By MWS Parents; Jayne Senecal and Jill Dockray
Welcome to all the new parents joining the Meadowbrook community! We are two sisters that have 19 years between us as Meadowbrook parents. Our mom, Betty Merner, was also a teacher at the school for 30 years so we are pretty much made out of wool and kindergarten bread. (Fun fact : Betty taught Iasac Roosa who is now our 2nd grade teacher!) Jill has 9th and 10th graders at Prout and Jayne has a 7th grader in Ms. Wade’s class.
We have been chatting about how challenging it must be to be a new parent this year. This pandemic is making for some hurdles in connecting with other parents. Here are some ways that may be helpful in getting you to feel connected to this amazing community:
Read the Lunchbox Express every week: There is so much good info in there. You will discover important news about the school day as well as cool things happening in the community. And don’t be afraid to list things. It’s only $1 a week to advertise your group or business. This year, more than any other, we will need to stay current on changing rules and procedures.
Join the Meadow Parents Facebook Group: It’s a good place to get warm hand-me-downs, book suggestions, parenting advice and find out about upcoming events. Jill used to be part of a walking group of parents that would meet after drop off and walk a loop. Jayne gathered with parents and children on Thursdays at 1 pm to make crafts for the Holiday Faire. You could meet after school at the Beaver River playground or let people know about your Steiner Book Club on Zoom. It will be a bit more challenging to come up with pandemic safe ideas but this is a creative group.
Download the school calendar to your calendar. You need to be tuned into that calendar. Get those sitters lined up for Yom Kippur and Veterans Day. And there are some mandatory Saturdays when the community gets together to celebrate festivals.
Look at the Family Directory: There are probably some Meadowbrook families that live near you. You could find some families to share rides with and easily get together with.
Volunteer: There are so many things your teachers and school need right now. Volunteering is a great way to meet others and really get to know your school community. You don’t have to be super crafty. All skills are needed. Jill loved books and grabbed her buddy and started a used book sale night that turned into an annual fundraiser. Two parents contacted Yawgoo and set up an unofficial weekly ski club after school on Thursdays. Jayne’s a farmer and offered her fields for popcorn planting that was used for 3rd grade farm curriculum and yummy popcorn sales. Love to bake? There is a baking committee. There is a weekly all ability parent handwork group that meets. Volunteer as an office person. Holiday Faire and the online auction always need lots of help. The more you give the more connected your family will become. Chaperone field trips, or just ask your teacher if they need any support.
Attend the meetings: Yes, they will be Zoom, ugh, but the Meadowbrook Parents Association (MPA) and class meetings are filled with great info and will connect you to all the subtle, deeper things happening in school.
Trust the curriculum: Really. The education process is so different here. You will wonder why your second grader isn’t reading better or if that third recess is really necessary. Trust us, these children come out confident, well educated, full of empathy and knowing how to learn. The children don’t even realize how much they are learning because it's disguised as fun projects. They are being taught that the world is safe and beautiful and that is what they will create when they are grown. Many people don’t think of this as a rigorous k-8 curriculum, but you’d be surprised. These learners will get everything they need to excel in high school and college or be confident to forge their own path with the skills that they learned.
