Mission

The Community Council (previously ‘Parent Council’) supports the mission of Desert Marigold School and serves as a collective voice by facilitating communication between the governing bodies, administration, and families. The Community Council exists to develop strong social bonds by supporting parent education, school activities, active volunteerism, celebrations and special events; thereby building a vibrant community.

Community Council meetings are open to all community members

We generally meet every 2nd Tuesday.
Alternating between mornings on campus at 8:30am & evenings online at 7:00pm

Check the meetings page for upcoming meetings

Governance

Community Council is guided by a Leadership Team, composed of at least seven elected members and one or more  Parent Representative(s) from each class.

Parent Council organizational diagram

Directs and leads the affairs of the Parent Council.

Parent Council Meetings:

  • Creates monthly Parent Council agendas.  Agenda items will be topics within the appropriate realm of Parent Council, including topics that are carried over from previous PC meetings and topics that are suggested to the Chair prior to the meeting by reps, parents, teachers, administration or any other school body or individual.
  • Leads and facilitates Parent Council meetings in an atmosphere of integrity and responsibility; while ensuring that all members and visitors are made to feel welcome.
  • Begins each meeting with lighting the candle and a verse and a recitation of the mission of Parent Council and Code of Conduct.
  • Keeps each meeting orderly by calling on people who want to speak and attending to the time allotments for each agenda item.
  • Allots time in each meeting’s agenda for members to bring up topics appropriate to the sphere of Parent Council, but were not placed on the agenda ahead of time.  Limits such discussions to this time allotment so that the on-going business of the group is not disrupted; and if necessary, to carry any topics over as regular agenda items at future meetings.

Leadership:

  • Works collaboratively with the Parent Council to determine and set yearly goals and mission alignment.
  • Provides a strong sense of leadership to the Parent Council.
  • Conducts and facilitates an annual review and evaluation of Parent Council documents.
  • Ensures that each class has representation.   
  • Ensures that new leadership team members are given a copy of Parent Council documents when they begin their term of office.
  • Keeps accurate records and maintains them in the Chair’s binder. 
  • Reviews and ensures that accurate meeting minutes are posted and distributed.
  • Reviews the annual and monthly budget for accuracy.
  • Communicates with governing bodies; and as such serves as liaison to the Administration and regularly attends Board Meetings.  
  • Participates in special session meetings with other leadership bodies or chairs or other organizations as needed.  
  • Communicates information back to Parent Council from any meetings.

Assists the Chair and fills in as necessary

Records and disseminates the business of the Parent Council.

  • Reports to the Chair.
  • Attends all Parent Council meetings; providing copies of the agenda, minutes and sign-in sheet for meeting attendance.
  • Keeps accurate minutes; verifies minutes with Chair. 
  • Posts and distributes meeting minutes at least one week prior to the next meeting.  
  • Keeps two sets of minutes; one to be kept in electronic form on the DMS webpage, one to be kept in the Secretary’s binder.
  • Acts as time-keeper at meetings.
  • Updates Parent Council documentation or other documents as needed. 
  • Determines voting eligibility through attendance records for funding voting meetings.

Records and disseminates the financial business of the Parent Council.

  • Reports to the Chair.
  • Attends all Parent Council meetings and provides financial reports.
  • Regularly communicates with DMS Accounts and Aspire about monthly Parent Council financials.
  • Distributes monthly financials to the secretary at least one week prior to the next meeting. 
  • Keeps financial records in a Treasurer’s binder.
  • Assists is the preparation of the annual Parent Council budget.
  • Facilitate purchase of Scrip Cards to facilitate planned activities

Heads Team: Inspires and supports the academic interests of our community and our classrooms. The Heads Team is separated into three groups: The Classroom Group, The Community, & The Teacher/Campus Group. Each group should have 1-2 leads, and the team of leads should choose a main lead from amongst themselves.

The Classroom Group

Inspires and supports the academic interests of our community and our classrooms

 The Community Group

Inspires and supports the academic interests of our community and our classrooms

 The Teacher/Campus Group

Supports and recognizes teachers
NEW VOLUNTEER FRIENDLY
25/26 Team:
Hilary Cutright & Criselda Sweet		 25/26 Team:
Heather Welch & Laura Heaney		 25/26 Team:
—
Unique Tasks:

– Trains, supports, mentors, and facilitates communication with the Class Representatives.

