RESPECT Community Meeting

A couple of weeks ago, I approached our student leaders, including the Student Council, National Honor Society, and Friends of Rachel about issues of disrespect and tolerance at Profile School. They decided to host an all-school meeting where students would share real stories of the types of disrespect they had witnessed or heard about, and encourage students to step up and stop this kind of behavior. We then moved to small group break-out sessions led by these students and a teacher where they could debrief and talk about what we could do next. Students identified the areas of the school where disrespect was at its highest, and they also shared their stories of disrespect, times when they have stood up for someone, and dreams for their ideal Profile.

So far, the response to this activity has been overwhelming. Kids and teachers can't stop talking. I had read through all of the stories, and it's obvious that Profile School is ready to step up and stand up for what is right. Is this one event going to solve all of our issues? No. But is it a start? Without question. I am so proud of our student leaders and the people who are willing to take a stand to make Profile a place where everyone feels safe and respected for who they are and what they bring to our community. Please, support each other in your efforts. Let's work together to make Profile the absolute best school it can be. Together, we can do it.

Please feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions on how we can make this message take hold.

Last Meeting of the Year

Parent Roundtable Meeting Minutes
May 19, 2009

Thanks so much to those who attended the last meeting of the year. I know how crazy it can get as we roll into these last few weeks of school. I can hardly believe it’s almost June! Last night we spent some time going over what we’ve accomplished this year, talked about the proposed changes to the student handbook (mainly around co-curricular activities and the use of ipods), and looked at where we are a going next year.

On the communication front, Lisa Pecket, who you might know from our front office, is going to be taking over the website. She will be working with the design put together by Cheryl Bertolini’s husband, Jim McLaughlin, who kindly responded to our request for help this winter. Linda Johnson is going to do some research for us on Community Service (schools that require it, the logistics- legal and otherwise- of instituting it, and businesses that might be interested in hosting kids).

We are also moving into our NEASC Reaccredidation cycle, with our visit from the committee coming in 2011. This is a very exciting time for Profile as it gives us an opportunity to reflect on all aspects of our program. While 2011 might seem like a long time from now, work is already underway, and we are going to need parents and community members to sit on the committees. Please see the website below for a list of standards/committees:
http://cpss.neasc.org/downloads/2011_Standards/2011_standards.pdf)

We hope to start up Parent Roundtables again in September, but we’re also looking for new ways to encourage communication, even if people can’t attend the meeting. The new website should be more attractive and user friendly, so perhaps that will help. If people have any suggestions or thoughts, please let us know.

Including Samuel

Once in a while a fantastic opportunity presents itself that can be a true benefit to the entire school community. Last year we had Rachel's Challenge. This year it's Including Samuel, a documentary about the importance and difficulties of inclusion (previously called "mainstreaming," this is including students with educational, physical, and/or mental challenges in the traditional classroom setting). Dan Habib, the journalist responsible for this amazing film, found this situation a reality when his son, Samuel, was born with cerebral palsy. He and his family wondered if Samuel would ever be able to exist in the world in the way they had always taken for granted. Including Samuel chronicals his journey, as well as the stories of some other adults and children who have faced similar questions and decisions about schooling. This is not just the story of a child with a disability; it is a reminder of what we can all learn and do with a bit of patience and understanding.
For more information on the film, please visit the official website, www.includingsamuel.com. Please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments here. We will pass them along to Mr. Habib and Samuel.

Troy Chapman's Essay

“Caring Makes Us Human," by Troy Chapman

“After more than two decades [in prison], I know that kindness is not a value that's encouraged. It's often seen as weakness.”

Heard on NPR September 28, 2008 · When the scruffy orange cat showed up in the prison yard, I was one of the first to go out there and pet it. I hadn't touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years. I spent at least 20 minutes crouched down by the Dumpster behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around and luxuriated beneath my attention. What he was expressing outwardly I was feeling inwardly.

It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and know that I was enriching the life of another creature with something as simple as my care. I believe that caring for something or someone in need is what makes us human.

Over the next few days, I watched other prisoners responding to the cat. Every yard period, a group of prisoners gathered there. They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn't usually find talking to each other. Several times I saw an officer in the group — not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy it along with the prisoners.

Bowls of milk and water appeared, along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the Dumpster to keep the sea gulls from getting it. The cat was obviously a stray and in pretty bad shape. One prisoner brought out his small, blunt-tipped scissors, and trimmed burrs and matted fur from his coat.
People said, "That cat came to the right place. He's getting treated like a king." This was true. But as I watched, I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us.

There's a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America. We need more programs; we need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds. Some even talk about making prisons more kind, but I think what we really need is a chance to practice kindness ourselves. Not receive it, but give it.

After more than two decades here, I know that kindness is not a value that's encouraged. It's often seen as weakness. Instead the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business and never letting yourself be vulnerable.

For a few days a raggedy cat disrupted this code of prison culture. They've taken him away now, hopefully to a decent home — but it did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here. He didn't have a Ph.D., he wasn't a criminologist or a psychologist, but by simply saying, "I need some help here," he did something important for us. He needed us — and we need to be needed. I believe we all do.

Independently produced for Weekend Edition Sunday by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with John Gregory and Viki Merrick.
Troy Chapman is incarcerated at Kinross Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, Mich. He helps teach ESL and literacy classes, and is music leader for church services in the prison. Chapman was convicted of second-degree murder in 1985.

The Power of Caring

One of the ABCs of Profile is caring. In his This I Believe essay entitled “Caring Makes Us Human,” (listen online) Troy Chapman reminded us with his story of the prison yard cat that embracing the opportunity to care can make a huge impact on individuals and the culture of a place. Is Profile a caring place? What small (or large) acts of kindness have you witnessed or contributed to? What kind of world would we live in if we all dedicated ourselves to caring instead of dissent? Share your thoughts on this important issue as we enter the holiday season. You can post anonymously. Comments will be screened and names within the responses will be omitted.

Co-Curricular Policy

The NHIAA has created clear guidelines on who can participate in a school's athletics programs, and Profile has done the same. Students must maintain specific grade point averages and attendance in order to be eligible for the season and/or the game. Should these standards carry over to all co-curricular activities, or should only certain ones fall under these policies? Is soccer the same as drama, and are either or both the same as chess club?

Share your ideas on the policy and which clubs/sports/organizations should fall under this umbrella.

What Should Profile Students Know and Be Able to Do?

Around the state, teachers are defining what students should know and be able to do at the end of each one of their courses. But what about the knowledge and skills that transcend specific content areas? What should Profile students know and be able to do before they leave our school? How could we measure if they've attained "competent" in those areas?

Share your thoughts!