Thursday, November 19, 2015

report to the PVS Board Nov 19, 2015

Hello, all.  I'm far behind on publishing minutes for October and November, but here is a good summary of the year thus far that I wrote for the Board tonight.  I have removed a couple of names who are not in public leadership roles and slightly edited some items since this is an internet-searchable blog. -- Kirsten

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PVPA report to the PVS board, Nov 19 2015
Covering August 2015-current


Report provided by PVPA Chair, Kirsten Rayhawk
Other officers: Gemma Metzger, Co-Chair until 11/2/2015
Board Liaison to PVPA: Jamie (also attending: Medessa, Mary Li, Ethan)


August 2015
Accomplished:
  • 8/19 participated in New Parent Orientation Night
  • 8/24(?) initial contact with faculty during professional development days (Gemma, in cooperation with Board President Mary Li)
  • 8/27 First Day flowers and coffee social (Gemma)
  • PVPA Facebook page established (Kirsten)
Left to do:
  • confirm/recruit class reps


September 2015
Accomplished:
  • 9/3 participated in Back to School Night
  • 9/10 PVPA meeting: introduce the year overall
  • adult education series mostly planned (team: Kirsten, Gemma, Jamie Trummer, Lucia Mello)
  • liaison to Fundraising Committee established ( = Kirsten)
  • liaisons to staff Events Committee established ( = Gemma, SH)
  • 9/30 PVPA blog established for posting of minutes (Kirsten)
Left to do:
  • finish/confirm adult education plan with stakeholders
  • recruit/confirm class reps


October 2015
Accomplished:
  • 10/2 first regular coffee social of the year (CWF +team)
  • 10/3 Harvest Festival (KS + JT + team)
  • 10/8 support Dr Sagarin’s adult ed talk
  • 10/14 PVPA meeting (a highlight: Chinese Tea ceremony with Lucy Li)
  • PVPA Facebook page used to promote PVS community events
Left to do:
  • (same as September, plus … )
  • add October minutes to blog


November-to-date, 2015
Accomplished so far:
  • supported the 11/2 fundraising event (Bridgeport restaurant night): publicity
  • 11/5 PVPA Adult Education Series: Foundations of Waldorf Education, by Lucia Mello
  • 11/5 PVPA meeting (a highlight: Sarah Goff and Lucia Mello at PVPA talked new parents through fall festivals)
  • 11/6 monthly coffee social
  • adult Spiral Walk scheduled (for Tuesday Dec 1 6:30pm)
Left to do:
  • (all of October plus … )
  • add November minutes to the blog
  • 11/21 (this Saturday!!) ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR (JG + DN + team)


NEWS/ISSUES:
  • NOV 2:  Gemma resigned as Co-Chair (departure made public 11/5); there are no other obvious choices for a new co-Chair; this leaves Kirsten as the sole Chair and several tasks incomplete (most importantly pinning down the PVPA Rep list, which at this point is still uncertain)
  • NOV 4:  Kirsten was rear-ended on the way to the Fundraising Committee meeting and between the concussion and the neck pain is not operating on all executive-brain-function cylinders
  • the PVPA Rep list being unclear and incomplete is severely impacting most of the function of the PVPA in the PVS community*
  • Kirsten starts grad school in January and needs to get things sorted out before that


PLAN:
  • Kirsten to recruit a leadership team from those who are not ready/willing to co-chair but can carry some of the load
  • Kirsten to recruit some specific task help
    • * especially and immediately PVPA Rep list clarity (looks like I have a volunteer for this)
    • cleanup and posting of meeting minutes
    • monthly potluck support


OUTLOOK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR:
At this point we have no idea what the Spring Fundraiser will look like (pending the Fundraising Committee’s direction), but that and Teacher Appreciation Week (Feb 1-5 this year) are the main events PVPA needs to organize and support before the end of this year.  Our Adult Education Series will continue with Paul Berg presenting about middle schoolers on January 14 and then at least two more presentations before the school year ends.  We will also continue to provide support for smaller PVS events such as monthly coffee socials (first Fridays), Bike and Walk month, the February 22 restaurant night at Hopwerks, and potential political advocacy requests from the Board.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Nov 5 adult ed: Foundations of Waldorf Education with Lucia Mello

THIS WEEK: PVPA Adult Education Series presentation

Thursday, November 5, from 6:30-7:30pm,
 in the basement of the Upper School

Foundations of Waldorf Education:
Basic Principles, Stages of Development, and Importance of Rituals and Festivals

Lucia Mello, Lavender Kindergarten teacher since PVS was established in 2007 and long-time Waldorf teacher, will provide both some big-picture Waldorf keys and examples of specific applications at school and home!  This talk should provide a great base for new PVS families and a refresher (or a chance to fill in some gaps!) for established PVS families.

Pass the word!

This adult education session falls between our optional family potluck (6:00-6:20) -- an opportunity to socialize and make sure your kids are fed before they either go to our babysitters* or (hopefully quietly!) attend our meetings with their grownup(s) -- and the November PVPA meeting (7:30-8:30).  We'd love to have folks come for the whole evening, but just attending any part is fine.

* Babysitting is provided by PVPA for ages 3-10, from 6:30-8:30, with RSVP 24 hours ahead to pvpa@portlandvillageschool.org.  (We welcome older or younger children at the meeting itself, at the parent/guardian's discretion.  Please make arrangements for childcare at home if that is needed for the success of your family's evening.)  With less than 24 hours notice, we reserve the right to say no, but we are hiring three(!) sitters this month so we hope to cover everyone who wants to attend.

*     *     *     *     *

For those who missed the awesome talk by Stephen Sagarin last month (or who want to watch it *again* :) ), see the link below.  It is a good solid hour and a half, with the talk and the Q+A, but (unlike the in-person event ;) ) you can pause the YouTube video and come back later.  Everyone who attended came out with big eyes, talking about how great it was ... including a local teacher who attended for the continuing-education credit :)!

http://www.portlandvillageschool.org/news/stephen-sagarin-phd-our-children-our-technology-our-future

Or link directly into YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csi38MzwZJY#t=29