– Works with the Heads Team Community Group to facilitate Class Rep Waldorf/Anthroposophical study

– Leads and facilitates the Class Rep meeting in an atmosphere of integrity and responsibility; while ensuring that all Reps feel welcome and heard.

– Creates agendas for the Class Rep meetings.

– Creates and disseminates agendas and relevant documents one week prior to the meeting to all Class Reps.

– Maintains and updates a database of Class Rep contact information.

– Works with classroom teachers and current Class Reps to identify and recruit potential Class Reps for the upcoming year.

 Unique Tasks:

– Works with the Classroom Group of the Heads Team to ensure all Class Reps are properly trained and have access to a safe Waldorf/Anthroposophical study environment

– Encourages community/parent education by organizing monthly education events.

– Inspires and supports parent education through focused work; for example, a book club, parent field trips, etc.

– Provides ample anthroposophical study opportunities for all CC leadership and anyone else who wishes to participate

– Shares pertinent local, state, country, and worldwide Waldorf, Steiner, and Anthroposophical news and educational opportunities with the DMS community.

 Unique Tasks:

– Identifies opportunities for Community Council to provide teacher support and appreciation; for example Parent Teacher Conferences, Teacher Appreciation Day, etc.

– Works with classroom teachers and current Class Reps to identify campus needs from the teacher’s perspective

– Communicates with the Hands team to ensure Community Work Days are respectful and beneficial to classroom teachers.
Common Tasks for All Heads Groups:
  • Reports to the Heads Team Main Lead.
  • Provides a monthly report to Heads Main Lead on initiatives and information; including dates and details of upcoming events. At least one week prior to each regularly scheduled meeting.
  • Provide a budget request to Heads Main Lead by Feb 28th, for the following year.
The Heads Team Main Lead
– Reports to the Chair.

– Receives monthly reports from team members and disseminates the information to appropriate persons as necessary.

– Provides the Communications Liaison with flyers and announcements and pertinent Heads Team information to be posted in both print and electronic format (Bee, Bloom, FB, Instagram, ParentSquare & school site)

– Provides a written monthly report, one week before each meeting, to the Chair on initiatives and information; including dates and details of upcoming events.

– Presents a report at each Community Council meeting, based on collected information from your team members

– Collects budget requests from team members and determines the total Heads Team budget request.

– Provide budget request to Treasurer by March 1st, for following year

The Heads Team Lead holds a leadership role on the Hearts team and is voted into the main lead position by their Hands team peers

Hearts Team: Inspires and supports community building and outreach. The Hearts Team is separated into three groups: The Community Events Group, The Community Warmth Group, & The Community Support Group. Each group should have 1-2 leads, and the team of leads should choose a main lead from amongst themselves.

Community Events Group

Socials, Exchanges, & Restaurant Fundraisers

NEW VOLUNTEER FRIENDLY

 Community Warmth Group

Welcoming and appreciating staff, faculty, & families

NEW VOLUNTEER FRIENDLY

 Community Support Group

Hope & Health; supporting community members in need
NEW VOLUNTEER FRIENDLY
25/26 Team:
—		 25/26 Team:
—		 25/26 Team:
—
Unique Tasks:

– Supports community building by organizing the quarterly Community Council Socials

– Supports and inspires efforts that build community.  For example, any Project Teams, such as a Welcoming Committee, Hope and Help Committee, hospitality committee, etc.

– Provides warmth and welcome at the Community Council meetings.– Secures room, childcare, refreshments (for nights with CR meetings also), and welcomes members.

– Recognizes volunteers and their contributions to our community, by helping to plan and organize an annual Volunteer Appreciation effort, alongside the Hands Team.

 Unique Tasks:

– Provides warmth and welcome at the Community Council meetings.

– Secures room, childcare, refreshments (for all appropriate on campus events), and welcomes members/attendees.

– Welcomes new families, faculty, and staff to our community.

– Plans and orchestrates teacher and staff appreciation efforts

– Recognizes volunteers and their contributions to our community, by helping to plan and organize an annual Volunteer Appreciation effort, alongside the Hands Team.

– Plans and leads in-school lunch efforts on the 40th and 100th days.

