204 The good old days

[doctorwho]

OK-- having been here since 1990 - for those newer who wondered what it was like back when- before all this mess - I will start a list of good things - for the district and for me as part of the district


1/ Got to be part of an ES school opening ( as did many people)
2/ one HS at the time Waubonsie Valley - great school - everyone loved it - and it was located CENTRAL from a N-S perspective
3/ 204 was WVHS and vice versa - Warriors rule
4/ new areas had to fight their way into PTA- booster club etc positions - however for the most part areas worked together
5/ MS boundaries were the only ones to be conerned about - ( and yeah we drew the 3rd closest one then also - but we knew it when we bought)
6/ competition meant vs. 203
7/ No one gave a second thought to Aurora vs Naperville ( not that I remember) - no nasty comments about Naperville snobs - and no concern that HS address was Aurora - who cares
8/ Lots of young energetic teachers
9/ So much focus on the arts in 204 - ( I see that slipping under the new regime - focus now on test scores)
10/ never heard the terms CFO / CRAFT / NSFOC / anti -whatever / - there was no need for them
11/ had a Super who really loved 204 - and actually listened when people spoke - was a no scoffing zone
12/ referendums passed easily
13/ didn't worry about the 'health risks' at any site - Patterson was moved because people were concerned - they weren't called selfish back then
14/ May Watts was considered part of the SOUTH side of the district when we moved here
15/ people moved here FOR the district, not moving away BECAUSE OF the district
16/ Warrior Pig Roasts - attended by entire community
17/ Taj Mahal was in India ( and actually that term only used by a few people and lcoations - we were only 4 miles away and never heard it around here)
18. NV opened and my daughter and her friends and their parents WANTED to stay at Waubonsie and did
19/ NV gave us an in district rival for sports / music etc.- not for status or how much money people had for booster clubs
20/ Who;d have thunk - I miss Howie


well there's a start

[d204mom]

If this is a "feel good" thread, then I'll just state my favorite thing about 204 - the teachers are wonderful. Love them. Every teacher I've interacted with in this district displays a true concern with the education and growth of the kids.

[scarbroughknight]

Doc, I don't miss Howie at all but I miss everything else. I forgot about the pig roasts; it almsot felt like a small town get together. I remember when Waubonsie made it to the state semi finals in football when Brock Kreutz was the quarterback everyone lived for those games. What was and what should be.

[rural]

204 still has an amazing music program.

[magneto]

I don't miss Howie either.

Been in the dist. since 1987 myself

[southsidesignmaker]

APATHY AT ITS FINEST
I miss the days when I went to my kids elementary school and saw hundreds and hundreds of parents meeting all the staff..

I went to my son's high school "Meet the Teacher Event" and though the event was great, there was a yearning for a bygone era. The biggest difference was the lack of participation from 204 parents. The positive cheerleader version of this post is on the green board, this version is a bit darker.

As my wife and I strolled thru nv halls we where pleased with all we meet and the facilities in general. There seemed to be many in attendance but when we reached the first class (Architecture) there were four parents and then a straggler at the end. This is a college credited class that if the parents set up correctly can save $500- $1000 when the student goes to college.

as the night proceeded attendance picked up slightly. the last class was with a teacher that we knew well and the session went great. It was not until we got home and asked our son how many kids where in the last class that my suspicions became legitimate concerns. When asked how many kids were in the applied tech class my son's answer was 32. This meant that between my wife and I there where 2 other parents with kids in the class. I thought what a turnout 10% .

I have a simple request with this entry. This has been a tough year for all in the 204 family. If folks can not resolve differences with boundaries and other issues, let us at least agree that showing up to shake our children's educators hand is a worthwhile effort. The indifference I witnessed last evening made me wonder if even this activity is part of a bygone era. Like I mentioned the more positive take on this is on the other board.

[Arch]

Amen

[doctorwho]

Sept 4, 2008 9:16:00 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

APATHY AT ITS FINEST
I miss the days when I went to my kids elementary school and saw hundreds and hundreds of parents meeting all the staff..

