October 20, 2011
Members: Arturo Gonzalez, Janet Tran, Erlinda Suarez, Despina Kipilidis, Linda Carter, Andrea Drake, Erynn Acree, Jennifer Torgerson
Members Present: Arturo Gonzalez, Janet Tran, Erlinda Suarez, Despina Kipilidis, Linda Carter, Andrea Drake, Cecilia Gallegos-Shibya
Meeting Began: 3:00PM
Grants
Janet wrote a grant to pay for a Longhouse Community Student Learning gathering area to be located in front of the school. We are expecting to hear if the grant will be awarded to us in the next three months. Janet is also working on a BECU grant. Arturo wrote grant for the Kiwanis. We are applying for up to $5000 to have Native American Totems carved for our building and to cover the cost of the student learning community gathering area. Janet will approach Puget Sound Energy to get telephone poles for the project donated. We are also competing against Spinning and Karshner. We will know the results of who will be awarded the funds in six weeks. Arturo will contact Rainier Mechanical to get gravel donated for the project.
Tribe of Indian Nation
A letter was written to the Tribe of Indian Nation to request $2500 for Carson, Edgerton and Hunt who will work together this year to plan and provide education and enrichment to their school communities about Native American Culture.
Fundraiser
Plan B: We are looking for money to fund our school projects and activities. We would like to consider a one week Coin fundraiser. Arturo would like take this idea to the PACK Leadership Committee on November 7th.
November
The month of November is Native American Month. Linda and Erlinda will do a 5 minute presentation to the staff about Native American Resources teachers can use with students and parents.
Language Classes
Cecilia (Carson Parent): Why don’t we offer languages to our elementary students in the Puyallup school district? Arturo: We don’t have enough students that warrant the need for language classes to be offered. We have an ELL program. Arturo will bring the subject of offering foreign language instruction at the Diversity Meeting with leaders from Hunt and Edgerton who are working collaboratively on planning cultural enrichment and education to students in their schools.
Going for the Gold!
Arturo is going to put together a survey so we can keep track of the diversity enrichment trainings our staff is participating in. Each documented cultural activity or training that we collectively participate in gets us closer to our GOLD status! Go Coyote Teachers!
Looking Ahead
Arturo would like to have a sub-committee work on next year’s cultural focus, Africa. He would like to have an African Dance Group like that of Ballet Folklorico. Parent, Musa Jawara has contacts that Carson can talk to and work with. It was recommended that funds for the Mexican Dance Group be shared with the African Dance Group with student permission. These ASB Funds would go toward costumes.
Meeting Adjourned: 4:00PM
