Science Fair-gate

Yup. Another.

So, the teacher who has been our "Science guru" left at the end of last year. Given that my last year's teaching partner and myself led our students to getting the highest science scores in the district last year, as well as the highest scores ever at our school, we are now the science gurus. So last Friday I got an email from Mr. Principal. He had attached a Science Fair packet. We have had a Science Fair at our school for the past two or three years now. Until this year, it was organized by the gal who left and PTA. This year Mr. Principal wanted to make changes, and he put me as the staff contact person. Which made it seem strange when I got the email last Friday, with the packet attachment, saying, "Ms. 5th grade teacher (but not me) and I met to discuss the attached Science Fair packet. Look it over and get back to me with comments, so we can make it our own..."

But, I woke early Saturday, swallowed my pride, and began to look carefully at the packet. I saw many things that I would change, so I made notes as I looked at each page. When finished, I sent my notes back to Mr. Principal and everyone else who was cc'd.

On Monday, there was an email sent from Ms. Intervention Specialist, with notes from the Pack Leadership meeting she had attended at our school. At the Pack Leadership meeting, which I don't go to since I don't get paid, Mr. Principal talked about the Science Fair, saying exactly where to find the student packet, and that all experiments would be done in class. This unleashed a flurry of emails from teachers, astounded that they'd have to supervise 25 experiments in their classrooms. This is so typical of Mr. Principal. He makes these executive decisions, without giving thought to the practicality of the classroom (has he really forgotten that part?).

So I see these emails, and I think, "What happened?" Just a few days earlier I got the packet to make suggestions. Who made up the packet? Emails ensued:

Ms. Fourth Grade Teacher: Hi Ladies,2 questions from the PACK minutes... 1. For the Science Fair project...it has to be done all at school?? Is the school providing the material? Who is cleaning up the mess????What about those kids who's parents help them? Is this what you are trying to avoid? How are they going to write up their boards? Do we have to give them access to computers to type things up? Who is going to PRINT their information for them?Do you realize how much time this will take in our classroom? We can barely fit other things and we have to fit in the Science Project? Plus, I would imagine that spending 30 minutes only, each time you want to work on a project would make it hard to do... The materials, the mess and the time away from other classroom studies is my big concern. Just curious how this was decided.

Me (to Mr. Principal): I’m a bit confused…On Friday, I got an email asking for input on the science fair packet. I gave input. Now, the whole staff has been given info about where to get the packet, science fair due dates, etc. I am under the impression that the packet issue has not been resolved. Please let me know if this is not so, otherwise, now that the whole staff has been told where it is, they may be finding the wrong packet…

Mr. Principal (to me): You have very inaccurate info. I posted the sample and shared that you have made great suggestions and that 5th grade would work on updating the packet. Not sure on your source, but they have it very wrong. Sorry about that, but glad you checked in! I love your suggestions, BTW.

Me (to Mr. Principal): I don’t have inaccurate info. Ms. Fourth Grade Teacher has already sent out two emails that seem to be putting staff into a panic. Can you help reel in the people involved? I think we need to first concentrate on a workable packet. If you like the idea of a separate primary and intermediate packet, then Ms. Other 5th Grade Teacher and I could sit down to make changes. It’s feeling like too many chefs spoiling the broth, here…

Ms. Intervention Specialist: I just sent the email out to those at the Pack Leadership, or those missing from Pack Leadership, so it’s not an all staff thing yet. I was note taker for the meeting, and just typed as I heard info. I just sat and talked w/ Ms. Family and Community Coordinator, and we are thinking since we don’t have a PTA point person on this, that we would be willing to sit down w/ everyone involved w/ the Science Fair (you, PTA folks who are willing/able to help, Mr. Principal) and work on what we want in the packet, what our expectations are, how the PTA can help, etc. Mr. Principal did have a mtg with Ms. Family and Community Coordinator and Ms. PTA President to talk about some specifics, needs and ideas. Ms. PTA President has reached out to Ms. Staff Science Fair Contact (me) via e-mail to set up a mtg time, but not sure if that mtg has been set yet. Not to worry, we WILL get this all figured out!

Me: I am feeling like the science fair group is growing by leaps and bounds, and yet the packet has not been decided on. I am happy to work with it…Maybe the other 5th grade teachers will join me.

Good god. It's no wonder I don't get anything done.