LETTER TO THE EDITOR

From the issue of June 21, 2007.

Some PTAs welcome parents
To the editor:
   
On June 14 the lead article in the Manville News, "Parents complaining they’re being shut out of PTA" quoted the ABIS PTA vice president as explaining the large turnout of 22 staff members at the last PTA meeting for election of officers as "teachers wanting to be involved."
   If those 22 staff members want to know the true meaning of involvement they need to look no further than a half a mile east on Brooks Boulevard of a mile south on 13th Avenue.
   There they will find the true meaning of staff involvement by watching the actions of staff members and parents at Roosevelt and Weston Schools.
   Roosevelt staff members have attended several evening events each month during the past two years. These have included fitness nights, test prep for parents, a science fair, dances, a holiday shop, Pizza & Pictionary night, movie nights, family craft night, a school play, kick-ball night, bingo night and multi cultural dinners to name just a few of the offerings they have had for parent and students.
   Weston’s staff worked with the PTA over the past two years to acquire grant funding for after school programs through the Somerset County United Way.
   These grants are available to all PTAs. The grants do not compensate staff for their time but they provide the supplies that have allowed Weston teachers, parents and assistants to offer our students six, hour long enrichment sessions after school to learn scrap booking, modern dance, acting, yoga, board games, cooking, chocolate making, line dancing an a host of other enjoyable activities.
   These "enrichment clubs" have allowed students to get to know staff members at all four grade levels that Weston serves. The staff finds time to do these things three times a year and work it in between their other after school responsibilities such as homework clubs, robotics club and literacy club.
   Then there is the month and a half of after school time devoted by third grade and special education staff to produce the annual third grade play.
   I’m sure there are plenty of ABIS students who would love the opportunity to hang around the school after hours to learn about scrap booking, video/computer games, cartooning, drama, dance, photography, and maybe some intramural sports.
   I’m confident that those 22 staff members at ABIS who want to be involved have skills, hobbies and talents that they could share with the students.
   The staff members at Roosevelt and Weston Schools understand the meaning of involvement. They live it every week of the school year, not just when it is time to elect officers for the PTA.
   They serve as role models for their students giving freely of their time and energy well after their official workday is done. They look for nothing in return yet they receive the thanks and compliments from our parents every day. They see the smiles on the faces of the children who get a chance to participate in something they enjoy, who get to see their teachers as real people who demonstrate how much they care for the children of Manville through their actions both inside and out of the classroom.
   They work side by side with parents because the doors at Roosevelt and Weston Schools are truly open all day long for the parent and students of our community to assist in our classrooms, our library, our office and anywhere else in the building where they have something to offer.
   When they do have a concern, they can bring it to the teacher or principal knowing that it will be addressed to the best of the school’s ability and they will not be viewed as trouble makers or have to fear any type of snide remarks being made to their children by staff members.
   Maybe it is time for ABIS to examine what type of open door they have, the one that welcomes daily involvement by parents and community members or the proverbial one that says, "Don’t let it hit you in the rear on your way out!"
Don Frank

Principal, Weston School