9/10/2020 PTSA Minutes

September 10, 2020

Benjamin Lostheart opened the meeting, welcomed everyone to the Harriet Tubman Parent Teacher Student Association. Goal is to get more students involved; voice is extremely important especially in this digital space.

Benjamin recognized the smoke and the emergency state the Oregonians are in; asked for thoughts, prayers, energy for individuals and families. We are under a weather advisory until Monday evening; hopefully improving Saturday. Fortunate to have a virtual space where we can connect.

On a normal day, we would have to cancel our meeting due to the weather; having a virtual space allows us to connect in our virtual spaces. Main goal of the PTSA to use this digital space. Benjamin has a background in STEM And Tech and can use that for students benefit going forward.

Aim is to get more students involved to be a big part; would like meetings to be interesting so that they want to come – not too boring! Benjamin’s day job is youth organizations working with students working with underserved populations to ensure they get the support that they need.

PTSA is taking a proactive approach. For Benjamin, disheartening to see a loss of connection at the end of the year. Was a crazy time and still is. Hopeful and optimistic is that we can do better – by connecting and staying connected to come together and work on problems.

So far Mr. Thomas Coleman part of the initial group of parents get it started; keen to be a bridge to the new organization. Last role was Treasurer; happy to pass the baton and to be here.

Next: Wednesday the 23^rd before the Back to School Night.

PTSA can be a liaison for future dialog with the Administration and Staff.

Community convo session a place to talk about questions, concerns, hacks, places to look for answers. Mr. Mair might pop in this evening. Some teachers, counselors on the Zoom session – super awesome, thank you. Had a 10 am meeting where they were very helpful.

Group agreements: based on restorative justice model – a safe place where we can say what we want to say; what we say will have some impact – fair access to info and agreement.

- Safe space to voice your thoughts

- A place we can find resolve or work toward resolve

Benjamin called for any additional agreements.

- Sharing time, sharing the space – giving everyone equal time and voice in this safe spot

Next agenda: Coalition of Black Men, SEI, parts of the school community invited.

Reuben Cottingham, new fun manager, associated with SUN and SEI, introduced himself. Reuben is employed by SEI. Schools uniting neighborhoods as mission; unite the neighborhood and Harriet Tubman students; after school programs, get more aquatinted. With culture can bring and build after school can help during the school day. Reuben encouraged people to contact him at reubenc@selfenhancement.org.

Sheila Zachry with Maurice Lucas Foundation. Thank Benjamin for reactivating the PTSA; grateful for being asked to contribute voice. Even in the virtual world, being positive about how to move forward. About the foundation – 10 years this year. Traditionally in elementary schools / sports camps – now in school day and after school working with teachers and administrators to support students in their program. Have gym, tutoring, classroom portion to support families and students. Encourage students to join in 6^th grade through high school, college. If students are with the foundation through middle school, some scholarships are available. Did summer school all virtually. This fall, trying to pivot once again on request from parents – having an academic hub down the street two blocks from school. 4 days a week in the morning; to have a safe space by CDC and for encouragement to get online, getting into the classes, getting homework done; subject tutors available. At least six feet between students. Aim to be up and running Sept 28. Hoping that will help students and families be successful in online learning. Recruiting sixth graders. Info in the chat. Will be in the Elks Building with spacing, wifi. Any students sixth through 12^th are welcome in based on sign up to allow for safely being in the building together. Two blocks from HTMS. Contact: Maurice Lucas Foundation Program Director: Sheila Zachry - szachry@ml20.org - 503.310.7604.

Amy Drew introduced herself and Ms. Katie in absentia – sends her regards. She is excited that there are now two counselors at Harriet Tubman Middle School. First time to be in a place with two together. Are organizing students by grade level and last name. Please reach out to either. 6^th – Ms. Katie; 8^th with Ms. Drew. 7^th: students with last name A-L will be with Ms Katie; Ms. Drew M-Z. Text or email available; small groups are also in the plan. Watch for email in Mr. Mair’s Tubman Tribune. Also will be holding office hours; waiting to set those times until teachers’ are set.

In response to what standards counsellors operate under - ASCA: national guidelines and also through district. 1:1 student guidance, student guidance and in class lessons.

For example: with 8^th graders, help transition to high schools, how to forecast, plan. Can help bridge any student teacher gap.

Judy Holmes – usually in Makers Space; now in technology support, working on the website. The more information I receive, the more I am support the community better.

Benjamin has been working with Judy through the soft start period. Some folks still having questions and issues.

Question: In next week's schedule, are kids supposed to be logged in during applied learning periods, or is that essentially office hours?

Answer: Rochelle, language arts teacher, 6^th and 7^th grade, mostly 7^th. We don’t have a firm answer for that right now. Team is trying to come to terms with what that means. Will come to teachers; subject area, home life, etc. This is different than we have ever done before. May only see students twice a week. Will depend on the teacher.

