Nelson Mandela Elementary is more than a school; it is a home. That home includes the scholars, of course, and the parents. Unfortunately, the 250+ Mandela family far exceeds the 10-person limit on gatherings. Thanks to platforms like Zoom, however, the Mandela family has been able to stay connected. Last week, head of school, Dr. Susan Toohey, and assistant principal, Genevieve Core, hosted an informational parent meeting, and over 100 parents attended the virtual meet-up. It was an excellent demonstration of the commitment of Mandela parents to their scholars’ success. Feedback from all parents is essential, especially as scholars learn at home.
An integral group of these parents are members of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), who recently resumed their monthly meetings. These 20 parents act as “classroom connectors”, a resource for other parents to bring feedback to the Mandela Team. This group is even more important since distance learning began, and connectivity with parents is more difficult. Recently, the group met to discuss what summer learning would look like, and one thing was abundantly clear: the parents believe in Mandela’s mission. As one PAC parent stated, “as long as we’re progressing and not regressing whatever we do is fine.” Nelson Mandela Elementary is committed to the academic success of all its scholars, and they strive to have all scholars on grade level in math and reading by the time they reach third grade. Parents trust in this mission and that the Mandela Team will strive for their scholars’ success. No matter what happens this summer, learning will continue, and it will be a family effort.
Find Nelson Mandela Elementary on Facebook to see what Mandela parents have been up to this year.