HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-09-LHS-minLexington High
251 Waltham Street •:• Lexington, Massachusetts 02421!
Laura Lasa
Principal
11
To: The Lexington High School Council
From: Laura J Lasa
Re: January Meeting
781- 861 -2320, x69103
lasa @sch.ci.lexington.ma.us
FAX: 781- 861 -2440
LHS School Site Council Meeting met on January 9, 2017 from 6:15 -7:45 PM in the Library
Media Center.
Present: Laura Lasa, Suzanne Lau, Shiv Chandra, Sharon Kendall, Elise Santiago, Liz Curtin,
Katherine Manning, Nancy Shepard. Dave Wininger, Leslie Zales, Sheera Knecht
Absent: Elise Rowley, Polly Kienle, Katie Cutler, Alex McLaughlin
Guests: Andy Baker (LEA President), Christine Sullivan (teacher), Matt Campos (Student
representative to School Committee), John Murray
Agenda
The December 12 minutes were approved with no changes.
I. Announcements from Council members
• School Committee meeting update (Jan 3): Discussion on World Language in
elementary schools, K -12 Enrollment projections, Central registration system, FY2018
Budget update and resignation of Bill Hurley (Chairman) from the School Committee.
• An on -line survey of students regarding I Block will begin on January 17. All students
are encouraged to participate. A faculty survey is currently being conducted. A parent
survey will be sent out the week after the student survey is completed.
• Principal Laura Lasa announced her retirement at the end of the current school year.
II. Associate Principal Student Survey on Homework
Dr. John Murray presented preliminary results of his 2015- 2016_volunteer survey on
homework and student activities outside of school (conducted in Q3 last year).
• The survey asked student volunteers in all grade levels to report on time spent on
homework and up to 6 activities after the end of their school day.
• Students were asked to complete the survey on different days of the week.
• 188 responses, 81 unique individuals participated (self - selected)
• Most responses from Grade 11, then 10, 9 and lowest from Grade 12
• While the data set is limited, trends observed correspond to anecdotal experience
(Grade 11 reported the most total time spent on homework).
Questions and Comments:
• Extra - curricular time is not easily extracted - averages not necessarily
representative of the individual experience.
• What homework trends were observed as the quarter progressed?
• What part of homework is teacher directed (written ?) and what is student choice
(study for assessment)?
• What is the effect of transitioning from study halls (10th grade) to free blocks in
1 lth grade?
• Each student has a unique course load and extracurricular activities — difficult to
compare data sets.
• Family and relaxation time is low.
Additional steps:
• I Block surveys are planned in an on -going manner
• An additional survey with last year's participants is anticipated to incorporate the
implementation of I Block (has it changed the school conditions ?).
III. Mid -Year Check -In — Additional topics to discuss
• Process to transmit IEP plans to colleges
• Projected enrollment growth and the impact on classes, I Block etc.
• Access to library for freshmen and sophomores during studies — procedure in the
Student - Parent Handbook
• Inconsistency of work load and difficulty of different sections of the same class
IV. Adjournment at 7:45 pm.