What are the consequences of drops in enrollment?

http://downstatede.blogspot.com/2009/01/parking-improvements.html

Way back then I posted of the number of students that we've lost over the past year or so...and somewhere, I indicated that I thought the numbers would continue to drop.

I've been hearing that the numbers for next year are bad...so bad, in fact, that they may well be getting rid of teachers for next year. Maybe that is why they've had all the "input" from parents regarding options for specials...maybe soften the blow by saying that it is what "we" wanted.

Having a Field Day

Did I miss the announcement of the field days? I mean if one DIDN'T want a lot of parents around, one certainly wouldn't mention it in the newsletter, would you?

Fund Raising waay down

Good spin on a bad story, but there is no doubt that the amount of money raised this year, and the number of volunteers, is much less then it has been in past years. The cheery visage by the PTO did not make the news any better. They did make the "Father Dan" tax, which makes the Church happy, and may be all that matters to them.

I don't blame the PTO for many things, really. They are hard working ladies, and I'll even give them credit for defending Poker Night...and acknowledging that there were people who didn't like it, but it brought in the money. While I see the point, I remain steadfast that it is NOT something that we as a Catholic school should do.

The amount of money was much less then it has been in years, and you probably have to go back over 12 years to find a year that was as bad. The economy certainly did not do them any favors, but can even the most hard core supporter see that there might be a correlation between a lack of volunteers and the lack of financial support?

The most interesting comments are heard by some of these....wondering sadly where the volunteers are, almost begging for some answer why support and spirit are down when the answer is just beyond their nose.

Twilight

Interesting response to the popularity of the Twilight book.

I've heard a variety of responses to the popularity of the book and the movie, and it was interesting to see the school effectively banning the book. My gut reaction is that whenever I see a book treated as such that it is a bad thing, if for no other reason then it makes it more attractive to those who don't have the book.

I'm going to leave aside the appropriateness or not of the book, or what is the right age for kids to read it. It bothers me a bit as some of the Baptist Schools in the area took the step of not allowing Harry Potter in the school, or even at book sales, but that the craze is pretty much either over or past it's peak is probably the bigger issue. I am willing to bet that every 7th and 8th grade girl who wants to read the book already has, and a good percentage of them have even been to the movie. Whether or not younger girls should be reading it is debatable (and I don't think they should, personally), but is banning it the right step? Wouldn't a message to parents about the appropriateness of material, maybe even bringing it up a meaningful PTO meeting made more sense?

Finally......

Many things cause a lot of debate on this and the Newszap blog, but the Internet filtering didn't cause a lot of debate. In fact, this has been on of the oldest issues with the school, and according to a poster on Newzap, even predates Denise.....For a quick review, here is the first time we wrote about the lack of Internet filtering at the school...

http://downstatede.blogspot.com/2008/07/internet-filteringor-lack-thereof.html


However, I am happy to report that it is fixed. It isn't the greatest filtering, or they simply haven't finished configuring it yet (One is directed to call 555-1212 for help), and you still can get to social networking sites, but it looks like it is blocking most of the objectionable material. YEA! It only took almost two years of denials and what some call lies (ie, if you say it is fixed and it isn't) but she finally got this done. Not like kids don't have all kinds of devices to get to the Internet these days like iTouches and Internet enabled cell phones, is it?

Olde Dover Days.....

I've been busy, so the posting has fallen off, but I think we'll pick it up a bit before we shut it down for the summer. There have been many things to write about, but I just haven't had the time.

Before I get into other things, I want to put down that I thought Holy Cross did a great job during the parade. The band looked great, the float was great, and our kids looked great, as well. The second graders did a fantastic job on the Green, and, wonder of wonders, DENISE actually made a guest appearance. It was brief, but I have to give her credit for showing up.

Food Festival didn't go all that bad, either. Not as big or as well attended as they used to be, but it took a couple of years to get to that perhaps unmanagable stage. Good job, all.