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HomeMy WebLinkAbout14.B. Ready, Set, Relax a a Family: Family Evening Together 1'1. (3. CITY OF SHAKOPEE MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Brad Eller, Recreation Supervisor Nathan Warden, Youth Programs Coordinator, Community Education Shakopee Youth Roundtable Committee Date: July 26, 2005 Subject: Ready, Set, Relax as a Family: Family Evening Together Introduction In an effort to promote families spending more time together and to further the Shakopee City Council to support two community wide activity-free evenings on November 10, 2005, and March 6, 2006, which will allow families to spend quality time with each other, Background The Shakopee Youth Roundtable committee (SYR), which was formed last fall, is a group of community members that are passionate about working with and on behalf of children, The focus of the committee is be a supplemental force, looking for areas within the community, looking at specific youth needs; where Shakopee as a community can further partner to support our youth, The Committee consists of the following members: Jeff Wyckoff - Senior High Resource Police Officer, Lynnae Bosch - Church youth group leader for Shakopee Catholic parishes, Brad Eller - Recreation Supervisor for Shakopee Parks and Recreation, Nathan Warden - Youth Coordinator for Community Education, Jim Murphy - Shakopee High School Principal, Jean Wyatt - Shakopee Junior High Principal,. Ole Hovde, Luan Mai, Jeremiah Mabaria - Shakopee Senior High Students, Jessica Berg - Youth group leader for Cross of Peace Church, Jana Fisher - parent and youth consultant worker, Yvonne Anderson - YMCA Director, Wendy Edberg - parent and former parent involvement coordinator Summary Setting aside leisure time in order to promote quality family interaction is a main goal of the Shakopee Youth Roundtable, In an effort to promote families spending more time together, SYR began a pilot program of Ready, Set, Relax as a Family at Pearson Elementary School in April of 2005, This was enacted once support was shown from the school board and the school principal. Purpose of Ready, Set, Relax as a Family: . Turn off Activities - Turn on Family . Enjoy an activity free evening to have dinner and fun with your family . Research tells us that family time is an essential part of maintaining the strong family bonds that serve as a foundation for successful, healthy childhoods, Pearson has approximately 850 students and 111 families returned evaluations for Ready, Set, Relax, Some highlights: . 97 people said that the parent interview form was useful for increasing communication . 111 people said that they would like to see more Ready, Set, Relax family evenings . Of the 111 people, 51 said that they would like to see an activity free evening once per month, 19 said once per week, and 15 did not answer Due to the success and positive feedback of the pilot program, the SYR committee felt that the Ready, Set, Relax program could be implemented on a larger scale, This would give more families set aside quality time to spend together, The group felt that it was important to approach and involve many youth-oriented organizations in the community. The primary goal was to gain the support of the schools and hope that others would follow their lead, The SYR committee presented its idea to school leaders, which resulted in the Shakopee school board, along with the principals at each school building, and SACS passing a resolution declaring November 10, 2005, and March 6, 2006, as activity free evenings, Furthermore, a letter was sent to community youth organizations and sports associations in order to get feedback and/or support for the Ready, Set, Relax Initiative, The following is a summary of responses from various organizations: Organization Feedback/Participation in Ready, Set, Relax School Board Passed resolution supporting the initiative and no homework on ro osed dates, Bo and Girl Scouts Su ort the idea and will artici ate, Area Dance Studios Su ort the idea and will artici ate. Girls Basketball Association Support the idea, but feel that their participants are not the tar et for this initiative, Boys Basketball Association Support the idea and will not have in-house practices, Traveling will practice and effort will be iven to com letin ractice before 5 m, Hockey Association Support the idea, but are concerned about ice time already booked, Parks and Recreation offered to fill any potential ice time cancellations and waive charges for cancellations, The Ready, Set, Relax Initiative was presented to the Shakopee Parks and Recreation Parks Advisory Board meeting on July 25, 2005, The PRAB reviewed the presented information with the following recommendations and comments: . Overall support for the Ready, Set, Relax Initiative . That participation by sports associations not be forced, but on a voluntary basis for the first year. . Recommends surveying participants for feedback and program review, as was done for the pilot program at Pearson Elementary, . Review of survey information if the initiative is to continue in the 2006-2007 school year, Reauested Action In an effort to promote families spending more time together and to further the scope of the Ready, Set, Relax as a Family Initiative, SYR is asking the Shakopee City Council to support two community wide activity-free evenings on November 10, 2005, and March 6, 2006, which will allow families to spend quality time with each other. The goal of this night will include implementing, to the best of our ability, no meetings, no practices and no organized activities after 5:00 p.m, These set-aside days would allow and encourage families to spend quality time with each other and communicate. Council would recognize that participation by Sports Associations is on a voluntary basis for the first year and that participants be surveyed for feedback in order to review Ready, Set, Relax as a Family for the 2006-2007 school year if the initiative is to continue. If City Council is in support of Ready, Set, Relax as a Family, they are asked to adopt Resolution No. 6281, A Resolution of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota Supporting Ready, Set, Relax as a Family Initiative, with Voluntary Participation by Sports Associations. RESOLUTION NO. 6281 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA SUPPORTING THE READY, SET, RELAX AS A FAMILY INITIATIVE, WITH VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION BY SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR WHEREAS, The City of Shakopee supports the Ready, Set, Relax initiative as a way to dedicate time for families to be together by limiting activities on November 10, 2005 and March 6, 2006; and, WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended support of this initiative, with voluntary participation by Sports Associations surveying participants for feedback and reviewing the program for the 2006-2007 school year if the initiative is to continue. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA, that council supports the Ready, Set, Relax as a Family Initiative and designates the dates of November 10, 2005, and March 6,2006, as official 'Ready, Set, Relax as a Family' nights. Adopted in adjourned regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, held this 16th Day of August, 2005. John J. Schmitt Mayor of th~ City of Shakopee ATTEST: City Clerk