Roots and Shoots

Jackie ♦ January 7, 2009 ♦ 6 Comments

When we decided to send the girls to the urban public school where they are in first grade, it was really important to me to do as much parent participation as I could. First, I want to take advantage of these years when I’m working part-time, and the flexibility I have. Second, their school currently has a very active PTA, and I know how important parent participation is for public schools, especially in an urban system like ours that constantly struggles with funding. Third, I really wanted to feel like part of a school community. As the daughter of a public school teacher, public school communities have always been a part of my life, and I want my girls to have that experience too, to feel truly rooted in the school community.

Last year when they started kindergarten, I did a small amount of PTA stuff, like election day bake sales, and lots of classroom volunteering, like lunch duty, playground duty, helping out for holiday parties in the girls’ classroom, and sending in supplies requested by teachers. This year, as I’ve taken on a bit more at work, I haven’t made it to lunch duty as often (and never playground duty), but then, the girls are settled enough that they don’t need me there as often. I’ve made it for most of the classroom parties, and am planning to do some more classroom volunteering in the next few weeks, before my college class starts and while my high school kids prepare for midterms.

This year, I took it a step further by becoming a co-sponsor of the Environmental Club for kindergarten, first and second graders. A mother I knew from kindergarten was organizing it, and so I said I would help out, and we’ve been meeting twice a month or so since the beginning of the school year. We have snacks each time, have read stories about recycling, done craft projects like making snowflakes from magazine pages, and took a nature walk for leaf-collecting. In the spring, we have another nature walk planned to a nearby butterfly garden, and are working on plans for April and Earth Day. We have loosely modeled the activities on Roots and Shoots, form the Jane Goodall Institute.

This is the kind of project I never would have thought I was organized enough to take on a few years ago, but I’m really glad I didn’t let my own conception of myself stop me. My girls have really enjoyed being in the club, it’s a free activity, and it makes me feel like I’m actively part of the school community. Plus I’m one of four parents involved, so the actual work involved has been very manageable.

Next year, my goal is to continue doing what I’m doing, and try and hit more actual PTA meetings so I can take part in more organized activities. We have been so lucky with their school so far, and I think it’s our responsiblity as parents and city residents to contribute all we can.