I went to my son's high school "Meet the Teacher Event" and though the event was great, there was a yearning for a bygone era. The biggest difference was the lack of participation from 204 parents. The positive cheerleader version of this post is on the green board, this version is a bit darker.

As my wife and I strolled thru nv halls we where pleased with all we meet and the facilities in general. There seemed to be many in attendance but when we reached the first class (Architecture) there were four parents and then a straggler at the end. This is a college credited class that if the parents set up correctly can save $500- $1000 when the student goes to college.

as the night proceeded attendance picked up slightly. the last class was with a teacher that we knew well and the session went great. It was not until we got home and asked our son how many kids where in the last class that my suspicions became legitimate concerns. When asked how many kids were in the applied tech class my son's answer was 32. This meant that between my wife and I there where 2 other parents with kids in the class. I thought what a turnout 10% .

I have a simple request with this entry. This has been a tough year for all in the 204 family. If folks can not resolve differences with boundaries and other issues, let us at least agree that showing up to shake our children's educators hand is a worthwhile effort. The indifference I witnessed last evening made me wonder if even this activity is part of a bygone era. Like I mentioned the more positive take on this is on the other board.

first off - is the darker version here because blue/purple is a darker color than green ? ;D

I think the answer to this has many pieces.
( BTW - our curriculum night is tonight so I will report back what kind of turnout there is at a school where we are paying heavily to send the children there. So far I have seen unbelievable parent involvement in everything from volleyball to registration- but let's se when it comes to meeting the teachers and seeing what classes kids are in) -

back to 204.
1. My experience was that the involvement in curriculum nights dropped off some from MS to HS 10 years ago when my oldest went thru WVHS also - and noticiably after freshman year. In fact inolvement in general seemed lower in HS than MS.
2. I do think what has gone on here the last 2 years has some people worn out. Yes, I think in a few areas maybe now that they have what they want- maybe involvement will go up -in everything - however there are a few areas where I can tell you itwill be in the crapper for a while . no one wants to hear it, but unfortunately it is true. Many disenfranchised people who were very very involved in 204 dealings- in official and unofficial positions.
Again my experienec in HS is that is is the same xx number of people who do most everything - from attend nights like you went to, to working on seniors dances - to being active in the booster club - to working concessions stands etc-- you got to know each other very well because you worked with most of the same people. Many ofthose people have tossed in the towel. Some have left the district - other just backing away... is this right ? I am not going to judge. I can't say if I would be involved tofay if I did stay in 204 or not. Part of me says - yeah I likely would have stayed involved in say VB -but work hours and hours every week like I did last time - no- I don't think so. When you feel the districy has turned it's back on you it's hard to get past - and I know others here who have been in significant positions in the district who have decided to sit it out this time around.

I find it sad - as you're right in that it affects the kids - and the teachers, and they had nothing to do with any of this.

but there has to be a message sent someway that ignoring people, or in some cases- basically just flipping them off - cannot be tolerated.

I think the indifference you see is at least partially a direct result fo what has taken place. People scoffed when I suggested there would be an effect from this..

I am not proud I was right, but I also knew a lot of peole like myself and a few others here who were dedicated to the nth degree. No longer is that true...it's sad really, but I udnerstand it.


3. The third part is I think there is a general malaise in the populace right now - maybe partially due to economic pressures, but a general pulling back from involvement. I see it at work, I see it in the volunteer work I do ( HS speakers down significatly this year). May be some tricklr down of that also - people seem generally 'over stretched' with commitments.

Hopefully this is viewed as a factual statement, and not some dark negative thought - as sometimes things can't be fixed by cheerleading. After you've been kicked in the proverbial crotch - cheerleading is not going to get people to jump back in as if nothing has happened. No matter how many times - get over it; is repeated.
( again this is not in response to you as a poster - it's to the situation in general )

thanks for sharing your thoughts on the curriculum night though -- I for one can't wait to go up tonight to meet the teachers and other parents...I am hoping for a good turnout, we'll see.

