1) Call to Order
2) Attendancepresent:
- Brad Royal - Admin
- LaJoi Wilson-Moore - Admin
- John Downs - Tech
- Candi Fernandez – CC
- Lisha Vannoy - guidance
- John Cardarelli – S.S.
- Kelly Hall – L.A.
- Dave Jenkins – Math
- Mark Schnably – Science
- Jill Friesen – encore/secretary
- Tamara Hughes – encore
- Deborah Cummings - encore
- Daniel Bryant – 6 th
- Elizabeth Hobson – 6 th
- Matt Fossa – 7 th
- Robin Moon – 7 th
- Gail Frank – 8 th
- Brent Atkinson – 8 th
- Richardson/Edmonds – EC
- Karen Parker – Teacher Assistant
- ** not present--M.Hunter/J. Fangmann- PTA, Stephen Kottenbrock - Admin
- Motion to approve last meeting minutes--Motion approved .
School Improvement Plan Goals:
- 1. Reading
- 2. Technology
- 3. Bullying
- 4. Positive things happening – They can be posted to Downs’ blog about good things... never any better time than now to post good things.
- *Some of these questions we can’t answer now... it’s too early. But we can re-look at them at our next meeting, Feb. 7th. --.
a. What strategies are critical to the success of the school?
- Next meeting we should all have a copy of the SIP strategies to look at and discuss at next meeting
- Royal: For technology goal: We are making progess! We have put 2 enhanced classroom solutions into the media center, 1 in 7th grade and 1 in 8th grade . School is now completely wireless. We have bought 30 laptops for 2 Dell mini carts. All full-time teachers have all received a new WFU laptop
- Royal: Carol Montague-Davis is coming Jan. 20th. We need to have some answer for these, in case she asks about it.
- Cardarelli: Can we research best practices in reading and discuss at Feb. 7th meeting?
- Atkinson: Beth Raines has been offering workshops in PLC’s on reading comprehension strategies for the M.S. reader. She offers 1 specific strategy each time, and encourages immediate implementation.
b. What does the data tell us about the implementation of specific strategies?
c. What does the data not tell us?
- Atkinson: This is the toughest question. What is the piece that we’re missing.
- Downs: Honestly, the data doesn’t tell us 100% which strategies are working.
- Frank: Do we need another form of data? Atkinson: I don’t think so, we just need to be aware that it doesn’t show everything.
- Atkinson: What about data about students’ home atmosphere (support, habits)? That is not shown in the data... we can’t get parents to be honest about what they’re doing (or not doing) on that.
- Cardarelli: There are a great number of great teachers at our school... but we don’t have data saying how much good impact we are making as teachers at our school, but it’s there!
- Royal: Is there a school student survey? Yes. Are there questions about if there are teachers who care about me? Yes. Then can we use some of that data to support our impact? Wilson-Moore: There is an ASD survey that relates to this somewhat, but not all students spend time in ASD.
d. What changes or revisions do we need to make?
- It is too early to see what are our faults.
- It would be really good if, as teachers, we promoted the technology, as well as putting steps forward showing us raising money. One of these ways was an afterschool bball game at the end of the season, with the money going towards the technology initiative. It isn’t on the calender yet. IS this ok with everyone?
- Atkinson: The latest our season can go is Feb. 22, so the last week of Feb. would be good.
- Downs: I think we should set the date soon, so that it can be advertised at a PTA meeting, bringing school spirit.
- Atkinson: The date could conflict with a championship game, but we don’t know if there will be one. Jenkins: I don’t think we can exclude anyone.
- March 2nd PTA hospitality lunch, then it’s fresh on their minds. What about that night?
- Bryant: I don’t think we have to set down a date today. I just wanted to be sure the group agreed to it. We did agree that right after school is the best bet to get as many students as possible. Charge: $2 or $5, but say it’s a donation.
- Atkinson: The # of dollars isn’t as important, but the idea that we’re making the effort to do something, as opposed to just riding the backs of our parents.
- Keep the cost down... we’ll get more. Maybe $1 or $2, and then get the money from concessions.
- Vannoy: If it’s advertised well, the parents may also send in checks.
- Atkinson: We’d rather include all of our students than not. But it’s not a pep rally... it’s a fundraiser. That’s why we’re saying it should be afterschool. Also, no instructional time is lost for staff.
- Royal: It’s coming, they’ll be adding 10 min. where students are doing physical activity during the school day.
- Downs: Basketball- feels ethically better to do it afterschool.
6) MVP nominations/award for November
- We have 4 names, read accolades with a # attached to them. Write down the most deserving #.
- Mrs. Kim Pickell is our MVP. Congratulations Ms. Pickell!! She is fantastic!
7) Royal: PE teachers taking a training next week.
- 10 min./day aside from PE will be set aside for exercise... instant recess. It has some positives and negatives.
- When to do it? If during announcements, then we might have to stop doing morning announcements.
- Denise should explain to SIT on January 21st the details.
- We may try to rotate the time, so that it’s not hitting the same class.
- Everyone will do it the same time everyday.
- We want this to boost the overall health of children, maybe bring in Michelle Obama. For all Middle Schoolers. Some data says it helps improve test scores.
