Written by Edna Reed
Saturday, 18 August 2007
FRIENDS OF CAHS SUMMER RETREAT
JULY 17, 2007 6:30 P.M.
Friends of CAHS has received a certificate of recognition from the Ohio PTA for increasing membership in 2007 by over 25%
Friends of CAHS received a card of thanks from Terri Frazier, substitute teacher, for the staff appreciation luncheon on behalf of the Special Education, MD Team at CAHS.
We received notice that a CAHS student did a painting for the library with the money we gave in remembrance of Ms. Badger Powell’s mother.
We voted to buy a stencil machine for Officer Williams, who has requested it for his work with students. There was discussion about the positive presence he has in the school.
Topical Discussions:
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2006-2007
1. 25% increase in Friends of CAHS membership.
2. Refocused on the mission of CAHS.
3. Held first Friends of CAHS social event (Spring Celebration)
4. Raised lots of money.
5. Raised visibility of CAHS. (great publicity, thanks Gerry)
6. Increased teacher membership in Friends of CAHS.
7. Started communication with Gene Harris about concerns regarding District policies and how they have impacted CAHS.
8. Began a parenting mentorship program.
HOW CAN WE INCREASE DIVERSITY IN FRIENDS OF CAHS?
1. Change days, times of meetings.
2. Have more none-meeting events: fun-movies, dances, talent show
3. Schedule meetings with school events.
4. Make more phone calls for volunteers (instead of newsletters, emails)
5. Target parents of incoming freshmen/women
6. Revive “Parent to Parent” program
7. Have a program (professionally monitored) directly addressing cross cultural communication/interaction.
8. Provide transportation to meetings when needed
FOLLOW UP OF MEETING WITH GENE HARRIS
1. Tell Ms. Badger-Powell parents will help/support teachers. Don’t ask teachers to do more, they are already over capacity.
2. Continue to press for policy change.
3. Get college students to tutor, etc., volunteer at the school.
4. Students @ a Board Meeting, letters to the editor
5. Approach School Board members
6. Credit Recovery—only at home school
7. Contact parents of students from CAHS who received academic scholarships, get them to be advocates for the mission.
8. Meet/call parents of CAHS grads—gain awareness of and support of changing District policies at CAHS.
9. Ask students to speak after their first year in college about being prepared and the rewards of doing your work at CAHS.
10. Invite candidates running for school board to an October meeting at CAHS.
11. Invite Shawna Gibbs to our next meeting. She is a Board member and CAHS alumni.
12. Reach out
13. Pegasus Preview, August 16 Have Friends of CAHS present and speak out
14. Connect with OSU. Have speakers in from OSU, from Board of Regents for the State (Eric Fingerhut).
15. Meet with Mayor Coleman, Director of the Urban League, and build support for a strong academic high school that prepares students for college and helps them succeed.
16. CAHS is an academic school with an academic mission. It has 30+ years of working. Support its’ legacy.
17. 58% of CPS students do remediation in college. This is not in the student’s best interest.
MEMBERS PRESENT WANTED ANOTHER MEETING IN AUGUST. WE WILL TRY AND MEET AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING LIBRARY ON LONG STREET AUGUST 9 AT 6:30. PENNY WILL INVITE SHAWNA GIBBS TO THAT MEETING.
Everyone agreed to inform their mentees of this meeting and provide transportation, if needed.
