Thursday, October 20, 2011

Membership Process

Here's what we came up at the Leadership Council Meeting.


Membership Process

Each family is encouraged to visit us before they commit to membership. Prospective families are welcome to visit 2-3 times before they decide whether Radish Roots is a good fit for their family. To schedule a visit, please contact Amoreena Harpole at meenajo2008@gmail.com

After you visit, if you decide that you’d like to become a member, you’ll be asked to fill out an enrollment form and agree to our Membership Expectations. As a show of your commitment, you’ll also be asked to make a donation to the Rivergate Community Church food bank. We suggest about $25 worth of nonperishable food items, but we’re flexible on this point. Please talk to us if this is a hardship for your family and we can make other arrangements.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Decision-Making Board

In order to move things along more efficiently, we have created a decision-making board. We have 6 families that have agreed to take on this responsibility. More information to follow!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Please bear with us...

Just wanted to say that I know things don't seem terribly organized and everything is a bit dis-jointed now, but I think that this is to-be-expected in the beginning :)

I expect that there will be LOTS of changes as we iron out the details during the first couple of months and I'm hoping that NEXT school year will be a lot more smooth-going.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck around and shown a willingness to be flexible and help lay the groundwork for our co-op during this initial chaotic period! Can't wait until things are up-and-going!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Meeting Notes 9.22.11


6:30-8 pm Rivergate Community Church

Attending: Anna, Aria, Heather, Claudia

Things we discussed:
  • Volunteering this Sunday, Sept 25 from 11-2 at Rigler Elementary for Sunday Parkways
  • Aria is interested in teaching Ballet, Art & Sewing (and has an almost 2 year old girl named Charlotte)
  • Perhaps only 2 classes offered 1st term, not 4
  • Possibly having the 2 simultaneous classes be for different age groups
  • Kids need to stay in the building unless they go out with buddy or adult
  • What are the expectations of the students and the educators?
  • Don't bring kids when they are sick (details of definitions of "sick" tbd)
  • Handwashing before food prep which is for other people
  • How to impart on the participants mutual respect, maybe tour the church first--We want everyone to feel good and have guardianship of the space
  • Have a quiet (one person) area for when a child chooses alone time for themselves
  • How are we planning on dealing with conflicts?
  • Fire Safety/First Aid Packs
When a child chooses to participate, the hope is that they are excited enough, engaged by the teacher enough, and challenged enough by the material to continue to participate.  It is up to the educator to lay out the guidelines for a particular class at the beginning.

(Anna): My belief is that when the children spend time together and the parents get to know the children, the parents will get a sense of how best to deal with any issues a particular student has.  This yahoogroup is currently the avenue we have to discuss specific needs and behaviors. 

Plans:
Claudia will put together literature about how we talk to children/each other in a respectful way (Guidelines for Communication)
Anna will work on writing Policies and Principles, and talk to Pastor Carren about her expectations of our use of space

Next meeting:
Oct 6 noon--potluck and playtime


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Working on Mission Statement

After tonight's meeting, I realized we need a more specific and clear mission statement...so here goes...help me out everyone!  (Word changes, omissions & new ideas!)


Radish Roots Co-op is a safe, healthy community learning environment to provide the space and opportunities for real life learning through seasoned storytellers (our own selves) and shared play time; acknowledging that everyone brings with them their very own specific story and needs which shall all be respected. 

I'll leave it there for now because I'm pretty tuckered out from the day, but I will put together meeting notes soon.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Google Calendar

A google calendar has been created for the Co-op. I have already invited everyone that came to the meeting yesterday, but I am happy to share it with anyone else that would like to see it. Just email me (meenajo2008@gmail.com) or comment here and I will share it with you :)

New Yahoo Group

We now have a Yahoo Group to facilitate discussion and planning among RR members. You can request membership here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radishroots/