Parents and community can be a vital part of this project. If no parent group exists, then it is time for getting together. Your best leads are the parents of those students who do best in class, as well as those who are always volunteering. These outgoing kids will probably have outgoing parents that will help you with this project. Parents can help with the sets, costumes, make-up, programs, and other small but important tasks. They will feel very proud and important to have you, the professional, seek their advice and help. So I plan to proceed in this manner.
Contact
: I will visit at least three parents, (and I say visit because phone calls are usually useless), explain our project, and invite them to come to school to meet with other parents that will be involved. This will probably happen during school hours since Spanish parents are reluctant to come in the evenings.
Initial Meeting
: I would get their attention and interest in the project by explaining what we plan to do, and finding out about their own skills. Music, costumes, make-up will all be mentioned and someone will be assigned to it. A future meeting will be planned where each of the parents will contact another parent and bring them along to the next meeting.
Second Meeting
: I expect to have six parents by now, who will stay on until the end. We will have them come to rehearsals, and start talking about actual materials and things they will be helping with. At home, they will be helping their own son or daughter with the project (rehearsing, learning lines).
Performance Day
: Your small group of dedicated parents will, again, bring other parents to see the play. Be sure to mention their names in the program or after the show. Invite local agencies, hispanic groups, and other parents to attend the show.
Follow-up
: Keep the group together: If the students are to continue in school next year, you can count on these same parents for other projects and school functions.