Parent Survey Results
85 forms returned
Which of the following would encourage you to attend PA meetings?
More Convenient Time 38% Other:
Child Care 31% 5 prefer evenings (1 after 6:30, 1 after 7 PM)
Parent Workshop 20% 4 are OK with current time
Spanish Translation 12% 1 preferred AM
Guest Speaker 8% 1 wrote Wed AM is hard – conflicts with Town Mtg
Food & Refreshments/Coffee 7% 1 wrote More diversity among PTA leadership
Meetings this year will be held Wednesdays alternating between mornings and evenings.
Wednesday at 6:30 PM 52% Comments:
Wednesday at 8:40 AM 22% 3 would prefer meetings start before 6:30 PM
Neither convenient 12% 2 would prefer a Monday
Both convenient 9% 1 would prefer after 7
1 would prefer 8 AM
Any morning except Wed (conflicts with town meeting)
How do you most often get information regarding the PA and its activities?
Email – 74% Family Folder – 62% Website – 5%
What areas of your childʼs education at Muscota are of greatest concern to you (aside from the core
subject areas of Literacy and Writing – 73%, Math – 60 % and Science and Social Studies – 24%)?
Arts Enrichment 33%
Physical Exercise (not Recess) 22%
Test taking skills and preparation 21%
Social Development (bullying, self-esteem) 20% (1 respondent specified bullying; another wrote on the bus)
Computer Skills/Technology 19%
Transitioning to Middle School 14%
EHS (air quality, cleanliness, pest control) 12%
Quality of Recess 8% (1 respondent mentioned supervision)
Nutrition: School Food and Snacks 8% (1 mentioned time allotted for lunch)
English Language Learners (ELL) Support 7%
Servicing Special Needs (SETSS) 2%
Explain or list others:
• We should deepen and expand art and sports and not think of them as “enrichment” but disciplines
• Free after school programs
• General music curriculum (lack of)
• I feel that there isn’t enough social studies and science or test preparation. I also feel that writing needs to
be more focus on strategies/skill to become better writers
• I listed the 3 things in which Muscota seems to be “weaker”.
• I want my child to receive a quality education in a nurturing environment
• I want to be sure he is excelling and prepared competitively to get into MS/HS
• Literacy and Math are obvious necessary foundations, but children also need ample unstructured and
structured physical activity. Why donʼt they have P.E?
• Middle schools require students to know keyboarding, using the Internet to research. Our students are at a
disadvantage when they go to 6th grade because of our limited exposure
• Only a little inquiry of how these are integrated on the daily K schedule
• Science would be my #4, I love the animals and insects in the classroom
• Selection is based on areas that our family feels is weakest – in terms of our child
• I am really concerned about the new standards and how Muscota will be helping my child meet them
• Writing is such an important life skill. Art builds self esteem and courage and test taking is the reality of public
school accountability
• Want to make sure my son is up to standards as a 1st grader in comparison to other schools. Also more
trips to enhance learning from classroom
• A lot of boys have been bullying my daughter lately at recess. I wish there were more stretching and
exercising in the class like yoga.
• These are the foundations for higher learning and thus more/better able to acquire knowledge
• Preserving and building a sense of community, striking balance between time spent on assessments and
time spent fostering self-expression and individual growth and learning style.
• I feel these things are harder for parents to help their children with (arts enrichment, test taking skills,
transitioning to middle school)
What programs or areas should money raised by the PA support?
School enrichment programs 72%
Music 49 (1 specified instrument) Other: foreign language 2
Dance 38 robotics 1
Physical Education 19 cooking 1
Chess 17 arts 1
Knitting 4 any-all 1
Teacher and classroom support 53%
Field trips like Clearpool 15%
Parent Support Workshops 9%
School food and wellness improvements 8% (reducing noise in lunchroom)
Other:
After school programs (free) other schools have them
Underwrite the salary of a trained (MLS) librarian
School trips to museums, galleries, concerts, etc.
Which of the following parent workshops would you most likely attend?
