Pierce School PTO Minutes - January 2007

Pierce School PTO

1/10/07 Minutes

In attendance: David Weinstein, Tammy Texiera, Ellen Ball, Martha Huntley, Laurence Mialot, Karen Szeto, Pipier Smith-Mumford, Laurence Mialot, Nicole Lapidus, Chandlee Dickey, Josh Frank, Eileen Regis, Neva Grice, Shelita Bailey James, Taylor James, Karolyn McCarthy, Ana Maria Caballero, Jennifer Berube, Nora O’Farrell, H. Grutz

Co-chairs’ report:

1. On-going budget discussions with Dr. Lupini. The budget is tight this year.
2. Evacuation plans have been made for Pierce as a result of the temporary evacuation of Baker recently. Dr. Smith-Mumford sent out notification of where kids will go in case of a short term/short distance event
1. K-2 Korean church across the parking lot
2. 3-5 Health dept
3. 6-8 Town Hall

If a longer distance is needed, all kids will go to the high school. This would be the case if kids couldn’t return to the building.

3. Need some more volunteers for the spelling bee. Urged teachers/staff to volunteer. Tuesday, March 11. This supports Brookline Education Foundation. Kids’ bee is for 5^th grades, adults of all ages may also make a team. Adults can work as team.

Treasurer’s report:

1. MFA: pay the MFA for use of the cafeteria facility; $50 scholarship for basketball
2. Fund drive: $19,363 and 83/430 families participated: We are grateful to all who were able to contribute.

Principal’s report:

1. Gearing up for 2-6 play, auditions have happened
2. Much planning has gone into Cor
3. Urban Improv will work with 5^th graders over several weeks, and with their parents next week (Wed, Jan 14). This is a terrific group experience for our students.
4. Tough basketball battle with Baker this week, both girls and boys
5. MCAS testing schedules have been confirmed. All 4^th graders will write their compositions on the same day across the state, Pierce has more flexibility with other exams

Auction co-chair report: Feb 10 dinner to salute our teachers

1. Tickets go on sale Friday am and can be sent in via the mail
2. Raffle tickets: for Yankee/Red Sox tickets, etc
3. Class room donations will be baskets and other ideas
4. Children will be making valentines
5. Any and all support are welcome.
6. Corporate sponsors needed: Yahoo has donated. One table is $500—sponsorship of a table is welcomed.
7. Wine will be served.

Principal’s Forum: Courageous Conversations

We continued the series of Courageous Conversations focusing on race and equity. The book guiding these series is called “Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools” by Singleton and Linton.

Basic agreements (rules/guidelines) for the conversations were:

• Stay engaged
• Speak your truth
• Experience discomfort
• Expect and accept non-closure
• Assume goodwill
  

We broke into discussion groups and discussed a potential scenario which involved a student and a racial issue (mixed race families; stereotyping intellect based on race; whether all students needed to be treated the same; feeling picked on due to ethnicity).

Discussion groups were vibrant and challenging discussions centered around trying to understand our own thoughts/feelings/actions/beliefs about race.

Next Forum will focus on talking with kids about racial issues.