The Agnes Irwin School Parents’ Council
Upper School Parent/Guardian Winter Coffee
Wednesday, January 27 9:00 AM Start (Zoom Link)
Agenda:
I. Welcome, Opening Remarks – Camille Seals, Assistant Head of School and Upper School Director
II. Upper School Updates, Events and Outlook for Spring- Camille Seals, Assistant Head of School and Upper School Director
1st Semester Highlights, COVID Updates/Reminders and Upcoming Spring Events
Since parents have not been able to be on campus to see what is going on, let us review some on campus highlights and pictures of the girls in action on campus.
Our primary goal this year is to make sure that we can provide on campus learning as much as possible for students who want to be on campus.
· Our safety protocols have been working well.
· Despite the changes in the use of our facilities, and changes in our programming, we can continue to provide academic excellence to the girls.
o Proud of our teachers and how they have pivoted and modified classrooms and curriculum to provide a good experience for the girls.
· Re-imagining and sustaining our community.
o Virtual upper school play in November.
o Dance Motion which usually happens in December is in process and coming out soon.
o Halloween contest by advisory.
o Spirit week: able to have our wing eating competition and dance competition, among other traditions.
o Girls have still been doing meaningful work.
§ Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
§ Writing cards to front line workers and people living in assisted living communities
§ Continuing our Friday Forum.
· Discussing who we are as a community.
· Discussing politics and the election.
· Whether or not AIS as a community is ready to have difficult conversations.
· Encouraging the girls to be agents of change in our community.
· Assemblies still being held and run by various community groups, for example. the Honor Council is running next week’s assembly.
· This school year is one that none of us could have expected, but proud of our pivot by our entire community to enrich the lives of our students.
COVID Reminders
· Pandemic Fatigue
o Although we are all experience pandemic fatigue, reminding us the importance of following safety protocols on and off campus. Partner together to help the girls make smart decisions all of the time, both at school and when not at school.
· Remembering the dynamics of being a part of a community.
· Practicing empathy and honoring confidentiality.
o In a moment that we are all fighting this virus it is okay to be anxious and upset when someone has not kept up their end of the bargain in respects to COVID protocols. We will have to have empathy and respect for our fellow community members. Start from a place of compassion and concern.
· Modeling how to “weather the storm”.
o Girls look to us to learn how to handle this situation. Show them our commitment to the community agreement.
Upcoming Events
· Sustaining outstanding academics.
o Always our goal! We meet regularly as a faculty to evolve our practices for on campus and remote learners.
§ Sarah Leonard has shadowed both virtual students and on campus students to learn what it is like for them, and to learn about what we can adjust and improve upon for them.
· Reimagining our spring traditions.
o We are deeply committed to giving the Agnes Irwin traditions to the girls, we recognize that is part of the legacy of who we are as a school.
· Already discussing and planning for the 2021-2022 school year.
o What will our schedule look like? What protocols will we still have, and what protocols do we have in place that perhaps we can pull back on? What works well, and what doesn’t? Can we move a little closer to normalcy this fall?
· Celebrating the Class of 2021
o Doing our best to recreate events to celebrate the Seniors – the Senior parade, the 100 nights, etc.
Upcoming Initiatives and Events (that we can participate in)
· All-school climate audit.
o Doing this as a whole school community, it will only work best if everyone participates!
o We will be involving every constituent group in the survey.
o We want to hear about all the issues, so that we can tackle them and become a stronger community for it.
· Give to What You Love – School wide give day.
o Second week in February. This is your chance to give donations to the annual fund, and celebrate what we love about Agnes Irwin.
· Center for Advancement of Girls
o Two speakers coming up.
§ Dr. Charlotte Jacobs, 2/19
· Speaking on gender and race conscious education.
§ Miriam Peskowitz, 4/9
· Bestselling author of The Daring Book for Girls
· Summer programming
o More information to come soon.
o In person and virtual programming will be available
§ Some will be worth credits.
