We've done an informal play group with other kids in our neighborhood entering the PS-3 program at a charter nearby (with a few from other grades too.) I'm also going to the PTO meeting tonight to check it out and helping out with Community Garden Day on Saturday. Just starting to consider ourselves part of the school community now and getting involved where we can!

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the quick replies. I'm worried about becoming "that" parent, so I don't want to hassle them even more. This is not a school with historically high (or even mediocre) parental involvement. When I asked about joining the parents organization they looked at me like I had two heads. I think they only had one meeting this year, from what I could discern.

You need to ask around, try to meet a lot of people, and see if there is actually an informal group that meets more often. Maybe you don't have all the information. If you verify that indeed they only meet once per year, then you need to find a small group of parents and teachers who will work with you on changing that.

A PTA needs to have a meeting regularly, maybe once per month where any parents or teachers can raise any issue, and the executive members (president, treasurer, etc) need to be in contact with one another at least weekly, more often when an event is looming or there is a problem in need of resolution. Anything less and you just won't get anything done.

Don't sweat it - you don't need the whole school to be involved. But you need to find at least half a dozen or a dozen parents who either are already working on this or who can commit to this. Once a year... I don't even understand the purpose of that. May as well be never.

Anonymous wrote:We have been attending PTA meetings since the match and are helping to organize summer picnics for all students. I also connected through local listserves to other newly-matched families.

+1

We've been attending PTA meetings, joining listservs, meeting parents, volunteering for upcoming events. Our school has a great group of involved parents.

You don't need to be self-conscious about it at all, if the school has a core group of involved parents. They'll be thrilled to have you join early, provided you begin in listening mode and discover what they are already working on.

If the school really doesn't have a functioning PTA, like one PP mentioned, then if that was me I would get involved in a big way from the start, because the success or failure of getting a strong PTA started would be a factor in my decision whether or not to stay past PK3/4.

My PK3 started mid-September this past school year. PP is correct about by Sept 30, not Aug 30. And not all DCPCS follow DCPS schedule.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PK3 students are phased in by September 30. You should get your start date within weeks. I would call and try to speak with someone that can answer your questions. Or drop an email those are sometimes responded to quicker than a phone message. There should definitely be an orientation or a school event coming up. Have you checked the schools website for upcoming events? There may be an event open to new students and their families like the gala YY held recently. CHML has tons of stuff going on for new families and requires attendance at their orientations to secure your spot. Hope that helps.

I think you mean Aug. 30th

I meant what I said - September 30.

What are you talking about? What school starts the PK3 kids that late???? Never heard of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PK3 students are phased in by September 30. You should get your start date within weeks. I would call and try to speak with someone that can answer your questions. Or drop an email those are sometimes responded to quicker than a phone message. There should definitely be an orientation or a school event coming up. Have you checked the schools website for upcoming events? There may be an event open to new students and their families like the gala YY held recently. CHML has tons of stuff going on for new families and requires attendance at their orientations to secure your spot. Hope that helps.

I think you mean Aug. 30th

I meant what I said - September 30.

this just is not right if you are going by the DCPS calendar and DCPCS schools that follow DCPS.

Early Childhood Transition Week
August 25th-27th has been set aside for individual parent5teacher conferences and home visits.
Thursday,'August'28th–Students with last names A-K will attend full day.
Friday,'August'29th–Student with last names L-Z will attend full day.

Source: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/ABOUT%20DCPS/School%20Year%202014-2015%20Calendar%20TB%20Edits%20copy.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PK3 students are phased in by September 30. You should get your start date within weeks. I would call and try to speak with someone that can answer your questions. Or drop an email those are sometimes responded to quicker than a phone message. There should definitely be an orientation or a school event coming up. Have you checked the schools website for upcoming events? There may be an event open to new students and their families like the gala YY held recently. CHML has tons of stuff going on for new families and requires attendance at their orientations to secure your spot. Hope that helps.

I think you mean Aug. 30th

I meant what I said - September 30.

Is this a charter school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PK3 students are phased in by September 30. You should get your start date within weeks. I would call and try to speak with someone that can answer your questions. Or drop an email those are sometimes responded to quicker than a phone message. There should definitely be an orientation or a school event coming up. Have you checked the schools website for upcoming events? There may be an event open to new students and their families like the gala YY held recently. CHML has tons of stuff going on for new families and requires attendance at their orientations to secure your spot. Hope that helps.

I think you mean Aug. 30th

I meant what I said - September 30.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the quick replies. I'm worried about becoming "that" parent, so I don't want to hassle them even more. This is not a school with historically high (or even mediocre) parental involvement. When I asked about joining the parents organization they looked at me like I had two heads. I think they only had one meeting this year, from what I could discern.

Sounds like a great opportunity to put some programs into place!

Just be cautious in your approach. Ask the school's administration, staff and teachers how parents can be supportive. Don't go in starting with an attitude that could come off as "I need to create change to make this school good enough for my own precious snowflake."

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the quick replies. I'm worried about becoming "that" parent, so I don't want to hassle them even more. This is not a school with historically high (or even mediocre) parental involvement. When I asked about joining the parents organization they looked at me like I had two heads. I think they only had one meeting this year, from what I could discern.

Sounds like a great opportunity to put some programs into place!

Thanks for the quick replies. I'm worried about becoming "that" parent, so I don't want to hassle them even more. This is not a school with historically high (or even mediocre) parental involvement. When I asked about joining the parents organization they looked at me like I had two heads. I think they only had one meeting this year, from what I could discern.

Anonymous wrote:PK3 students are phased in by September 30. You should get your start date within weeks. I would call and try to speak with someone that can answer your questions. Or drop an email those are sometimes responded to quicker than a phone message. There should definitely be an orientation or a school event coming up. Have you checked the schools website for upcoming events? There may be an event open to new students and their families like the gala YY held recently. CHML has tons of stuff going on for new families and requires attendance at their orientations to secure your spot. Hope that helps.

I think you mean Aug. 30th

We have been attending PTA meetings since the match and are helping to organize summer picnics for all students. I also connected through local listserves to other newly-matched families.

PK3 students are phased in by September 30. You should get your start date within weeks. I would call and try to speak with someone that can answer your questions. Or drop an email those are sometimes responded to quicker than a phone message. There should definitely be an orientation or a school event coming up. Have you checked the schools website for upcoming events? There may be an event open to new students and their families like the gala YY held recently. CHML has tons of stuff going on for new families and requires attendance at their orientations to secure your spot. Hope that helps.

Are your schools doing orientations? Are you checking out PTO meetings? Meeting current families? How are you connecting with them?

When I dropped off my enrollment forms at the dcps my kid got into, they basically said "see you on the first day of school!" And then I asked when that was - whether they'd be an orientation or a later start for pk3, and the office person said she didn't know but I should hear from them over the summer. Is that the norm? Or are people finding other ways to get connected?