“Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.”
— Henry Ford

Weaving School and Community (Saturday AM)

Facilitator/Scribe: Molly Stoner/Amelia Stone

Participants:

Molly Stoner Amelia Stone
Jody Normandeau Patty Walior
Nancy Polseno Phil Rollins
Bill Conley Priscilla Svec
Alex Blakeson Teri Robinson
Marguerite DiMotte Amy Dews


Defining Problem and Goals

making school broader community resource
What do we have now? How build on it? How communicate about it?
funding alternatives
links to other educational institutions
community-based learning
stewardship of education: preserve and maintain
grassroots curriculum influence
need for preschool/afterschool possibilities and opportunities
inspiration for lifelong learning
need diversity: cultural, ethnic, Austine School, leanring styles, Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Varied
families, socio-economic, international, foreign language
a lot is happening: how communicate about it? How help people take advantage of
systems?
What else impedes? – busy lifestyles/social isolation,
Isolated? Tech focus rather than person:person


Identify Potential Projects/Solutions

Within School: ELF, Adopt a book, Adopt a kid (read, mentor), access available resources like retired people, SIT, Landmark.

After-School program: bring in community members, Big Bro/Big Sis
Move Lydia Taft library to school: adult-kid clubs and game nights, computer use
Evening events – singing, knitting etc.
Adult learning (or with kids) – eg.) foreign language classes
Extend assembly opportunities to evening OR list of day open activities
Mixed-age instrumental classes or band
Mixed-age chorus
Open after-school programs to all ages of people
Activities outside school, eg) trail up Black Mt.
Assess talents/interests of community members
Use of gym as “mixer” space
High school kids come back to present/inform community (c. service credit); also adults
Connect to school’s inherent value reduces tax anxiety; helps people see it’s worth it
(“stewardship” needs critical mass of folks invested)
school could “go private”
extended day options: full service school?
All-school proactive meetings: perhaps 2x/year to discuss issues in ed/initiatives school
taking (adults with principal; kids play)
Communication to broader community: list serve for newsletter, highlight key points
(Views articles too long)
Megaphone on cartop for announcements (tongue in cheek,…. sort of)
Impact/Feasiblity


Identified three following goals

1) Establish a system/database for assessing the talents and interests of community members who want to connect
- Mentoring or apprenticeships
- Short-term tutoring or interest-based groups
(Note need for child safety protocols if outside school)

2) Organized effort to have high school kids and/or community members to share special experiences/knowledge
- In-school
- Evening/aftyer school
(coordinated through committee of Dumm. School? Social service agency, like Putney Family Services?)

3) Always ask, “Can we extend to the broader community?”
- Committee/coordinator works to flesh ideas and create systems
- evening assembly opportunities
- use of gyms/rooms for social groups
- list during-day events open to all
- after-school program open to adults too