Friday, March 18, 2016

Conferences #SOL16

We had conferences this week. Because we're completely departmentalized for the first time this year, my team (we teach 4th and 5th) met as a team with all fourth and fifth grade parents. That's sixty conferences! We had to take an extra day in order to get them all done.  The parents were very appreciative of all we're doing with and for their children. They could see how their child has grown in confidence, emotionally, socially, and academically. It was very rewarding. That being said, I was chatting with another teacher yesterday afternoon to see how their conferences went, and she said that their conferences went well. The parents are happy with what is happening in the classroom, but overall their feedback was quite a bit of grumbling and unhappiness with all the changes that have happened at the school. The feeling seems to be that there are so many changes since our new head of school has taken over, there must have been something really wrong before - and what she reported one parent to say was, "Get out while you can." This is so upsetting to me because the parent that said this to another parent is one of my fourth grade parents. Her daughter is doing well, is growing in all areas, and is really happy. They are one of the families that will be moving to another school next year because that school begins in 5th grade and that has been their tradition - to move their children over the first year of that school. They have another child still at our school. I just don't understand why she would make a comment like that to another parent. It's upsetting to hear.






4 comments:

  1. Parents will be parents. Keep your focus on the good that is happening. Some people need to complain no matter what.

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  2. As Margaret said, parents say and do the oddest things. But, that was just plain hurtful and wrong.

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  3. As Margaret said, parents say and do the oddest things. But, that was just plain hurtful and wrong.

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  4. I'm sorry this happened to you! When parents seem disgruntled or say something that indicates they are not totally satisfied with the school, I always take it to heart. I know it's tough; but try to remember that some people speak without thinking!!!

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