Help Keep Siblings in the Same School – Sign the petition!

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There was a story in the Seattle Times a week or so ago about a family with twin daughters whom had been assigned to different SCHOOLS (not classrooms) for Kindergarten. (view the full story at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008051809_twins15m.html)

After a long haul of politely trying to work out -what one would think would be – an administrative error, they learned that SPS policy wouldn’t allow any resolution to the problem other than putting them in separate schools.

As a mother of twins (albeit still too young for school), I am outraged and terrified of the emotional, social, and logistical implications a situation like this could needlessly place on a family.

Below is a link to an online petition and (optional) survey as well as a link to a newly formed organization – KeepOurKidsTogether.org.

Please spread the word and keep this from continuing to happen to families in our (larger) community.

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We are Stephanie and Matt Jewett, parents of twin girls that were assigned to different schools for Kindergarten.

We have been trying since April to have both of our girls assigned to any of our many neighborhood schools – just the same one!

To date the only resolutions offered are to bus our girls to separate neighborhood schools, or to bus them more than an hour plus, one-way, to a school far from where we live.

When our story was covered by The Seattle Times we heard from many other parents that have had their children assigned to separate schools during the enrollment process. We have joined together to form, KeepOurKidsTogether.org

Please select the link below to sign our petition

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=hfW5P8D3upDTSJGvqLBWuA_3d_3d

We need your signatures by MONDAY, AUGUST 18

Please sign only once.

We are intending to present the signatures at the August 20 board meeting.

We are requesting two straightforward enrollment process changes to improve the odds siblings will be assigned to the same school when that is the choice of the parent.

1. Do not break the Sibling Link. If either child does not gain acceptance to their first choice school, maintain the Link through all choices during the enrollment process.

2. Allow multiples to enroll with a single lottery number

We need your help! Please help us distribute the petition. Mail this message to other parents, friends, and colleagues. Please post this message to online groups.

If you would like more information please visit our website at http://www.keepourkidstogether.org, or contact us at info@keepourkidstogether.org

Thank you for your help and support.

– Stephanie and Matt Jewett

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Siblings in the Same School – Update

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Parents – we have over 500 signatures, thanks to you!

As great as that number is, the sobering news is that the administration of Seattle Public Schools (SPS) still does not appear to be making moves to tighten up their procedures to keep siblings in the same schools.

Please help in getting the word out. Please post this message to any online groups you have access to. Please provide the link to the petition to family, friends, co-workers and associates. Two board members have told me volume counts if a change is to be made.

Don’t let SPS ignore this very bedrock issue – that families should not be broken apart.

Petition Link

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=hfW5P8D3upDTSJGvqLBWuA_3d_3d

For further information please visit our website at, http://www.keepourkidstogether.org or send us an e-mail at, info@keepourkidstogether.org

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