HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-22-CLARKE-minPUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
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Jonas Clarke Middle School
School Site Council Meeting
March 22, 2022
3:05 PM
Virtual Meeting, Jonas Clarke Middle School
17 Stedman Road Lexington, MA 02421
Google Meet link:
meet.google.com/khz-ziiu-bat
Members present:Dane Despres, Jonathan Wettstone,Mary Barry-Ng, Stephanie Kozak,Meghan
Olsson, Jillian Clark, Emily Sayre, Yu Wei,Dana Silverberg,Melanie Alexander, Xia Zheng.
Agenda
1.Call to Order, Welcome, & Public Comment
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2.Review & Approve Last Meeting’s Minutes
February 28, 2022 minutes
3.Parent, Staff, and Admin Reports: 15-minute limit
○Parent check-in
i.Question about report cards - concerned about the transition to 9th grade and the
related stress attached (moving to letter grades from standards-based).
Wondering if letter grades communicate a different feeling in terms of
achievement - I got tat “A”
1.Admin noted conversations with LHS - language that can be used now (at
Clarke) to help students in the transition. In our innovation plan -
communication and clarity in the community around standards-based
reporting. We need to all be on the same page - understanding the
standards and levels of attainment. We have not gotten into the
standards-based mindset - yet. In some cases, it communicates more
than any letter grade can show/explain.
ii.Can we install screens in windows at Clarke? Students were getting insect bites
last Fall.
1.Admin - we’ll look into the situation and make requests to facilities.
iii.Can we remove games on Chromebooks?
1.Admin - families can manage gaming at home through their own internet.
Here at Clarke, we shut down gaming as we become aware - send us
sites as you become aware. Please note - kids find “workarounds,”
routing their searches through different venues to get access to what they
want. Bringing this topic up with the technology director sounds wise -
how does the 1:1 initiative affect students?
2.Parent - what can they access?
3.Admin - access varies. If they are placed on our “restrictive” list, they
have little to no access - just Google Classroom. Most can access sites
like YouTube, and we rely on the filter to block inappropriate sites and
searches. The tech department can add to that list as needed.
iv.How is the BU survey going so far?
1.Admin - we started it today with our 7th grade students. The BU survey
leader visited homerooms as well, enabling kids to ask questions. They
discussed safety measures to ensure anonymity and some
details/reasons behind the questions.
v.What percentage of students are still wearing masks?
1.Teacher - around 50% of my 7th and 75% of my 6th grade students.
2.Admin - students wearing masks conditionally based on how many
students are around them.
3.Parent - my kids would like to see less masks, but still around 50%
wearing masks.
○Staff check-in
i.Teacher - I was thinking about student anxiety around mask wearing. I still wear
my mask around students, but it feels like less of an issue - it is what it is. Not
much judgment - less of an issue.
ii.Teacher - same comments about masks - whole spectrum of mask wearing.
○Administrative check-in
i.Admin - the return to lockers has been a hot topic at Clarke. 8th Graders are the
most frustrated and are the most familiar with lockers. I received a petition to
keep backpacks - well written. What they needed to know - the backpacks create
a major safety and fire code violation in classrooms and the cafeteria. I
encouraged teams to give up WIN block time, helping students with locker
combinations.
ii.Admin - we have a new crossing guard on duty, which has been backing up
traffic in a big way. We reached out to the police department to get help in the
process.
iii.Admin - we are seeing an uptick in student misbehaviors.
iv.Admin - in regards to covid related concerns, we have 4 people in the protocol -
waiting for results but are not seeing an uptick in numbers.
4.Revising Clarke’s School Improvement Plan 2022-2024:“Innovation Plan” (See
notes/slideshow)
○Admin - there is a lot to work on. We need to identify priorities - what feels the most
significant or would have the biggest impact on our community? Take a look at the draft
- what is the most important?
○M. Olsson - addressing equity gaps is a big area for our school right now and should
remain a priority. Specifically, continue to work on SBRC and understand this better.
Additionally the restorative practices and equity team are also important.
○D. Silverberg - feel that all of the things are a multi-tiered process. Feel that building a
more robust tier 1 would help.
○D. Despres - MTSS helps us create a multi-tiered system that provides interventions for
all students.
○M. Olsson - realize that not all of our staff use or know of the DCAP. SRT will often site
parts of the DCAP and recommend these accommodations for students who are
struggling.
○D. Despres - clarifies what the DCAP is for all.
○M. Olsson - the DCAP helps us meet our students' needs. It is our job to help all
students succeed.
○D. Silverberg - Other part of the DCAP too is to see what accommodations students
really need. So, if you use the accommodations the DCAP references and the student is
still struggling - that provides us data to make decisions for next steps.
○M. Alexander - the topic that provides the most substance to me is “redefine success”.
Things non-academic and the social emotional pieces need more attention.
○D. Despres - so providing greater focus and awareness of the non-academic and social
emotional skills.
5.Selecting Next Meeting Time & Adjournment