Lawn Ave.  SIT notes

April 14, 2005

(back to Lawn Sit)

 

Meeting was called to order at 4:00

March 10th Notes were corrected and accepted.

 

Advisor/Advisee  Mentoring Program for Adults and Students at Lawn Ave.

• Discussed idea and possible structure of this program to the Lawn Ave. teachers by  Mark Allard.
• This mentoring program is done at N.K.
• It was mentioned how this may be the way to go in the future, if the teacher instructional at Jamestown,  is changed to one teacher, teaching the same subject at two different grade levels.

For example, grades 6,7,8 will have the same language arts

teacher...the teacher would teach the subject matter to 3

grade levels. 

• We need to be sure that students are known WELL by an adult in the system,  one who would act as their advisor. 
• Mentoring would enhance “knowing the student” making it more viable to assist that student when needed and as needed.
• This would assist the student to make a connection to a teacher and visa versa. 
• It may help the particular subject curriculum direct the child through the curriculum at each grade level-- being taught in a linear way
•  

 

Report of Sub Committee of SIT action plans

• Group 3  (Citizenship)

(Sam Pease and Mary Brennan presented.)

• Increasing citizenship:  being a basic good human being—thoughtful and considerate.
• Island wide identification of kids  “doing good.”  Not the “best” good.  It’s not intended to be a contest, rather a promotion and  celebration of “the good” kids do.
• Teen center will be involved by making posters to be posted throughout the town.  Some forms will be left at the Teen Center for nominations.

 

Group 2  Action Plan   Middle School Model 

(Team members weren’t present to discuss.)

·      Creating a mode to show school spirit

·      Looking at positive motivation

·      Announce birthdays on intercom

·      Start to personalize the school

·      Give special highlighting of student spirit

 

Group 1  Action Plan

(Martha Vigneault and Julia Held presented)

·      Web page or hand out for volunteers

·      Provide a more challenging curriculum.

·      Professional Development

·      Finding out what is already done.  How are kids being challenged?

·      They will investigate what Melrose is doing and then make a blending of ideas.

 

SALT Data

 

·      Data is presented in two different ways.

·      How to evaluate and deal with the information gathered from SALT survey data.

o      Take what you need from charts

o      take each of your issues and then do your own evaluation according to community/school/system. 

o      As an evaluator, Deal with what you connect to. 

 

How and what to deal with:

 

• “Like to know” discussion concerning what information is used from SALT will be the direction of Melrose.  They will deal with what they are connected to, what they need and data that directs them to improving where they are.

No mathematical elaborations are going to be compiled with the data collected. As it is, the State was using incorrect figures.

• When looking at the SALT data, we must understand the data and deal with it.  We don’t want the data to drive us as much as assist us in evaluation of where we are, where we should/could go.
• It would be best to use all data, not just SALT data.

 

 

Lawn Ave. Survey

        

• Give survey out to parents at the end of the year,
• Results will be collated and shared?
• Look for a common theme...as in compliments?
• Get this out right after April vacation  (April 29)
• Maybe an incentive can be offered to return survey. 
• Classroom returns will earn a ticket towards a drawing prize.
• Teachers will be encouraged to motivate kids to return surveys

 

 

Pat McLaughlin will work to collate the information shared on the survey and look for the common theme.  These surveys may have some general areas that can be identified as reasons for and suggested actions we could take because of the survey outcome.

 

 

 

 

AfterSchool Programs at Lawn

         Data concerning the numerous after school activities has been collected and put as an attachment.

Attachment identified the percentage of those children available to

 participate and the percentage that did. 

School population: 255 = 150 Male & 105 Female

81% of Student population participated.

Participation of many students has been numerous and positive.

 

 

Lawn Ave. SIT Membership

·      Who is coming back?

·      Who do we need?

Sam Pease, Pat McLaughlin, Martha Vigneault, Julia Held, Mim Munro

will return to SIT, Lawn Ave. for next year.

         It would be good to have more teachers. Maybe more joint meetings are needed.

May 12^th is next SIT meeting

May 16^th will be the time to explain what to expect for the 5th graders going to 6^th  grade.

June 9^th  SIT meeting:  Is there a need to meet with Melrose?  At this point there may not be a need, however lets ask what they may have as an agenda.  Maybe a worthwhile discussion of survey results would be worthwhile with a Melrose and Lawn Ave meeting.

May 19^th...may be meeting with Melrose. 

Discussed what would be done for 8^th graders prior to graduation.

Some 8^th graders are going to Washington, DC. (> ½ of 8^th grade population)

April 27 at 4:00 will be Parent/School meeting.  Dance has been booked. 

 

Other Announcements

• Morning Meeting: 

         Jean Brown  AIM  Went well on Friday, April 9^th

         Made about $8,500.00 towards Art Room

• Teen Center

         Teen center is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday

         Melissa Minto did well and will continue to strive for  more participation.

 

• Fund Raising with Lawn Ave Field

         Goal:  to raise thousands of dollars to improve whole complex.  Things are underway.

Ball fields must be made safer, more conducive to safe, physical activity.

Bike Path:  Discussions are taking place in town concerning a safe biking path to and from the two schools.

 

• Lawn Ave Playground:

         Developing money

         Integrating with other recreation and community projects so that we aren’t treading on others plans, rather blending.

 

Meeting ended at 5:30.