K+December+2009

Minutes from December 1, 2009 regrets: Mary, Martha, Melissa, Kathryn __ Sharing from units and other school groups __ Dick reported that the Board heard a very favorable report from the SAIS accreditation team. The team repeatedly noted the living manifestation of our Quaker values, especially in our students and their relationships with each other. Barbara and Dawn shared that CHES is trying to make our Quaker values more present for students and parents. Borrowing an idea from a Philadelphia Friends School they created a “SPICES” cabinet: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship. The concept was shared with parents at Back to School Night, and parents have reported it very helpful in remembering the values for which we stand. For students, the SPICES idea puts our philosophy into terms they can understand. The students are talking about each value and illustrating it on a bulletin board. Staff note both students and parents talking more about the conscious choice of a Quaker school. Mary Deborah described the student planning of weekly meetings for worship in the Middle School. The theme chosen for this week is “Simple Gifts – How to celebrate in way that reflects our values”. The students wanted a song to accompany the theme and chose “’Tis a Gift to be Simple”. A teacher asked Samuel Chilton(?) if he knew the words. “In my sleep,” he responded. Mary Deborah noted how something as simple as a shared song can build community from a very early age. (CHES prints copies of song words for parents.) Willy described the Upper School’s fall symposium on the Middle East. Sessions explored language and culture. A Middle Eastern lunch was cooked and served by students and parents. Bryce Little teaches an US course on the Middle East. Clara described an US advisee group experience viewing the movie “Cruel and Unusual” about minors in the criminal justice system. Susan Kincaid’s Civil Rights class members led the subsequent discussions. Some US students are writing letters to 13 and 14-year-old inmates. Anna told about a recent hunger exercise in the Middle School. A map of the world was outlined on the floor. Tables and chairs on each continent represented allocation of resources. Students were assigned to a country and allocated food accordingly. In “Asia”, the rush to grab food led to much spillage, which led to a discussion of how waste contributes to world hunger. Charlie told of Lower School parents visiting Sky and River classes to share elements of their Muslim faith and to describe Muslim holidays. A River student had been shy about donning her //hijab//, but was able to wear it with pride as she felt the acceptance of her classmates. __Parent Staff Association__ Viviann announced that the community read for this year will be __A Home in the Field__, by Paul Cuadros, the story of a soccer coach from Siler City, NC. The PSA is organizing service projects for the afternoon of January 18, following our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. A new venture is a link on the CFS website to allow community businesses and services to be posted for all to read. Details are in this month’s //Update//. Dick asks about the history of the PSA and how School Life and the PSA overlap. Viviann will take that question to the December 2 PSA meeting. Charlie shared a bit of the history of the PSA. __Afghan Sister School Projec__ t  Charlie attended the ASSP presentation to the PSA last month. He shared with us some of the history of the project. In Lower School, students are brainstorming new names for “Pizza Lunch Day” to emphasize the connection to fundraising for the Tob Chi school. In the spring, parents will offer Afghanistan-focused interest groups and a presentation on the ASSP in Lower School. The next use of ASSP funds may be stocking the school library. They have a room, but no books. How do/might other units support the ASSP? Barbara relays that the Chapel Hill Meeting would like the ASSP to do a presentation at a Sunday Forum. Possible dates are January 17 or 24, 9:45 – 10:45 am. __Workshop for parents__ Mike and Marsha Green would like to offer a Couples Enrichment weekend in the spring (specific dates TBA). The workshop would involve 15 – 16 hours over 3 days and would focus on Quaker ways of communicating with one’s life partner. A $500 honorarium would be given to Mike and Marsha. To be decided: Could there be support from the PSA for hospitality, childcare, finances? __SAIS accreditation visi__ t Dick described the accreditation process and the steps involved. The US has discussed the report, and the MS has heard a synopsis from Renée. As mentioned before, the sense of community was noted and praised. __Open House__ Set for Sunday, December 6, from 2 – 4 pm. Students will help escort guests around campus. Upper School students will participate in a panel. __Possible future discussions:__ Outreach to the B’hai community – a comparison of our values The relationship between School Life and PSA Examination of our new CFS publicity material Next Community Meeting for Worship: Wednesday, December 16 Next School Life Committee meeting: Tuesday, January 5, 7:00 – 8:30 pm 12/7/09 kss