Spring Athletics – Courtney Lubbe, AIS Director of Athletics
Winter Sports and COVID protocols
· Basketball, squash, swim/dive, and winter crew are in session right now.
· On 2/2 an interscholastic inter-ac sport competitions will begin.
o Shorter competition season
o Only with participate interac schools.
o Spectators will be extremely limited, a communication to parents of participating athletes will be coming out soon
o Ends on 2/28
· COVID protocols are in place for all athletics to preserve the number one priority of enabling on campus learning.
o All practices are fully masked.
o Teams are cohorted by level, and in some instances, further cohorts within the cohorts. For example – squash will be cohorted by the three or four girls practicing on the court, and crew is cohorted by boat.
o Physically distancing when not actively engaging in drills/scrimmages.
Spring sports are scheduled to begin on 3/1
· Crew, lacrosse, softball, golf, and track.
o Crew and lacrosse require attendance at practices and competitions over spring break. Stay tuned to your email if your daughter has expressed interest in these sports.
§ There are two regattas also scheduled over spring break. We have no control over the regatta schedule.
o Golf, softball, and track usually do not have a required attendance over spring break.
· Girls will register for spring PE/Athletic credit in early February.
Fall sports
· Preseason starts 8/23.
o Preseason is required for cross country, field hockey, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.
o Preseason is absolutely required for any athlete if they want to participate.
· Fall season starts on 9/7.
· Right now we are planning for a typical sports season due to the window available for planning the season.
o Easier to plan for a normal season and pull back with any COVID protocols, rather than plan for a restricted season and then need to add to it if the case may be.
College Counseling – Meg Scott, Director of College Counseling
Expanded our offerings for ’21 students.
· Helping students to prep for applications in a COVID world, offering testing on campus when it is cancelled at other venues, a satellite office was set up where the seniors are cohorted so they have access to us.
· 90 College representatives visited AIS virtually.
· Helped to process and submit about 800 applications.
About 80% of the Senior class is still in the thick of the college application process
· Helping the students that received a deferment in the fall to continue to send updates and grades to the schools.
· Early February is the next round of college responses.
· A large round of college responses will happen after spring break.
· Some schools have announce a delay in announcements due to COVID and needing more time to review applications under COVID restrictions.
College 101 Series is coming up.
· Workshop series to help seniors to prepare for life after AIS.
Dedicated to the graduating class was we head into spring.
Let’s work together to help them stay focused in second semester .
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Jon Gomes, Interim Director- DEI
Hopefully everyone had a chance to read the DEI Update that came out recently.
Community In Action Day – 1/19-1/22
· Student lead
· More overlap in diverse perspectives than we realize.
· Themes – student voice, allyship, community
· Hour and a half everyday on this week.
o One workshop and panel per day
· Maximizing engagement
o Timing – a little everyday vs. everything in one day
o Cohorting by advisory
o Avoiding zoom fatigue
· Panels and Workshops
o Systemic racism in the time of COVID
o Confronting Asian stereotypes
o Housing and food insecurity in Philadelphia
o Beauty standards in the Middle East and the West
o And more – all great, and student lead
STEM Audit with a DEI lens
· Inclusive excellence and Academic Excellence
o We cannot have one without the other.
· Equity, access, and belonging in our curriculum.
· Engagement and investment in our curriculum.
· Providing students with a mathematical and scientific lens through with which they can view the world.
· Preparing students for college and future careers.
· Looking at:
o How we teach, how we assess, how we grade, how we accomplish placements, and our growth mindset.
Working to make sure that Agnes Irwin is delivering the most meaningful curriculum possible.
Featured Topic: Preserving Student Wellbeing – Kim Polonsky, US Counselor
COVID related social and emotional challenges.
· What are we seeing as SEL emotional challenges for our girls.
o Missing relationships with peers. Dealing with isolation and quarantining
o Inconsistency with routines
o Increased anxiety, stress, and depression
o Increased use of social media
Tips for helping your daughter:
· Use communication as intervention. Recognize and address fear and stress.
o Dinnertime is a great time to talk. Deescalate and bond as a family.
