Parent’s Council Lower School Parent Information Coffee

September 10, 2019

AGENDA

Wendy Hill, Head of School – Welcome and Core Values discussion

• Founders day weekend is coming up, please make sure to register for the events
• Core values.
  • Recommitting to core values after thorough research and focus groups with teachers and parents.
    • Excellence, Character, Community, and Respect

Camille Seals, Assistant Head of School

• Came to us from Hathaway Brown School, a Pre-K to 12^th grade school, all girls.Familiar with the all-girls education.
• Mom of a 2^nd grader.

Elizabeth Elizardi, Director of the Lower School

• Comes to us from Isadore Newman in New Orleans, a Pre-K to 12^th grade co-ed school of about 1,200 students.
  • While at Isadore Newman, she helped to develop the early childhood division, and filled the enrollment in the first year with 170 students.
• Several goals for the lower school
  • Build our enrollment by telling our story – we need to tell our story to the outside community.Show that this is a place of joyful learning, with engaged children that feel that their voices are heard.
  • Core Values recommittal is also a primary goal for the lower school.
  • Relationships is another primary goal for the lower school.What builds a strong school is teachers, students, and parents that feel connected to the school.That there is a trust and partnership amongst us all.
  • Curriculum: continue to build and strengthen the curriculum.The math program will be re-evaluated this year with a team of teachers and the director.

• Be an Ambassador, teachers and parents.Enrollment will increase if we all work together and are verbal ambassadors of the school in our community.

   

  Kristen Paulson & Joanna Stott ’03, Development Office

• The Agnes Irwin Annual Fund
  • The Agnes Irwin Fund supports the school and the students, and consists of parents, grandparents and friends that donate to this fund
  • Consider your participation annually, especially this year with the 150^th Anniversary, and shows your support for the school’s mission.
• Joanna Stott ’03 heading up the Class Captain Program
  • Each grade will have an Agnes Irwin Fund Class Captain who will reach out to the parents in the grade about participating in the fund.
  • Wonderful way to show your support for the school
  • Fiscal year ends 6/30

Sara Glaser, President of Parents’ Council

• Tom Weissert available in conference room after the coffee for any help with AIS-On, and can be contacted at any time for any assistance you may need.
• Recap of Parents’ Council positions
  • PCEC
  • Class Parents
  • Event Chairs

• Review of handout regarding what Parents’ Council has been able to gift to the school through our fundraising events.
  • Last year $184,800 was distributed in items wished for by the faculty and school throughout the three divisions
  • Thank you to parents for support
• How to find us: AIS-On Parents’ Council tab, Facebook, and Instagram.Please follow us on social media!
• Upcoming events, shown below, also please see AIS-On for a complete listing
• Founder’s Day committee is asking for some volunteers, there is a signup sheet available, or you can reach out to Sara Glaser, or Cathy Ferguson if you are interested.
• Vineyard Vines is having a shopping event for Agnes Irwin
  • September 24^th, from 12-2 at the King of Prussia Vineyard Vines. Mention Agnes Irwin at checkout and you have 10% off your purchase, and 10% of purchase is given back to Agnes Irwin

• Introduce Yourself!A big part of the Agnes Irwin experience is our wonderful community.Introduce yourself to someone new, or introduce friends that don’t know each other.

   

  Erin Hinckle, Parents’ Council Event Coordinator

• Golf Outing coming up on October 2^nd
  • Open to all, members of our community and friends
  • Will take place at Sunnybrook Golf Club again
    • Lunch for golfers
    • Round of golf
    • Cocktails and dinner, open to non-golfers
  • Registration is open.An email was sent with the registration link, or you can visit the Parents’ Council page on AIS-On to register
  • Sponsorship opportunities available
• Hayfair is on November 1^st
  • Open to all divisions, but most fun for the lower school.Come and let your daughter run around with her friends for a few hours.
  • In the MS/US Gym
  • Bounce houses, games, popcorn, and silent auction
  • From 3-6pm

• Owlidays is on November 13^th
  • Located in Eagle Village
  • With the purchase of a ticket you receive 20% off your purchases at participating stores
  • You can shop all day, and in the evening there is a cocktail party, raffle, and even more shopping
  • Great way to jumpstart your holiday shopping
• Get Involved!Volunteer for events, no matter how small or big the job is.This is a great way to meet new people in our community across all divisions.

Delia Biddison, Parents’ Council Lower School Coordinator

• Lower School Coordinator’s role is to work with the class parents for each grade, and answer any questions that you may have.

   

  Elizabeth Elizardi, Director of Lower School

• Clarification on Founder’s Day Convocation, which is mandatory attendance for all students
  • Parents do not have to attend
  • If a parent is not attending and dropping their child off, drop off begins at 12:30 and runs to 1:15 as a regular school day carline.
  • Pre-K, K, and 1^st graders will only attend the first 45 minutes of the convocation.
  • Students are to be in uniform
  • Pickup is at 3:30
• More information is forthcoming

Break out groups facilitated by Class parents to discuss class specific activities and meet parents

PK – Joanna Stott

K- Delia Biddison in place of Jennifer Nansteel

1 – Allison Cocozza

2 – Debbie Piasecki

3 – Erika Hayne

4 – Rashida Johnson-Burman, Victoria Ryan

KEY DATES:

Sept. 17 – Lower School Picture Day

Sept. 19 – Lower School Parents Night, 7pm

Sept. 20 – Founders Day Festival, family bbq and performance of Agnes Irwin: The Musical, 5-7pm

Sept. 22 – Sunday, Founders Day Convocation. Agnes Irwin Auditorium, students arrive 1:15, pickup 3:30

Sept. 30 – NO SCHOOL – Rosh Hashanah

Oct. 2 – AIS Golf Outing at Sunnybrook Golf Club

Oct. 9 – NO SCHOOL – Yom Kippur

Oct. 18 – NO SCHOOL – Parent/Teacher Conferences

Nov 1 – Hayfair, 3-6pm (Fall Fun & Festivities, for parents and students)

Nov 8 – AIS/EA Day, Lower School dismisses at noon