PA Bureau and ESK management team report 14 January 2009

Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 2-3:30pm

Present:
Mr. Hoyem, Mr. da Torre, Mrs. Pavlicikova, Mr. Dannemaier, Mrs. Brauchweig.
Cindy van Velzen, Ana Gorey, Kevin Barber

On Wednesday 14 January, the ESK PA Bureau met with Mr. Hoyem and his Management Team to discuss a number of issues at the beginning of the year. Mr, Hoyem welcomed everyone and wished them all a Happy New Year. As it was the first meeting with the new PA Bureau, he congratulated them on their election and looked forward to continued good working relations and cooperation with the Parents’Association particularly in view of the number of challenges ahead.

One of these was the global financial meltdown and, although it did not impact on the security of the school, he was aware that it might be considerably harder for some families and big companies to pay school fees. He wished to make clear that the school would be looking for solutions so that families, who had been with the school for years, would not be forced to leave for financial reasons.

Mr. Hoyem was happy with the new Canteen building and felt that it also presented an opportunity for improving other aspects. The school was very supportive of the PA’s efforts to introduce a new system. The PA Bureau was pleased to have been sent the Canteen Committee Statutes but highlighted the need for more information as to how the Cantten functioned on a daily basis and on its financial situation. Mr. Dannemaier had also received the Statutes and informed the PA Bureau of the three members from the school side (Dana. Pavlicikova, Jürgen Solle and himself) and said that the PA needed to submit their four names.

Mr. Hoyem reminded the PA Bureau of two other main projects: the City of Karlsruhe pre-school (KITA) and the Internat facilities. These were very important for the school as the pre-kindergarten children could then feed into the school and the boarding facility would help attract older students. In addition, Mr. Hoyem pointed out that the school population was changing in other ways. For example, it had increasing numbers of students staying for only 3 to 4 years and their needs have to be taken into consideration. Soft structures needed to be set up to cater to these needs.

Mr. Hoyem welcomed all efforts by parents and felt that they were an untapped resource and suggested that together we see what can be done to ensure that the professional capabilites of parents were being used within the school. For example, improvements needed to be made to the sound and lighting system in the Aula, a parent’s professional advice would be invaluable.

Cindy van Velzen informed the meeting that there were three main points the PA Bureau wished to discuss today: the PA Dinner, Website and EuroSport. These three points actually underlined the main goal of the Parent’s Assocation at the beginning of their mandate which was “how to improve Commuication”.

Discussion had already taken place towards the end of last year regarding the idea for the Parent’s Association to host a PA Dinner, Friday 13 February 2009 for all staff, teachers, class reps and a few of the student reps in order to introduce themselves, present their ideas and provide an informal opportunity for everyone to get to know us and each other as well. Cindy van Velzen informed everyone that the date had been finalised and that invitations would be sent out beginning of next week. She asked that Mr. Hoyem and his Management Team to encourage everyone to come along and let us know by the 24 January 2009. Knowing who was coming as soon as possible would help finalising details regarding the organisation of the evening. The PA would take on board the very useful suggestions made.

In order for us to better fulfil our role as parents’ representatives, we needed a better picture of what parents’ concerns are so we need to hear from them. Following the dinner focusing on class reps and school staff, the PA hoped to organise a meeting with parents early March. Mr. Hoyem underlined the how important it was for everyone to be aware of parental concerns so as to be able to respond quickly as well as to prevent and quash rumours.

Another important step is for us to improve our communication with the whole school community and our priority woud be on the Website. ESK Management already received our December report before Christmas and they would soon be on the website in English, French and German. Sarah Winthrop was in contact with Eugene Vooreman on behalf of the PA which fully supported the overall changes recommended for the whole school website. An improved website with information on all the activites going on in the school was crucial.

EuroSport was one of the very important events this year at the school. Ana Gorey presented the PA Committe’s propsal (see appendix I) and asked to receive more information about what had already been organised and how many children were left to host. Additional communication to families on EuroSport was urgent to encourage them to feel part of the event and also to consider hosting families.

Mr. Hoyem supported the PA’s initiatives and was in full agreement that communication, both internal and external, was essential to contributing to the success of the school’s activites, many of which were not well known and some only after the event. He felt that this was a shame considering all the hard work teachers and student put into them ad that the school should seek professional advice more regularly. He approved the PA’s idea to sponsor a EuroSport Facebook site and said that other ideas on how to promote the event would be looked into urgently. He wished the PA Committee a good meeting that evening.

ESK PA COMMITTEE

EUROSPORT

The ESK PA Committee wishes every success to EUROSPORT, being organised this year at our school, 19-21 March 2009. The committee knows that EUROSPORT is one of the major inter-European school events, like the Science Symposium and model EU Council, which make up the fabric of a European education which enhances the sense of school community and encompasses the ideals embodied by the European Schools. The ESK PA Committee is convinced that EUROSPORT provides an excellent opportunity to showcase our school and is determined to play our role towards ensuring this.

In view of the importance the ESK PA Committee attaches to this event, we would like to see a more inclusive approach. We believe that most students and families are unaware of exactly what EUROSPORT is or what it involves and, while we understand that it is only possible for a small group of students to actually participate in the games, we feel that there must be a way for the rest of the school to feel somehow part of what is going on.

Therefore, the ESK PA Committee would like to sponsor a group of students to set up a EUROSPORT website on Facebook featuring the teams from all the schools along with the events. Information would not only be about the team members and their sporting strengths, what happened in past competitions, and practical information on the schedule and location of events but also include real-time transmission, photos, running commentary and results as they come in. In this way, everyone can see how well each of the teams are doing and particularly if their team is winning. Thus, Karlsruhe, would be the first school to ensure that EUROSPORT can be followed by everyone, our whole school and the other schools too.

This website would also facilitate interaction between students, promote inter-European school spirit and add a little healthy competitive spice to the games. INTERPARENTS will be asked to sponsor a student from their school to come to Karlsruhe and report back on their team.

Other activities which would enhance involvement of the rest of the school should also be promoted. For example, a pep rally where the rest of the school get to meet those who made it onto the school team, lottery for court side seats, welcome packages including T-shirts etc…

We are convinced that, once better informed about EUROSPORT and once they see their kids more involved in an important inter-European school event, parents will better understand the value of such a cultural exchange and be more easily persuaded to host team members.

Another incentive to encourage families to host visiting team members would be to involve them in some sort of EUROSPORT celebration. The ESK PA Committee would like to propose a EUROSPORT get-together/party on the final day. The whole school community should be able to participate at a small cost but it would be free for host families. The ESK PA Committee is happy to help organise and sponsor such an event in collaboration with the school.

Countdown to EUROSPORT has already started.. 50 days to go…. 300 students to host!!