Parents and school involvement

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2003
Parents and school involvement
2586
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 8:49am

My question stems from a personal experience. My middle child is starting kindergarten next week. I've become fairly close with one of my dd's friend's moms- this is her first child entering the school system. She WOH, I do not, plus I have experience with the school, so she's been calling me with questions and comments.

It started to go bad when she called to complain that the kindy orientation is during the day- when she is working. Then it led to complaints about the parents' read aloud program (when the kids are in library) and other opportunities for volunteerism in the school. I get that these things aren't convenient for her, but I'm getting annoyed with the complaining. How can the kids have an orientation at night when they go to school during the day? None of these events are mandatory for parents or kids. And plenty of activities are scheduled for evenings: Back to school night, the PTA picnic, etc.

She thinks because she can't participate, no one should be able to, apparently. Plenty of WOHP do show up for these things. I think she's being unrealistic if she thought she could put a couple of kids through school without ever taking a vacation day. Am I wrong? Am I missing something here?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:46pm

Are you on the application board of a college?


Did you notice what was number one on their list?

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:48pm

Sorry, can't view it now at work.

I know people in the gifted program but do not speak with them on a regular basis.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:49pm
And did you notice #3 was the grades on your SAT? Still high up on the list for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2006
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:54pm
Why? What if the private school was just a better fit for a child. I would never let my children endure better than really bad public education when I could provide much more in the right private school with the funds I'm currently setting aside for college. That really makes no sense to me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:58pm
maybe i see it differently in that i am in the school on a daily basis, i work with the teachers and principals to add enrichment programs to the school and i am friends with most of the teachers and the principal. i have never seen our principal not make the time to talk to any parent who wants to talk to her. ihave found the principal invaluable as to keeping abreast of what is going on in the school and what is coming up in the future.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:02pm

Scores on the sat, not grades.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:03pm
but it didnt hurt her to take the class. but when she decided not to take physics this year i gave in. and think about how good it will look for college :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:05pm

We have had teachers and the principal show up at the kids sporting events as well, especially as a group of school kids play together.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:05pm
that is twice a day - unfortunately they didnt let her spend the night. it would have been much easier to just send her to the neighborhood school but it just wasnt a good fit for her at the time. we did try it for a year in 4th grade and it still wasnt the right choice for her so we moved.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:11pm
The point is, grades are one of the biggest things to get into college.

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