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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-01-LHS-minLaura Lasa Principal IVf yjohLpo!I jhi !Tdi ppr 251 Waltham Street •:• Lexington, Massachusetts 02421 To: The Lexington High School Council From: Laura J Lasa Re: February Meeting 781- 861 -2320, x69103 lasa @sch. ci.lexim ton.ma.us FAX: 781- 861 -2440 LHS School Council Meeting met on February 1, 2016 from 6:15 -7:45 PM in the Library Media Center. Attendance: Laura Lasa, Kristin Tissera, Suzanne Lau, Katherine Manning, Alex McLaughlin, Liz Curtin, Elise Rowley, Dave Wininger, Eileen Jay, Anne Redmon, Walter Richardson, Absent: Sharon Kendall, Polly Kienle, Elise Santiago, Nancy Shepard Meeting started at 6:15 pm. I. January 11 minutes approved with no changes. II. Announcements from Council members 1. Model UN in New Haven CT — some adjustments due to weather. Students chose to follow the typical protocol rather than trying to be ranked higher. The advisor was proud of the students' decision to model integrity. 2. Update on LHS building evacuation. • The school received an anonymous automated call with a non - specific bomb threat similar to other schools in the area. • The buildings were evacuated as a cautionary measure. The police, Deans and Fire department personnel swept the buildings in about 45 minutes. • A student reported a non - related graffiti message in one of the bathrooms. The police confirmed that it was placed there some time ago. • The high volume of individual cell-phone use impacted communication and access to the computer network during the evacuation. • School resumed with the lunch blocks and the last block cancelled. • The school has 3 levels of evacuation depending on the assessed situation: 1) Evacuate buildings (this case), 2) Evacuate the campus to the track, and 3) Evacuate the school premises. III. The Course Recommendation and Request Process 1. Course level guidelines • Course levels are found in the Course Catalog on the LHS website • Teachers and counselors will emphasize a balanced schedule for students and the identification of a class environment that is suitable for a particular student in that subject area. • Each student will meet with his or her counselor to review the recommendations and course requests. Last year, students found these meetings helpful, counselors appreciated the opportunity to reinforce balance for some students, and teachers appreciated the role of the counselor in reviewing the student's requests in the context of all their requested classes. 2. New Courses (included in the Course Catalog) a. English — Two senior electives, Shakespeare and Company (4 credits, no level) and The Short Story (4 credits, no level). b. Math — Two electives, Intro Computer Programming and Computer Design and Code c. Social Studies — Senior elective, AP US Politics and Government. d. Performing Arts — AP Music Theory and Mixed Tape Anatomy (2 credits, no level, any grade). e. There will be no Honors Biology class next year — The Science Department will evaluate the goals and successes of the Honors Chemistry class offered for the first time this year. f Student Faculty Senate will organize an opportunity for students who have taken a class to share their experience with students considering a particular course and level for next year. g. Science — AP Physics 1 has standards based grading and a new inquiry -based curriculum. This required some settling time for both teachers and students to understand the academic demands of the course and the grading system. IV. Review the 2015 -10216 School Improvement postponed to March meeting. V. Evaluating Competitive School Culture, Part II postponed to March meeting. • Students (conclusion) • Parents /Educators (first brainstorm) V. Adjournment 7:45