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Back to Partnership Home Back to Committees Committee Meeting Minutes, 02/29/00 Present: Don Berger, Denise Goodman, Lori Mason, Dot Rosenbaum, Bob Roth, and Dr. Leroy Walker Don Berger, chairperson, called the meeting to order at 4:40 P.M. Don Berger suggested the committee continue reviewing the draft of the official document, the "Cary Academy Family-School Partnership Expectations", to identify relevant action items. Parents Working with Cary Academy1. Parents recognize that effective partnerships require a shared commitment to collaboration, open lines of communication, understanding each other’s views, and mutual respect. The leadership team will draft a document by our next meeting on April 4, 2000, explaining and describing appropriate pathways for communication. For example, which concerns are appropriate to express via e-mail, telephone, or face-to-face. Evidence of mutual respect include:
We know we are effective if deliverables and timetables have priority. 2. In selecting Cary Academy, parents seek an optimal match for the needs of the student, their own expectations, and the philosophy and programs of the school. The Admissions staff will draft a one page snapshot or profile by our next meeting on April 4, 2000, depicting what Cary Academy is and what it is not. Tours for visitors will help to address this issue. 3. Parents will seek the professional educators’ perspective on the student, listen to , and value their insights. 4. Parents and Cary Academy communicate candidly and honestly. 5. Parents involve themselves in the life of the school, through active participation in social, extracurricular, and academic events, as well as sharing of time, talents, and resources. Dot Rosenbaum will draft a document by our next meeting on April 4, 2000, delineating how parents can take active roles. This information could be included in a parent handbook and/or the admissions packet. 6. Parents are familiar with and support Cary Academy’s policies and procedures as contained in school publications. A parent handbook will be developed. Perhaps parents should sign and return a form acknowledging that they have read and are willing to comply with the handbook. The handbook could be distributed at a new parents’ orientation. Perhaps some of the points in the handbook could be expressed in a skit at the orientation. Don Berger will ask Brad Wilson and Donna Fulenwider if the Alliance can develop the parent handbook. This handbook could be included in the admissions packet and put on the school website. 7. When concerns arise, parents seek information directly from the professionals at Cary Academy, consulting with those best able to address the concerns. Different pathways may be appropriate depending upon whether the concern is academic, disciplinary, extracurricular, etc. in nature. This will be addressed by the communication pathways document to be drafted by the leadership team and should be included in the parent and faculty handbooks. 8. Parents share with the school any religious, cultural, medical, academic, or personal information that the school may need to most effectively work with the student. The division heads will develop an optional form for parents to complete. Medical information should be separate. Don Berger will draft this document by our meeting on May 2, 2000. 9. Parents will alert the school to issues and situations that come to their attention that may impact the safety of the school and its students. Spell this out in the parent handbook. 10. Parents provide a home environment that supports the development of positive learning attitudes and habits. Parents should attend school programs for help in this area.
Cary Academy Working with Parents1. Cary Academy recognizes that effective partnerships require a shared commitment to collaboration , open lines of communication, understanding each other’s views, and mutual respect. The leadership team will draft a document by our next meeting on April 4, 2000, explaining and describing appropriate pathways for communication. Some examples include open forums such as Breakfast with Berger. We will add three open forums per year, one each trimester, in both the upper school and the middle school, beginning in Spring 2000. They will begin with a presentation followed by questions on that topic or other topics as desired. 2. Cary Academy clearly and fully presents its philosophy, program, and practices to parents during the admission process and encourages dialogue that clarifies parental expectations and aspirations for the student. 3. Educators at Cary Academy seek and value the parents’ perspective on the student. This is accomplished through meetings and other communication with advisors. The school shares special information on a student with the appropriate faculty. 4. Teachers and administrators are accessible to parents and model candid, honest, and open dialogue. The pathways for communication document will clarify this. 5. Cary Academy suggests effective ways for parents to involve themselves in the life of the school, through active participation in social, extracurricular, and academic events, as well as sharing of time, talents, and resources. This topic can be discussed in a new parent orientation and included in a parent handbook. See item number 5 above, We may create a parents’ corner on the website where we can express a need for parent participation. We will discuss the possibility of a form for parents to complete for volunteering for activities other than those sponsored by the Alliance. 6. Cary Academy keeps parents well informed through systematic written student reports, conferences, intranet, publications, and informal conversations. 7. Cary Academy has a clearly defined process for issue resolution. 8. Cary Academy actively seeks the knowledge it needs to work effectively with all parents. For example, recognize and allow for cultural differences. 9. Cary Academy offers and supports a variety of parent education opportunities.
10. Cary Academy defines clear pathways and procedures for communication between parents and the school, The pathways for communication document will clarify this. 11. Cary Academy defines clearly how it involves parents when considering major decisions that affect the school community. Don Berger will draft a document by our meeting on June 6, 2000, delineating how parents can be involved. This will include, for example:
The meeting was adjourned at 5:56 P.M. The next meeting will be on April 4 at 4:30 P.M. in Room A227 (Conference room outside Business Office on second floor). Respectfully submitted, Bob Roth |
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Cary Academy |