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Parent advisory committee praises Tween Club, backs earlier start for Project Tree
Summary
At the Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 board meeting April 16, a parent advisory committee representative reported strong turnout and support for Tween Club, welcomed Project Tree’s move to earlier start times and kindergarten entry, and asked for better cultural representation at upcoming events.
Miss Patricia Reed, speaking for the Parent Advisory Committee, told the Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 Board of Education on April 16 that the district’s Tween Club drew heavy participation and that parents welcomed curriculum and schedule changes to the Project Tree program.
Reed said about 130 fifth graders RSVP’d and attended the Tween Club event and that parents were pleased with student engagement. She reported the parent committee supports moving Project Tree to an earlier start time so families can better coordinate schedules and said the committee applauds expanding parts of Project Tree so more students can access elements of the curriculum even if they did not formally test into the program.
The committee also welcomed the district’s decision to begin Project Tree offerings in kindergarten rather than third grade and described social-emotional learning (SEL) as a positive development. “We talked about social, emotional learning…so the teachers now will get the training, and then they will all be teaching according to that training,” Reed said.
Reed said parents would like opportunities such as parent round tables to discuss SEL lessons and how to support them at home. She also raised concerns about representation at Culture Night, noting that because the event took place during Black History Month, some parents felt African American culture was not adequately represented.
A district official told the board the district met with Amanda Hatar to separate Black History Month activities from Culture Night and move Culture Night to April so each can be represented more fully. The district official’s brief response was in the meeting record but the board did not present a formal written plan in the same session.
The Parent Advisory Committee update was presented during the board’s reports section; no board vote was required.
Parents and district staff said they hope the scheduling and curriculum changes will improve access and clarity, and Reed encouraged continuing parent engagement as the programs expand.
