So far this year, 436 members of our community have taken the time to complete one or more of the recent ‘pulse’ surveys by Possip. The thoughtful feedback is very helpful to the school as one of many ways we stay connected with parents/caregivers to help ensure that we are effectively collaborating in supporting our students.
Among the key findings from recent surveys is that parent/teacher conferences continue to be highly valued, with 85% of respondents rating them as very or somewhat useful, 60% and 25% respectively.
Comparing the usefulness of parent teacher conferences with classroom familiarity, (the question posed in October) respondents are much more enthusiastic about the value of the conferences, with only 41% describing themselves as being ‘very familiar’ with what their ‘child is learning and doing in class.’
While perspectives on parent teacher conferences do vary a little across campuses and among different racial/ethnic groups, more notable variations are seen based on grades. Grade breakdowns show 1st grade respondents have the highest level of appreciation, with 70% of respondents deeming conferences to be ‘very useful.’ Conversely, only 42% of respondents with child/ren in 2nd grade believed they were ‘very useful.’
More broadly, the three surveys conducted this year show that roughly half of respondents are consistently ‘happy’ with Mundo Verde while less than 20% are ‘unhappy.’ The remaining ~25% characterize themselves as ‘mostly happy.’
In terms of topical resonance, staffing and academic/curriculum considerations draw the most comments from respondents in the two most recent surveys. Mentioned by 16% of respondents in October, Covid was not mentioned by anyone responding to the November pulse check.
Based on Possip research, our community’s emphasis on academics, staffing and teacher communications aligns trends nationwide. By contrast, increased mention nationally of safety and bullying concerns are not worries articulated by Mundo Verde respondents, despite incidents in the neighborhoods around the two campuses. The school’s ongoing training and attention paid to safety and bullying issues, of course, does not fluctuate based on survey findings but is a daily priority.
Also in contrast to what the team at Possip generally sees from other schools in fall/winter surveys, the uptick in Mundo Verde respondents characterizing themselves as “happy” is not typical. It is, however, a welcome indicator of recognition of the steps the school is taking to continue the recovery from pandemic conditions: from on-campus gatherings to expanded professional development and training, and students going on field work as a part of their expeditions.
Please keep an eye out for another survey in December. In keeping with past practices, we will complement these quick ‘pulse’ surveys with a more in-depth survey in early Spring. We are very grateful to everyone who has completed one or more Possip surveys and encourage everyone to do so.
If you have questions that are very specific about an issue related to your child/ren’s day at school (about meals, assignments, late arrivals, and so forth) please address them directly to the appropriate member of the staff using Direct Messages in ParentSquare. To see who best to contact with personal questions, please visit the “Who to go for What” in English or Spanish. Because it takes time to read and analyze all the Possip comments, contacting the appropriate person on staff at the school will more likely ensure that you receive a response within 48 hours.