· Reduce boredom and isolation.
o Try maintaining a routine.
o Help your girls to stay socially connected.
· Practice self-care
o Meditation, eat healthy, make sleep a priority.
· Be aware of warning signs:
o Changes in mood, frequent conflicts, changes in behavior, loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, changes in sleep, changes in weight, problems with memory, less interest in schoolwork, drop in academic effort, drop in weight.
· Encourage your daughter to seek out support when needed.
· Limit social media around bedtime.
· Talk to your teen about positive and negative experiences with social media.
o Model social media use
§ Do not use your phone at the dinner table for example.
· Find gratitude and do not let them dwell on the situation.
o Encourage a gratitude journal or create a gratitude jar.
· Check in with your girls every day. Knowing that you’re there for them and interested can go a long way
· Encourage them to talk about what is happening.
o As adults we can talk about the facts and reinforce the basics.
§ Masking, staying home, etc.
· Help your teen to look forward to the future – make goals and plans.
· Regardless of age – proper use of technology can help us to stay socially connected.
o Baking cookies with friends virtually, virtual sleepovers, online games connecting them to play with friends.
· Mind and body help
o Encourage them to go for a walk outside, read a book, or do a video workout.
· Sleep! Make sure they are getting enough sleep.
We are here for you and your girls at any time, please reach out.
Preserving Student Wellbeing – Courtney Dougherty, Student Academic Support
COVID and end of the year academic fatigue
· What are we seeing as academic challenges for the girls?
o Screen fatigue
§ Phones, Netflix, social media, etc.
o Inconsistent routines
o Lack of motivation to attend class or start assignments.
o Increased procrastination.
o Inability to focus.
Helping your student at the end of the year
· 5 tips to encourage end of year continued academic success.
o Continue to encourage a daily routine for schoolwork, homework, and downtime.
o Continue to encourage a home environment that promotes learning.
o Focus on the process and not the product.
o Continue to value goals over grades.
o Continue to encourage self-advocating.
Camille Seals, Assistant Head of School and Upper School Director
Spread the Word!
· Help us to tell the AIS story to prospective families.
o All school virtual open house on 3/10 and 4/21
o Virtual tours
o Interact with AIS
III. Parents’ Council News, Nominations and Events
Nissa O’Mara, Parents’ Council President
Nominations
· If you or anyone you know of is interested in getting involved next school year, please nominate yourself/them.
o Email pcnominations@agnesirwin.org
· There are several positions you can volunteer for – from class parent to chairing an event. You can visit the Parents’ Council tab for more information.
Erin Hinckle, Events Coordinator
· Thank you to everyone who supported our virtual events in the fall.
· Upcoming events will continue will be virtual.
· Faculty & Staff Appreciation lunch
o Mid-February
o Most likely a grab and take individual mean instead of a group gathering.
o We also gave the faculty and staff Amazon Gift Cards this past December to show our appreciation of how hard they are working this year to juggle the new platforms and learning/teaching environments.
· RaisE
o Our biggest fundraiser of the year
o Usually held in the spring as a large cocktail party, sit down dinner, and auction
o Working on changing this to interactive social events that people can attend virtually.
o Hosting a planning get together on January 26th at 8pm. If you would like to participate in planning rAISe this year please reach out to Cathy Ferguson (cferguson@agnesirwin.org) and she can send you the link for this planning meeting.
· Spring Market
o Our spring shopping event of the year.
o Working on switching this over to a virtual shopping event this year. More information to come.
IV. Class Breakouts
· Quick Reminders/Request of Breakouts - Sharon Mankovich, PC Upper School Coordinator
· Transition to Breakouts - Ashley Smith, Executive Asst to the Head of School, Board of Trustees
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Upper School Class Parents:
9th Grade: Maura Daniels, Shiva Noorchashm
10th Grade: Jodi Warren and Faith DeRose
11th Grade: Natalie Bracaglia, Mimi Null
12th Grade: Kristen Nevins, Suzanne Zelov – with Special Guest Dean Frank!
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