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Home My WebLink About2021-03-09-CLARKE-min ,)S MOR141 PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE APRIL NTH INGI Jonas Clarke Middle School School Site Council Meeting March 9, 202| 3:00 PM Zoom Meeting, ]ouuo Clarke Middle School |7Stedman Road Lexington, M&02421 Meeting Zoom link: 0.2. Agenda Attendance: DunoDompreo, Pr�\oi u]� ��ary|�un�'-Z�g, ��oaiaian{[^r�)oi n1; Jonathan \��i1etouc,/lasiaronrPrincipal; Michelle Wright,Nurse; Sarah Futtal, Teacher; Dana Silverberg, Psychologist; No1ali oPuqoette" Teacher; Emily Sayre, Parent; Melanie Tauionom, Parent; Kin�bcrlvflcnm}e |Lovvrouoo^ Parent; l{ongnoeiZhaug, Parent. }. Call to Order, Welcome, & Public Comment o. Next Meeting: Tuesday, 4/O@3p.nn. ||. Brief discussion on OE8E Commissioner Riley's latest announcement regarding bringing all hybrid students back tnschool by 4/28/21 deadline. |||. Parent concern - many RLA students not getting enough exercise/outside. Is there apossibility for having PEteachers todomore PEororganize some friend|yonmpeUhons/gomes. o. yNc Oeopneaexp|aineU that once vve have full return all students schedules will change. However, now that the weather iagetting better, it would be a possibility to organize friendly competition for students to get outside and get more exercise. b. Similarly we want students to get screen breaks and have other opportunities to see/participate with others that do not involve screens. IV. Approve Minutes from February 9. 2021 Meeting a. Emily S. motion to approve b. Kim second to approve V. Principal's Notes a. Brainstorm goals for this Spring with the full-return opening. Mr. Despres explained the various groups/meetings that are now focused on this goal. b. Referenced Dr. Hacketts Memo that was released yesterday, March 8th. Additionally DESE's announcement today. c. Question from parents about opening up an opportunity for students to change from RLA and Hybrid so they could attend school in person. d. MCAS has been postponed as of right now by DESE. e. Indoor Lunches continue - snow pack has not melted to allow for students to eat lunch outside. We are hoping that with the warmer weather this week, much of the snow will melt this week and we can get outside again. f. Weekly video (Clarke Connection) videos have been a big hit with the community. VI. Parent/Guardian Notes a. Big question right now in the community is full-return. How are the staff members taking all of these changes? Is there anything that the parents can do to help? b. Teacher- expressed that a number of teachers still can't obtain an appointment for vaccination and they are very concerned about that. c. Mr. Despres - with the increased vaccinations of teachers, it is important for parents to be aware that more staff are taking time to get vaccinated. Also, some are experiencing side effects. So please know if your students are having substitutes, this is more than likely the reason why. d. Mr. Wettstone shared some teachers are also helping other teachers to schedule appointments. e. Question about reopening the way we were prior to Covid. Mr. Despres shared that we would not re-open fully for all (RLA and Hybrid in person). f. Ms. Barry-Ng expressed concern about the social/emotional well-being for staff, students, and parents with the full return. Training? Impact on counseling staff. Staff agreed this will be a necessary piece to recognize. g. Mr. Despres acknowledged the concerns. Also shared that meetings for planning the full return to school at all levels is also focused on this aspect. h. Question about full-return meaning -will we have students transition to classes? Mr. Despres explained that we are staying with cohorts and committed to keeping this. Ms. Wright also noted that for contact tracing this is much more beneficial. Mr. Despres did receive guidance from the Board of Health about smaller groups in larger space and what would be considered close contact. i. Ms. Wright shared that the elementary schools started testing students k-2 this week. Right now, the participation rate is not that large. VII. Staff Notes VIII. Brainstorming Priorities for a New School Improvement Plan a. Mr. Despres noted need for screening among student and staff anxiety prior to full return. b. Parent- reminder to families about the traffic pattern at Clarke. c. Teacher asked about the weekly schedule and the start of school/end of school times for the school day. d. Nurse - review with students and teachers the passing time expectations, hallways and one-direction stairways (up and down). e. Schedule question - how will we handle blue week. Looking to focus on in-person classes and discontinuing Sync blocks (as all students will be in person). Plan is to condense the day down to a five-block a day schedule. Tricky part is how do we get performing arts to work for students. f. Parent- can performing arts remain remote? Distance requirements won't allow for meeting in person. Also teachers would not be able to zoom into classrooms in school (distance again). g. Teacher question about remote staff being required to come into the building. Will all remote classes and teachers now be in person? h. Ms. Silverberg - expressed concern about cohorts and not wanting to blend together (Will it create a rivalry?) Mr. Despres identified a need to resetting norms and rebuild the community when we do return. Similar to a few days of welcome back to school. i. Parent concern - if more students and staff come back and someone gets Covid, will they all have to be quarantined? Nurse (Ms. Wright) explained the procedure for how students are able to Zoom in due to a school exposure/close contact. This is also true for staff members. They also have to quarantine at home, and they zoom in to the students at school with a substitute teacher in the room. j. Mr. Despres - this year, when we have had situations, we have been sending home a learning plan with clear expectations and instructions for students and families. Teachers have been very flexible with zooming students in so they are not denied education k. Parent concern - why are we going back if it appears not all teachers are vaccinated and we are not really ready? Mr. Despres - affirmed that is a great question. The Governor and state have made this decision. I. Question from Mr. Despres -What are you all noticing about the mental health of students? m. Ms. Silverberg - in her work with students, every student has been affected by this. Increased depression and anxiety among the students she works with. A number of students reflecting on the fact that this has been a year. n. Parent- so much of the stress of the past year is not knowing what is going to happen. Now, knowing that April 28th is the date and we know that- there is a new type of stress. The weekly communication sent by school is good to know. It feels good to know that there is a place where I can go and get that information each week. Additionally, any information on sports or activities that we have longed for and missed all year- please send that along as soon as possible as well. o. Parent- will students have more recess time when we return? If they have more time to play outside, that will be very helpful. p. Parent- also know many students are excited by this. IX. Adjourn 19-'20 SIP: htt �://dooso 0o I�000 /dc�ourr��nt/d/1 kF�FrnK� XK2f9ZQ rkf8QHNOF Lwl5XSiWZ-AMsfod /edi!2us =sharing