Site Council Update

Noticias de la Escuela – November 2004

First – thank you to all those who supported the Vote Yes votes! Special thanks to Katherine Cramer for all her dedication to the community and for representing PSI like a star.

In October I attended the CARLA sponsored conference, Pathways to Bilingualism: Evolving Perspectives on Immersion Education and beside learning how to say the word pedagogical as if it were lyrics, I silently observed that in the world of immersion education PSI stands out as a model institute of collaboration, immersion philosophy, student-centered prioritizing of funds, awesome staff, and most impressively a creator of immersion techniques. I base this observation on comments of envy that our staff coordinates not only as grade levels but also in K-6 matriculation; wishful thoughts of having a music teacher so the home room teacher did not have to deliver the music lesson; impressed faces while watching Melissa Hoffman unveiled PSI’s language arts scope and sequence; a packed house for the presentation Kim Weiber led on hands-on classroom techniques (which were very creative and fun); distinct expectations of Spanish usage in the school, and of course parent initiative including the school video now serving schools nation-wide as Site Council foretold three years ago. (I still remember chuckles from the group at the time as seeming too ambitious.) After attending this conference I couldn’t agree more with Principal Swanson as she visions PSI as a potential training model for immersion education. PSI staff and parents, of course, have already assisted a number of immersion schools in Minnesota and across the country as they start up.

Other interesting conference news: a new charter school in German Immersion is preparing to open in the Fall somewhere between St. Paul and Minneapolis. Also a new school in Ojibwa Immersion has just begun in Bemidji with a kindergarten class of 5 students.

Immersion practitioner, Mimi Met was the final speaker of the conference and offered an entertaining view on Advocacy and Policy for immersion education. She spoke on the Belief Systems vs. Facts saying that ‘sacred norms’ are cultural beliefs so deeply entrenched that they are ‘givens’ not based on logic or evidence (ie everyone speaks English and mono-lingualism is normal) and ‘profane norms’ are changeable and supported by reason, evidence or logic (only _ of the world’s population reports ANY competence in English and bilingualism even tri-lingualism is the norm in many parts of the world.) Mimi’s message was to understand the views (frames) of policymakers and reframe the issues to respond to positive perception – hence getting the most bang for your advocacy buck.

Strategic Planning groups are still diligently working on this in-depth school visioning project. Presentations of the 6 strategies will be made at our November meeting for site council, Assistant Superintendent Dan Walker, and strategy group members.

Facility/Health/Safety committee is keeping current on the site issues through meetings with Ursina and custodial staff. They are also planning a meeting with Dan Walker and Jeff Priess to talk through expectations and time frames of site needs. We will hear an update from this group in an upcoming SC meeting.

FYI there is a wonderful article in the November issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine on immersion education and the benefits for children. Sharon Secor is the editor-in-chief and also a PSI parent so she speaks with first hand evidence.

PSI Represented. As chair, I represent PSI and site council in the community at the following places:

Metro Area Immersion Parents Meet: this group has blossomed and evolved quickly. In October we met at Adams immersion in St. Paul and got a chance to walk through their newly remodeled media center. Our topic was Teaching Assistance. We heard from all schools and shared best practices. Julieanne Sixel represented PSI. We all looked through and admired Robbinsdales’ newly crafted TA binder that will now serve as their TA guidebook for ‘process of succession’. We met Adams’ principal and a house senator who stepped in from a school tour and got to advocate for increased legislative funding particularly for language study in public schools. This group will meet on Nov 11th at Robbinsdale Immersion to share ideas on volunteerism. Kirsten Albright will join us.

DPAC (district parent advisory council): The next meeting is scheduled for November 20th. Our topic is school fundraising and we will hear a financial report on the recent annual district audit. We will also have an opportunity to share ‘best practices’ from each school.

City Planning: I have been invited to attend a City meeting (Housing Summit-Parent Focus Group) Nov 15th that will solicit parent opinion on developing housing goals in SLP.

Jr. High – As a middle school liaison, I attended the September meeting where they held a mini-retreat type meeting preparing for their school year. There are several PSI familiar faces on their council (Pat Dawson, Julie Sweitzer as board rep, Jodi Davis, Jeanne Aaron and Kristen Piper.)

Any comments you would like voiced in these arenas are gladly carried for you. Just email them to me or stop me in the halls.

Our upcoming meetings are scheduled for November 18th and December 16th in the Media Center.

Rachel Richardson
PSI SC Chair 2004-05
rrichardson8@mn.rr.com