BLUE HERON PARENT ADVISORY SITE COUNCIL

Parent Advisory Site Council Planning for 2008-09

Updated by Mark Decker on July 1, 2008

What is the Blue Heron Parent Advisory Site Council?

              The Port Townsend School Board adopted a policy in 1994 to encourage schools in the district to create their own advisory councils, or “Site Councils.”  With input from teachers, the community, students and their parents, the BHMS Site Council is designed to assist the principal in making decisions about school issues.  Our hope is to foster through the Site Council, a feeling of teamwork between the school and the community; to provide a way for parents, teachers, and students to voice their ideas and concerns; and to make information about school issues available to all.  Site Council members are responsible for gathering information and concerns and sharing them at montly meetings for parents and quarterly meetings for parents and staff leaders.

Who can be involved in the Blue Heron Parent Advisory Site Council?

              Involvement in the Site Council is open to any individual interested in pursuing goals established through a process of consensus at the beginning of each school year.  Typically the representatives are parents, community members, staff members from the Building Leadership Team (BLT) and the principal.  The principal meets separately with student interest groups (i.e ASB, 4 A Club, individuals) on a monthly basis and brings student input to the Site Council.  In addition, the ASB advisor is a member of the Site Council and may bring student leadership input.  While student input is typically collected in exclusively student forums, if a matter is deemed to warrant it the principal would encourage a combined forum of students, parents, staff, and administration.  Staff members representing Blue Heron for the 2008-09 school year include the grade level team members of Tedd Davis (8th grade team leader), Kate Garfield/Jennifer Manning (7th grade co-team leaders), Lorraine Kirsch (6th grade team leader) and Principal Decker. Parents on the Site Council include Anna Frank, Tina Silberman, LaTrecia Arthur, Selah Martha, Teresa Janssen, Lisa Crosby, Kelli Conrads, and Barbara Sterritt.

How do I access the Blue Heron Parent Advisory Site Council?

• If you have a question, concern, input or agenda topic, call a parent representative or contact the principal.
• Information will also be posted on the Blue Heron Website.  www.ptsd.wednet.edu

When does the Blue Heron Parent Advisory Site Council Meet?

              The council meets according to the needs of the established committees.  Regular monthly communication is encouraged between the committees and the principal.  Monthly and quarterly meetings are held according to the schedule below and for the purpose of sharing progress on the action plans and gaining feedback from the entire Blue Heron community. Teaching staff members are only present at the quarterly meeting dates listed below. Typically meetings are held in the BHMS Conference Room.

Meeting Dates    Time                                 Purpose/Objectives of the Meeting             

August 11, 2008         5:00 - 6:00 pm                 Monthly Meeting (Parents-Staff Invited)

• Planning escrip
• 6th Grade Orientation help
• Back To School Celebration help

September 8, 2008      2:30 - 4 pm                      Quarterly Meeting: Staff and Parents

• Introductions/Communication
• Norms of Operation
• Year End Report (2007-08)
• Site Council Overview
• History and recognition of past work
• Planning template
• Develop goals and action plan
• Approve goals and action plan
• Establish preliminary work plan
• Next meeting: Bring more parents on Oct 6
• Constructive thoughts for the good of Blue Heron
 

October 6, 2008           7 - 8:30 pm                     Parent Work Meeting: Establish measurable goals

• Create list of parents willing to work on goals
• Establish templates and process: See Template & Process for moving a goal forward below
• Establish timelines for subcommittees to work on outlined process.
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron

November 3, 2008        7 - 8:30 pm                    Parent Work Meeting + Additional Parents Welcome

• Create list of parents willing to work on goals
• Establish templates and process: See Template & Process for moving a goal forward below
• Establish timelines for subcommittees to work on outlined process.
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron

December 1, 2008          2:30 – 4 pm                   Quarterly Report by Parent Committee

• Staff and Principal present
• All Blue Heron parents and students welcome 
• Feedback given to committee
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron

January 5, 2009               7 - 8:30 pm                  Parent Work Meeting + Additional Parents Welcome

• Work Meeting and furthering goals
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron

February 9, 2009           2:30 – 4 pm                     Quarterly Report by Parent Committee

• Staff and Principal present
• All Blue Heron parents and students welcome
• Feedback given to committee
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron

March 2 , 2009                7 - 8:30 pm                   Parent Work Meeting + Additional Parents Welcome

• Work Meeting and furthering goals
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron

April 6, 2009                   2:30 – 4 pm                  Quarterly Report by Parent Committee

• Staff and Principal present
• All Blue Heron parents and students welcome
• Feedback given to committee
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron

May 4, 2009                     7 - 8:30 pm                      Parent Work Meeting + Additional Parents Welcome

• Invite 5th grade parents from MV to attend
• Constructive Thoughts for the Good of Blue Heron
• Feedback and Evaluation

June 9, 2008                     2:30 – 4 pm                Final Report on Progress by Committees

• Staff and Principal present
• All Blue Heron parents and students welcome
• Invite 5th grade parents from MV to attend
• Feedback given to committee
• Planning for next year

BH Site Council Approved Current Goals and Action Plans

Recommendations from the Site Council on June 9, 2008

Goal 1:

Design a promotion ceremony for the conclusion of each school year that recognizes middle level students for their successful completion of the middle school program. The ceremony will encompass  the vision, motto, goals, and objectives of the school.

