Parent Connect Foundation

THE PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION IS A PARENT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS OF THE SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION WILL PROVIDE INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS FOR ANY PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES WHO WISH TO ATTEND. THE MEETINGS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE HELD MONTHLY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING KINDS OF PRESENTATIONS: UPDATES ON GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS; EXPLANATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) DIPLOMA; WHERE TO GET ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, FINANCIAL AID, AND SCHOLARSHIPS; UPCOMING VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES; IMPORTANT UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS; DISCUSSIONS FROM COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS; AND ANY OTHER AD HOC TOPICS REQUESTED BY PARENTS TO ASSIST THEM IN NAVIGATING THEIR STUDENTS HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. THERE HAS AN INFORMAL PARENT CONNECTION FORUM (FOR PARENT COMMENT POSTINGS AND INFORMATION AND MEETINGS WITH PARENTS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL) FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS WHERE MANY OF THESE TOPICS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED. MANY OF THOSE WHO PRESENTLY HELP WITH THOSE MEETINGS AND WEB POSTINGS ARE HELPING TO ORGANIZE THIS MORE FORMAL MECHANISM TO ENSURE THE CONTINUATION OF THOSE MEETINGS AND TO BROADEN THE WAYS THAT THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED CAN HELP THE SCHOOL AND ITS PROGRAMS AND STUDENTS.SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF MEETING TOPICS HAVE INCLUDED AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO INCLUDE:(1) INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE COORDINATOR PRESENTATIONS: CLASS REQUIREMENTS FOR IB DIPLOMA CANDIDATESA-G GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSTRAINING AND EXPLANATION OF THE PROGRAM AND MATRICULATION PROCESS(2) PRESENTATIONS BY KNOWLEDGEABLE AUTHORITIES, SUCH AS ONE BY LYNN O'SHAUGHNESSY, AUTHOR OF THE COLLEGE SOLUTION ON THE PROCESS OF APPLICATION AND FINANCIAL AID FOR PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS.OUR PROGRAM INCLUDES FUNDRAISING, PROMOTING ACADEMICS, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, SUPPORTING IB TESTING, HELPING FUND STUDENT ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING BROAD-BASED STUDENT RECOGNITION AND AWARD CEREMONIES, SUPPORTING STUDENT AMBASSADORS, CREATING A KIDS IN NEED FUND, AND PROVIDING GENERAL CAMPUS HOSPITALITY. THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE THE PRESENT INFORMAL PARENT CONNECT WEBSITE, BUT WILL COMMUNICATE MAINLY THROUGH AN OPT IN/OUT MONTHLY NEWSLETTER WHERE UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEWS CAN BE DISSEMINATED. IT WILL ALSO MANAGE A MODERATED FORUM, AND PERHAPS DISCUSSION GROUPS, WHERE PARTICIPANTS MAY HAVE ONGOING CHATS ABOUT PARENT CONNECT TOPICS. THESE TWO METHODS (NEWSLETTER AND DISCUSSION GROUP) ENABLE PARENT CONNECT TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AMONG AND BETWEEN THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOL. WE ESTIMATE THAT 50% OF THE TIME WILL BE SPENT ON MONTHLY MEETINGS, 30% ON FUNDRAISING (MOST ON AN AUCTION, INCLUDING ARRANGING THE VENUE AND SOLICITING CONTRIBUTED ITEMS), 15% ON EVENTS OTHER THAN THE MONTHLY MEETINGS, SUCH AS STAFFING A TABLE AT CAMPUS EVENTS AND PROVIDING CLASSROOM AND TESTING ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, AND 5% ON GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS, SUCH AS THE ANNUAL MEETING TO ELECT THE NEXT BOARD AND OFFICERS.FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: AN ANNUAL AUCTION FUNDRAISERA MONTHLY PLEDGE DRIVEWE ALSO WILL HOST COMMUNITY GATHERINGS FOR GENERAL COMMUNITY-BUILDING PURPOSES. SOME EXAMPLES MIGHT INCLUDE:A BACK-TO-SCHOOL BARBECUEEVENING SOCIAL GATHERINGS FOR PARENTS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PARENTSFESTIVALS OR CARNIVALS FOR VARIOUS SCHOOL CELEBRATIONSAWARD CEREMONIESA SCHOLARSHIP FUND WOULD PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ONE OR MORE PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION COLLEGE AWARDS, PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO A DESERVING STUDENT OF SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. THE PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION WOULD FUND, BUT NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION OF THE RECIPIENT(S). THE RECIPIENTS WOULD BE SELECTED BY THE SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION, BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS WHICH MAY INCLUDE: ACADEMIC POTENTIAL AND PROMISE, FINANCIAL NEED, AND DEMONSTRATED ABILITY. IF PARENT CONNECTION FOUNDATION FUNDS DO END UP BENEFITING A SPECIFIC STUDENT(S), WHETHER THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP OR OTHERWISE, THERE WILL BE NO DIRECTION ON