[d204mom]

No doubt that the atmosphere of animosity and distrust that the school board and our superintendent have created is hurting the district and the educational experience for the kids. It's really sad.

[casey]

Maybe you were at a different curriculum night than I was? I saw the parking lot JAM-packed - cars parked by the auditorium and pool as well as all over by Frontier campus. The hallways were packed and my kids' classrooms had many parents - realistically in the 15-25 range (depending on the class) in each room. I definitely did not see any of my kids classrooms with a 10% turn-out.

I enjoyed meeting the teachers and I thought the NV teachers and admin did a great job last night.

[overtaxed]

Sept 4, 2008 10:52:45 GMT -6 casey said:

Maybe you were at a different curriculum night than I was? I saw the parking lot JAM-packed - cars parked by the auditorium and pool as well as all over by Frontier campus. The hallways were packed and my kids' classrooms had many parents - realistically in the 15-25 range (depending on the class) in each room. I definitely did not see any of my kids classrooms with a 10% turn-out.

I enjoyed meeting the teachers and I thought the NV teachers and admin did a great job last night.

I guess I was at the same place as Casey. The place was packed! Classrooms had about 10-20 parents all but 2 classes. Got lost once! Enjoyed meeting the teachers, thought it was well planed out. Saw lots parents I knew.

[Arch]

Sept 4, 2008 17:14:08 GMT -6 overtaxed said:

Sept 4, 2008 10:52:45 GMT -6 casey said:

Maybe you were at a different curriculum night than I was? I saw the parking lot JAM-packed - cars parked by the auditorium and pool as well as all over by Frontier campus. The hallways were packed and my kids' classrooms had many parents - realistically in the 15-25 range (depending on the class) in each room. I definitely did not see any of my kids classrooms with a 10% turn-out.

I enjoyed meeting the teachers and I thought the NV teachers and admin did a great job last night.

I guess I was at the same place as Casey. The place was packed! Classrooms had about 10-20 parents all but 2 classes. Got lost once! Enjoyed meeting the teachers, thought it was well planed out. Saw lots parents I knew.

Awesome

[friend]

Mar 18, 2008 10:19:05 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

OK-- having been here since 1990 - for those newer who wondered what it was like back when- before all this mess - I will start a list of good things - for the district and for me as part of the district


1/ Got to be part of an ES school opening ( as did many people)
2/ one HS at the time Waubonsie Valley - great school - everyone loved it - and it was located CENTRAL from a N-S perspective
3/ 204 was WVHS and vice versa - Warriors rule
4/ new areas had to fight their way into PTA- booster club etc positions - however for the most part areas worked together
5/ MS boundaries were the only ones to be conerned about - ( and yeah we drew the 3rd closest one then also - but we knew it when we bought)
6/ competition meant vs. 203
7/ No one gave a second thought to Aurora vs Naperville ( not that I remember) - no nasty comments about Naperville snobs - and no concern that HS address was Aurora - who cares
8/ Lots of young energetic teachers
9/ So much focus on the arts in 204 - ( I see that slipping under the new regime - focus now on test scores)
10/ never heard the terms CFO / CRAFT / NSFOC / anti -whatever / - there was no need for them
11/ had a Super who really loved 204 - and actually listened when people spoke - was a no scoffing zone
12/ referendums passed easily
13/ didn't worry about the 'health risks' at any site - Patterson was moved because people were concerned - they weren't called selfish back then
14/ May Watts was considered part of the SOUTH side of the district when we moved here
15/ people moved here FOR the district, not moving away BECAUSE OF the district
16/ Warrior Pig Roasts - attended by entire community
17/ Taj Mahal was in India ( and actually that term only used by a few people and lcoations - we were only 4 miles away and never heard it around here)
18. NV opened and my daughter and her friends and their parents WANTED to stay at Waubonsie and did
19/ NV gave us an in district rival for sports / music etc.- not for status or how much money people had for booster clubs
20/ Who;d have thunk - I miss Howie


well there's a start

I so agree with your point number six. Everything was about 204 vs 203 back then.

Thanks for the memories!