MAPN Annual Kindergarten Discussion Group

The Mt. Airy Parents’ Network (MAPN) has been mentioned already on this blog. You should also be familiar with the group’s Annual Kindergarten Discussion Group. For three years, MAPN has sponsored a discussion group for families exploring their education options (despite the name, it’s not just limited to kindergarten discussions). Notices are usually posted on the MAPN discussion board in May, June, and July. Any interested member may join. The discussions take place via email usually between August and November. The direction that the group takes and how active it is depends totally on the make-up of the group. For example, the 2007 and 2009 groups were very active and busy, while the 2008 group really wasn’t. If you’re interested in learning more, please join the MAPN list or leave a comment on this post.

Best of luck!
Catherine Collins
MAPN Moderator & Co-founder

Regarding Henry

I just posted a couple of messages to local email lists and posted a few tweets on the new Twitter account for this blog, and as a result I have gotten a spike in traffic and feedback on and offline.  I hope that I can write insightful enough posts to sustain the interest.  Here’s some things that I have learned thus far.

I reiterated the content of my first post into a blog mission statement.  A lot of the feedback that I have gotten has asked me to go beyond the scope that I have aspired to on the blog.  Take a look at the mission on the right hand side.

Though I am looking for other contributors, there are still no volunteers.  If you are reading this and think that you have something to contribute, then join me!  Contact me if you are interested.

Being a NW Philadelphian, I have been encouraged to look at the Charles W Henry Elementary School in Mount Airy.  More specifically, I was referred to the now defunct, but still wonderfully comprehensive parent blog Knowing Henry.  Reading that blog has helped me not only to learn more about the school, but has also helped me think about how I am framing my research.  More on that in posts to come.

Fairmount’s Babyhood & Parent’s Forum

Just found another great blog for Philly parents.  This one is centered around the Fairmount neighborhood.  Take a look at Welcome to the Fairmount’s Babyhood.  Their home page includes a map of the ‘hood with markers for the neighborhood schools.  They also clued me in on another neighborhood resource, the Fairmount Parent’s Forum.  Pretty cool.

Join the Mount Airy Parents Network

I am always into sharing my own experience with others and learning from others experiences–hence this blog.  If you agree and live in Northwest Philly, I suggest joining the Mt. Airy Parent’s Network.  From their Website:

The Mt. Airy Parents Network (MAPN) is an organization of approximately 350 families in the Northwest neighborhoods of Philadelphia. In addition to notifying members of community events, playgroups, park dates, field trips, and other special events, MAPN provides an online discussion forum on issues related to education, parenting, families, and our wonderful community of Mt. Airy. Membership is free, but only open to parents, grandparents, and legal guardians.

They are also on Facebook.