HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-21-DIAMOND-min Diamond School Council Meeting Minutes 10/21/21
Members in attendance: Jennifer Turner, Chhandomay Mandal, Joyce Dvorak, Ye Tong, Rachel Harrington,
Stephanie Burroughs, Remy Coombs, Katina Lawdis, Brooke Harvey
A. Approval of Minutes September 21, 2021 RECEIVED
2021 29 IIS +, Ipi7"i
B. Introduction of New Members TOWN CLERK
LEXINGTON MA
C. Updates
Staff
A. Math department meeting reviewed curriculum updates. Goal to ensure equal access and opportunity
through curriculum review.
B. Social emotional concerns for students and how to support their needs. Staff also need additional
support. Jen shared an article around "relational behavior'. Getting students involved through surveys,
student council and sources of strength. Another group in school will be working on how to help with
self-regulation techniques.
C. Staff concerns around students who are still having trouble with physical distancing in the halls,
particularly.
D. Webinar last week presented some information around the physical response people need for a stress
response. Some of students' responses are the types of behaviors we are seeing. We will continue to
work with students, reminding ourselves of Jeffrey Benson's "100 repetitions"
Parents
A. Anxiety of students getting from class to class on time seems to have been resolved as time has
gone on.
B. Math curriculum presented to parents at the beginning of the year was nice to see and appreciated.
C. Parent expressed confidence and appreciation of the team at Diamond to support students.
D. LEF reminders: grants available for this year and future years. Consider what support LEF can
support for the SEL work.
E. Reference to email Jen sent to parents around the physical altercation and hearing what we are doing
at school is reassuring. There is going to be more follow up and assistance for these students.
Principal
A. Lunch concerns: A letter was sent out to families that warned of food shortages. Our cafe has been
working hard to be sure food is available for all lunches.
B. Yellow Jackets: We have been looking for the nest, but can't find it. Pest control has been coming
through and put up some traps. We have moved lunches inside and allow students to go outside after
they eat.
D. Open Discussion
a. Innovation Plan
Review "Innovation Plan Draft" document. Our School Council needs to take the District objectives
and determine school specific goals. Each objective will be outlined for our work here at Diamond. All
objectives are meant to be multi-year.
• Objective 1: Address and Narrow Equity Gaps. Discussed Restorative Justice Practices and
how important this work is for us. Need to plan how to support staff in these initiatives? Some
are a longer process while other like Standards Based Report Cards were implemented very
quickly. The Restorative Justice work will be a longer process, including bringing in training
and tiered implementation. There are overlaps to SEL, perhaps creating Advisory to support
this work? - Perhaps incorporate with Cultivating Student Agency Objective.
• Objective 2: Redefining Success. Example of PBL work where there were collaborative
competencies that were emphasized all year and honored the "whole child approach". DRUM
recognitions should be expanded since we are picking up from pre-pandemic work.
E. Meeting Adjourned 8 AM
F. Next Meeting November 18, 2021