IV.
Parent Association Updates
On November 30th, the H1N1 vaccine is tentatively scheduled to be administered via live nasal spray. There will be a social worker present for the vaccine administration. The school will have a list of the 225 students receiving the vaccine.
The Gardens Corporation has approved our “Out to Play” playground. The school will have to wait for bids to come back and for a contract. The playground will be brown and green.
In September 2010, the new school located on Metropolitan Avenue will be opened to District 28 students. Our school will receive applications in mid-February for those students who wish to attend the 6th grade there. We will have a sixth grade for the 2010-2011 school year.
V.
Principal Update:
SLT minutes have not been placed on the PS 101 website. The minutes will be emailed to the webpage editor.
Autumn Lights was a success. The Parent Association thanked Ann Kittredge and the teachers who supported the event.
On December 8th, 9th and 10th, during the day only, there will be a Holiday Fair. Parents will join the Fair in the gymnasium after the winter concerts. Coffee and doughnuts will be served.
Jodi Freed, Marcia Parness, and Lori Diamond sold 115 planners. There are 10 extras for any interested students. The value planners were sold for $3.00 each. Planners can be ordered early for next year’s school year.
On December 2nd, at 9AM there will be a PA meeting to get parents in from the school yard after morning line-up. The PA meeting will start after drop-off and last for the first period of the morning.
Fall Fundraisers went out to the parents yesterday, November 16th, and we already have 3 envelopes.
VI. Review of Student and Teacher Components of Progress Report- Irtis Gonzalez
SLT reviewed any student portions that were under a score of 7.
A. Student statements receiving low scores:
1. How comfortable are you talking to teachers about issues that are bothering you?
2. Time participated in hands-on activities, such as science
3. Most students in my school look out for themselves 4. Discipline in my school is fair
5. My school is kept clean. (Only 6th graders participated in the survey.)
B. Teacher statements receiving low scores:
1. The principal places the learning needs of children ahead of other interests
2. School leaders encourage open communication in school issues
3. School principal is an effective manager
4. I trust the principal at his or her word
5. This year I received helpful training on the use of student achievement data to improve my teaching
6. Professional Development I received this year provided me with content support
7. Strategies of Professional Development I received this year provided me with teaching strategies to better meet the needs of my students
8. Teachers in school trust each other
VII. Final CEP Submission- Principal Valerie Capitulo
The school was not given an extension on the submission deadline for the CEP, even though there was a change in school administration.
Former principal, Ronnie Feder had written the narrative component while other teachers gave components relevant to their areas. The components have been pieced together and revisions will be made as necessary.
VIII. Updates on Parent surveys
A total of 420 surveys were returned. Two classes will receive a pizza party for returning the highest percentage of surveys.
Many parents did not turn the survey over, so only one side had been completed. In the future “OVER” will be written on the bottom of the double-sided pages. Having parents complete the surveys online last year didn’t work for our school. We had a better turn-out with the paper surveys. Randy St. Germain, the parent coordinator, did a wonderful job in making sure parents dropped the surveys off in the box prior to leaving on parent teacher night.
SLT members discussed other ways to ensure that the official learning environment surveys are also completed. There were discussions of a possible theme to promote participation. Other schools had developed a circus theme and gave out raffle tickets for completed surveys.
The survey committee will go through the surveys and tally the strongly agree, agree, disagree, etc. There will be a running record of comments as well. The committee will break up into a lower grade and upper grade group to tally the results.
A common thread, after an initial look at the surveys, was parents requesting weekly emails. (Weekly also gets the highest number of points on the learning environment survey.) Newsletters are created monthly. UFT contracts do not state that newsletters are mandatory but our school’s teachers decided to do them. Parents requested that newsletters be class created not grade created. Newsletters should be available to parents on school website. Parents should be aware that if they email a teacher, they will receive an answer directly.
In terms of expectations, parents noted that they do not receive positive comments from their child’s teacher.
The surveys will be viewed by grade and not by a specific class. The team will look for common trends. Over 70% of the school population completed the survey and the results will be helpful to the school.
