Minutes

Lawn Avenue School

School Improvement Team

June 11, 2009

Attendees: Kathy Almanzor, Nick Alfred, Christine Bernardo, Jenn Clark, Lisa Carlisle, Kristen DiSantis, Julie Kallfelz, Bev Rudman, Pam Storey and Ann Zainyeh

1. Acknowledgments

   1. Thank you to the administration and teachers for opening up their classrooms to SIT members.

   2. Thank you to Sally Schott for coordinating Island Treasurers.

   3. Thank you to Ann Zainyeh for putting together the Standards Based Grading FAQ’s power point presentation.

2. End of the Year Report

   1. SIT Accomplishments:

• 3 R Pledge handprints: The 8^th grade handprints will be taken down and return to the students. Next September, handprints for the new 5^th graders will be done in a different color (blue).

• Freedom Fridays: Keep tied to events but review fun vs. school wide event. Maybe tie into PTO cultural events. Teachers would like to see a schedule in advance of the days and events. Announcement of those students not participating to be reviewed.

• Kid’s Corner in Jamestown Press: Teachers would like a schedule for who is submitting the body of work for each month.

• VIE: We will be focusing on committing volunteers to help with new ideas or enhancement projects in classrooms.

• Teambuilding w/ faculty

• Technology survey w/ Technology Committee

• Jr. National Honor Society

• Excellence in Effort

• Standards FAQ’s

• 5^th & 6^th grade report card modifications this summer

• Classroom visits

• Representative on strategic planning, Elisabeth Stone Scholarship and High School Review Committee

• Island Treasures

3. Subcommittees

1. Technology Subcommittee:

   • Thank you to the subcommittee. The next step will be for the district.

   • The survey was distributed to the entire faculty. The district is waiting for the survey results.

2. Island Treasures:

   • This was another very successful day! Sally Schott has not decided whether or not she would like to be coordinator again. We will discuss this position again in September. One note from students: They would like to have more hands on presentations, not just lectures.

4. New Business

1. Strategic Plan update

• This was endorsed by the school committee. The district will work on the action plans.

5. Old Business:

1. Jr. National Honor Society and Excellence in Effort

   • Nick Alfred will be the faculty coordinator for the Jr. National Honor Society. The 7^th and 8^th grade will discuss the academic requirements.

   • Excellence in Effort will continue in 7^th and 8^th. This may occur for 5^th and 6^th in the future.

2. Elizabeth Stone Scholarship

   • This was awarded to Sarah Pease and Jessica Bucklin. The committee felt guided questions were needed.

3. Standards Based Grading

• Ann Zainyeh presented a power point presentation of the FAQ’s. It was very well received. It will be added on to the school website this summer.

• Writing benchmark’s by quarter by grade will be established and will be displayed in the school next fall. They will also be displayed on the school’s website in conjunction with the FAQs.

• The 5^th and 6^th grade team will be adding additional information (standards) on the report cards. Time is needed either this spring or during the summer for this to occur.

• Kathy Almanzor will meet with both the 5^th and 6^th grade teams separately to discuss the changes on the report cards and changes to the effort key.

d. Challenging All Students:

• Janet LaMantia, Ann Zainyeh and Lisa Carlisle visited classrooms. It was a great experience with excellence being seen in classrooms. Teachers should be willing to open their classrooms to showcase their excellent work! It was suggested that the visits happen in the fall or winter. Spring is a very hectic time of the year.

e. Discipline

• The next level of the 3 R Pledge/citizenship will be worked on over the summer.

6. Next SIT Meeting:

1. The next SIT meeting will be held on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, from 10 am to 11:30 am. in Lawn conference room.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Carlisle

Co-chair