School Improvement Team – Lawn Avenue School

Minutes: 2/11/2010

Attendees: Lisa Carlisle, Jackie Haberland, Beverly Rudman, Ann Zainyeh, Julie, Kallfelz, Suzanne Sakovits, Nicholas Alfred, Nora Santamour, Tom Carney, Janet LaMantia, Dara Chadwick, Kathy Almanzor, Mark Allard, Michaela Onosko, Jenn Clarke, Lora DiMuccio

Acknowledgements

An acknowledgement for the creativity, enthusiasm, and energy from the various groups, including students that arrange school wide events.
Thanks to Kristen DeSantis for obtaining copies of “The Code” for SIT members to preview and for the research of possible book selections for summer reading.

Thanks to Marylyn Hostetler for facilitating the R R & R evening.

Old Business –

Standard Based Grading

Writing benchmarks – posted on website. Principal Almanzor will laminate for teachers to display in classrooms.
Conferences/Student Involvement – Team support for involving all students for a portion of parent/teacher conference. Concerns were raised on overcoming scheduling constraints in order to involve all specialists in the evening. Suggestions included modifying sheet given to parents to include specialists available, parent options on teachers they want to see, utilizing back of sheet to include “other specials”. Input will be required from 5^th and 6^th grade teachers regarding change in conference format. Incoming 5^th graders may begin with an introduction to student led conferences.

Excellence in Effort for 5^th & 6^th

Table discussion for future meeting.

Challenging all students

R R & R evening - Additional focus and attention will be needed for upcoming workshop in order to improve attendance. Part Two workshop will be postponed until September 2010 due to time constraints.
One School – One book Summer Reading – “The Code” – Goal of the program is to engage students and families in reading over the summer and sharing book related activities. The book was well liked by all SIT members. Some feedback included: allowing 8^th graders to pilot program, the need for parental assistance for younger students, summer reading vs. reading book in advisory. Students could assist with a kick off to the program as well as advertising in the Jamestown Press so that all students are motivated to read and complete activities. Looking to tie book in with student’s Individual Learning Plan. Advisory and SIT will assist with kick off in order to increase success of program. Possible availability for the author to speak with students and parents in the Fall. Cost for speaking engagement is $7700. Possible grant through JEF for copies of books and author presentation.

Discussion: increasing apathy among male students regarding overall performance

Many reasons for apathy – resources on topic provided by Mark Allard include: “Boys Adrift” by Leonard Saks, article by William Pollack titled, “Boys are failing to achieve educationally and in life…” Mr. Allard spoke about the need for balance between self reliance and independence along with boys feeling comfortable to communicate their needs in the classroom setting.

What can SIT do to address this issue and when? Ideas include: activities through Island Treasure Day geared toward this population of boys, inviting male college students to take part in a discussion on this topic, research an academic/athletic model for boys to be a part of, themes and interventions that can elicit a conversation on the topic, utilizing advisory time. This topic will require further discussion at next months meeting. SIT members will read through research on topic in order to identify possible goals and action steps to address apathy in boys. Principal Almanzor will review “We Learn” survey regarding gender differences.

New Business

Scheduling and coordination of school events

A process and/or procedure needs to be created for the scheduling of future school events in order to structure how activities are brought in to the school.

Subcommittees

Island Treasures – date changed to Thursday, May 20^th, 2010.

5. Next SIT meeting scheduled for March 11^th at 3:30pm in the library.

Meeting adjourned 5:00pm

Submitted by:

Lora DiMuccio