Parents’ C Club lub – supporting the Primary Years Programme in a global world
Session outline… }
Overview of the BNPS Parents’ Club and how we support the PYP
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Explore opportunities: } }
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For Parent Clubs to share ideas and experiences To o gain ga IB and a d national/state a o a /s a e support suppo
Group discussion
Decades of research make it clear that... } “Where
parents, teachers, students and community members continue to learn from each other and really work together, the gains in student achievement can be significant ” significant.
"Power of Partnerships." The Victorian Council of School Organisations Inc (VICCSO). 12 Jan. 2011 <http://www.viccso.org.au/content/faminfo>.
And that... } “The
family-school-community partnership is among the most powerful improvement levers that a school has access to.”
"Power of Partnerships." The Victorian Council of School Organisations Inc (VICCSO). 12 Jan. 2010 <http://www.viccso.org.au/content/faminfo>.
The research also suggests that... } “These
partnerships need to be much stronger - if partnerships are to become a source of major gains in student engagement and achievement.”
"Power of Partnerships." The Victorian Council of School Organisations Inc (VICCSO). 12 Jan. 2010 <http://www.viccso.org.au/content/faminfo>.
Parent involvement is a key feature of our school… school
Our Parents’ Club… } Is
very active in fundraising and facilities development
} Provides
avenues for social contact and enjoyment for families within the school
} Provides
opportunities for parents to contribute to school/educational policies li i
Our Parents’ Club… } Provides
information for parents to extend their understanding of school issues
} Encourages
participation of all parents in the life of the school and education of their children
We have also… } } } } } }
Revised Parents’ Club Constitution Conducted a ‘Your Say Survey’ Developed a Club Plan for 2011 Created an online Business Directory Designed a new logo Developed a website www.beaumarisnorthps.vic.edu.au/ parents-club/welcome.html
We recognised the need to… } Welcome
parents as co-educators of the PYP and equal partners in shaping our school’s h l’ di direction ti
} Engage
families from diverse backgrounds
We have taken our Parents’ Club to the next level...
We support the PYP by… } Forming
a vital link between parents, teachers and the leadership team
} Being
compassionate, active citizens
} Fundraising
to support the various units of inquiry, PYP Attitudes and Learner Profile
We support the PYP by… } Fostering
PYP Attitudes and the Learner Profile at all Club events
} Providing
avenues for children to p these demonstrate and further develop skills and values
Risk-takers! Risk takers!
2010 parents’ disco… Testimonial } What a night! Thanks for all your hard work and energy - you really know how to make a night so fantastic. fantastic
We support the PYP by… } Including
global issues and activities into our Club plan
} Embracing
opportunities to encourage children/families from diverse backgrounds to become involved
Cultural events… events
Kate, Grade 2
We support the PYP by… } Allowing
events
children to manage stalls at
} Advertising } }
our commitment
Registration brochure Parents’ Club website
We support the PYP by… }
Compiling a music CD of songs reflecting the PYP Attitudes & Learner Profile }
Learner Profile }
Open-minded
}
Attitudes }
Independence
We support the PYP by… } Compiling
teacher
Maia, Grade 1
an end of year book for the
We support the PYP by… } Reflecting
and reporting on events/surveys and acting on the results
} Being
active local community participants
} Working
towards the IBO Programme standards and practices
Example - Standard A1, #4 } “The
beliefs and values that drive the programme are shared by all sections of the school community (including students, students teachers, administrators, members of the governing g g body and others as appropriate.” } We
have incorporated the PYP into our Club Cl b plan l
Our currentt O p yg playground…
What is a natural playscape… }
Blends natural materials, features and vegetation with creative land forms
}
Creates C t purposely l complex l iinterplays t l off natural, t l environmental objects
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Challenges and fascinates children
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Teaches children about the wonders and intricacies of the natural world
Why a natural playscape? }
“With children's lives disconnected from the natural world, their experiences are predominately g g and visual mediated in media,, written language images.”
Chawla, 1994
}
“The virtual is replacing the real.”
Pyle, 2002
Why a natural playscape? } To
make optimal use of our land and reconnect our students with nature
} To
send calmer, more curious, betterbalanced children into the classroom
} Positively } Creates
linked with a sense of ‘wonder’
positive feelings about each other
About the project… } Initiative
of the Parents’ Club
} Gained
support from School Council
} Parents
and staff were surveyed online
} Subcommittee } Landscape
formed
Architects & play equipment manufacturers consulted
A partnership… } Beaumaris
North Primary School
} Landscape } Citywide
Architect
Service Solutions
} Community
Nursery
Our commitment… }
We are committed to ensuring our students develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world by extending the variety of options within the school grounds
Other benefits… }
Create a stronger sense of community
}
An active involvement opportunity pp y for p parents
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New curriculum connections for teachers
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Increased morale and enthusiasm for teaching
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Reduction in discipline and classroom managementt problems bl
Playscape photo presentation… }
Hills and valleys
}
Logs
}
Boulders and rocks
}
Outdoor classrooms
}
Agility
}
Drama, art and music
}
Vegetation
}
S ings and ttunnels Swings nnels
}
Sand
}
Loose parts
}
Paths and bridges
Citizenship, creativity, Citizenship creativity connectivity and compassion… } Partnership
with external organisations } Parental involvement } Connecting children with the environment } Encouraging children to be creative and compassionate } The list goes on…
Other ideas for supporting the PYP... } Fundraising
inquiry
plaques pertaining to units of
} Issuing
Attitude & Learner Profile certificates at events
} PYP
section on our webpage
} Global Gl b l
walk-a-thon lk th
Sharing ideas and experiences… } Parent
Clubs around the world can support the PYP and become active IB citizens
} Strengthen
communities to provide an avenue for best practice
Gaining support… } International
Baccalaureate (IB)
}
Recognize Parent Clubs as ‘stakeholders’ stakeholders in the IB ‘Mission and Strategy’
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Regional workshops to provide opportunities to share Parent Club practices and experiences
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Parent Club area in the Online Curriculum Centre
Gaining support… } International
Baccalaureate (IB)
}
Use of IB Blogosphere, Blogosphere Facebook Facebook, Twitter
}
Provide initiatives and resources to support Parent Clubs in IB schools
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Actively encourage Parent Clubs to incorporate p the PYP into their Club p plan
Gaining support... } National
and state organisations
}
Provide initiatives and resources to support Parent Clubs in IB schools
}
Encourage IB schools to incorporate the PYP into their Parent Club plan
Group discussion... } How
can Parent Clubs support the PYP?
} How
can Parent Clubs support each other?
} How
can the IBO and National/State organisations support Parent Clubs?
} How
can parents be welcomed as co-educators of the PYP?
Where to from here? } Collate
ideas from group discussion and disseminate as appropriate
} Continue
the PYP
} Work
to investigate ways to support
towards the IBO Programme standards and practices
Where to from here? } Encourage
International, National and State support of Parents’ Clubs in IB schools
} Become
an active IB community participant
Proud P d supporters t of the Primary Y Years Programme Programme
www.beaumarisnorthps.vic.edu.au/parents-club/welcome.html