Discussion: Give yourself a pat on the back
in: barb; barb > 2011-10-07
Oct 9, 2011 5:15 AM
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I don't think enough can be said about how extraordinary and rewarding your efforts have been in orienteering educational outreach. Once I'm done with the CSU A-meet, please let me know if I can be of any assistance. You're fantastic, Barb!
Also, thanks to Izzy, David, and Dave for their involvement with your endeavors.
Also, thanks to Izzy, David, and Dave for their involvement with your endeavors.
Oct 9, 2011 10:54 AM
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barb:
Thanks, all!
Cambridge Public Schools are re-organizing: our K-8 school will be torn apart, and there will be new middle schools, each with twice as many 7th and 8th graders as in our current school, plus 6th graders. Next school year, Sept 2012, the new system will be in place.
I've put out feelers about doing this orienteering team-building event for the new middle schools; some staff & parents are interested in making it happen; the issue is that the heads of middle schools will not be hired until the spring. However, if we can get the conversation going early, it might happen. This is a big change for the schools; lots of people are feeling bad, betrayed, torn apart -- and the kids are nervous about what their new schools will be like -- so this could be a useful way to bring people together and build community.
Currently, working with the 85 kids over 3 weeks, culminating in the field trip, involves 8-10 staff at the school (teachers + aides), and about a dozen parents for the field trip. It's fairly complex, with 6 sections of the trip and assignments for each person for each section. My main fellow organizer, who deals with the chaperones and the stuff, is pretty maxed out: she takes a vacation day each year to do this, and spends hours and $$ to pull it all together. So we do have to have a dedicated group of organizers to go larger. There's also just the issue of not knowing the new staff - and them not knowing us. Currently the project relies on all that trust that we've got from years of being together as a school community. Going forward, we'd be looking to this event to help *build* that trust.
Cambridge Public Schools are re-organizing: our K-8 school will be torn apart, and there will be new middle schools, each with twice as many 7th and 8th graders as in our current school, plus 6th graders. Next school year, Sept 2012, the new system will be in place.
I've put out feelers about doing this orienteering team-building event for the new middle schools; some staff & parents are interested in making it happen; the issue is that the heads of middle schools will not be hired until the spring. However, if we can get the conversation going early, it might happen. This is a big change for the schools; lots of people are feeling bad, betrayed, torn apart -- and the kids are nervous about what their new schools will be like -- so this could be a useful way to bring people together and build community.
Currently, working with the 85 kids over 3 weeks, culminating in the field trip, involves 8-10 staff at the school (teachers + aides), and about a dozen parents for the field trip. It's fairly complex, with 6 sections of the trip and assignments for each person for each section. My main fellow organizer, who deals with the chaperones and the stuff, is pretty maxed out: she takes a vacation day each year to do this, and spends hours and $$ to pull it all together. So we do have to have a dedicated group of organizers to go larger. There's also just the issue of not knowing the new staff - and them not knowing us. Currently the project relies on all that trust that we've got from years of being together as a school community. Going forward, we'd be looking to this event to help *build* that trust.
Oct 10, 2011 11:38 AM
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bubo:
It´s good to hear that the orienteering day was a success - since that´s what I read into your comments. I´m impressed by the hard work you (and other volunteers recruited by you) put into this. I´m sure all the hard work will pay off in the end.
Good luck with your ongoing plans for next year in a changed educational organization!
Good luck with your ongoing plans for next year in a changed educational organization!
This discussion thread is closed.