{"id":7854,"date":"2011-12-06T09:18:23","date_gmt":"2011-12-06T17:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/flash\/?p=7854"},"modified":"2011-12-06T09:18:23","modified_gmt":"2011-12-06T17:18:23","slug":"november-16th-steller-parent-group-meeting-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/november-16th-steller-parent-group-meeting-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"November 16th Steller Parent Group Meeting Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Summary\/Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Talking to your children about drugs, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s never too soon or too late &#8211; guest speaker, Peter Alward of Charter North<strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c <\/strong>detailed notes p.3<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Dale &#8211;<strong> <\/strong>Teachers started using turnitin.com, a program that identifies the percentage of exact text used from various sources.\u00c2\u00a0 This helps students find their voice and understand and avoid plagiarism.<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Intensives will be right before spring break, with the schedule to come out Nov. 28 and kids sign up second week of January during advisory group.\u00c2\u00a0 Students need to switch intensives so they do not take the same one 2 years in a row and teachers cannot repeat as well.\u00c2\u00a0 If more names than spots, a lottery is done via a drawing.<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Yea haw!!!\u00c2\u00a0 We made $12,152.48 this year, while last year we made $7,000.\u00c2\u00a0 There was a sincere round of congratulations to auction committee leaders, Wendy, Rebecca, Rebecca, and Rochelle.<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 The group discussed some of the funding categories and the process.\u00c2\u00a0 Looking at the intensives category, for instance, there are scholarships for the intensives process, only through financial need.<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Rebecca clarified that Parent Group funds collected via annual donations and e-Script, etc. are a separate category of funds used to finance things such as special projects, staff educational opportunities and other funding requests.<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 There was also a discussion on the information flow, within Steller, for proposals and actions.\u00c2\u00a0 With staff and the student Op Group meeting weekly, and Parent Group and Ad Board meeting monthly, it would be best for Parent Group to meet the week before Ad Board.\u00c2\u00a0 The calendar for next semester\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s PG meetings will be revised to have meetings be the week before Ad Board.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Talking to your children about drugs, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s never too soon or too late \u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Presentation<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Following up on Red Ribbon Week and last month\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s discussion on drug and alcohol use and clarification of ASD consequences, guest speaker, Peter Alward of Charter North, spoke about how to best approach this issue with children grades 7-12.\u00c2\u00a0 He was a dynamic and informative speaker and we are considering having Peter back to speak at a community caf\u00c3\u00a9.\u00c2\u00a0 Because he provided such a wealth of information, the key points to his presentation are provided at the end of these notes starting on page 3.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reports<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dale:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Teachers started using turnitin.com, a program that identifies the percentage of exact text used from various sources.\u00c2\u00a0 This helps students find their voice and understand and avoid plagiarism.\u00c2\u00a0 Also it promotes more punctuation, grammar, and spelling, which is one of the school\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Student Achievement Plan goals this year.<\/li>\n<li>Dale also participated in Executive Exchange (with the head of People Mover) along with a student on two meetings talking about how they do business.<\/li>\n<li>Books<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li>One science class needs 10 physical science books<\/li>\n<li>Also making progress on having folks turn books back in that may be at home<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>A gym offered us used exercise equipment, which will be sold on Craig\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s List and added to the auction pot<\/li>\n<li>Thanks to those who participated in and planned the auction.<\/li>\n<li>Dale has come up with the idea of a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Community Action Board\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and ran it by Alyse and Joe earlier in the week<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Leigh Ann<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Thanks to parent group for auction, it was a great support.<\/li>\n<li>Registration for 2<sup>nd<\/sup> semester will be December 2, classes are done and soon the schedule will be posted on the Flash.<\/li>\n<li>Intensives will be right before spring break, with the schedule to come out Nov. 28 and kids sign up second week of January during advisory group.<\/li>\n<li>The goal is to have four viable trips for next year (2 during each intensive).<\/li>\n<li>Students need to switch intensives so they do not take the same one 2 years in a row and teachers cannot repeat as well.\u00c2\u00a0 If more names than spots, a lottery is done via a drawing.<\/li>\n<li>There will be a waitlist if students do not get first choice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Op group<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Beau Romine wants to finish his senior project of building furniture for the student lounge, as he left for a six-month construction job.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Auction<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yea haw!!!\u00c2\u00a0 We made $12,152.48 this year, while last year we made $7,000.\u00c2\u00a0 There was a sincere round of congratulations to auction committee leaders, Wendy, Rebecca, Rebecca, and Rochelle.\u00c2\u00a0 They were also thanked for coming up with a how-to manual for future auctions \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a feat all by itself, let along it being developed in the midst of organizing an auction.\u00c2\u00a0 Special thanks also to the 9<sup>th<\/sup> grade class and their class advisors Leigh Anne and Philip.<\/p>\n<p>Business donation were amazing, incredible job with follow up, great entertainment \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Wayne was an awesome auctioneer, etc. Final numbers coming soon.