The school doesn't own or maintain the listserv.

Since the PA is independent from the school, not sure why discussions would be censored or by whom. If need be, we could start our own forum. But let's give the PA listserv a chance first. As long as things don't descend into personal attacks, I don't see any problems moving this discussion over there.

perhaps a brave soul can start a conversation on the listserve so the real discussion can move there?

The school would shut it down by making it clear that they don't want the discussion on the list serve, just like they have every time someone tries to start a dialogue. Sadly, that is why so much of the discussion is here.

parents: newsflash: YOU DON"T RUN THE SCHOOL!! The school has established a trip. Love it or leave it!!!


The school has established an optional parent funded,for all future grades, trip, so the parents should have a say in how and if it happens in the future. The school may go ahead with it regardless, that is their choice.
So far, the school has done virtually nothing to try to bring more parents on board. Since it seems likely that participation will not be 100% in the future, or close to it, the overall, broad parent fund raising will likely go to projects that benefit all kids in all grades regardless of their income. From what we know, the school is not taking into account a family's ability to pay in their allocation of the funds raised by the current 5th grade, and the $50,000 grant has not been revealed, aside from on here and via work of mouth. Is it targeted to those with higher need?

Love it or leave it is not a realistic or sustainable way to do things. Without any parents (leave it) there are no students. Without involved parents (who wont blindly love every decision) there will be no quality.

Anonymous wrote:parents: newsflash: YOU DON"T RUN THE SCHOOL!! The school has established a trip. Love it or leave it!!!

Well, when someone proposes taking my ten year old to the literal other side of the world for two weeks, I am going to get involved. That's just how it is.

Actually, I rather like that YY parents are so active, involved, and opinionated. But, as someone suggested, perhaps a brave soul can start a conversation on the listserve so the real discussion can move there?

parents: newsflash: YOU DON"T RUN THE SCHOOL!! The school has established a trip. Love it or leave it!!!

Anonymous wrote:

The PA is doing the best it can. What needs to happen now is a discussion amongst the k-4 parents of **IF** we want to have a 5th grade trip in the first place, and if so, **WHAT** exactly should it entail. There's been some good ideas presented here amidst all the noise, ideas that are quite different from what the school is planning for the current 5th graders.

Totally agree with this...could we have a nice, respectful conversation about this on the list, instead of using DCUM?

Anonymous wrote:Hey those who are part of the YY community! Let's pull together and do right by all our children. negativity doesn't solve anything. Give how you want, but give! if you don't like the PA then give directly to the school! finger-pointing and name-calling are all not what we want to teach our children, so why are we engaging in it! We have a great school, great kids, great families, great building, and soooo much potential. Let's use our powers for the good of all kids!!

Part of the problem is that trips like this are usually organized unofficially by a PA or similar group. In this case, we have a trip organized and partly funded by the school itself.

The PA is doing the best it can. What needs to happen now is a discussion amongst the k-4 parents of **IF** we want to have a 5th grade trip in the first place, and if so, **WHAT** exactly should it entail. There's been some good ideas presented here amidst all the noise, ideas that are quite different from what the school is planning for the current 5th graders.

Anonymous wrote: You're probably them same annoying person who stood up at the last PA meeting and demanded free tickets to the Gala for poor parents.

I agree, whoever stood up and insisted on free tickets was an idiot, or perhaps, confused about the whole point of the Gala. The point being, to raise money for the Parent Association (not for a 5th grade trip!). So yes, sell out Gala tickets to the monied, to those with idle cash, come one and all! Leave me out if you must. Help us raise funds for the whole school year.

The Parent Association then uses the money to fund things at the school which benefit everyone.

By the way, will we have the chance to ask candidates for PA association seats questions, or do we just hear their speech and vote?

Hey those who are part of the YY community! Let's pull together and do right by all our children. negativity doesn't solve anything. Give how you want, but give! if you don't like the PA then give directly to the school! finger-pointing and name-calling are all not what we want to teach our children, so why are we engaging in it! We have a great school, great kids, great families, great building, and soooo much potential. Let's use our powers for the good of all kids!!

Anonymous wrote:"The PA won't support poor kids. End of story."

Please do make sure this motto is prominently displayed (in English and Chinese) throughout the school and on all literature and the website. It truly sums up the entire school culture.

Oh for crying out loud. Stop feeling so sorry for yourself and entitled. I'm not poor but we still can't afford this trip. I think the PA is saying that people like me and the poor families need to do our own fundraising and not wait for the handout from the Gala. You're probably them same annoying person who stood up at the last PA meeting and demanded free tickets to the Gala for poor parents. The Gala is supposed to subsidize poor parents to come and raise money for poor kids to go to China. How exactly does that add up?

What is meet the candidates night?

I know what questions I'll be asking at meet the candidates night!

BTW, there are 7 board members and 4 seats are up for grabs, including president elect. I suggest that all of you people with strong opinions and great ideas get in there and run for office.