Welcome to MVS Community Coffee.
The MVS Community Partnership invites you to join our Community Coffee sessions held on Friday mornings once a month. We welcome parents and friends to gather together to discuss current topics related to education, parenting, health and social issues. The topics are announced prior to the event and articles are listed so parents can come prepared for the discussion. Then after or before the specific topic is discussed, the Community Partnership will update you on volunteer opportunities and special events related to MVS. It’s a great way to meet other adults from different grades and divisions. We share opinions, experiences and learn from one another – all over a cup of joe!
We welcome suggestions about future topics, and please feel free to forward information to your friends outside of MVS.
We hope you will stop by and participate!
Community Coffee Schedule and Descriptions:
Friday, Sept 7th, 8:30 – 9:30 am
The MVS Core Values: Integrity, Celebration, Grit and Kindness
Discussion led by Headmaster Peter Benedict
Last year, Headmaster Peter Benedict, spearheaded a school-wide effort to analyze and define the core values of our school. With input from the entire student body, teachers from all three divisions, and the Ethical Excellence committee, the core values of Integrity, Celebration, Grit and Kindness rose to the top of the list. Now that we have words for how we act as a community, we’ll discuss the process of how these values came about and how we incorporate them into our everyday dialogue and actions with one another. This is the year to celebrate our vision to be recognized as the community’s educational leader. These core values help us achieve this goal.
Community Partnership discussion: By-laws and Passive Fund Raising Ideas
Friday, Oct. 5, 8:30 – 9:30 am
Raising Successful Children
Discussion with first grade teacher, Janice Krochmal
Is there a perfect formula to raising the successful child and how does one define success? In a New York Times article by Madeline Levine, she states that “The central task of growing up is to develop a sense of self that is autonomous, confident and generally in accord with reality.” At MVS, it is our goal to ensure our self-sustaining learners and compassionate global citizens are equipped to go to the next stage of their lives. This article gives us ideas on how not to over parent and how to know when to step in and help our children. Share ideas that have worked for you when raising your toddler, middle-schooler and high school graduate. To read this article in advance of the discussion, please go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/raising-successful-children.html?pagewanted=all
Community Partnership discussion: MVS Volunteer Opportunities
Friday, Nov. 9, 8:30 -9:30 am
Getting In – Two Perspectives on College Admissions
Discussion led by Sarah Brewer, MVS Director of College Counseling, and Michael Kabbaz, from Miami University
Sarah Brewer, MVS Director of College Counseling, and her husband, Michael Kabbaz, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Miami University, discuss hot topics in college admissions. The two will present their viewpoints on student recruitment, financial aid, and college admission marketing. Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a dean of admission as he reads student applications? Come join the conversation and hear viewpoints from both sides of the desk.
Community Partnership Discussion: Passive fundraising and using Amazon for holiday shopping
Friday, Dec. 14, 8:30 -9:30 am
Connected, But Alone – Navigating our plugged-in Lives
Discussion led by parent and professor Robert Menafee
Sherry Turkle, psychologist, MIT professor, and author of Alone Together: Why we Expect More from Each Other and Less from Technology, explores this topic in a riveting TED talk about our plugged-in lives. She address the trouble technology presents to us in how we relate to each other, how we relate to ourselves and how it effects our capacity for self-relection. As she says ” We are getting used to a new way of being alone together.” Please watch the TED video and come armed with ideas and questions on how we can embrace technology without having it rule our lives.
Go to: “The Flight from Conversation“ to read her article in The New York Times.
Go to: http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html to watch her TED talk.
Go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/books/22book.html to read a review of her book.
Community Partnership Discussion: Sweet Endings – MVS Parents thank the faculty by giving year-end treats
Friday, Jan. 11, 8:30 – 9:30 am
Dealing with Bullying and Cliques
Discussion led by MVS Middle School and Lower School Heads, Bill Glisson and Suzy Hardin
In our effort to promote our core value of Kindness, we are addressing the topic of bullying and how to teach our children to embrace each other’s differences and be inclusive on the playground and in the classroom. We embrace a no-tolerance approach to our students treating each other unfairly and try to address the issue before it gets out of hand. Hardin and Glisson give us their take on how we handle such situations and how to turn bad behavior into positive role-modeling.
Community Partnership Discussion: 2013 ideas/goals and Passive Fund Raising Updates
Wednesday, February 13th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Wine on Wednesday with Headmaster Peter Benedict & MVS Board President and Search Commitee Co-Chair Dr. Sandy McConnel
Discussion led by Director of Development Colin Dunnigan and Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Nick Raines
Come and spend an hour engaging with MVS leadership envisioning the future, while together we answer the question, “What’s next for MVS?” Headmaster Peter Benedict will give his final update on the state of the school; MVS Board President and Search Committee Co-Chair Dr. Sandy McConnel will give an update on the search for a new head of school; and there will be an additional dialogue and a Q&A session about taking MVS to the next level. Please come share your thoughts and join us for a glass of wine.
Community Partnership Discussion: Annual Fund Raising and MVS Auction preview
Friday, April 12, 8:30 – 9:30 am
How not to be your child’s best friend - Teens and Alcohol
Discussion led by MVS Counselor Christie Kemper
It’s out there – alcohol, drugs and the peer pressure to participate in this behavior. With the guidelines and help from an article written by Dr. Roni Cohen-Sandler, a clinical psychologist, we’ll discuss suggestions on how to give kids the right tools when faced with these circumstances, how to be a role model at home and how to get professional help if necessary. Educating ourselves before the problem begins is the best defense. To read Dr. Cohen-Sandler’s article before the meeting, please go to: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs045/1102755758871/archive/1104032391123.html
Community Partnership Discussion: Supporting the School through Passive Fund Raising
Friday, May 17, 8:30 – 9:30 am
Favorite Books – Compilation of MVS teachers’ favorite books for summer reading
Discussion led by MVS parents and teachers.
So many books – so little time! This is the perfect opportunity to share your favorite books with the group and hear about what others are saying abut their top choices. Each MVS teacher will be asked to list a few of their favorite books of all time. We’ll compile the list and start the discussion. This list is for adult books only, but feel free to brings children book suggestions as well. What are you reading for the summer?
Community Partnership Discussion: Supporting MVS through Amazon