10:00- 1:00 Field trip to Skunk Hollow

site of a 19th century settlement of over 100 black families.

Meet at Nyack Center at 9:30 carpool to 9W near Lamont Observatory.

May 3

School Board & Budget vote

Forum

School Discipline: what's the message

Benefit screening "The Secret of Roan Inish" a new film for the whole family by John Sayles

June3, 10, 17, 18 Saturday Project

About PIE

Nyack Partners In Education (PIE) began its official existence in the fall of 1993. PIE grew out of discussion between many groups of parents and community members about how to enhance our public schools.

At first, PIE focused on proven teaching methods like hand-on learning, connecting different subjects in real world settings, and classroom models where children of different ages and abilities were learning together.

But PIE soon found that many educational issues were affected by divisions of class and race. Almost 40% of the Nyack district student population is made up of children of color, yet teachers of color represent less than 10% of the faculty. A disproportionate number of children labeled special education turn out to be African American males, and children of color are far less often in Advanced Placement courses, more often the target of disciplinary action, and less likely to see their history and culture reflected in the curriculum.

PIE has used different strategies to change this situation. PIE was instrumental in passing improved busing for all children and electing school board members who reflect the community's diversity. PIE members sit on site-based management teams, curriculum councils, PTA boards, and volunteer in classrooms throughout the district. PIE has sponsored monthly meetings with guest speakers on subjects ranging from multi-age classrooms to anti-racism. pie's weekly steering committee meetings are open to the public.

PIE also organized and ran a free program:The Saturday Project, to model different kinds of learning and to build community involvement. The program ran for a month and attracted over 45 children and 25 parents, nearly half of whom were African-American and Haitian.

In addition, after much research in educational literature and visits to progressive schools, Nyack PIE presented a proposal to the school board for an alternative school. The board unanimously recommended the proposal be considered by a district-wide task force.

PIE is financed primarily through enormous amounts of volunteer time and small individual contributions. It operates under the fiscal umbrella of the not-for-profit Nyack Community Child Development Center (Head Start). We are extremely proud to announce that grants in support of pie's efforts have been received from the Arts Council of Rockland and the Edward Hazen Foundation.

Free! Your children, along with you, can be a part of a creative arts workshop, writing plays, making home-made instruments, learning Afro-Haitian dancing, drumming and more! Saturday afternoons on June 8, 10,& 17th with a final celebration on Sunday, June 18th.

Brochures and registration will be available in early May. Volunteers to help plan and publicize are always welcome—call Deborah Headwall at 358-3139.

Plan now to come out to Memorial Park in July and August for pie's Science In The Park evenings on July 26,August 2, and 9th, 6 - 8 pm.

With the help of the American Chemical Society, PIE has planned a series of family science workshops. Professional scientists from the International Paper Company and Lamont Doherty, the National Black Child Development Institute and teachers from the Nyack area, will be partners in hands-on experiments and exploration.

Join Us! Plan a picnic dinner and call Janey Tannenbaum at 358-5413 for more information.

DID YOU KNOW? ...that Nyack PIE has a library of books, periodicals and articles to share. If you have questions about heterogeneous grouping, learning a second language, multi-age classrooms or other school issues being discussed or studied around the country, we might have information to share. Call 3530854 to find out how to visit the library. Complimentary copies of the award-winning quarterly Rethinking Schools are available just for the asking.

...about the Saturday Morning Search for Scholars program? This program is an enrichment experience in math and science for local students grade 7-12. It has been offered for the past four years out of the Marie Curie Center of St. Thomas Aquinas College. The program is particularly interested in recruiting girls. "Our special goal for our minority students is to structure formal experiences that compensate for the missing informal experiences which as a normal part of the white male experience in the American culture." For more information or an application form, call (914) 398-4162