HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-29-DIAMOND-min Diamond Site Council Meetings 2018 - 2019
November 29, 2018 Meeting Minutes
Members in Attendance: Jen Turner, Jenny Wright, Sam Bosbach, Dan Strollo, Haixia (Suzy)
Wang, Emma Burtenshaw, Remy Coombs
Note Taker: Liz Sharp
Approval of 10/25/18 Minutes: Approved
Principal's Report:
• Discipline Committee established this year.
• In part to attend to the equity issues on district discipline.
• Jeffrey Benson is our consultant who will help us work with norms, discipline
plans and protocols, etc. We are using the school community grant to fund his
work.
• We have very little discipline issues but our few students tend to make it feel like
a bigger concern.
• Benson will work with us the rest of the year.
• As a staff we have a goal to come to a consensus on what are our norms.
• Panaroma Survey
• Originally approved at CO last spring. The middle school principals had
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee added some questions around identity
to share back with teams as general information.
• Maureen Kavanaugh will be sharing the results with the MS principals on the
aggregate level.
• Perhaps a meeting ahead of time would be helpful for the future.
• Scheduling
• March 2018 a scheduling committee was created. The original goal was to have
some models to share by now so that we could change the schedule for
2019-2020.
• Lots of work on looking at many schedules, other schools' schedules, etc.
Determined the roadblock is the "Program of Studies" because there are too
many options that we need to work with. No courses would be eliminated, but we
may be revamping some courses. Will be looking for more flexibility in our
course offerings and grade level groupings.
• Middle School principals will be reviewing prior work and creating the next steps.
Center for Secondary School Design has been consulted. Looking for someone
to guide the process. There are Black Belt consultants who might be more
helpful. Dan will come up with some options for Jen to review.
• Hoping for longer blocks for flexibility to allow for more project based learning
opportunities.
• Finland Principal Study Group
• The middle school principals spent time with the group early in November. The
priority in Finland is on the foundation of wellness. Philosophy is a student will
"get there" when ready. More flexible supports are available. More simplified
schedules and different time schedules each day. More free time/recess built
into schedule. "Cooperation over competition". "Less is More". No standardized
testing.
• Scheduling committee will try to use some of these lessons in their planning.
Staff Report:
• Sixth grade parent coffee received good feedback.
• Could priority conferences could be scheduled differently? A lot of concerns with the
overall conference schedule. What could be done in the future?
• Hairspray field trip was successful. Innuendo was part of the purpose for the
experience. Goal on the diversity, equity and inclusion theme. Lessons were put
together and shared with teachers. There were opportunities for students to debrief with
teachers when they came back. Will be able to make connections in curriculum the rest
of the year.
Member Input:
• Comments were made during principal and staff reports.
Adjournment 7:55 am
Next Meeting: December 20, 2018