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Parent Blog: Strategic Planning-Parent Consultation Session, Nov 10, 2012
Following the parent-teacher meetings, I made my way to the beautiful and relaxing McNeill Center to recover. I sat with a curiosity and a little excitement, hoping to learn more about the parents, the students, the facilitator, the process, and our collective part in the bigger plan.
There were 18 parents at the first of 10 sessions. They came from a Friday Harbor, Regina, Nanaimo, Fort McMurray, Calgary, Colorado, Mill Bay and other locations.
The School intends to create a 10-year strategic plan. Mr. Bud Patel, Head of School, explained the process. There is an aim to identify 3-6 overarching goals, with strategies and associated action plans. An inclusive growth-minded information collection process utilizes discussions, surveys, and conversations, and draws from the input of internal and external stake holders and constituents, including students, parents, faculty, staff, Old Brentonians, and volunteers.
Mr. James Bretlaff, MBA, certified management consultant, facilitated small and large groups for data collection, theme development, and discussions. He encouraged an open, honest process, free of personalized issues. Mr. Bretlaff requested that we add our input from our perspectives as parents, not as faculty, or as alumni, or from other positions.
Parents used the S.W.O.T. method of collecting data: “S” for Strengths, “W” for weaknesses, and “O” for Opportunities and “T” for Threats. We all learned of the many ideas and of diverse and similar perspectives of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Exciting, stimulating, educational, contrasting, and sometimes passionate parent-led discussions evolved.
I listened and appreciated all points of view, and tried to follow the facilitor’s request to collect and submit the data, and to remain free of interpreting. I worked at resisting my urges to translate findings, or to speak to solutions, and instead tried to trust the process. I came away with morecuriosity, and an appreciation of the parents with their many varied talents, and contributions. I did conclude that with these parents, the students would necessarily be amazing.
Mr. Patel summarized by saying, “The conversation doesn’t end today” By Jane M. Current Brentwood Parent
There were 18 parents at the first of 10 sessions. They came from a Friday Harbor, Regina, Nanaimo, Fort McMurray, Calgary, Colorado, Mill Bay and other locations.
The School intends to create a 10-year strategic plan. Mr. Bud Patel, Head of School, explained the process. There is an aim to identify 3-6 overarching goals, with strategies and associated action plans. An inclusive growth-minded information collection process utilizes discussions, surveys, and conversations, and draws from the input of internal and external stake holders and constituents, including students, parents, faculty, staff, Old Brentonians, and volunteers.
Mr. James Bretlaff, MBA, certified management consultant, facilitated small and large groups for data collection, theme development, and discussions. He encouraged an open, honest process, free of personalized issues. Mr. Bretlaff requested that we add our input from our perspectives as parents, not as faculty, or as alumni, or from other positions.
Parents used the S.W.O.T. method of collecting data: “S” for Strengths, “W” for weaknesses, and “O” for Opportunities and “T” for Threats. We all learned of the many ideas and of diverse and similar perspectives of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Exciting, stimulating, educational, contrasting, and sometimes passionate parent-led discussions evolved.
I listened and appreciated all points of view, and tried to follow the facilitor’s request to collect and submit the data, and to remain free of interpreting. I worked at resisting my urges to translate findings, or to speak to solutions, and instead tried to trust the process. I came away with morecuriosity, and an appreciation of the parents with their many varied talents, and contributions. I did conclude that with these parents, the students would necessarily be amazing.
Mr. Patel summarized by saying, “The conversation doesn’t end today” By Jane M. Current Brentwood Parent