SIT Meeting Notes

Meeting at Lawn Ave. conference room 4:00-5:30

Meeting is opened by chair person Paul McDermott.

Minutes read and accepted. 15 members present.

Book Discussion: Ken N. discussed the book, Tales Out of School.

He would like to have a few on hand and will attempt to get a few copies of the book to bring to next meeting. Also, books will be put in public library for general public and teachers to read.

Bruce E. has formatted sheets to be filled in with Mission statement and Goals. A second sheet will hold Action Plan and strategies to meet that action plan. (see attached) It was mentioned that goals should be overtly stated on goal sheet.

Committee members perused strategies brainstormed at last SIT meeting of December 11, 2003.

Goal: Support and maintain a challenging learning environment that

fosters the development of the middle school student.

Strategies:

• teaming teachers
• certification/specializing
• enrichment actions
• arts, music and languages
• reading programming

These strategies should help to establish a high performing group of life long learners.

Goal: Develop a culture corroborating excellence, high performance and motivated students.

Strategies:

• Insure that acceleration is provided for students who need it. (identified by assessment)
• technology
• differentiated instruction
• skills to meet their desire
• evaluative abilities
• competencies of how to learn
• application of skills
• creative thinking
• student input (choice of platform for success)

Responsible Community Engagement

Younger and older students in mentoring

School spirit/pride/ownership

Community engagement through curriculum not an external issue.

Goal:

• challenging learning environment

• High performing, life long learners
• Responsible Community Engagement
• Platform to show success

Next meeting will be on January 15, 2004, jointly held with the Melrose SIT Team at the Melrose School Library.