HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-12-13-ESTABROOK-min
Estabrook School Council Meeting
Thursday, December 13, 2018
MINUTES
Members Present: Amy Burk, Steve Chang, Joyce Dvorak, Christina Gavin, Amy Klotz,
Chhandomay Mandal, and Rick Rogers
Approval of November 14 , 2018 Minutes: On a motion by Joyce Dvorak, seconded by
Steve Chang. the minutes of November 14, 2018 were unanimously approved.
Principal Search Process
The position was posted on December 3 and is being advertised on-line and in educational
publications. A letter from Superintendent Julie Hackett will come out before December
break inviting staff and parents to serve on the Search Committee. First round interviews
will be scheduled in January with a final appointment expected in February.
Focus Topic for Discussion: Homework - Year 2 Survey Results
Council members continued to discuss the results from last year’ survey of parents, staff
and students at Diamond.
The data is organized around the following questions:
Question 1: What are the self-reported impacts on family and student life outside of
school?
Question 2: What are the self-reported and observed impacts on students’ social
and emotional well-being?
Question 3: What do academic outcomes look like for Estabrook students over the
course of the pilot? How do these outcomes compare with other LPS elementary
schools?
Question 4: What are the self-reported impact on students’ reading behaviors and
interest in reading?
Question 5: How might this approach to elementary homework impact student
preparation for middle school homework demands?
Additional finding: Homework perceived as a tool for developing work habits
Additional finding: Use of targeted, short term intervention
Additional finding: Communication with families
Observations & Wonderings
Middle School Transition: Nothing really stood out from survey of students at
Diamond. Do we want to revisit policy in Grades 4-5 to ease transition to middle
school?
Reading: Only 70% are reporting reading for pleasure at home. How do clarify the
expectation for daily reading and increase participation and consistency? Can we
identify strategies (e.g. monthly themes) as a way to make reading more public and
to promote increased reading at home?
What About Math? How can we incorporate “math for pleasure” into expectations
for home activities?
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Targeted Practice: How do clarify expectations for teachers and families about
“targeted practice” in order to make it a more regular practice? Teachers need time
to discuss developing more consistency (within and across grade levels) in terms of
expectations for when and how to use targeted practice. Should we be using it for
things other than reading and math? Identify the on-line tools currently used and
what other options should be available. Get the EdCamp group notes on this topic.
Is there an acceptable trade-off of slightly lower MCAS scores for reduced stress and
increased reading?
Learning calendars were discontinued in year 2 and should likely not be brought
back.
What about opportunities for extension and enrichment?
Questions About Survey Data
Based on MCAS performance, were students with special more negatively impacted
by the change in policy than other groups? We likely need more than two years of
data to draw any conclusions.
There appears to be a slight increase in parents enrolling their children in academic
after school programs (5.9% to 8.3%). Is this significant?
Suggestions for Future Surveys
Survey middle school parents about the transition to middle school in terms of their
perceptions about homework (their child’s stress and level of independence, etc.)
Survey parents about their child’s experience with targeted practice.
Next Meeting: Wednesday January 16, 2019 – 3:30
Focus Topic: School Improvement Plan Goal 2 (Social Emotional) Update
Upcoming Meeting Schedule – Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 (monthly)
January 16 April 10
February 6 May 15
March 6 June 5
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