FOCUS QUESTION: What does it mean to have successfully completed the middle school program (6-8) and be recognized for that success at the conclusion of the 8th grade year?  

REVIEW TEMPLATE AND PROCESS FOR MOVING A GOAL FORWARD (see below)

ACTION PLAN: (To Be Determined by 2008-09 Site Council)

Goal 2:

Broaden the reach of the classroom volunteers for reading, math, and writing.  Continue excellence in parent/community volunteers and business partnerships for academics, mentoring, and activities at Blue Heron. (See also Blue Heron 2007-08 Year End Report: 160+ Parent/Community Volunteers & 21 Business Partnerships)

FOCUS QUESTION: How can we continue to find positive role models to participate in mentoring programs that focus on specific life skills in small groups?  What can we do to continue to to help our parent/community volunteers in their work with middle level students?  How can we support growth in our community partnerships?

REVIEW TEMPLATE AND PROCESS FOR MOVING A GOAL FORWARD (see below)

ACTION PLAN: (To Be Determined by 2008-09 Site Council) (ideas: survey and adult social kickoff)

Goal 3:

Improve communication between the home and school.

FOCUS QUESTION:  What methods can we use to ensure communication with all of the stakeholders?

REVIEW TEMPLATE AND PROCESS FOR MOVING A GOAL FORWARD (see below)

ACTION PLAN: (To Be Determined by 2008-09 Site Council)

Ideas Include: Bring back the Blue Heron Reaches Out Newsletter, Web, Email, Callouts, PR, Calendar, Involve parents in online tools that enable them to access their children's grades and attendance.  Improve the flow of information about celebrations at school involving students and staff.

Goal 4:

Continue to have reports from Port Townsend Education Foundation (PTEF-an organization that grew out of the Blue Heron 2004-2007 Site Council) in regards to funding school projects.  Maximize the development of the eScrip fundraising program to be targeted at funding goals above and beyond the BHMS budget.

FOCUS QUESTIONS: 

How do we build an after school tutoring program and fund it with PTEF as a partner in the process?

How de we maximize fundraising through the eScrip program and target donations from eScrip to fund goals above and beyond the BHMS budget?  (see BHMS Budget Funding Goals)

REVIEW TEMPLATE AND PROCESS FOR MOVING A GOAL FORWARD (see below)

ACTION PLAN: (To Be Determined by 2008-09 Site Council)

Template & Process for moving a goal forward

Focus group or individual develops an idea

Meet with principal and complete a reality check

Brainstorm with site council

Reality check with principal/staff

Long/short term measurable goals & develop action plan/timeline developed

Reality check with principal/staff

Revise as necessary / Represent if necessary / Implement

Reality check with principal/staff

Check and revise as necessary

Assess effectiveness

Revise as needed based on measurable goals

[Keep a notebook of the committee's progress]

Other areas to potentially develop goals and action plans around

     Fiscal ideas to potentially pursue

• Fund Raising (Organization in place with PTEF) (completed/ongoing)
• Establish Vendor Programs
• Develop a 5-year strategic plan for curriculum, sports, co-curricular activities
• Maintain and decrease class size (Completed)

     Other teaching and learning ideas to potentially pursue

• Develop an after or before school program for tutoring. (developing)
• Consistency in curriculum from school to school
• Develop some refined goals, "mission statements", and go to work on goals (completed)
• Positive classroom environment - teachers re-educated, if needed, at workshops
• No bullying by students or teachers through programs
• Each teacher designates specific day they will stay after school for homework help (completed)

 

      Community relationship ideas to potentially pursue

• Community Service Hours
• 8th graders participate in 1 volunteer project, write paper and present to class
• Community members approached for talks/topics in after school programs and

  mentorships for kids to work/volunteer at a job.

• Encourage community partnerships at all levels (volunteers, organizations, businesses) (Completed)
• Regular articles in the newspapers about school - Seek a volunteer to do press releases.
• Principal: Continue weekly communication with parents via email. (developing)

       Facilities and grounds ideas to potentially pursue

• Activity Achievement Awards specific to Grounds
• Concessions
• Recycling
• Work detail: Kids ? How?
• Clean Up Your School Day
• Students participate in school grounds upkeep

        Extra-Curricular programs ideas to potentially pursue

• Some kids say they can't afford sports (or whatever), how can we assist them? (completed)
• Extra Curricular programs are available to all students.  Costs?  Student scholarships? (completed)
• Introduce 6th grade programs