Compassionate School Vision

To members of the CAN Education Circle:

At the meeting of the CAN Education Circle on May 6th, we discussed a draft plan for a daylong public event, perhaps on October 17th in connection with the planned CAN Compassion Festivale, where we would try to bring a vision of compassionate education to life, inspire educators, and spark and shape a sustainable movement.

Obviously, such an event would require a lot of careful planning and serious work, and we had questions that we need to have answers for in order to proceed, including more information about the overall October 17th events and resources avalable to organize, market, and coordinate that day. Nonetheless, we had an exciting and happy dscussion during which we mapped out what might happen during a day-long education event.

Following is a draft invitation for the event, created by Sura Hart:

What Does A Compassionate School Look Like?
Imagine a school community where everyone’s needs matter... teachers, admin, students & parents ...
Imagine a school community where diversity is respected & celebrated ...
Imagine a school where students have tools to resolve conflicts peacefully ...
Imagine a school where emotional and social intelligence is core curriculum, along with reading/writing, math and social studies ...
Imagine a school where people communicate respectfully, honestly, compassionately ...
Imagine a school where young and old learn together to create a world that works for everyone ...

Join the movement!
Bring your talents & passion, your interests & questions, to Compassion Festivale’s Day in the Life of a Compassionate School
EXPERIENCE: Choose from among 9 exciting classroom activities, featuring proven programs and processes that foster compassion, inspire emotional/social learning, & teach peaceful conflict resolution in schools.
PARTICIPATE : Be part of ... Provide feedback ... Contribute to the data...
TAKE ACTION ( Move it Forward): Stay for our end of day Open Space Meet-up. Connect with people who share your particular interests in co-creating compassionate schools. Join with others to take action, to move our vision forward.

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Following is a sketch of what the schedule might be, from Jody McVittie’s notes of 5.6.09 meeting

Objectives for Oct 17th:
- taste different possibilities
- create sustainability
- beginning of sustainable movement
- participate and belong to group
- how many folks can we get to stay
Current model/idea:
* Set up a series of “classrooms”
* 30 min opening assembly
* 90 min class (three different alternatives for each class period)
* 90 min class
* Lunch break
* 90 min class
* 60 open space process for sustainability (topics and commitments for 3 months – and a leadership follow up)

Please comment on these beginning plans, and come to our next meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 PM
Central Area Senior Center
http://www.centralareaseniorcenter.org/
500 30th Ave S -- one block south of Jackson
Seattle, Washington, 98144
!