School Improvement Team – Lawn Avenue School
Minutes: 4/8/2010
Attendees: Beverly Rudman, Julie, Kallfelz, , Nicholas Alfred, Tom Carney, Janet LaMantia, Kristen DeSantis, Nora Santamour, Jackie Haberland, Michaela Onosko, Karyn Kaufman, Kathy Almanzor, Jenn Clarke, Lisa Carlisle
Acknowledgements
Patients for Pennies program, done through advisory, organized by Nick Alfred.
Kids Corner in the Jamestown Press
Furhana DiBiase, the SAMS program manager and the SAMS program, off to a great start.
Old Business
Standard Based Grading
Writing benchmarks – 1st Quarter posted on website, 2nd Quarter done but comments need to be completed. Kathy Almanzor will laminate the benchmarks for the teachers to display in classrooms. 5th & 6th grade to review 3 quarter assessments together during the first week of May. Math quarterly assessment benchmarks to start in Sept 2010.
Challenging all students
R R & R evening – PowerPoint presentation at Open House in September 2010. It will be worked on over the summer. A suggestion was made to have introductions of the staff to new parents at 6:30 pm and the RRR PowerPoint presentation at 7 pm for all parents.
One School – One book Summer Reading – “The Code” – A plan is being worked out to pilot the 8th graders. A kick off assembly will occur in June and activities will be done during advisory. Mawi is scheduled to speak on Sept 15, 2010. Two different presentations will be given, one for the 5th & 6th, the other for 7th & 8th. Jamestown students will be bused to Thompson Middle School for the presentation with Newport students. Still waiting to hear about the RI foundation grant.
Annual classroom visits - Suzanne Sakovitz, Dara Chadwick and Julie Kallfelz have volunteered. The date is Friday, April 30th. (The date has been changed to Friday, May 7th)
Discussion: increasing apathy among male students regarding overall performance
A subcommittee will be formed and will include Janet LaMantia and Ann Zainyeh. Nora Santamour volunteered to be on the subcommittee. A teacher is needed on the committee.
Review of student nutrition and physical activity policy
The school committee has stated that there will be no change in the food policy. (No food from outside is allowed to be used in the school during the school even as part of the curriculum.) If anyone has an opposing view, they may attend a Health and Wellness Committee meeting or email the school committee.
Scheduling and coordination of school and fundraising events
A letter was sent to each of the groups involved with the school asking for a schedule during the summer. A meeting in May will all parties will take place. Stephanie Nocon, Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force, should be included.
Grade level showcases of work
6th grade will be having a showcase of work on April 14th. 5th grade will be having a showcase on work in June 11th. The 7th and 8th grade team will discuss an end of the year portfolio showcase.
New Business
Student Parent Teacher Shared Commitment to Education
This was brought up because of absences due to vacations, additional work for teachers for those students to catch up and a lack of a homework commitment. Approximately 30% of 7th & 8th grade math students are not completing their homework on a regular basis. This information needs to be shared at Open House. SIT will look at a Student, Parent and Teacher signed contract, addition to the behavior code or policy. Julie Kallfelz will ask the school committee about an attendance and/or homework policy. Kathy Almanzor will write a letter to parents to be attached to the report cards going home on April16th giving them an awareness of what is going on.
School Wide Assemblies
It was suggested that the school use the bleachers at every school wide assembly.
Subcommittees
Island Treasures – Thursday, May 20th, 2010. Students will choose workshops during advisory on Thursday, May 6th.
Advisory – see above
Technology – need to meet
5. Next SIT meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 13th at 3:30pm in the library.
Meeting adjourned 5:00pm
Submitted by:
Lisa Carlisle