Good afternoon, Parents!

Welcome to my first posting! I thought keeping a blog might be a nice, informal way to stay in touch about exciting things happening in school, about interesting education research, and to give the most updated information. Maybe if it's fascinating to read my blog, I can convince more of you to click onto our website regularly! I will try to write at least once a week, and perhaps we can start to enjoy fewer e-mails from school.

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about parent involvement in the school. Why is it so difficult to get parents involved? Is it Hong Kong? Is it the Jewish community? Is it being an expat? I think that we have many parents, probably many more than in most communities, who do not work outside the home, yet we seem to have fewer parents with time to spare.

Our lovely PTA co-chairs, Jenny and Belinda, are always looking to find ways for parents to participate. Recently, a friend told me about another HK school that holds a variety of events weekly, and parents will often go to three different school events each week - happily! What draws them in? What could make YOU come to even one event in a week? Are you anxious to help in classrooms? Do you want to join friends for a movie night? Would you like to get together with parents and children together on a weekend afternoon? Do you want to help in the lunchroom? Work with struggling Hebrew students? Help prepare materials in art?

Basically, my point is, we want you involved. So...I welcome ideas from you. Don't worry about what might excite your friends - what would get YOU here, participating in such a very important part of your children's lives?

Let me know!

More soon,
Lauren