Archive for the 'life' Category

Successful Grant Writing and the DOE

Published Date: February 14th, 2011
Category: life

A few years ago, I was on the grant-writing committee at My Kid’s school.  We found many grants for lovely programs that we weren’t eligible for due to lack of space.  For example, one enticing program gives instruments to public schools for music programs.  It was just what we were looking for.  But, we weren’t [...]

I wish the fundraisers at my daughter’s school were for real extras like cheerleader uniforms or choir trips. Instead, the PTA raises money to pay for teachers aides, capitol improvements, school supplies, staff development and enrichment programs so that the principal can devote more of the budget to salaries and avoid laying off teachers and [...]

So we took our kid to another middle school test/interview today

Published Date: February 13th, 2011
Category: life

My 10-year-old did not want spend Sunday afternoon at another test and interview at another school since that was already the focus of her Saturday. We went to the school and were directed to the cafeteria where we turned in copies of our children’s report cards and signed in. The children’s names were called and [...]

Maybe the Clown Mommies will take over…!

Published Date: February 12th, 2011
Category: life

I was on the phone with one of  my clown mommy friends today. Her kid’s got MAJOR food/allergy issues. I’ve got MAJOR middle school application issues. We’ve not been well served… We are articulate…. You Or… Someone…. May have reason to be worried… Just sayin’…

The Best Thing

Published Date: February 12th, 2011
Category: life

The Best Thing, the very best thing, –about these weird random, open to all of New York City, middle school application process events—- is the opportunity to reconnect with the parent-friends who we met for the first time when our kids were in preschool or Pre-K or Kindergarten… or… church school, or soccer, or Girl [...]

Standing in line waiting with our kid who has a ticket to take the test to get into NEST+m, one of the most selective public schools in all of New York City. Thousands will take the test. 60 or maybe 80 or, at the very outside–100 students AT MOST will be invited to enter 6th [...]

Yesterday, I heard from another parent that her daughter had gotten a letter inviting her to interview at the school my own daughter listed as her number one middle school choice and we have received no such letter.  The other parent said the interviews are tomorrow. Today, I went to the school and talked to [...]

Cathie Black Rearranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic

Published Date: February 9th, 2011
Category: life

I read Cathie Black’s editorial in the Daily News today. The focus on the interpretation of test score statistics seems an odd choice for the new Schools Chancellor, like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, given the host of other pressing issues affecting the daily educational lives of the students and teachers populating the [...]

Cathie Black Profiled in New York Magazine

Published Date: February 8th, 2011
Category: life

Cathie Black is on the cover of New York magazine, a publication she once ran. In the profile piece, she says, “I want to empower our principals because the empowerment of principals, I believe, is critical to the success of the system.” But, when asked, ‘What powers do school principals currently lack?’, she gave an [...]

The Husband is concerned about me since I witnessed a PEP Meeting

Published Date: February 5th, 2011
Category: life

I guess I kind of scared The Husband when I told him my mind had wandered to thoughts of Indian boarding schools while I was thinking about the strict systems of merits and demerits and rote learning at Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School and Eva Moskowitz’s Harlem Success Academies profiled in this weeks issue of [...]