Brian Chu: Following up on what Reuben was talking about; working with some teachers including Jamar at Ockley Green – Slambu – Slam Poetry. Lane, St. Helens, DaVinci, Beaverton, Woodburn – bridge geographical barrier. Want to make sure kids at SEI are participating at Slambu. Trying to unite teachers and parents. Teaching media literacy and other courses; will be a lot of individualized time for students. Being online, can set up individualized instruction with a group of friends. Has had good turnout in classes. Re schedule: watch for Sunday night – Google meet, text messages and phone. Advice re anxiety regarding the programs and software – email/phone/Google meet – reach out. Classroom will be making a new hoodie available to all.

Benjamin: primary focus is children and youth! Looking toward 100% attendance in the classes.

Question: how will students know what to do during all those times that are not Live?

[Audio was cutting out.] Kids have their assignments; reach out to the teacher with any questions – set up a time to work through the problem.

Rochelle via the chat: I would think that during the synchronous classes they will get instructions from their teacher and it might be different for each class.

Important: main way school is connecting through email. Please make sure school has your CURRENT email address. Website also a good resource.

Judy: sometimes emails from PPS go into the junk folder – check and if not, let the school know.

Question: Could you clarify what Media Literacy class is?

Answer: Mr. Chu is still exploring that – in addition to how to use computers and the messages you are subject to – more critical media literacy; critique and form our own opinions.

Suggestion: please note that it’s coming from HTMS in the subject line. Folks have kids in multiple schools, multiple classes.

September 4: Form in Tubman Tribune - form for schedule changes– special priority for 8^th graders in the near term.

From Mr. Chu: take this year for making everything we want to do – prepare for it to happen when we are back. Since we are on the ground level with the kids; center that for great changes for HTMS that it was intended to be. The old normal is gone; what we do this year is important for setting in for what we want to future to be. Ground zero for social justice. Energy that we can do that we can our things together. Jumbly and fumbly but will be better for it.

Question: Black Lives Matter and students – is there a plan for how teachers and administration talk about what is going on right now.

Mr. Chu: district has BLM curriculum; some have been doing it before this moment. BLM isn’t a curriculum – is a navigation, point of view, a lifestyle. Not sure the curriculum alone will be enough, especially with predominately white staff at HTMS. BIPOC staff and leadership at HTMS – those voices need to be centered. Have not seen that curriculum.

White parent response – agreed – that this has been part of the fabric of HTMS; that commitment to centering black excellence – making that a part of historic and current events. Honor that it started organically and was deeper in a listening approach to the kids; kids are talking about it.

Take a quick break; will come back for discussion about what we’ve seen so far.

Reminder: PPS Tech Support

503.916.3375

support@pps.net

Judy Holmes

Jholmes1@pps.net

Discussion:

- Kids are hoping for more opportunities to talk with other kids; feeling disconnected and silent. For adults, soft start has been helpful to learn how to get into classes.

o Benjamin: hoping to build in kids time during these adult-y meetings.

- District has just approved using Zoom; allows breakout rooms for sole purpose of getting small kids who can talk.

- Hard schedule is posted! Sent Sept 4. Benjamin will ask that be sent again.

- Being flexible and open; administration has been responsive.

o Mr. Mair has been very committed to communication. If we can keep that up, that consistency, everyone will be much better off.

- Spring was challenging; fall will look different – being mindful to put that out to the kids; appreciate the soft start. Appreciative. Remembering to repeat that out loud.

- Spring was hectic to begin with, with communication issues was hard. Currently not needing to manage as much in kids’ life. Go slow to go fast with soft start is making a big difference.

- About the Spring: nobody was prepared for COVID coming. Was very confusing; this year feels completely different. Staff at HTMS are totally psyched; ready to keep moving forward. We are all challenged, but it’s a good challenge. Not a lot over the summer regarding training. Staff are mentally prepared.

- Hear the connection a lot from kids; missing seeing each other, missing social interaction, sometimes traumatic for the youth Benjamin works with. A lot of times that is why students stay in school.

- Re. the 2 hour break for 8^th grade; hoping that won’t have to last.

- hat about letting kids have agency over PTSA as a way o give them a space to come together and discuss ways to engage their peers in this platform

o Looking into a youth PTSA where it’s mostly youth and some adults.

- Hotspots are still available!

- Need to strengthen communication between parents, students, community. Can we receive District’s agenda? Big gap – why is there a big 8^th grade gap?

o Build for schools with a 6^th period day; we are a 7^th period day

- Schedule wasn’t built with parents/teachers in person, in dialogue

- Bryan, is all this schedule stuff worked out during bargaining between PAT and PPS?

o To some extent

Notetaker had to leave at 7:42. Sorry!