Curriculum (literacy, math, social studies, science) 56%
Middle School Preparation 44%
Progressive Education at Muscota 40%
Homework Help 6%
Other:
Concerned more SS & Science are necessary
Discipline
Helping children with social development challenges (excluding, etc)
Workshops that can be more accessible
How to best support your child’s learning at home
Would love to have teachers involved in these workshops (curriculum & progressive education)
Activities or Events you would like to see the PA conduct in the future
Fundraiser
• 3 Spring Auction/Fundraiser
• I think it would be a great idea for the PA to conduct an event involving our children’s pets. It’ll be a great
fundraiser
• Perhaps a neighborhood 5K run fundraiser since there is already an alliance w NYRR via the Mighty Milers
Program; it would be a great spring event and would promote wellness and fitness
• Maybe fundraising chocolates for sale for school profit. I also would like to see maybe something for the
holidays
• Movie night
• Network with more companies. You can search for many companies that are willing to make private
contributions to schools
Movement
• 3 dance (one specified Ballet)
• more PE classes or other recreational activity
• I would like to suggest swimming lessons to the Muscota students. Swimming is not only a fun activity but
also a like skill.
• more athletic activities, running, soccer, baseball, basketball, dance, yoga, etc.
Family
• family field trips,
• children concert, dance (disco)
• gather parents from all countries and create a peaceful and harmonious union
• International Day/Night
• More community building (like Madhatters & Skraptacular). Perhaps an annual Spring Event? Scholastic
Book Event? (they always seem to be cancelled)
• more workshops, involve more community service
• Organized competition amongst the children (perhaps in math)
• I would like you to continue the sharing between parents and children like the lunch today 11-17-10 was
something that we all enjoyed.
Communication
• I would like to know what activities the PA conducts in general What is the purpose
• Information about what SLT is/does.
• I might be missing it, but I would like to see the minutes of the PA meetings posted somewhere on the
website. If I cannot go, then I’d like to hear what happened.
Workshops
• Spanish workshop so parent who do not speak English become more involve in PTA activities. To feel
welcome.
• Programs & engagement with museums and parks. Learning about various middle school options
• Invite speakers on progressive education, invite alumni to reflect on how Muscota prepared them, etc.
Administrative
• more communication with teachers and their goals
• Looking at the progress on Reading, Math and Science and also student’s safety
• I would like to see the most energy going to enriching the curriculum and to reducing class size
• Parents to be able to discuss the main problem with the children in the classroom
• more trips (educational)
• Engage parents with talents etc. for enrichment programs.
• 3 are okay with current activities
What can the PA do to serve its families better?
Listserves/Contact Lists
• A listserve for proven babysitters – parents who can help in a pinch – that would be great
• Need class lists contact sheet, do not have it
Inclusion
• Be more welcoming and open to new families, who have younger students I have attended all but one
meeting and always felt as though the return parents controlled.
• Being thoughtful not to exclude families, they may shy away from events due to financial hardship or
language.
• This is a recession, many families can’t afford to do much. Look for other venues that don’t always
include asking parents for money
• Find ways to integrate more Spanish & other cultural programs and events
Communication
• Communication with parents and teachers. Also of the educational activities in school to the families.
• Emailing minutes of the PA meetings might generate more attendance because it would bring more
awareness to the parents re: issues/highlights discussed at the meetings
• Give a good briefing of exactly what is the “who, what, when, where and how” of the PTA
• Keep us informed as to changes – particularly in terms of budget cuts and mobilizing us to provide best
academic and social environment for the kids as possible.
• Send meeting minutes through email so we are all kept in loop
Administrative
• Teachers who only speak English be given a course in Spanish so they can communicate with those of
other countries.
• Have more evening meetings maybe Coffee with Camille
Other
• Create a Monday through Friday after school program to help with homework
• Bringing in/incorporating swimming lessons, music lessons, etc would I believe benefit our children.
• Less meetings and more practical activities.
• PA is doing well, but could get parents involved in classes instead of recess – supervision and fundraising
- we are here for our children not just the school.
• Supporting my son who is shy, it is hard for him to communicate with others
• 12 are okay as is
• 2 are not sure