HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-15-LHS-min
School Council Meeting Minutes: November 15, 2010
Members Present: Natalie Cohen, Miriam Lipschutz, Ellen Hilsinger, Bob Ruxin, Kiki
Katsarakes, Walter Richardson, Rina Farber-Mazor, Dave Wininger, Eileen Jay,
Katherine Murphy, Jill Smilow
I.Introduction of new members
Katherine Murphy: 3 year term (teacher)
Ellen Hilsinger : 3 year term (parent)
Eileen Jay: 3 year term (parent)
Miriam Lipschutz (class of ’13) 1 year term
II.Approval of September 20 Minutes
a.We will rotate taking minutes
b.Next meeting – Jill
III.Discussion of New Initiatives
a.Summary of system goals – same for all 9 schools, implementation is
different in each school. New initiatives are in line with these goals.
b.ALPHA program: for students returning to school after a long medical or
psychological absence. Run by social worker Hallie LeBlanc. Students
are already using this service.
c.Learning Center for math and English skills. Students are referred by
classroom teachers through counselors and deans. 2 staff members in
addition to English teachers assigned there instead of duties.
d.Odd/Even policy: new, stronger enforcement. Resulted in an extra odd
testing day added to Q1. Formation of new committee (Equitable
Assessment committee)
i.Staff is moving away from so many high-stakes assessments
ii.One problem: projects and hw assigned simultaneously
iii.Vacation policy not always being followed
iv.Problem for sophomores: Science Fair and History Day
v.Response: teachers assigning checkpoints along the way
vi.What is the role of coping strategies on the part of the student?
vii.What is the role of quizzes in the odd/even policy? And in
assessment in general?
viii.Are AP’s meant for sophomores?
ix.To what degree do we push for excellence? How do we dial down
without pushback?
IV.Mass DESE Silver-Level Wellness Award (first ever!)
a.Discussion of gym requirement
i.Pros: break during the day, physical activity essential, cross section
of students together
ii.Cons: duplicates sports training, scheduling hassle
V.Choices
a.What is the role of the students’ choices in all this? Are some choices
clearly better than others? Is it always black and white?
b.We need to teach decision-making for HS, college and beyond
c.Our choice: do we allow kids to make unhealthy decisions (too many
classes, too little sleep, etc) at the expense of getting into the schools of
their choice?
d.Not just a problem for students: teachers, too!
VI.Education Week article on our PD system
a.Our PD offerings are aligned with school goals and with expectations of
teachers, which is innovative
VII.Back to New Initiatives
a.Walk-throughs
i.Administrators pop into classrooms, give feedback to teacher
within 24hrs
1.Combats 2x/year high stakes observations
2.Evaluates daily work
3.350 walk-throughs completed as of 10/18
VIII.$7500 Grant for Reggie Gibson to create a Celebration of Diversity
a.Project in March: writing, art, performance
b.Idea based on UVa program: everyone in school community wears a T-
shirt on which they have written something about themselves that others
can’t tell by looking
c.Want to touch as many students as possible with this initiative
IX.Nobel Laureate Jerry Freidman coming to LHS
a.50 physics students (maximum set by the group bringing him in) – they
will be chosen by lottery
b.Session will be filmed so that others will have access to this experience as
well.