So, I want to tell you why we have asked you to give us permission to communicate with you online, what we have planned, how we’ll protect your privacy and that of your child, what you can expect in the future, and how you can participate.

First, let me start with the benefits of the PTA web site:

• It costs the school nothing!
• It costs YOU nothing!
• It’s instant, 24/7, where you want it, and when you want it. Get your communications in as many, or as few, places as you like. Your home, your office, your phone — your choice! Use your control panel to choose what kinds communications you want to receive.
• It saves resources, including paper, toner, and wear and tear on the school’s precious photocopying equipment, so that those resources can go where the belong — to the students.
• It saves human resources. No one needs to be reminded that this year we have fewer teachers and less staff per child. By embracing modern communications we can help them focus on what’s important — our children.
• It’s good for the environment in numerous ways, and it shows our children that we care about their planet. Obviously, we’re saving paper by using the Internet. But, we’re also keeping paper out of the trash. Even recycling consumes energy.
• Perhaps most significantly, it’s a way to stay connected with your children, both literally, and metaphorically. This medium is and important part our children’s future, and so is this school. We have designed this web site in a way that allows for you, as a parent, your child’s teacher, and the school administration to be directly involved with your child’s education, from anywhere in the world, at any time. To what degree, is all up to those who use it. We have built a robust framework, and we look forward to seeing how you would like to use it.

What can you expect in the future? That really depends on the feedback, input, and participation we get from the parents. Here are some of the possibilities open to us:

• Language: This is really more of a request than a possibility. I would like to see this web site equally accessible to all. Remember, the PTA is about more than just communicating with parents. We need to bring the families and friends of our students into the fold. If there is a language barrier, we should address it, and we may need to enlist some help to do so.
• The site itself already allows for multiple contributors to add information that may be of interest to the entire school, or just a small group, and its easy. If you can send an email, you can post information to this web site. It’s that easy! I would be happy to facilitate that capability for anyone interested.  We can, for instance, make pages available for teachers, room parents, and staff to keep families updated. Best of all, updates from those specific pages can go only to those who ask to receive them.
• Online voting can be facilitated to gather consensus from those who can’t attend meetings.
• We will likely make use of an online calendar on the web site.
• Currently we’re working on a smartphone-friendly version of the site.
• Some have even suggested an electronic bulletin board where parents, friends, families and neighbors might be able to post job opportunities, and other helpful information.

What else? That’s up to you. Please add your comments or suggestions in the comment space below, or contact the PTA directly at GermainPTA@Yahoo.com.

What about families who don’t have Internet access? Not a problem — yet. While our goal is to go paperless, right now, our objective–with your help–is to reduce our demand on the school’s resources. Plus, you can always find up-to-date informatin on the PTA bulletin board in the school entrance, and on the marquee out front.

Another thing we will not do… We won’t ever share your private information with anyone. What you share with us you share in trust. Also, remember that you can always take your own email address out of the mailing list, or add and remove subscriptions, at any time by logging into your control panel.

Please help us meet our objectives of reducing the use of school resources, and contributing to the environment by joining the PTA’s mailing list and staying involved.

Remember, you can also follow us on Twitter, and find other Germain St. families on Facebook!

Please also consider making a direct donation to the PTA, and don’t forget to collect your Boxtops 4 Education and sign up for eScript.

Ever wonder what Germain St. Elementary School looked like back in 1969, when many school parents weren’t even old enough to go there?

How about 1952? (Click on the images for a larger view.)

HistoricArials.com is a web site the whole family can enjoy and cross the digital divide together. (Then, try to explain to the kids how they took these photos without satellites.) Make sure you hit the “Pan Image” button at the top of the picture and tour the rest of the neighborhood at different points in history. You only have to go back to 1980 to see how Porter Ranch got its name, and how you could have safely told your kids to go play on the highway.

Enjoy! Happy time traveling!

(May 29, 2009)