IX. CEP Review and Revision
Several adjustments will be made to the CEP. For now, we have to wait, but it is a “living document” so it can be adjusted as necessary.
Revisions:
Page 16:
To Improve Literacy Instruction to Grades 3-6 Revision:
1. To Improve Literacy Instruction in Grades 2-6. (Scantron is related to grades 2-6.)
2. “Monthly Grade meetings focused on literacy/data to drive instruction.”
Teachers have a common planning time through the data/literacy grade meeting each month. Teachers differentiate based on data. Teachers are also taking on a “study” of students with specific learning targets through “drilling down”.
3. “SMART goals co-developed by teachers and students and supported by parents”
Parents should have parent input to important goals. Children should really choose their own goal. These goals will be changing. Parents can discuss goals with the students. Goals are based on data collected and analyzed from writing, “On Demands”, math pre- and post-tests, Scantrons, etc…
We will create a comment section for goals for parent input. Goals can be kept in homework folders for use at school and a copy can be made for parents to keep at home.
The CEP will be revised and sent from the principal.
Clarification: C4E is a specific pool of money to have a part-time teacher. It isn’t a lot of money, approximately $8,000. ( $160, 000 per school budget will be cut, this can be in the form of school aides.)
Page 17: To Strengthen Ability to Analyze and Use Data to Differentiate Instruction
Revisions:
1. “Smaller groups and specific goals for mandated Extended Day students to be shared with parents.” We are revisiting students through Scantron assessments and implementing changes to move students in Extended Day program. If not mandated for Extended Day or AIS, then we collected data, especially for new students, in order to offer them AIS. The Extended Day groups are small and children are kept together based on needs. Students can be moved around to get what they need, especially as teachers get to “know students” as the year progresses. There are specific goals for Extended Day mandated students. Scantron learning objectives detail what students need to improve upon. Homeroom teacher and extended day teacher know these goals. The enrichment piece also shares a lot of information.
SLT members discussed whether teachers have time during grade meetings to review materials. Usually vertical teams look at supplies pertinent to their area during their meetings. Vertical teams also share at grade meetings.
Grammar books were supplies for the school from the PA. They are being used as a supplement. The 5th grade was holding off on the grammar books while they were preparing for the Social Studies test.
Word Work calendars, devised from a study group, is also being used to supplement the curriculum.
There should be a Scantron training for parents so that the parents understand Scantron.
To help facilitate communication and understanding of offered services, parents should know why their child is invited to extended day, due to ELA and or Math scores. Use a check-off and format similar to summer school forms. There should be a number for parents to call if they have further questions about the program. There should also be an AIS workshop for the parents.
The network manager made suggestions to the CEP. The CEP will be ongoing and edited.
X. New Items
To clarify, new items are items that were not on the agenda.
Teacher supervision is as follows:
Assitant Principal Irtis Gonzalez is the direct supervisor for Grades K-3, music, science, and art.
Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide is the direct supervisor for PreK, Grades 4-6, Social Studies, Technology, and Physical Education.
In terms of parent concerns, the teacher should be contacted first, then the direct supervisor, and then finally the principal if the issue is not resolved.
XI. SLT Subcommittees
1. Parent Involvement Subcommittee
Create ways to promote and raise level of parent involvement. Discuss ways that encourage and build up parent involvement with their children at home. Survey parents to determine what workshops would be of interest to them. Create a Parent Empowerment menu of workshops.
2. Curriculum Subcommittee
Discuss infusion of non-fiction in PS 101. (This is across the curriculum, for example incorporating current events in morning meeting, pairing non- fiction and fiction books for read alouds, etc...)
3. Classroom Library Subcommittee
Determine what books and genres are needed for classroom libraries and help teachers research and obtain needed material. (This would be to research and/or order books/series based on teacher requests to build up class libraries)
XII. Agenda Items for Next Meeting:
a) Start with the continuation of CEP review
b) Continue with subcommittees
(A sign-up list of committees will be emailed-see attached)
XIII. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 4:15 PM.
Minutes submitted by: Michelle Trinchese
October 27th Minutes approved by: Members of SLT
