Greens Farms Academy Parents' Association Meeting Minutes February 19, 2009 Attendees: Lori Hashizume, Gina Ely, Wendy Nixon, Carol Wilson, Berkeley Soper, Nancy Saipe, Judy Straight, Rita Kruk, Grace Whitelock, Sandy Van Zant, Joy Hoffman, Sherron Velez, Bonnie Hirschfeld, Ana Mernick, Dean Moberg, Moira Hintsa, Brooke McIlvaine, Judy Fisher, Mary Vickery, Mandy Argenio, Susan Doelp, Diane Connelly, Mary Jean Koster The meeting commenced at 8:05 and the minutes of the January 22, 2009 meeting were approved. Tiffany Jones, a senior, spoke about her involvement in the Diversity Committee. She said the goal of Diversity is to make GFA into a learning environment whre all students feel safe and welcome. Parents, faculty and students involved in the Diversity Committee meet once a month. The student group, SEEC (Students Encouraging Expanding Communication) meet weekly and is comprised of about 25 students. . Tiffany is the president of that group. A similar group is going to start in the Middle School. She started with an ‘ice breaking’ exercise in which each person attending stood up and said “I like x and I like y”. They were joined by someone with a similar like and the chain continued. Tiffany said they view all types of diversity including race, religion, gender/sex, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class. Their goal is to promote a safe environment to discuss these things and they do so by encouraging listening and thinking before you speak. Also, they feel no issues are taboo and sometimes being direct is the only way to discuss these issues. SEEC has worked on the Heritage Dinner, Martin Luther King Day, and Darius Goes West. They have gone to a National Diversity conference and on April 4 are hosting a Ct. private/independent school diversity conference at GFA which will feature a keynote speaker, Kip Fulbeck, who is a college professor and has written books on diversity. Tiffany feels that GFA has experienced a lot of progress in diversity efforts since she has been here. SEEC would like to figure out a charitable cause to support and focus their fundraising efforts on it. When asked how parents could help, Tiffany felt that the best thing parents can do is to speak to and educate children about the world outside (including issues of sexual orientation, socioeconomic issues etc.) and to teach them to be tolerant to differences. Lori Hashizume, a member of the Diversity Committee and parent of a GFA alumni, said she has been active in the Committee for 5-6 years. This year the Committee is hoping to get the word of their good work out and make sure everyone knows they can go to these meetings and take part in Diversity Committee events. She feels the Committee’s role is to look at the life of school through the lens of diversity and to try and find common ground and to present ideas to help the GFA community make connections with those who are different. They have had speakers who have talked about learning disabilities, including GFA students of all ages. They also had a Manhattanville professor who talked about diversity in children’s literature. Lori has been with the students to the National conference and agreed with Tiffany that it is a life changing experience. They are thinking about working on a ‘welcome program’ for new students from diverse backgrounds. Susan Doelp mentioned the MS and US ‘welcome program’ and suggested the efforts be combined. -2- Susan Doelp mentioned that the Dierdre Imus event was very successful and that her organization at Hackensack Hospital sent a thank you for our donation. The turnout was great, especially from individuals outside of GFA. PA members who attended this presentation felt it was very informative. Bonnie Hirschfeld talked about the Valentine’s Cookie Exchange. She thanked the 46 bakers and those who volunteered and attended. Next year the date is tentatively February 12 but a suggestion was made that perhaps it would be better attended on Thursday than on the Friday before a three day weekend. Susan Doelp mentioned that a survey is being sent out through Survey Monkey to recruit for PA positions for next year. If anyone wants to submit a name of someone they think would do a good job, please do so. Fundraising ideas for the fall are a family portrait day, probably offered through Coffee Pond and maybe, also, through a second photographer. Also, she is looking into using the student’s art to produce stationary. Both of these ideas could use a facilitator. The Seussical MS musical is March 6,7 and 8. The College Book Group will meet on the 5th of March.The school store is currently having a 50% off sale. Susan Doelp also mentioned that next year the PA is hoping to institute a co-presidency for the PA. She first needs to go to the trustees for approval of this which is included in an update of the PA Bylaws and Standing Rules. The Nominating Committee is beginning its work on recruitment for next year. Susan thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. There is no PA meeting in March. Submitted by Mary Jean Koster PA Secretary