Cottonwood Valley Charter School Parent Association     [REVISION 2006/05/15]

MISSION STATEMENT

The Cottonwood Valley Charter School (CVCS) Parent Association (PA) is a self-governing volunteer group comprising all parents/guardians of CVCS students. The CVCSPA is committed to fostering the academic, social, and emotional development of CVCS students by working to build and maintain partnerships with the CVCS Governing Council and with the school's administration.

PURPOSE

The primary purpose of the CVCSPA is to support the school community, including teachers, administration, students, and parents. This includes, but is not limited to, recruiting parent assistance for school activities, organizing events to show parents' appreciation of the CVCS faculty and administration, and promoting communication between parents and other members of the CVCS community by providing a welcoming forum for the exchange of information and feedback.

TASKS

The ideas here were provided by parents in a brief questionnaire from December 2004 and a longer discussion at a Parent Association meeting on March 2, 2005. These parents felt our association could provide useful support for the school in these areas. Clearly, the ability to carry them out depends the enthusiasm and commitment of sufficient volunteers!

1. School Support and Community
• teacher and administration appreciation/recognition/support
• building/encouraging school spirit
• community-building
• helping to get Friends of the Charter School going once the organization has been established (non-profit 501(c)3)
• assistance with school activities and (small-scale) fundraising
• welcoming new families
• family support
• helping to provide vision for the school
• extra-curricular activities
• organizing "grandma" help
2. Communication
• advocacy between parents/Parent Association/Governing Council/administration
• input on new facilities
• fostering parent/teacher communication
• Parent Association/Student Council connection

AREAS OF PARENT INTEREST AND CONCERN

As above, these items are based on comments received from parents in December 2004 and March 2005. They have been organized into a few general categories but are not prioritized.

1. Curriculum/Teaching
   
   • Core Knowledge implementation and teacher training
   • sustaining the original vision for our school
   • maintaining high academic performance expectations from faculty
   • impact of No Child Left Behind
   • music and art curricula
   • co-ordinating Spanish curriculum with other subjects
   • amount and consistency of assigned homework
   • class size
   • Personal Learning Plans
   • Special Education and IEP's
2. School Safety and Health
   • discipline policy
   • bullying (physical violence, girl bullying)
   • candy in classrooms
   • police communication with school administration/students/parents, i.e. awareness of community issues that affect the school
   • confidentiality issues (students among peers)
3. Communication
• regular classroom news
• student surveys, e.g. annual and for incoming students
• "exit" survey for departing students and their parents
• confidentiality boundaries in communication to/from parents