Our Mission & Vision

We, the Parents Association at PS 217, work to promote fairness and equity in our school, and to support our children’s access to an education that will prepare them to thrive in the world they will live in.

WELCOMING

A safe and welcoming place for all students and families, all cultures, voices and communities, and assists the administration, staff and security to open their doors to all parents and the community.

REPRESENTATIVE

Mirrors the population of the school in terms of culture, race, religion, language and immigration status, and we reflect this diversity in our approach and activities. Parents from the diverse communities in the school will know best the interests and concerns of their communities.

ADVOCACY/COLLECTIVE ACTION

Advocates for and helps make decisions about school practices and policies and activities that reflect the priorities and needs of our families and students, treats families of all racial, cultural and religious backgrounds equitably, and makes the school an anti-racist institution.

CULTURALLY RELEVANT

Encourages culturally relevant education and gives input on teaching and learning, with the goal that students leave the school with more knowledge and respect for all cultures than they would at less diverse schools, and are prepared for the diverse world that we live in.

BRIDGE

Serves as a bridge between parents and the school and help parents understand what is happening in the school. This includes serving as a welcome center for new families, including translation of pre- k and k tours and other events; and being a support system to families navigating the school through information, workshops and other resources.

COMMUNICATIVE

Conducts face-to-face outreach and relationship-building with parents – not just written communication – in families’ home languages in order to identify issues that are important to the diverse communities of our school.

FAIR FUNDRAISING

Believes that fundraising is an important role but not the ultimate goal. Bake sales and other fundraising events should reflect our values and be for all children, not just those whose families have money to spare.