Fellow Dolphins,
Happy New Year!
A new year means the opportunity to bring about change. I am informing you all, as Mom's, Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas, CHANGE IS NEEDED AT WATERS LANDING!!!
The first change that is needed is parental involvement at Waters Landing Elementary. It is well below average and this is having a direct effect on our kids at school.
These kids need strong parental influences in their lives, especially because we do not know what each child goes through from the moment they wake up, to the moment they go to bed. Our children are struggling with bullying, the inability to play with one another, and this is on top of what these children go through in their daily lives. Some kids are looking for their next meal, some are looking for parental acknowledgement, and some are simply looking for the opportunity to enjoy themselves without fear of being singled out. The bottom line is we do not know what each kid goes through on a daily basis, but what I do know is that a "high five" from a parent, or a "let's go buddy" could mean the world to them and leave them with a smile when things are tough.
The question is whose responsibility is it to promote, enforce, and establish change? To be frank, the answer is YOU!
We as parents need to become more involved. Whether it be sending in supplies or items on the teachers request lists, volunteering at recess and lunch, or simply walking in with your child in the morning and helping the teacher get the kids settled and then going to work. WHATEVER the involvement is every little bit counts. Like I mentioned above as something as simple as a high five or positive comment is all that is needed.
We need to start asking ourselves what can I do for the school? Not what can the school do for me?
I am a working parent myself, I understand those parents whose lives are chaos, and more importantly I realize there are parents out there who truly cannot contribute due to hardship, work, or simply just trying to keep their family afloat, to you guys I say, WE GOT YOUR BACK. The parents who do have time will cover for you, or should be anyways, because in the end we are all in this together.
I am hoping that enough parents realize that contributions no matter how big or how small will promote our end goal of giving these kids positive adult interactions. And to those parents who do what they can to contribute, I wish I could sincerely thank each and every one of you, I wish you could see the impact you are having. Right now you are the foundation of our community, without you we would be lost. If there is any way I can help you further your contributions please reach out to me ASAP, if not again THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
If you have any ideas or concerns AND input on how we can make a change please feel free to contact me at jamie.g.defelice@gmail.com. If you contact me with a complaint, problem or concern, we can work together to figure it out. I hope to see you at the PTA meeting next Tuesday at 7:00pm in the Media Center. We are teh DOlphins...Sea the possibilities!
Sincerely,
Jamie DeFelice
PTA President