\u00c2\u00a0 Parent Group Budget at next meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Ad Board will now recommend where funds will be spent.\u00c2\u00a0 Rebecca said be ready to make proposals for that process, as last year we changed the funding process to have Ad Board decide allocations to various categories.<\/p>\n<p>ALYSE \u00e2\u20ac\u201c PLEASE HELP MAKE THE FOLLOWING AS CLEAR AS CAN BE:<\/p>\n<p>The group discussed some of the funding categories and the process.\u00c2\u00a0 Looking at the intensives category, for instance, there are scholarships for the intensives process, only through financial need.\u00c2\u00a0 But, this was adjusted last year to provide support for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153in-town\u00e2\u20ac\u009d intensives, not just travel intensives.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The discussion also covered how and where funds go because the changes of over the past few years had made things a little confusing.\u00c2\u00a0 About three of four years ago auction funds began to go directly to Parent Group for distribution (as they took over the auction) after previously being distributed by administration.\u00c2\u00a0 Then last year the allocation process moved to Ad Board having it advise on how to put spend the auction funds.\u00c2\u00a0 Parent Group then writes check(s) to Steller administration for the various accounts.<\/p>\n<p>So, the process, as clarified by the discussion with the parents and staff present, is that auction funds come into the parent group account with the relative allocation to various categories being decided by Ad Board.\u00c2\u00a0 These funds are then transferred to the various categories i.e. Intensives, Planet Steller\/Garden Club where they are dispersed and accounted for by Steller administrative staff.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Dale expressed his interest in seeing that the process be as transparent as possible and that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d work to get at least a year-end accounting for each category and club.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca clarified that Parent Group funds collected via annual donations and e-Script, etc. are a separate category of funds used to finance things such as special projects, staff educational opportunities and other funding requests. Also, fyi, Ad Board decided last year to make a $350 fund to be used to at its discretion.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca will draft a Flash notice, describing the steps of the funding processes and how requests are made for both. Proposals will be read if you need to send in but being there to represent and follow up. Dale and Rebecca will work on budget, knowing where we have pockets of money already.<\/p>\n<p>In the January timeframe, Ad Board will develop a process for determining how to spend money.<\/p>\n<p>Auction: Proposal that there is always two key volunteer slots advertised as we move forward toward next year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s auction.\u00c2\u00a0 This recognizes the multi-year time commitment of the current auction committee and the need for fresh participation to give some of these folks a break.<\/p>\n<p>There was also a discussion on the information flow, within Steller, for proposals and actions.\u00c2\u00a0 With staff and the student Op Group meeting weekly, and Parent Group and Ad Board meeting monthly, it would be best for Parent Group to meet the week before Ad Board.\u00c2\u00a0 The calendar for next semester\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s PG meetings will be revised to have meetings be the week before Ad Board so that issues can more easily moved through all groups to Ad Board and finalized in a timely manner.<\/p>\n<p>Alyse and Joe introduced the idea of having a community caf\u00c3\u00a9\/dessert for new families to welcome them\/check in with them and see what we can do to help them along in Steller.\u00c2\u00a0 All families are welcome of course, because existing families have experience to share with the new ones!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coming Events<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>New Families Community Caf\u00c3\u00a9 Dessert Caf\u00c3\u00a9 &#8211; Dec. 7 (7:30 to 9 PM)<\/p>\n<p>Next Parent Group Meeting Wed. Dec. 14 @ 6 PM.<\/p>\n<p>Next Ad Board Meeting Th. Dec. 8 @ 6:30 PM<\/p>\n<p>Winter Concert \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Steller Band, Choir, and Orchestra Tue. Dec. 6 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 2:30 to 3:30 PM<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Talking to your children about drugs, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s never too soon or too late &#8211;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Presentation &#8211; <\/strong>guest speaker, Peter Alward of Charter North.<\/p>\n<p>Society is awash with drugs and alcohol.\u00c2\u00a0 TV, the web, magazines, catalogs, stores, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>As a society, we have tried many different things (programs, wars, etc).\u00c2\u00a0 None have really been very successful.<\/li>\n<li>At times society used to glorify the age of drugs.\u00c2\u00a0 Now more and more we see real medical affects, starting as early as in-utero.\u00c2\u00a0 It is this type of exposure now &#8211; who he works with.<\/li>\n<li>We all have to do more.\u00c2\u00a0 And there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no miracle cure.\u00c2\u00a0 We have to fix one family, person at a time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Society and most of us individually are in a state of denial.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How do we help students who haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t yet been exposed but will be soon exposed?\u00c2\u00a0 Well, we have to start by having it be part of our everyday\u00c2\u00a0 conversations.\u00c2\u00a0 Not just the big \u00e2\u20ac\u0153we have to talk,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but maybe during the drive to school or over a meal.\u00c2\u00a0 And, we need to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">keep<\/span> talking. Family time (dinner together) any time dedicated to talk is fine for it.\u00c2\u00a0 Recognize that it is right to intentionally talk about the subject, despite the challenges that we are so busy in life, we need to dedicate time for being together without distractions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The part of brain that develops mood, actions is happening in 10-15 year olds and parents are role models (even more than we think).\u00c2\u00a0 Dedicated family time together shows interest and commitment to our children.