many of us over the years have tried to find ways to share funds amongst schools and it’s very difficult. Pretty much a fundraiser would have to be done outside of the PTA, it would have to be like a community fundraiser. Just seems absurd with when some PTA’s raised 30-40,000 a year.

People donate money with the understanding and intention it's going to a certain thing. You can't then just pivot and have a handful of people decide it goes somewhere completely different. Honestly, PTA money is not for a family who lost their home (as sad as that is) so apparently your PTA officers had terrible judgment and that's why the rules exist.

I guarantee you most parents who stroke a check at the beginning of the year to a no-frills fundraiser have no idea what those funds are going to be used for at the school.

They give it thinking it's going to benefit the school and its students and teachers. Not be used for people's pet feel good projects. Are you serious with this? That is unethical what you're suggesting.

[Anonymous]

A trip to Kings Dominion is hardly essential. Yet, maybe it could be covered if we didn’t waste so much money on asinine ed tech (that isn’t producing good results).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

Unfortunately, it’s complicated as the national PTA is extremely bureaucratic and has rules that don’t completely make sense in the spirit of giving, but I suppose have to be in place to prevent fraud. What I mean is, it’s not easy to transfer money from one PTA to another. We tried to help a family who lost their entire home to a fire with PTA money and the national PTA told us we could not do that because it was not to the benefit of all students. I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer but just want to point out that many of us over the years have tried to find ways to share funds amongst schools and it’s very difficult. Pretty much a fundraiser would have to be done outside of the PTA, it would have to be like a community fundraiser. Just seems absurd with when some PTA’s raised 30-40,000 a year.

People donate money with the understanding and intention it's going to a certain thing. You can't then just pivot and have a handful of people decide it goes somewhere completely different. Honestly, PTA money is not for a family who lost their home (as sad as that is) so apparently your PTA officers had terrible judgment and that's why the rules exist.

I guarantee you most parents who stroke a check at the beginning of the year to a no-frills fundraiser have no idea what those funds are going to be used for at the school.

Well they vote on and approve a budget and we list what the fundraiser funds go to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

Unfortunately, it’s complicated as the national PTA is extremely bureaucratic and has rules that don’t completely make sense in the spirit of giving, but I suppose have to be in place to prevent fraud. What I mean is, it’s not easy to transfer money from one PTA to another. We tried to help a family who lost their entire home to a fire with PTA money and the national PTA told us we could not do that because it was not to the benefit of all students. I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer but just want to point out that many of us over the years have tried to find ways to share funds amongst schools and it’s very difficult. Pretty much a fundraiser would have to be done outside of the PTA, it would have to be like a community fundraiser. Just seems absurd with when some PTA’s raised 30-40,000 a year.

People donate money with the understanding and intention it's going to a certain thing. You can't then just pivot and have a handful of people decide it goes somewhere completely different. Honestly, PTA money is not for a family who lost their home (as sad as that is) so apparently your PTA officers had terrible judgment and that's why the rules exist.

Have to agree that money given to a PTA should never go to an individual family. That's why there are rules in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

Unfortunately, it’s complicated as the national PTA is extremely bureaucratic and has rules that don’t completely make sense in the spirit of giving, but I suppose have to be in place to prevent fraud. What I mean is, it’s not easy to transfer money from one PTA to another. We tried to help a family who lost their entire home to a fire with PTA money and the national PTA told us we could not do that because it was not to the benefit of all students. I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer but just want to point out that many of us over the years have tried to find ways to share funds amongst schools and it’s very difficult. Pretty much a fundraiser would have to be done outside of the PTA, it would have to be like a community fundraiser. Just seems absurd with when some PTA’s raised 30-40,000 a year.

People donate money with the understanding and intention it's going to a certain thing. You can't then just pivot and have a handful of people decide it goes somewhere completely different. Honestly, PTA money is not for a family who lost their home (as sad as that is) so apparently your PTA officers had terrible judgment and that's why the rules exist.

I guarantee you most parents who stroke a check at the beginning of the year to a no-frills fundraiser have no idea what those funds are going to be used for at the school.

They give it thinking it's going to benefit the school and its students and teachers. Not be used for people's pet feel good projects. Are you serious with this? That is unethical what you're suggesting.

You think it’s unethical for a PTA to give excess funds to another Arlington PTA? Is that really what you’re saying? I don’t think unethical is the correct word.

[Anonymous]

Not PP, but here are my thoughts:

1. There should be ONE PTA for all of APS. Funds should be distributed to each school by percentage of overall students each has in the system.

2. Taxpayers shouldn’t pay for fluff, which is what a Kings Dominion trip is. These are not field trips where actual learning occurs. Have a field day at the school, fine, but all fluff trips like these should be done outside of school.

(Does this count as one of the 180 instructional days required by the state? The 180 that we won’t even hit this year? 🙄)

[Anonymous]

One PTA would not work. How about all the millions of non money stuff. We arent just a bank of the school..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

I totally disagree. The county has created major disparities and it's not up to anyone to make that ok. If it were just a few families needing a hand, sure, but a few wealthy families can't make up all that ground and absolutely shouldn't have to. Arlington needs to make some effort to address this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs. I don’t know about Hamm. But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools.

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort.

I totally disagree. The county has created major disparities and it's not up to anyone to make that ok. If it were just a few families needing a hand, sure, but a few wealthy families can't make up all that ground and absolutely shouldn't have to. Arlington needs to make some effort to address this.

Liiiiiike building all new affordable housing in the north part of the county! The south is already full.