Last night, the board of education came to Rock Creek Forest to hear presentations from the BCC cluster schools. Many members of the Student Government Association with support from Srta. Garcia gave tours to members of the BOE who came early. Then, each school had five minutes to present about their programs, achievements and challenges.
It was interesting to hear many of the common themes: over-crowding and staff reductions, chief among them.
When I had an opportunity to testify, I shared a power point illustrating our challenges and our successes.
BOE Presentation
Many thanks to Craig Brown, Jack Hauser, and Joy White, our cluster coordinators, who organized the event, the many Rock Creek Forest parents, teachers and staff who came out to support their school and, as always, the building service team.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
New Format a Sucess for Multicultural Night
Multicultural Night was a huge success with literally hundreds of parents and kids roaming the halls getting their "passports" stamped at different stations, trying new foods and watching performances.
With delicious food scattered throughout the building, there were no lines to eat and mixed in with the food tables were information booths staffed by RCF families representing countries from around the world, including: Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala and Sweden, among others.
Beautiful traditional dress from Ethiopia, Ghana, Japan and other cultures could be seen on attendees.
After many years in the Gym, this was a new format and we have to thank Natalie Reineke and her committee for reimagining what multicultural night could mean. As always, the support of the teachers, staff, administration and especially building services, was invaluable.
With delicious food scattered throughout the building, there were no lines to eat and mixed in with the food tables were information booths staffed by RCF families representing countries from around the world, including: Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala and Sweden, among others.
Beautiful traditional dress from Ethiopia, Ghana, Japan and other cultures could be seen on attendees.
After many years in the Gym, this was a new format and we have to thank Natalie Reineke and her committee for reimagining what multicultural night could mean. As always, the support of the teachers, staff, administration and especially building services, was invaluable.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
MultiCultural Dinner Next Week
It is that time of year when everyone starts checking their recipies and planning their dress. The RCFPTA Multicultural Dinner is coming up on February 25 from 6:30 to 8.
Bring a dish to share that reflects your families cultural heritage, and yes, for some of us a Snider's Rotisserie Chicken is cultural heritage, we just weren't luck enough to grow up eating empanadas.
Stay to participate in the student sing along, the Chorus and the cultural dance exchange. Tour the school and see cultural displays set up by Rock Creek Forest families, have a great time with your friends and community.
If you have any questions, would like to host a country table to display items/information about a country, perform that night or help, please contact Natalie Reineke at NatalieJoanna@yahoo.com.
Bring a dish to share that reflects your families cultural heritage, and yes, for some of us a Snider's Rotisserie Chicken is cultural heritage, we just weren't luck enough to grow up eating empanadas.
Stay to participate in the student sing along, the Chorus and the cultural dance exchange. Tour the school and see cultural displays set up by Rock Creek Forest families, have a great time with your friends and community.
If you have any questions, would like to host a country table to display items/information about a country, perform that night or help, please contact Natalie Reineke at NatalieJoanna@yahoo.com.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Why we all need to be worried: not just immersion
I have heard a lot of discussion around the budget and it is bringing to light again the divisions between our two programs. It is a sad fact of RCF that our two programs are very divided.
When we work at our best, we as parents come together to advocate for our kids and to build a community.
When we are at our worst, we are a very divided place.
So this post is directed to the English Academy side. We have heard a lot about the cuts facing the immersion program specifically such as busing and resource teachers. But these things matter to you as well and if you live in the neighborhood you should be very very concerned.
1) Instructional materials -- perhaps you didn't realize, and I know I never thought about it until this year, my second as PTA president, but, we as a school have fewer books and other materials because they must be bought in two languages. When the fourth grade buys a set of readers, they must buy two, one in each langauge, effectively reducing the number of books available to kids in each program. So, even though our kids don't benefit from learning in Spanish, we are affected by the program. To cut this budget further is insulting.
2) Busing -- yes, I know, I have heard the arguments about equity. If busing is cut only the parents with resources will be able to drive them here. Here's the other argument. I don't want hundreds of additional cars coming through my neighborhood to drop kids at school. It's a mess as is and if this goes through, I think neighbors will wake up in August to a real traffic jam.
These are but two examples of the ways these budget cuts will impact us all. Take some time and sign on to the petition, the link is to the right. Then write a letter, make a phone call and stay informed.
When we work at our best, we as parents come together to advocate for our kids and to build a community.
When we are at our worst, we are a very divided place.
So this post is directed to the English Academy side. We have heard a lot about the cuts facing the immersion program specifically such as busing and resource teachers. But these things matter to you as well and if you live in the neighborhood you should be very very concerned.
