HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-01-BRIDGE-min
BRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL-BASED SITE COUNCIL
55 Middleby Road, Lexington, MA 02421
781-861-2510
MARCH 1, 2019 MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED MAY 24, 2019
Attendance: Lynnette Allen, Tiffany Crooker, Kristen Gray, Amy Kvaal, Kimberly Hensle
Lowrance, Ruth Litchfield, Zeba McGibbon, Anita Patel, Deirdre Schadler, Kira Sevene,
Melanie Tanionos, and Maria Totniou.
The Bridge Elementary School School-Based Site Council held its monthly meeting on
Friday, March 1, 2019 at the Bridge Elementary School Library. The meeting began at 8:06
AM.
Kristen Gray led the meeting on behalf of Meg Colella.
The December 2018 and January 2019 Meeting Minutes were approved.
The first topic was a discussion of report cards. Kristen Gray explained that standards-
based report cards were implemented seven to eight years ago and are based upon
Massachusetts curriculum standards. Ratings include M (Mastering), P (Progressing), B
(Beginning), and N (Not yet demonstrating progression). Expectations are what student
will achieve by the end of the year, so may be P at mid-year and M by end of year. Social
studies and science units are taught at specific time, so may see same categorization for
whole year if taught at beginning or blank at beginning because unit has not been taught.
Report cards come out twice a year, and alternate with parent-teacher conferences, which
means that teachers are in touch with parents about student performance on a quarterly
basis (and as needed).
One change in this format from prior formats is that there is no longer a section for
comments. The expectation is that teacher is in touch with parents to keep them apprised
of how student is doing. Kristen explained that there was a multi-year committee that
looked into report cards, and the result was eliminating comments across the district.
Report cards are always under review because standards are being reviewed. Some
parents at the SBC meeting expressed disappointment in no longer having comments,
feeling that they’re missing a snapshot of who the child is and how they’re doing on a more
personalized level.
Parents also expressed frustration with the email the district sends out from Aspen
announcing the report card. It does not include a link to the report card in Aspen or even to
Aspen with information about how to access the system. It’s confusing and could be a
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barrier if a user’s first language isn’t English. Kristen said she’d pass this feedback onto
assistant director of curriculum.
Parents also suggested the school emphasizes the plan for communicating student
performance at the beginning of the year (i.e., conferences, report cards, conferences, and
report cards).
Kristen explained that one drawback of the report card is that if a student is excelling in a
certain area, the report card doesn’t reflect that, as it caps out at M. She also added that
sometimes middle school teachers do reach back to elementary school to talk about
students. Reports cards are included in the students’ cumulative folders.
The next topic was recess. Kristen explained the guidelines related to recess:
Students wouldn’t have outdoor recess if it’s 18 or below. Then recess would be
held indoors.
Recess cannot be taken away as disciplinary reasons, though it can be shortened if a
students needs to finish something as directed by a teacher or aide.
If students don’t have snow gear and/or are repeatedly not following directions,
they may have alternative choices for their recess (instead of being outdoors).
The amount of recess is same throughout all grades: 15 minutes unassociated with
lunch and 20 minutes coupled with lunch
Parents asked if pairing lunch with recess impacts a student’s ability to eat lunch within
time period. There is enough time, Kristen explained, and if a child needs to continue to eat,
his/her lunch is saved for later in the classroom.
NOTE: Our next SBC meetings will be held April 26, May 24, and June TBD (based on the
last day of school).
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Meg Colella, Principal/Co-Chair
(mcolella@lexingtonma.org), or Kimberly Hensle Lowrance, Parent Representative/ Co-
Chair (khensle@gmail.com); or visit https://lps.lexingtonma.org/domain/481.
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