The four-hour afternoon event, offered as an innovative fundraiser, featured seminars and classes on topics ranging from solid waste disposal to creative writing to teen psychology. BHSEC principal Ray Peterson described the event as “an exciting opportunity for the public and the BHSEC community to join one another in the inquiry of ideas and knowledge.” Despite the cold and snow, Florence Nash, one of the Knowledge College organizers, reported that 137 people paid $50 a ticket (in advance; $60 at the door) for two courses, selected from a total of 12 offerings.

“ I did not think it would be THAT good,” said the father of a BHSEC applicant. “This event exceeded my expectations by far.” Other attendees described the classes as “engaging and intimate,” as well as “inspiring and thought-provoking.” One noted that it was particularly interesting “to see the teachers in action.”

Another of the coordinators for the event, Suzanne Rauffenbart, said one goal was to give the school’s “exceptional faculty” an opportunity “ to showcase their passions.” Faculty for the day included BHSEC faculty, parents of current and former BHSEC students, and a current student. One Knowledge College attendee singled out the Film Noir course: “I really enjoyed the comparison between old films and TV.”

Jean Chan, Operations Coordinator, assembled an enthusiastic group of volunteers to provide plenty of food and snacks to fuel the conference-goers, who filled the school’s halls and classrooms from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Knowledge College not only helped to showcase BHSEC, but also gave parents the opportunity to meet and mingle. Prospective parents also weighed in: “This is the perfect event for this particular school,” one said. “What a showcase of talents.”

Article contributed by: Moira Bailey, parent of Liam, 9^th grader.

PS: The PTA raised $8,015, a success for the event’s first year.

]]> http://www.bhsec1pta.org/hot-list/tonights-pta-meeting-cancelled-2252010/feed/ http://www.bhsec1pta.org/hot-list/protect-bhsec-funding-letters-to-albany-still-needed/ http://www.bhsec1pta.org/hot-list/protect-bhsec-funding-letters-to-albany-still-needed/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:41:48 +0000 editor http://www.bhsec1pta.org/?p=591 Below is a copy of a letter from Dean Martha Olson to the BHSEC Political Advocacy Committee outlining what parents can do to help strengthen our most recent letter writing initiative to Albany. If you need copies of the six letters the Advocacy Committee is asking us to send please send us an email at bhsecpta @gmail.com.  There are four letters to key state legislators and two to your own Assemblyperson and Senator.
The PTA strongly supports the Advocacy Committee efforts and encourages all parents to send these letters now. The grants at risk represent a significant source of financial support for our school and losing these funds would have an immediate and negative impact on the upcoming academic year.
Please note that these letters are duplicates of the ones you should have received by regular mail earlier this month.  If you have already sent letters in response to that mailing, you do not need to do so now. 

Please remember to send copies of your letters (or notice that you sent them) to Peter Miller at peter@willowpondfilms.com or to the PTA at bhsecpta@gmail.com.

Thank you
Eileen McColgan
BHSEC PTA

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Subject: Advocacy Committee–sample letters
From: “Martha J. Olson” <olson@bard.edu>
To: BHSEC Political Advocacy Committee
 
As discussed, I’m attaching 6 sample letters for parents to send to key
legislators regarding BHSEC’s campaign to restore funding: Speaker
Sheldon Silver; Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson;
Senator Suzie Oppenheimer, Chair of the Senate Education Committee;
Assembly Member Cathy Nolan, Chair of the Assembly Education
Committee; and then two letters, one to the parent’s own state
senator, and one to their own state assemblymember.

It is absolutely critical that each parent put their own name and
address on the letter–home addresses are essential as elected
officials want to see that the letter is coming from a NYS voter.
Parents should also be encouraged to personalize the letters and write
something about their own child’s experience, but that is not essential.
Martha