1) Instructional materials -- perhaps you didn't realize, and I know I never thought about it until this year, my second as PTA president, but, we as a school have fewer books and other materials because they must be bought in two languages. When the fourth grade buys a set of readers, they must buy two, one in each langauge, effectively reducing the number of books available to kids in each program. So, even though our kids don't benefit from learning in Spanish, we are affected by the program. To cut this budget further is insulting.
2) Busing -- yes, I know, I have heard the arguments about equity. If busing is cut only the parents with resources will be able to drive them here. Here's the other argument. I don't want hundreds of additional cars coming through my neighborhood to drop kids at school. It's a mess as is and if this goes through, I think neighbors will wake up in August to a real traffic jam.
These are but two examples of the ways these budget cuts will impact us all. Take some time and sign on to the petition, the link is to the right. Then write a letter, make a phone call and stay informed.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Snow Days
Wow, who would have thought we would see 20 inches of snow in early December and miss three days before winter break?
With everything shut down, perhaps we can all take time to enjoy the peace, to remember that winter break should be a break, not a mad dash from store, to stove, to party, to airport.
One of the lovely things about our school is it's location on a hill. There are several sledding sites, and they are all in heavy use. Some industrious person saw the opportunity in the plowed parking lot and created tunnels through the piled up snow. I am sure Mr. Chia would have a cow if he saw this, I know I was wondering if I was going to need to pull Jack out by his boots if/when the tunnel collapsed.
One parent, you know who you are, built a jump that quickly had to be demolished because it is not the winter olymics yet and even the jumpers there don't land on asphalt.
The Deli and Red Dog did a booming business in hot cocoa and coffee as parents and kids needed to warm up before heading back out again. Palais de Lune stayed open throughout the storm and many families walked to the coop to do their shopping. Many kids earned a fortune shoveling and clearing cars.
The result? We saw friends and neighbors, students and alumni, business owners and residents slowing down and reconnecting.
Being a part of the community, coming out and seeing neighbors and friends, this is what winter break is all about and why, although I had to swap kids to finish my holiday shopping, I am glad for the unexpected days off. Thanks Dr. Weast!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Read it and weep
Granted this is a tough time for everyone's budgets, but I can't help feeling like RCF is strapped to the front bumper in Dr. Weast's game of chicken with County Executive Leggett. Rather than reiterate all the cuts proposed, should Dr. Weast not get his wish list, please go to: http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/FY2011/pdf/BudgetPossibleReductions_Recommended.pdf
It is not pretty reading on the block are:
It is not pretty reading on the block are:
- academic support teachers (the people who work with the neediest kids)
- special program teachers, including immersion
- increase class sizes by 1 per class (144% over capacity anyone?)
- school counselors
- mainenence and building service workers
- busing for optional programs outside your normal home school area (immersion)
- fewer texbooks and instructional materials
- focus teachers at schools with above average poverty (not sure we have one, but sure we wouldn't want to lose one if we do)
- Reading initiative teachers -- we have this and we need it!
- staff development and reading teachers - this document correctly recognizes that the smaller schools (us) have already taken a cut this current year and then says, we should expect another cut.
- regular education paraeducators
There are other cuts as well, but they are less critical to us directly and involve phasing out older buses at a slower rate, use of biofuels, etc. See also yesterday's B-1 article by Nelson Hernandez in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/08/AR2009120804445.html
So, what next?
We need to organize. We need a chair to focus on advocacy around this budget and we need someone who will network with the other special schools to make sure our efforts are coordinated.
The goal is not to fight over scraps, but to ensure that we all get a fair shake.
Any takers?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Scholastic Book Fair Opens!
It is that time of year! The Book Fair opens Monday, December 7 through the 11th with evening hours on the night of Thursday, December 10.
Personally, I love the Book Fair, it is an opportunity to:
1. Support the library (through classroom wishlists)
2. Support your child's teacher (through classroom wishlists)
3. Provide books for kids who can't afford them (through One for Books)
4. Indulge my love of reading (through Visa)
There are some great new books this year that I know the kids will be clamoring for. Whether your kids tastes run to Pokemon and Bakugan or Skippy John Jones and Judy Moody, there is something for you.
Of course, I wouldn't be doing my PTA president duty if I didn't ask you to lend a hand. The book fair takes a huge amount of vounteer hours to pull off and we can always use your help. If you have an hour to spare, email Leslie Cradlin at lmcradlin@verizon.net, she will happily put you to work!
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