Meetings for Student Learning Plans

Yesterday was the start of meetings with our consultants for the parents to develop student learning plans. If you have not signed up for a meeting time, you need to go to the East Valley Homelink North website and go to the link for WSLP on the homepage.  You also need to make sure your child is registered as an East Valley student if you have not yet enrolled.  Plan for about one hour per child to develop your plan.  The GREAT news - we won't need to write monthly progress reports! Woo hoo!

Location, Location, Location

We are excited to announce that a location has been chosen. This facility offers a beautiful park-like setting on 13 private acres.  There are two large multi-purpose rooms, a spacious kitchen, a second kitchen in one of the classrooms, and numerous rooms available for our classes as well as a mom's room and computer lab. Please refer to the East Valley Homelink North webpage or send us an e-mail and we will respond with the details.  Thank you!

The Name Game, Part II

I don't know about you...but for me, brainstorming something like a new name for our program works better when I can sit down and bounce ideas off another person and get instant feedback.  So if you are interested in participating in our Let's Get Creative brainstorming day, please send us an email or post a comment here so we can contact you with the details.  We are currently planning on next Wednesday the 7th, but depending on the response, that could change.  If the group is small, we will be meeting in a home in the Wandermere area.  If the group is large, we'll have to brainstorm a new location too. 

A first look at classes

It's almost here!  Although the schedule is not finalized until this evening, there is a list of class offerings on the EV Website.  So go to the website and check out the latest news.

http://www.eastvalleyhomelinknorth.weebly.com/

Student Learning Plans & Curriculum Needs

It's Student Learning Plan time.  Before we can start classes or order curriculum, our Student Learning Plans must be in place with East Valley.  Because of the short time before the start of the school year and the changes to the rules governing ALE programs, we need to meet with a consultant to discuss our learning plans and curriculum needs.  Please go to the EVHLN website to schedule a time with a consultant. 

Parent Input Wanted

East Valley is seeking our input as they design a program around our children's needs.  With school starting in just 2 weeks, things will be changing at a rapid pace.   Please check in on the East Valley Home Link North website often to let your preferences be known.  They are getting some great feedback and we will continue to post updates here as new developments come to light.

The Name Game

We know creativity flows abundantly amongst our families.  So unless you really really love the name "East Valley Home Link North," we need your suggestions to name our new program.  You may submit your ideas either by leaving a comment on this post or emailing us at ourkidsourchoice@gmail.com.

Get creative and get the kids involved.  Have fun!

East Valley Homelink North has a website.

http://eastvalleyhomelinknorth.weebly.com/ 

Printable enrollment forms are available on the site.  You may bring them to the meeting on Tuesday evening, or mail/fax them to the school district.

There is a survey of available classes to determine the interest level in these class choices. They want to build a program around our children...this is your chance to have a voice in program development.

Meet the Principal

Next Tuesday, the 23rd of August, at 6pm, there will be a meeting for parents at the Crossover Church on Hwy 2.  Barb Cruse, the principal of East Valley's ALE programs will be there to address any concerns you may have and to share the status of the Northside HomeLink program. 

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Northside HomeLink is welcome to bring their questions with them.

First Tidbit of Information

East Valley has made the decision to build the program based at the 100 student level.   This will provide many class offerings for our children.  With this plan in place, if less than 50 students enroll, the program would need to be slightly scaled down until enrollment rose above 50.  At 70 students, the program would operate very much like Deer Park Home Link did last year.  Once enrollment exceeds 100 students, they will be able to expand the program.

For budgeting purposes, many programs set mid/end of August deadlines for enrollment in order to have their projected enrollment as accurate as possible for the school year.  East Valley is not setting a deadline for registration because they do not want to pressure families to enroll.  With this open-ended registration policy, this gives families the freedom to enroll at any point and time during the school year.

After last week's meetings with the EV and DP school districts, we have a count of 48 students whose parents have committed to enroll their children in the East Valley program and many others who are waiting for further information before making their decision.

We have learned that Ginny Cronin has resigned her position with Deer Park Home Link and has submitted a formal application for a consultant position with the East Valley HomeLink program.  Her daughter is enrolled in the new program.

Also, Jennifer Hendrickson, Tamie Glubrecht and Jeannine Carter have all resigned their positions with Deer Park HomeLink and have expressed an interest in teaching classes for the East Valley program.  Their children are enrolled in the new program.

With the school year fast approaching, things will be changing quickly so check back often for new information.  You could also choose to follow this blog by email to get updates sent to your email address.  There is a link to that on the right side of the blog.

Excuse Our Dust

This blog is currently under construction as we move forward with the East Valley School District.  We hope to have some exciting updates to share in a couple of days.

If you have questions, we can be reached at ourkidsourchoice@gmail.com

For those who are just learning of the events that unfolded over this summer, there is a link to the original blog under Links.

Closure

So we've come to the end of this stage of the journey. We want to thank each of you for taking the time to carefully weigh the various options in parent partnerships, and for being willing to consider a newly forming program with East Valley School District. This has been a heartwrenching process and as a parent group, we do not take lightly the toll this has taken on many families. We feel it important to share with you that even within our parent group, there are some families that are moving forward to help pioneer a new program with East Valley, and some that are choosing to remain at Deer Park to be advocates for change and rebuilding. We recognize that every family will make their own choice, but our hope and prayer is that everyone will be able to do so without criticism or judgement from anyone.

From this point forward this blog will be utilized primarily as a means of communication for those families that are choosing to switch to East Valley. There will be lots of planning and new information, and we'll need feedback from the families who will be enrolled with East Valley. We look forward to being able to form a program on a firm foundation with a district that so highly values alternative education, and know that the families who have enrolled with East Valley so far, feel the same.