HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-15-BRIDGE-min BRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL-BASED SITE COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 15, 2019 MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED JANUARY 17, 2020
Attendance: Margaret Colella, Erin Cerat, Tiffany Crooker, Kimberly Hensle Lowrance,Amy
Kvaal, Zeba McGibbon, Sejal Patel, Melanie Tanionos, Brienne Thibodeau, and Betty Yee.
The Bridge Elementary School School-Based Site Council (SBC) held its monthly meeting on
Friday, November 15, 2019 at 8 AM in room 19, 55 Middleby Road, Lexington.
Meg Colella opened the meeting with a discussion of the new homework policy. (See
https://docs.google.com/document/d/lpOCPglSuZvDq,xZONxKZubMXPIx4 iTiBUs3ajrLhs
LQ/edit?ts=5dc192cf.) The SBC considered the implications of the plan on the Bridge
community.
Meg noted that the fifth grade team recently met with representatives from the middle
school team to understand how the transition from elementary to middle school is going
for Bridge students, especially as it relates to homework. The feedback was the students
could use more preparation on executive functioning and time management.
Meg referenced Zeba McGibbon's work this summer to create additional academic
opportunities to supplement student learning.These activities can be completed with
family members. Some are focused on life skills (for example: helping to set the table), and
the activities are presented in a Bingo format so students see them as fun and interesting.
Other teachers present similar activities in a monthly calendar format.
Families are facing some challenges when offering optional additional homework, as kids
see it as not assigned and therefore does not need to be completed. This is a family issue,
and is not something that can be addressed at school.
Meg explained that there is leeway in the homework policy. Teachers can assign relevant
and useful homework over and above the expected reading. Meg has empowered teachers
to make decisions about what is best for their students,but the policy must be consistent
school to school. Therefore,teachers are checking in with her to make sure they are
working within the parameters of the new policy.
Parents have indicated that homework is how they know what's happening in the
classroom, and its elimination leaves them uncertain how their child is doing. In response,
teachers are increasing the ways that they keep parents apprised of what's going on via
Class Dojo, newsletters, emails, and other communication tools.
Kids are busy and focused all day long, and many have afterschool activities, so balancing
homework and other obligations is a consideration.
1
Betty Yee shared the tools she's using this year to help parents encourage their kids to keep
moving forward on their reading. She also said that it's important for kids to have
downtime after school.
Meg talked about Bridge's efforts to increase cultural awareness through the "Building
Bridges Across Cultures" effort, led by Deirdre Schadler. Families from outside the US
shared what homework and school is like in their home countries. Teachers have said it's
been one of the best professional development classes they've had. It will be offered next
on December 12. Cultural awareness helps teachers understand their students better and
see why students and parents react a certain way and/or ask specific questions.A parent
asked if this information can this be turned into an article/newsletter for parents? Meg will
look into this.
A parent asked if there will be another Bridge Learns? Bridge Learns is an evening of talks
by Bridge teachers/specialist for our parent community, and was funded by a LEF grant.
There is not currently one planned for the 2019-2020 school year,but Meg will look into
the possibility off adding it to the spring schedule.
The group discussed the reasons why some parents/guardians were for or against
homework. Some felt that their children needed the preparation and the challenge offered
by homework; others felt that homework is stressful, isn't substantive, and conflicts with
after school activities.
A parent shared her daughter's positive experience in Ms. Bean's classroom. Ms. Bean
regularly comments on student work in the Google document, going back and forth to
answer questions,which provides feedback and helps students feel supported. Meg noted
that other teachers employ similar efforts.
At our next meeting, Brienne Thibodeau will be asked to present on student choice in the
classroom (example: the pedagogy behind letting students select where they sit in the
classroom and how they accomplish their tasks).
The September and October Meeting Minutes were unanimously approved.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 AM.
For additional information, contact Meg Colella, Principal and Co-Chair
(mcolella(@Iexingtonma.org), or Kimberly Hensle Lowrance, Parent Representative and Co-
Chair (khensle@gmail.com); or visit https://Ips.lexingtonma.org/domain/481
2