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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-04-Hastings-minPage 1 of 3 U.lane From: 'If.lane" <j.f.lane @mindspring.com> To: "Tammy Mulligan" <TMulligan @rcn.com >; "Susan Campbell" < scampbell @sch.ci.lexington.ma.us >; "Maria Moxon" <maria @moxonsonline.com >; "Lynne Stinson" < Istinson @sch.ci.lexington.ma.us >; "Reem Yared" <reem @growthwise.com >; "Diana Partyka" <dave.diana @rcn.com >; "Ms. Zichittella" < mzichittella @sch.ci.lexington.ma.us >; "Janet Lane" <j.f.lane @mindspring.com> Cc: "June Hsiao" <jyhsiao @rcn.com >; "Beth Somers Stutzman" <bethsomersl @cs.com >; "Jessie Steigerwald" <jess @shininghours.com> Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 7:08 AM Attach: ATT00008.htm Subject: Minutes November 4, 2004 meeting School Council Minutes November 4, 2004 meeting of School Council PRESENT: Susan Campbell, Marcia Zichittella, Lynne Stinson, Tammy Mulligan, Reem Yared, Janet Lane SCHEDULING: New Meeting times were set so that more people can participate as our former schedule excluded Tammy. The new meeting times are as follows. We assume we may need to schedule additional meetings in the Spring. December 7, 7:45 a.m. Tuesday January 13, 3:30 p.m, Thursday February 8, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday March 10, 7:45 am Thursday April 13, 3:30 pm Wednesday May 12, 6:00 pm Thursday June 9. 3:30 pm Thursday COCHAIR: Tammy Mulligan was elected as co- chair, along with Lynne Stinson SCHOOL COUNCIL ORIENTATION: Lynne Stinson handed out a written guide to explain the role and history/ idea of School Councils. There was not time to review it during the meeting so it was sent home for members to review. OPEN QUESTIONS: Reem brought forward some issues parents had asked her to bring up as examples to ask if these questions were the role of school council. The issues included: Bullying, playground safety, the smooth flow of lunch to increase time children can eat, an increase after lunch recess time, the need for more use of student interns. Lynne answered each, as to current efforts to address these problems and Lynne explained that school council is a policy developing body, not an implementation group. School council members can act as "triage" referral bodies helping parents know where to begin resolving issues. Any issues that are "Does the School have a policy regarding...." should be brought forward to SC meetings,. Any conflicts between children or classroom issues should be first brought before the class room teacher, then to Lynne. Lynne asked us to email concerns to her as they come up rather than compilinlg a list for our monthly meetings. We discussed the need to ibalance Lynne knowing what issues are concerning parents vs. the need to accomplish our agenda at meetings. Sue Campbell offered the observation that Lynne can learn where more communication is needed to inform parents so all 12/7/2004 Page 2 of 3 questions don't come through SC members. Perhaps more use of the weekly bulletin to clarify questions that parents bring to SC members. SAFETY: DISMISSAL PROCEDURES: We thanked Lynne for soliciting help in drafting her letter to parents explaining the new dismissal policy. On November 8 and Nov. 9 teachers will be out in the parking lot and street helping to "retrain" parents as to the proper procedure and to monitor implementation of the plan. Lynne explained there is some flexibility in the plan not written in her letter, such that children who walk can meet their parents where they currently meet them - all children do not have to go to the gym, but there should be communication with the classroom teachers to verify variations in the plan. We are currently lobbying hard to get the town to paint a crosswalk from the end of the school sidewalk (near the teacher's parking area) and the town sidewalk on Crosby street. INTERESTED PARENTS SHOULD PLEASE CONTACT WAYNE BROOKS, the Town of Lexington's Highway Superintendent to ask for a crosswalk. VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK: Should soon be completed. Lynne is planning to host a breakfast for parents on volunteering at Hastings. Marcia asked that Volunteering in the art room be included in the list of options (it is not in the present draft). 2004 -2005 possible school council goals: We discussed a potential list of School Council goals for the upcoming year and planned to assign a topic to each of our monthly meetings so that parents with particular interest or expertise can better know if they are interested in coming. We discussed last year's goals and the role of administration to be sure actions are begun that will implement progress on them. Our wish list of possible new goals included: - The Lunch process, and nutrition at lunch - Promoting physical exercise and better playground procedures - Bullying - Differentiated instruction in Math - Improving Communication for parents /staff /administration - Welcoming Our Students - in particular making Hastings more supportive of our METCO, ILP, and special needs students Our next meeting on Tuesday, December 7, at 7:45 am, will discuss the lunch process. Parents are encouraged to attend and participate in discussion, although they will not be voting members. School council members were encouraged to observe lunch at Bridge or Estabrook (both school's of comparable size), and at Hastings. 12/7/2004