Memo from PA Officers

Here is last week's memo from PA officers in case you have not had the opportunity to see it yet:

August 2, 2007

TO: RGA Parents
FROM: PA Officers

We want to let you know about two important meetings today that have very positive implications for RGA for the coming year.

The first was meeting between Ila Gross and Sarah Krill, the executive director and after school coordinator of LEAP (Learning through an Expanded Arts Program), Nick Combemale (RGA Board Member and Chief Financial Officer), and officers of the Parent Association.

As many of you know, LEAP is the after school program that the PA officers recommended for consideration by RGA. Briefly, LEAP has been in existence for 30 years, serves over 200,000 children a year in 300 schools throughout New York City, and has won numerous awards for excellence in after school programming. The meeting today was to ascertain whether LEAP would be a good fit for RGA and whether or not the legal, logistical and liability issues could be overcome. The LEAP executive director stated that the program would be tailored to support and supplement the RGA curriculum. The meeting was very positive and Nick Combemale is being proactive in pulling together the information needed to determine if the LEAP program can be brought to RGA for the fall.

Parents should understand that if these issues can be resolved (and we think they can, although there is no guarantee) that this will be a fee-based program. LEAP has said they will keep the cost as low as possible, with $40 per week per child a tentative working figure at this point. The PA will fundraise to try to offer some help to those who may need it and we will continue to have discussions with the RGA Board to see if any additional scholarship support can be provided.

The second meeting was the Board of Trustees meeting. There was considerable discussion among the Trustees about curriculum, professional development for the teaching staff, standards-based assessment for both teaching and administrative staff, and a number of other similar issues that had to do with achieving the high quality that is expected by the RGA Trustees, the parents and the staff. We were very encouraged by the progress that appears to have been made and the commitment to continue to build on the progress.

Some specifics that we think are of particular interest:

A provisional safety and evacuation plan will be in place by the beginning of the school year. There will be a mandatory review process by a variety of safety officials (school safety, police, federal officials and others) and any changes that are required by these bodies will be made. The provisional plan will be made available to all parents at the start of the school year.

The Board will move expeditiously to resolve the issues of after school so that the LEAP program can be brought into RGA by the end of September. It is common practice for most after school programs to wait until two to three weeks into the school year before beginning.

WE MUST EMPHASIZE THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN, IT IS NOT CERTAIN AND WE MAKE NO GUARANTEES WHATSOEVER THAT AFTER SCHOOL IS A DONE DEAL!! IT IS NOT – THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WILL TAKE AT LEAST ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS TO RESOLVE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF WE CAN PROCEED WITH LEAP.

Saturday school will be staffed largely by the regular teaching staff so there will be continuity between the regular school week and Saturday school.

The Board has placed the quality of the food high on the priority list for the coming year. There has been a noticeable improvement over the summer and there was an explicit commitment on the part of the Board to maintain and build on that improvement during the year.

There will be a survey conducted among all parents to determine which RGA families do not have a computer or internet access at home. The Board will explore ways to provide every RGA family who needs it with a computer and internet access.

AGAIN, THERE WERE NO GUARANTEES OFFERED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, BUT THERE WAS AN EXPLICIT RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY TO OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION AND OUR FAMILIES, AND A STRONG COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE BOARD TO TRY TO ACHIEVE THIS.

All in all, we were very impressed by the commitment of the Trustees and Dr. Clagnaz to the future of RGA, to the quest for excellence in every area of the school and to the enormous effort that is being put into meeting the needs of our children and families. The PA will work in every way possible to support these important initiatives and help make them a reality.

1st Graders Learned Native American Dance Forms

Omatayo's dad, Tunde, took these short videos of the dances that Nathan Damweber's 1st graders participated in at the National Museum of the American Indian back during their first field trip of the school year. Margaret Ng set up the trip!

Prospect Park Zoo Trip!!

A highlight of the summer session was a visit to the Prospect Park Zoo, which has three major exhibit areas designed to engage children, especially, in learning about wildlife: The World of Animals, Animal Lifestyles, and Animals in Our Lives. These approaches to wildlife education are based on WIZE (Wildlife Inquiry through Zoo Education), the nationally-acclaimed education programs developed by Bronx Zoo educators. In the World of Animals, youngsters can meet prairie dogs nose-to-nose, and walk among wallabies. The Animal Lifestyles building's centerpiece is a spectacular habitat for hamadryas baboons. Animals in Our Lives exhibits encourage children to observe and draw wildlife; outside, visitors can interact with friendly, touchable species in an inviting barnyard. The kids participated in Prospect Park Zoo's education department programs for school groups.

A Different Alley

The Lower Schoolers went to Alley Pond Environmental Center during the field trip-packed summer session. The Center is dedicated to establishing an awareness, understanding and appreciation of the environment and the responsibilities associated with preserving the environment in an urban setting. The APEC mission is accomplished primarily through providing education and awareness programs for all constituents of the community, utilizing the Wetlands habitat and nature preserve of Alley Pond Park, which APEC manages and maintains, as a learning center and environmental laboratory. The Park is comprised of 150 acres of woodlands, trails, streams and ponds plus an aquarium, animal care and education center. It's amazing — and right in the heart of Queens! The kids loved it! To enjoy with them, check the great weekend kids' programs here.

Lower School's Socratic Dialogues

The summer session was chock full of field trips! Here's a peek at the Lower School trip to Socrates Sculpture Park! The kids participated in the Park's free Summer Outdoor Art-making Workshops, which offered the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities inspired by exhibitions at the Park. Taught in the Park by exhibiting artists, the children learn fundamental and contemporary art-making techniques. Presented as part of the Park's 20th anniversary year, the exhibition on view for their visit was "L.I.C., N.Y.C.," highlighting and celebrating the area's remarkable creative community, featuring works from a broad spectrum of generations and mediums. Photo credit: Meilyn Soto-Chapman