Request of SIT team: Send a reminder to members the week of the meeting
Old Business:
Joyce called to set up a meeting with North Kingstown counselor. Guidance was not receptive to meeting, however did meet one morning. Very informative meeting. Joyce believes they would be approachable and would be willing to come to Jamestown and give a presentation for kids and parents.
Leslie Wilkens will be the person for parents to talk to concerning NK and informative meetings for parents.
Last year, presentation about coursework and then discussion about phases did work. We will ask for a more informational meeting. Sitting with Kathy and Leslie, parents will meet with them to talk about what NK has to offer.
On the same note, Ken Newman called for meeting with NK guidance and they weren't responsive, in fact they were not interested in meeting with him. They did agree that he could meet with the curriculum director, who was very nice and well informed. Ken felt NK had very little idea of the type of school Jamestown School was. He believes that the JT liaison Leslie Wilkens, will need to assist JT School by letting NK know that they will need to do a better job with giving Jamestown students better information and guidance than has been done in the past. Ken requested the meeting through Commissioner of Ed. office.
It was brought up that Jamestown was the only school that is tuitioning into NK. With such a great increase in tuition for Jamestown kids to attend NK, NK should be expected to and honored to have our kids go there. NK needs to identify what NK has to offer, in presentation form, that our kids should go there rather than other high schools.It was discussed and was a general feeling that NK should be marketing to us at Jamestown School. The tuition cost is an issue to all of us hereˇthey owe us.
Guidance department at NK has 340 students per counselor. Because of this large number, they only get to know top kids in grade or those who get in trouble. Ken and Joyce will meet to discuss what they want to have answered if and when arranged to have the presentation/ meeting with NK.
Kathy Sipala said she could make the request through curriculum principal for an informational meeting. She will request a copy of the curriculum guide for freshmen through senior year. It was mentioned that standards are not addressed in NK as are addressed in JT and used for report cards. Is this a problem?
Lawn Ave. SIT Mission Statement
SIT Looked at the mission statement written by Kathy Sipala and in last months notes. Some words were altered, however as a whole it was an accepted mission statement.
"The purpose of the Lawn Avenue School Improvement Team for 2002/2003 is to review the existing School Improvement Plan in order to determine priorities for the year; to identify problems, develop solutions and communicate those solutions to the school community so that perceptions/misperceptions can be identified, and changes recommended if necessary. The School Improvement Team is dedicated to celebrating the positive changes that have already been made and supporting what works, as we continue to identify what needs to be done to be an accountable, high performing and improving school."
What We can and can not do as a SIT committee person.
As a committee, we can not tell teachers to meet our demands, rather we can request. SC makes policy. It doesn't come from SIT. Teachers shouldn't see it as a threat, rather empowerment.
Strategic Plan not town wide
This plan sets the direction of which way the vote will go in. The SIT has the power of directing plans of action to the proper place however it is a Very defined pathway.
Sub committee report Bruce and Julia
Honor Roll proposal
8th grade team worked on the honor roll draft. 7th grade team has not met about this so this draft is new. Catching up to where the discussion was with honor rolls last year, Bruce extended his thoughts and plans discussed by 8th grade teachers.
People of SIT committee discussed the Honor roll as discussed by Bruce. Lark said that the 7th grade report card had not met about it and can't see this plan organized by 8th grade, working with 7th grade scoring and report card.
Should we be doing a 7th grade honor roll? In fairness, let 7th grade teachers works on their own organized honor roll this year. Honor roll could start in 8th grade not in 7th for this year.
Possible Directions for Honor Roll 2002-2003
Recommend that 8th grade is ready to do it.
Recommend that 7th grade begin working on it for next year.
Next meeting:
Review Salt Assessment for next agenda. Read self study
Recommend attendance at Budget Meeting tonight and Dec. 15.
Training on School Improvement teams will be offered later this year.
Next meeting will be Dec 12th
Report Cards
Presently working on making a common report card. There is one for 1-3. Not a common one for other grades. 5 and 6th grade are very similar.
Exemplar is a separate discussion outside of honor roll.