Cultivating (indoctrinating?) the community:
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04/16/2009Public School Parent WorkshopsPart of the vision of the Hyde Schools Foundation is to cultivate family programs in public schools and create parent programming in schools as more than just specialty events. The following summary highlights some of our key practices.
Last night was the final parent workshop for the MSAD 75 school district for this academic year. The Hyde Schools Foundation offered one workshop at each elementary school. MSAD 75 has 6 elementary schools in 4 towns (Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, Topsham). The spring 2009 Parent Partnership program consists of workshops as a series of two. In February, Hyde Foundation Training Director Jennifer Burns covered the principle, Truth Over Harmony for all of the schools; in April, she introduced Principles Over Rules.
The foundations goal for the program offered to MSAD 75 was to build a parent demand for similar programming in the future. Parent feedback during the April meetings indicates that the desire is there. As we have seen repeatedly, the 10 Priorities—and the opportunity to discuss parenting without judgement and with support to improvement—is moving and motivating for parents.
Essential Elements that Make Our Family Program in Public Schools Successful:1. Determined leadership—when school leaders have a vision for their schools that include parents and communities, these programs and the people involved flourish. Those leaders who are determined over the long haul to make it work have the ability to influence other school leaders and find funding. In one case, an Asst. Superintendant attended every event and oversaw the childcare. No job is too big or too small if it contributes to this leader's goals.
2. Long term commitment—we acknowledge that parent community is something that is intentionally built. We set reasonable goals to increase participation and involvement from parents and school leaders. We will work toward faculty development using the Hyde School model and language. The goals are "whole school" not just parent programming, but we see the parents as the cohort who can build momentum and influence change.
3. A nourishing experience—We provide childcare and food with each workshop. We are vigilant about observing the start and finish times we set. While we ate in cafeterias and classrooms, the spaces are made welcoming with tablecloths and simple decorations. The parents feel relaxed as their children scamper off to join friends and teen supervisors on the playground and in classrooms. Principals and counselors attend, as well, and provide a familiar, welcoming presence.
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