THE PART OF PARENT CONNECTION FOUNDATION. AS STATED REGARDING SCHOLARSHIPS, THE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION WILL DETERMINE NEED AND MERIT AND THOSE WHO ARE BENEFITED.AS IS THE CASE WITH THE FORUM, THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TO HAVE A WEBSITE LINKED TO THE SCHOOL WEBSITE. (IT EXPECTS TO CONTINUE THE FORUMS SITE) THE WEBSITE WILL LIKELY LIST UPCOMING EVENTS, PRIMARILY THE MONTHLY MEETINGS, WITH DATE AND TIME. IT MAY HAVE A MECHANISM BY WHICH CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE. WE ESTIMATE THAT 50% OF OUR FUNDS WILL COME FROM THE AUCTION, 40% FROM CONTRIBUTIONS, AND 10% FROM GRANTS (ALTHOUGH RECEIPT OF ONE OR MORE SIGNIFICANT GRANTS COULD SHIFT THIS PERCENTAGE UPWARD)AS STATED IN THE NARRATIVE, A SCHOLARSHIP FUND WOULD PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ONE OR MORE PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION COLLEGE AWARDS. THE PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION WOULD FUND, BUT NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION OF THE RECIPIENT(S). THE RECIPIENTS WOULD BE SELECTED BY THE SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION, BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS WHICH MAY INCLUDE: ACADEMIC POTENTIAL AND PROMISE, FINANCIAL NEED, AND DEMONSTRATED ABILITY. IF PARENT CONNECTION FOUNDATION FUNDS DO END UP BENEFITING A SPECIFIC STUDENT(S), WHETHER THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP OR OTHERWISE, THERE WILL BE NO DIRECTION ON THE PART OF PARENT CONNECTION FOUNDATION. AS STATED REGARDING SCHOLARSHIPS, THE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION WILL DETERMINE NEED AND MERIT AND THOSE WHO ARE BENEFITED.WE DO INTEND TO PROVIDE GOODS, SERVICES, AND FUNDS TO THE SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.FUNDRAISING IS TO BE DONE AS PROVIDED IN THE NARRATIVE, PRIMARILY THROUGH AN AUCTION OF DONATED ITEMS, AT AN EVENT FOR WHICH WE WILL SELL TICKETS. WE WILL ALSO ASK FOR CONTRIBUTIONS AT THE AUCTION AND AT OTHER TIMES DURING THE YEAR, GENERALLY AND IN RESPONSE TO A SPECIFIC NEED. WE WILL PROBABLY DO SO THROUGH ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE MEETING, THROUGH EBLASTS AND ON THE WEBSITE. THERE MAY BE DIRECT SOLICITATIONS BY PHONE BUT THIS IS LESS LIKELY. IT MAY BE THAT ANOTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, SUCH AS THE LIONS OR ELKS WILL WISH TO SOLICIT FUNDS FOR US AND POSSIBLY DO SO ON THEIR WEBSITE. WE INTEND TO SOLICIT FOUNDATION AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS.WE DO INTEND TO PROVIDE FUNDRAISING FOR THE SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE ARE NOT A FUNDRAISER FOR THEM PER SE, BUT WE INTEND TO RAISE FUNDS WHICH WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THEM FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE ARE AFFILIATED WITH THEM. WE ARE NOT CREATED OR CONTROLLED BY THEM. OUR BOOKS WILL BE OPEN TO THEM IF THEY WISH TO REVIEW THEM AT ANY TIME, BUT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A FORMAL PROCEDURE FOR DOING THIS. AS STATED ABOVE, WE DO PLAN TO MAKE DISTRIBUTIONS TO SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, OR ON THEIR BEHALF (THIS IS LIKELY UNUSUAL BUT MAY INVOLVE, FOR EXAMPLE, PAYING FOR COOKIES FOR A SCHOOL EVENT OR BUYING PENCILS FOR TESTING, ETC.) WE PLAN TO MAKE DISTRIBUTIONS GENERALLY BASED ON REQUESTS, PROBABLY INFORMAL AND OFTEN ORAL, BASED ON THEIR NEEDS. IF NECESSARY, WE WILL OVERSEE THEIR USE BUT THE SCHOOL IS HIGHLY REGULATED AND OVERSEEN AND THIS WILL PROBABLY NOT BE NECESSARY. (FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HELP FUND A LANGUAGE TEACHER, PAYMENT WILL BE THOUGH THE SCHOOL AND THOSE PAYMENTS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OVERSIGHT OF SCHOOL FINANCIALS.) A SCHOLARSHIP FUND WOULD PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ONE OR MORE PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION COLLEGE AWARDS, PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO A DESERVING STUDENT OF SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. THE PARENT CONNECT FOUNDATION WOULD FUND, BUT NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION OF THE RECIPIENT(S). THE RECIPIENTS WOULD BE SELECTED BY THE SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION, BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS WHICH MAY INCLUDE: ACADEMIC POTENTIAL AND PROMISE, FINANCIAL NEED, AND DEMONSTRATED ABILITY. IF PARENT CONNECTION FOUNDATION FUNDS DO END UP BENEFITING A SPECIFIC STUDENT(S), WHETHER THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP OR OTHERWISE, THERE WILL BE NO DIRECTION ON THE PART OF PARENT CONNECTION FOUNDATION. AS STATED REGARDING SCHOLARSHIPS, THE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION WILL DETERMINE NEED AND MERIT AND THOSE WHO ARE BENEFITED.THE AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP OR SCHOLARSHIPS WILL DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF THE AVAILABLE FUNDS. WE DO NOT WANT A PARENT WHO VOLUNTEERS FOR PARENT CONNECT, WHETHER AS AN OFFICER, DIREC