An Invitation from Parent Council . . .

During Parent Council’s initial meetings this school year, many parents shared concerns and contributed ideas for making South even more successful. After further discussion, Parent Council will submit the most promising ideas to the school for serious consideration.* The ideas we’ve gathered typically arose during dinner conversations and other contexts where students describe their positive and negative views about South.

You can influence how South affects your student's motivation, enjoyment and preparation for adulthood by doing any (or all) of the following:

- Read my next few blog postings; each describes a key question that some parents have previously raised and add your own thoughts.

- Share your suggestions, frustrations and/or enthusiasm for quality education with other parents by putting one or more upcoming Parent Council Meetings on your calendar (Jan 27 and Feb 24, 2010 at 8pm in South's cafeteria for the next two meetings, then the last Wednesday of each month for subsequent meetings through May, 2010).

- Contact me at 654.0784 or sehsparentcouncil [at] comcast [dot] net .

* South’s policy-making organization, Site Council, will write the school’s next three-year School Improvement Plan during the remainder of this academic year. Many parents don’t realize how much genuine autonomy the state grants each Oregon school for innovating and shaping its own future, typically via the school’s Site Council. Two other parents besides me are members of South’s Site Council, and we’ll submit and support all compelling ideas (and concerns) that parents contribute.