Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle
ACTION, PASSION & LEADERSHIP
FOR EXCELLENT SEATTLE SCHOOLS FOR EVERY STUDENT

 
CPPS is a local, grassroots network of parents and community members working together to support and advocate for excellent public schools in our communities, and at the district, city and state levels.
 
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NOVEMBER, 2010
In November, 1st Quarter is ending...

And with parent-teacher conferences, MAP scores newly posted to the SOURCE, and new SPS school reports out, student achievement should be at the forefront of our minds.


What does parent engagement for student achievement look like? CPPS encourages participation in school-initiated reporting, but parents have every right to take the initiative themselves as well. Take up the opportunity to become more informed about your children's progress, your schools' progress, and district progress, and then join us to create parent collaboratives for improvement.


Connect to CPPS at www.cppsofseattle.org or on Facebook - there are a wealth of opportunities for parents in Seattle to learn about education issues or join with others to make a difference.  Join Us!

WHAT SPS' SCHOOL REPORTS ASK OF YOU

Seattle Public Schools wants families and community members to know how each school is doing - yours, as well as the ones nearby.  The district has issued School Reports this fall -- with data on student achievement, absence rates and student climate - so District staff can learn from, and act on the information to make schools better.  To be successful, school-level educators and district staff will need the help of families and community.
    

These reports, released on Nov. 9, should kick off an ongoing community conversation about what needs to be done to make our schools better. You have an opportunity to share your perspective and listen to others at the district meetings noted in the calendar below.  You can also join with other parents to discuss what parents want to ensure that your neighborhood schools are quality ones.  For more information, including sample reports, visit the School Reports website and view the October presentation to the School Board, or check out the second annual District Scorecard.

 

To host a neighborhood discussion about how parents can respond, contact Stephanie.

CALENDAR

There are a lot of opportunities to see where the district is heading this month, as well as community opportunities to get post-high-school help!


Seattle Public Schools'

Regional Assignment Plan meetings Nov 8-22

Topics include development of geographic zones for option schools, non-attendance area K siblings in the transition plan; new APP pathways, schools with over or under capacity enrollment; transition tiebreakers; transportation, and high school open choice seats.

 

Interpretation services and light refreshments provided.  No child care, but they'll have books, drawing and coloring supplies. For additional information, visit the Seattle Public Schools "Get Involved" page

 

ALL MEETINGS scheduled for 6:30- 8 p.m.

Southeast, Northeast and Central previously held


West Seattle: Tues., November 16, W. Seattle High School


Northwest:  Mon., November 22, Ingraham High School

 

In addition, there will be more informal opportunities to review information, ask questions, and provide feedback at these drop-in meetings at the JSCEE 2445 3rd Ave. S

  
Thurs. Nov. 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m., JSCEE, room 2700
Tues. Dec. 14, 6-8 p.m., JSCEE, room 2750

Or, listen in at the school board Assignment and capacity work session (open to the public) Dec. 1, 4-8 pm JSCEE

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Special Ed PTSA General Meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 16 -- Featuring Central Washington University, and PROVAIL

"School After High School for Students with Disabilities"

 7 pm, John Stanford Center, Room 2750
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NELA Ctr for Student Success College Planning Webcasts

Register via email at [email protected] or look at www.centerforstudentsuccess.org for more info.

* Paying for college; Thurs. Nov. 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

*Understanding/preparing free federal student aid application

 

Wed. Dec. 8 6:30-7:30 pm

Wed. Dec. 15 &  Mon. Dec. 20 3:30-4:30 pm
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School Board member community meetings
Sat. Nov. 20: 
Sherry Carr (District II, mid-north area)
Harium Martin-Morris (District III, northeast and some central),  Michael DeBell (District IV, QA/Magnolia/Ballard)
Sat. Nov. 27: Betty Patu (District VII, southeast area)

For locations, contact the school board
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Additional showings of "Race to Nowhere" at EMP

Sunday, November 21, 2010  12:30 pm and 3:00 pm

 JBL Theater at Experience Music Project

325 5th Ave. North, hosted by Seattle Waldorf School

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Seattle Public Schools'

Regional School Report meetings Nov 29 - Dec 9

SCPTSA and SPS are co-sponsoring conversations about how to look at school data to make our schools better. 


ALL MEETINGS 6-7:30 pm

REGIONAL MEETINGS: SCHOOL REPORTS
Northeast: Monday, Nov. 29 at Roosevelt High School


Southeast: Tuesday, Nov. 30, South Lake High School.


Northwest: Monday, Dec. 6 at Whitman Middle School


Central: Tuesday, Dec. 7 at Washington Middle School


West Seattle: Thursday, Dec. 9 at W. Seattle High School

 

ACTION UPDATE:  The SE Parent Leadership Project wants to meet your community!

Over the last couple of weeks we've talked to lots of parents in SE Seattle, as we've kicked off our first Parent Leadership Project, and we hope to connect with many more!

 

For more information about our project, see the powerpoint.

 

First (and foremost), we are about building parent networks to involve the widest group of parents possible;  We would like to reach out at PTA meetings, school, church/temple and community events or to any small parent groups we can bring together -- Send the date/time/contact for your next group meeting to Cris and we'll try to get someone there!

 

Second, we have begun to develop our parent training curriculum -- Contact Stephanie to participate in a group discussion about what to include in parent leadership/advocacy curriculum (you don't need to be a SE resident to weigh in...)

 

Third, we are starting to collect stories that will become the basis for the project video.  Share your story with Andre


Finally, we need community support and parent assistance to make sure that all of these elements reflect YOU!  So if you'd like to attend our next steering committee meeting, please do.  We are gathering Tuesday, 12/14 Location TBD.  Contact Stephanie if you'd like to attend. 
Through forums, study groups, newsletter communications and more, CPPS brings parents and community members together to discuss issues, get informed, engage, advocate and lead for excellent public education in Seattle.  

We need your participation.  Contact us for more info: [email protected]
 
Sincerely,
 

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Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle