It kept coming up. When we asked parents what was the most difficult thing about sending their child to PHCS, the answer was usually, "...the drive."
True, some families live close-by, but there are a great number in our student body who drive 20-30+ minutes to school.
Location is one of our best school qualities - a picturesque schoolhouse amid the hills and apple orchards of Sebastopol - but it also causes one of our largest drawbacks: the longer drive.
We care about this. So when a handful of our families began linking up to carpool to and from school, our ears perked up. How did they do it? How did the kids like it? How did their arrangement work?
We asked. They answered. Here is a peek inside how it worked for them, and how it may work for you:
Not knowing where to start, some parents asked our principal to connect them with other families in their area. Armed with this knowledge, a few moms arranged a time to meet and introduce themselves. The kids played and got to know each other, while the moms sat down and worked out a ride schedule.
Some of the carpools are just once or twice a week, but some divide the load evenly, only driving five trips out of ten total in a week.
One family was even able to have another child over after school while her mother worked a few days a week. Her dad was able to pick her up soon thereafter, but as they attested, "This makes our lives so much easier and we are so thankful to our carpool buddies!"
Another surprising benefit to carpooling was the social aspect for the kids. Time in the car afforded conversation and connection, especially for very-social younger brothers and sisters. It also provided a transition time - a place between home and school - for children who needed a little extra time to emotionally transition, in order to fully engage at school.
One factor that could make or break a carpool arrangement is communication. In a system with more moving parts, more people, and more possibilities for running late, both families must stay in communication about any changing conditions. It's only fair. An entire carpool running late due to one late party takes some of the joy right out of the happy equation. Remember, this arrangement is supposed to be a benefit to both parties. A simple text or call is the grease among the gears of this machine. Communication is key.
But this communication is the backbone of any great friendship. There could be a great potential for connection and community-building as you work out the logistics of rides with someone else in the trenches of parenthood with you.
What do you think? Would it be worth it to you? What if you reached out to another family on your side of town to take their child to school? What doors would be opened up?
True, some families live close-by, but there are a great number in our student body who drive 20-30+ minutes to school.
Location is one of our best school qualities - a picturesque schoolhouse amid the hills and apple orchards of Sebastopol - but it also causes one of our largest drawbacks: the longer drive.
We care about this. So when a handful of our families began linking up to carpool to and from school, our ears perked up. How did they do it? How did the kids like it? How did their arrangement work?
We asked. They answered. Here is a peek inside how it worked for them, and how it may work for you:
Not knowing where to start, some parents asked our principal to connect them with other families in their area. Armed with this knowledge, a few moms arranged a time to meet and introduce themselves. The kids played and got to know each other, while the moms sat down and worked out a ride schedule.
Some of the carpools are just once or twice a week, but some divide the load evenly, only driving five trips out of ten total in a week.
One family was even able to have another child over after school while her mother worked a few days a week. Her dad was able to pick her up soon thereafter, but as they attested, "This makes our lives so much easier and we are so thankful to our carpool buddies!"
Another surprising benefit to carpooling was the social aspect for the kids. Time in the car afforded conversation and connection, especially for very-social younger brothers and sisters. It also provided a transition time - a place between home and school - for children who needed a little extra time to emotionally transition, in order to fully engage at school.
One factor that could make or break a carpool arrangement is communication. In a system with more moving parts, more people, and more possibilities for running late, both families must stay in communication about any changing conditions. It's only fair. An entire carpool running late due to one late party takes some of the joy right out of the happy equation. Remember, this arrangement is supposed to be a benefit to both parties. A simple text or call is the grease among the gears of this machine. Communication is key.
But this communication is the backbone of any great friendship. There could be a great potential for connection and community-building as you work out the logistics of rides with someone else in the trenches of parenthood with you.
What do you think? Would it be worth it to you? What if you reached out to another family on your side of town to take their child to school? What doors would be opened up?
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