HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-23-FISKE-minFiske School Site Council -5.23.24 Meeting Notes
Members
Brian Baker,Principal Present
Catherine Murphy,ELL Absent
Lisa Wallace,Gr.1 Present
Lana Panasyuk,Parent Present
Sarina Sherwin,Parent Present
Updates from Mr.Baker
Three Shoutouts!
1.National Conference:NCTE-NCTM Joint Conference For Elementary Literacy and
Mathematics Invites Two Outstanding Fiske Educators to Present!We are pleased to
share that Dr.Molly Rawding and Ms.Tammy McBride have been invited to share
their work as presenters at the upcoming National Conference:NCTE-NCTM Joint
Conference for Elementary Literacy and Mathematics in New Orleans,Louisiana,in
June 2024.Math Specialist/Coach Molly Rawding and Literacy Specialist/Coach Tammy
McBride,Fiske educators,will be sharing their experiences collaborating in order to
make cross-curricular connections with staff and students.At the heart of their work is
our mission:Joy in Learning.Molly and Tammy believe that building trusting
relationships with colleagues is essential in developing community,connection,and the
joy of learning.As math and literacy leaders,they seek to build trust with colleagues
while encouraging collaboration and community in a way where everyone feels valued
for their experiences,questions,and ideas,with the goal of bringing more connection
and joy to school communities.We are thrilled that our Lexington educators can share
their work nationally!
2.The Fiske Newcomer Mentoring Program Earns Goldin Foundation for Excellence
in Education Exemplary Projects Award!ELL educator Ms.Catherine Murphy
created the Fiske Newcomer Mentoring Program in 2012 and has facilitated its
development and expansion in the years since.She has engaged staff and families with
the program's vision,coached other Lexington elementary schools through their
processes to implement newcomer mentoring programs,and tirelessly advocates for and
celebrates the students for whom this program exists.Her work,the work of the
mentors,and the volunteer committee of staff who help plan community meetings,peer
leadership training,and support the continued operation of the program (Fiske
educators Erica Lawrence,Jean Jayne,Deidre Dascoli,Kathleen Dinsmore,
Edward Tsui,Tammy McBride)has had an immediate and lasting impact on dozens of
students entering Fiske with a primary language other than English.The Goldin
Foundation Exemplary Projects Awards are designed to recognize excellence,expertise,
and demonstrable achievement in education.They are recognition awards to projects of
excellence that have existed for at least three years and have potential for replication
and/or adaptation.$7,500 awarded to the mentor program.
3.Core Values Award Recipients!Congratulations to Tammy McBride,Zaida Kevane
and Hannah Kelly who are recipients of this year's Core Values Award!These Fiske
staff members exemplify and "live"our core values on a regular basis!We are very
fortunate to have Tammy,Zaida and Hannah as our colleagues and teachers!
Congratulations to you!Student Placement 24/25 School year
●Underway -Admins meeting with staff on June 5th and 6th to discuss and finalize
Teacher Placement for 24/25
●K -Shanahan,Silva
●1st -Johnson,Wallace
●2nd -Belletti,Gobiel,Owen
●3rd -Aufiero,Halfond,Shew
●4th -Gavrin,Michael,Wilde
●5th -Dinsmore,Eaton,Kelly,Pothier
●Full Support from math and literacy coaches
[Question from Lana]Is the decline in Kindergarten being experienced?
Brian replied that yes the data shows that this is our smallest.ILP students at LCP will
be at Fiske.Past two years they have been going to Estabrook.They will be joining
cohort we have coming in.
[Question from Sarina]METCO students are out,ILP students coming in,The Armory
coming in?
Brian explained that The Armory has been turned into an overflow temporary housing for
homeless families.Hopefully I will have more information to plan for everyone in this
building.
Kindergarten Information
●30 students registered
●K ILP students returning to Fiske for 24/25
●K Screening will take place on Wed.May 29th.All but one has signed up for screening.
New Flooring in all Classrooms
●All Fiske classrooms will be receiving new non wax floors.Custodians will not have to
wax all the floors.Start June 20 but nobody has shared an end date.Anything that is
built into the classroom can stay and can be used for storage and they will work around
it.Hallways have already been done.
Literacy Update
●SC member Eileen Jay observed K and 1st Fundations and Haggerty Lessons.There
have been opinions about literacy shared with SC.She stayed afterwards to meet with
teachers,ask questions to staff.There are still a lot of questions out there -a
district-wide Literacy Night could be an interesting idea.
●Quad Squad!Tammy,Brian,Katie,
Data Teams/SST/MTSS
●All students are getting the interventions they require (Student Success Team)--should a
parent/teacher have a concern,the SST would see them first to see if there is anything
else we can do in the classroom to help the student make progress.Multi-Tiered
Systems of Support.Intervention system at Fiske is strong between all the different ‘dip
sticks’and conversations the teams are having with one another.All elementary schools
are on the same page.
Fiske Fair
●Sunday,May 19th
●Another Successful Fair
●2nd Year of the Sensory Friendly Opening
Field Day
●Friday,June 7th
Grade 5 Move Up Ceremony
●Wednesday,June 12th
●June 11th:5tth graders will go to Diamond
Student Move Up Day
●Thursday,June 13th -30 min -Meet with the grade level teachers
Final Day of School
●Friday,June 14th -12:30 pm Dismissal
24-26 Fiske Innovation Plan
●The “One Pager”Overview
[Questions from Sarina]
●World Language Program -was on the docket,what’s the status?Brian replied that it is
on the side burner for now.
●Cell phones at school -Jonathan Haidt’s recent book ‘The Anxious Generation’there
has stirred up some conversations amongst the parent community.The Fiske Insider
Guide has a small section on the cell phone policy at the school.What have you been
hearing at the administration level about cell phones?Brian replied that cell phone use
at Fiske hasn’t been an issue,and that the policy at district level is the same –if devices
are used inappropriately,they will be confiscated.Watches are considered part of the
same category.He brought up the question about screen time especially at the K-2 level,
but it has been minimal.There has been some wondering about what happens if we
were to institute a no-tech for everybody day.
Dates for upcoming meetings:
Fiske Site Council Monthly Meeting Schedule 3:45-4:30
Member Name Meeting Date Minutes
Brian Baker,Principal 10/18/23 Minutes
Catherine Murphy,ELL 11/15/23 Canceled
Lisa Wallace -Gr.1 12/6/23 Canceled
Lana Panasyuk,Parent 1/10/24 Minutes
Sarina Sherwin,Parent 2/14/24 Canceled
3/20/24 Minutes
4/24/24 Canceled
5/24/24