VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT EXTENDED UNTIL THURSDAY APRIL 4TH, 2024

PLEASE CONSIDER SIGNING IN - WE NEED MORE PARENTS 😁

Objectives of “Passport to JP International”

With the objectives of breaking barriers, knowing better about one another and building a strong and engaged community, the PTO, in partnership with the JP staff and faculty, will invite each grade to discover and explore the diversity of those who come to learn and to teach at Johnson Park. Originating from all around the world, practicing various religions, speaking many languages and writing in different alphabets, our little school in the woods is home to a microcosm of today’s world that deserves to be embraced and celebrated through awareness and knowledge!

Format of “Passport to JP International” 

Such a discovery and introduction will take place through “Passport to JP International”, a one-of-a-kind school-wide residency that is bold not only with its objectives, but with its format: an immersive and community-building experience for our students, faculty and staff, and for parents as well. That’s right, for you too as you will be invited to be the teachers of that residency! 

Passport to JP International will take place throughout the day of Thursday, April 11, 2024.

Each classroom will have three 30-minutes presentations, one for each of the following continental regions designated by the United Nations (minus Antarctica!): 

• Session #1: introduction to the Asian & Oceanian countries represented at JP
• Session #2: introduction to the European & African countries represented at JP
• Session #3: introduction to the countries forming the Americas (including states forming the USA) and represented at JP

Educational Curriculum Guidelines:

Parents, PTO, teachers and instructional assistants will team up to introduce each country following these educational curriculum guidelines:  

PARENTS TO PRESENT:

• Come dressed in traditional/typical attire (optional) and introduce themselves in
  native language then in English
• Show their country on world map, explain meaning of their flag (map and stickers of
  flag provided by PTO) and show a few photos of their country
• List main language(s) spoken and religion (s) practiced in their country
• Describe a typical school day for same-grade students in their country
• Teach how to say "hi", "please" and "thank you" in native language (cards with
  translated words and phonetics provided by PTO)
• Make a simple craft with students that is grade-appropriate

PTO TO PROVIDE:

• Passport book to all students to collect information
• World map showing NJ and country presented
• Flag stickers of country presented
• Passport stamp of country presented
• Card showing each student's name in native alphabet/language (when
  applicable)
• Cards with translation and phonetic of "hi", "please" and "thank you" in native
  language
• All craft material required by parents and not available in classroom

TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS TO HELP WITH:

• Projection of world map and photos on whiteboard
• Distribution of flag stickers of country presented to students
• Distribution of passport stamp of country presented in students' passport book
• The crafting (help children)

and at the conclusion of the residency, students will write down or draw their reflection on what they can do to make JP a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone every day.

Logistic:

To avoid overwhelming students, no more than two countries can be introduced during each 30-minute segment, and no more than two parents can present a given country. The identity of the country(ies) that will be presented will be defined by the country of origin of the parent(s) who will first register for that segment. 

If two countries are simultaneously represented or if a country is co-presented by two parents, the PTO will coordinate with these parents their presentations. 

The PTO has a budget for that school-wide residency, and parents are therefore not expected to spend any money as part of their participation. 

Registration:

So, if on April 11, 2024 you can dedicate 30 minutes of your time to be one of our 60 “parent teachers” for the Passport to JP International, we invite you to sign up below and indicate your country of origin in the "optional" section. Registration period ends on APRIL 4TH, 2024, and presentations must be finalized by April 9th 2024. 

The success of this school-wide residency will be the result of a collective effort which we hope you will be proud to contribute to!

Looking forward to sharing this experience alongside you, and our students and faculty!

The JP PTO 

P.s.: if you have any questions, please send an email to johnsonparkelementarypto@gmail.com with the words “Question- School-Wide Residency” in the title.