\u00c2\u00a0 There are many things we can do to demonstrate that commitment \u00e2\u20ac\u201c dedicate the time, play games, find common activities, talk during driving time, diversional recreation (PLAY), etc.\u00c2\u00a0 These are all important and part of healthy relationships,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Show Clear Values<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Give and take in discussions is okay, it is also okay to say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153family first,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to draw the line and give direction about the child role in the family, and that computer games, or time at friends is not always the priority &#8211; it is okay to have values, just be explicit, consistent, and explain why.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What to do when you know one child may not experiment but know that soon, down the road another will?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A primary goal is to be sure experimentation does not become active use.\u00c2\u00a0 Be careful about explaining parent use of drugs (children may hear and infer something that you did not intend, ~ it must be OK , dad did it\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6).\u00c2\u00a0 Be very clear, this is what I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want you to get from this.\u00c2\u00a0 Do not only talk once, keep up the conversation \u00e2\u20ac\u201c show your commitment.\u00c2\u00a0 If you are a forbidding type, they are likely to do it anyway, so have open discussions about what is ok and what is not ok.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>A primary goal should be for your child to BE HONEST about their actions, regardless of whether you approve or not. Your child will not tell you if they think they will get in trouble and not be safe in telling the truth.\u00c2\u00a0 As a parent you should explain the consequences will be less (but there will still be some) if your child is honest and lets you know.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Parents who are persistent when there is use, i.e., constantly saying we love you and this is not ok, repeatedly help end use.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 This will help the actions to not become habitual.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There are signs to look for in a habitual user:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Change in function\/actions\/habits<\/p>\n<p>Change in friends (users look for friends who enable or allow)<\/p>\n<p>Change in grades<\/p>\n<p>Change in self-care<\/p>\n<p>It is natural with the growth and maturing that teens go through that they will change interest, but an abrupt change is what to be aware of.<\/p>\n<p>Preteen are much more vulnerable to addiction, their brain is more ripe for it just due to its developmental stage.\u00c2\u00a0 There are also alterations in sensorium, users are less likely to concentrate, complete work, etc.\u00c2\u00a0 This is something that teachers may see.<\/p>\n<p>When you see signs &#8211; talk to your child.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your child may lie, but keep asking.\u00c2\u00a0 Safety comes first.\u00c2\u00a0 A parent should take an active role as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chief safety officer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the family.\u00c2\u00a0 In the real world, if someone is not safe on the job a safety officer can step in check their desk, their personal property, their vehicle, etc. for drugs.\u00c2\u00a0 And a parent can and should go into a bedroom \u00e2\u20ac\u201c its keeping your child safe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ask your child to role play: Ask them ~ what do think will happen when\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There might be drugs at a party<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There is something happening in an automobile (driving under the influence)<\/p>\n<p>Give pathways to save face (offer that student calls when in trouble)<\/p>\n<p>Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t rely on just one method (contracts, pre-conversation,<\/p>\n<p>Set example as parents (cab home, assign designated driver, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t break the \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 law)<\/p>\n<p>It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important to ask questions rather than tell them what to do.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What do you think?\u00c2\u00a0 Why do you think I care?\u00c2\u00a0 Why do you think a kid would want to do that?\u00c2\u00a0 Where should you be?\u00c2\u00a0 What are you doing now?\u00c2\u00a0 So, you have your child tell you by asking the questions and giving them the recognition that you care about their perspective.<\/li>\n<li>Then respond, with good answers.\u00c2\u00a0 Take your time &#8211; you are wise and have real experience and information to share.<\/li>\n<li>Do not yell at everything, they will not hear all of that noise, save your concerned voice for when they are not doing something unsafe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a very difficult discussion, sit down and plan the discussion with your partner and make sure you are on the same page.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Talk about what you want to talk about.\u00c2\u00a0 Be ready for every answer.\u00c2\u00a0 Role play with your partner asking the hard questions until they feel more comfortable and clear.\u00c2\u00a0 Switch up roles for parents (who is the rule person, who is not).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>How to ask the right questions to get answers when you feel your child is not easy to talk to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do not only have talk time when it is BIG.\u00c2\u00a0 Break it into pieces, if attention span is short.\u00c2\u00a0 Share that this is so important that it needs to happen. I care about you, what you do effects me, you scare me when that happens, letting your child know that some actions cost and really hurt parents is OK.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary\/Highlights \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Talking to your children about drugs, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s never too soon or too late &#8211; guest speaker, Peter Alward of Charter North \u00e2\u20ac\u201c detailed notes p.3 \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Dale &#8211; Teachers started using turnitin.com, a program that identifies the percentage of exact text used from various sources.\u00c2\u00a0 This helps students find their voice and understand [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-announcements"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7854\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stellerschool712.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}