 Unique Tasks:
– Communicates with the office about student care needs (snacks, changes of clothes, sanitary supplies, Waldorf minded first aid options, teas, etc)

– Organizes efforts to assist needy families during holidays (Thanksgiving, Winter holidays, etc)

– Organizes meal trains, carpools, etc for families experiencing hardship, tragedy, or illness.
Common Tasks for All Hearts Groups:
  • Reports to the Hearts Team Main Lead.
  • Provides a monthly report to Hearts Main Lead on initiatives and information; including dates and details of upcoming events. At least one week prior to each regularly scheduled meeting.
  • Provide a budget request to Hearts Main Lead by Feb 28th, for the following year.
The Hearts Team Main Lead
– Reports to the Chair.

– Receives monthly reports from team members and disseminates the information to appropriate persons as necessary.

– Provides the Communications Liaison with flyers and announcements and pertinent Hearts Team information to be posted in both print and electronic format (Bee, Bloom, FB, Instagram, ParentSquare & school site)

– Provides a written monthly report, one week before each meeting, to the Chair on initiatives and information; including dates and details of upcoming events. 

– Presents a report at each Community Council meeting, based on collected information from your team members

– Collects budget requests from team members and determines the total Hearts Team budget request.

– Provide budget request to Treasurer by March 1st, for following year

The Hearts Team Lead holds a leadership role on the Hearts team and is voted into the main lead position by their Hearts team peers

Hands Team: Inspires and encourages volunteerism and community engagement to do the work of the school. The Hands Team is separated into three groups: The Work Days Group, The Volunteers Group, & The Special Events Group. Each group should have 1-2 leads, and the team of leads should choose a main lead from amongst themselves.

Work Days Group

Coordinate or assist with on-campus work projects

 Volunteers Group

Inspires and encourages volunteerism and community engagement to do the work of the school

 Special Events Group

Provides critical support for special events
25/26 Team:
—		 25/26 Team:
Criselda Sweet		 25/26 Team:
—
Unique Tasks:

– Communicates with the appropriate admin, faculty, and staff members to choose relevant and needed projects for Work Days

– Encourages volunteerism by organizing quarterly Community Work Days.

 Unique Tasks:

– Encourages volunteerism

– Initiates and helps select members to participate on the Recruitment Team to identify and solicit potential candidates for leadership positions for the upcoming school year.

– Encourages volunteer hour tracking in ParentSquare

– Recognizes volunteers and their contributions to our community, by keeping and updated list of those who have met their recommended hours and displaying them to the community (in the Bee, or a new creative way)

– Maintains volunteer hour records and shares them with the fundraising committee and others as needed for grants, etc.

– Helping to plan and organize an annual Volunteer Appreciation effort, alongside the Hearts Team

 Unique Tasks:
– Takes point on any Class Rep organization task relating to a special event, such as:
-– Being the Class Booth Lead for Faire
–- Working with event leadership to organize Raffle Basket communications with class reps and making sure each class is prepared (this does not include handling the administrative aspects of the raffle, such as tickets, community communications, setup on Faire day, drawing tickets, etc)
Common Tasks for All Hands Groups:
  • Reports to the Hands Team Main Lead.
  • Provides a monthly report to Hands Main Lead on initiatives and information; including dates and details of upcoming events. At least one week prior to each regularly scheduled meeting.
  • Provide a budget request to Hands Main Lead by Feb 28th, for the following year.
The Hands Team Main Lead
– Reports to the Chair.

– Receives monthly reports from team members and disseminates the information to appropriate persons as necessary.

– Provides the Communications Liaison with flyers and announcements and pertinent Hands Team information to be posted in both print and electronic format (Bee, Bloom, FB, Instagram, ParentSquare & school site)

– Provides a written monthly report, one week before each meeting, to the Chair on initiatives and information; including dates and details of upcoming events. 

– Presents a report at each Community Council meeting, based on collected information from your team members

– Collects budget requests from team members and determines the total Hands Team budget request.

– Provide budget request to Treasurer by March 1st, for following year

The Hands Team Lead holds a leadership role on the Hearts team and is voted into the main lead position by their Hands team peers

 

Code of Conduct

As participants of the Desert Marigold School Community Council, we agree to improve the community in the following ways:

  • through honesty and integrity while listening
  • through speaking and acting in a respectful manner
  • by adhering to standing rules
  • by addressing the issues at hand
  • by being accountable for our words and actions

As participants of the Desert Marigold School Community Council, we acknowledge that the Community Council is strengthened by a diversity of perspectives and agree to uphold the integrity of the Community Council decisions in all contexts within the greater community.