HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-23-Bridge-minMinutes of Site Based Council
September 23, 2011
Present: Meg Colella, Lucia Gates, Lisa Diamant, Naomi Priver, Sean Osborne,
Erin Maguire, Michele Welch, Jill O'Reilly
Meg updated the School Improvement Plan that will be sent to the C.O.
The two system goals are academic goals and pro - social goals.
Goal 1: New this year will be the implementation of data teams in PLCs. This
will enable teachers to look at data in the cycle to inform instruction.
October 7, 2011 is a Professional Development day and this will be the topic of
discussion and training. Some staff were trained this summer and they will share
their knowledge with the rest of the staff.
Other Professional Development: Guided Reading continues, Book
Groups focusing on literacy, math, and behavioral issues .
This year in Math in grades 2 through 5, there will be 45 minutes each week to
form differentiated math groupings across grade levels. Students may be
grouped between classes so children can be supported and learning may also be
extended. The full time math specialist will be coaching teachers.
Meg mentioned that she would like to see more Peer Observations this
year and she will be able to provide coverage, if needed. A few of the staff have
been doing this already.
Technology: Last year the Bridge Tech Extravaganza was very helpful
and well received. It will be continued this year with new training.
Goal 2: Morning Meetings will have a prosocial focus. The Bridge ABC will be
introduced September 23 rd . ( Attitude, Behavior, Character)
Thirty teachers in the district were trained in Responsive Classroom this
summer and there will be additional training in the Fall and Spring. Erin talked
about the program being non - scripted and is a way of life. It is a social
curriculum, a way to manage the classroom, it includes a morning meeting which
includes discussion of classroom rules, routines, and provides a safe place to
share. She offered to do some training at a Principal Day.
Lucia spoke about a pilot that the third grades did last year to screen for
emotional issues. Children were identified who needed emotional support and
the screening validated the need for others who already were getting support.
ECOVE is another program that will allow staff to go into classrooms and
do observations. The system wants to have screening and this tool will track
behaviors and find the triggers for behaviors. It will support our CAT and BAT
teams and give additional data. This may be used from K to grade 12.
Erin will work with support staff to help with playground issues and recess
issues.
Pro - Social Committee is continuing the Open Circle Fair.
Lucia will also work with 5 t " graders on Cyber Safety.
Erin and Meg will be tracking office referrals. There also will be school wide data
collected from the DRAs, AimsWeb, math assessment checklist and the
behavioral /emotional screening.
Jill asked about what data should be shared with parents at conferences.
Meg said that the Writing Prompt information, DRAs, and AimsWeb could be
shared. Teachers will have the freedom to choose what type of data can be
shared with parents.
Sean questioned how we integrate technology into the classroom. Meg
said that now that we have computer carts with laptops, teachers may use them
in a center based approach with differentiation.
Fast Math is being used in third grade three to five days per week. Other
classrooms has been utilizing the cart during literacy blocks and the children
have been writing stories, doing fluency and reading comprehension work.
Two teachers (Heather and Kristen) have been trained to used smart
board tables. There was a grant written for these tables. Meg would like to see
more teachers write LEF grants.
Renovation:
There have been multiple meetings with the Permanent Building Committee.
The Bridge /Bowman renovation is over budget (22 million vs. 19.3 million). The
architectural firm did not account for more supervisors and double shifts. There
is controversy over the windows which amounts to $800,000. Parents want new
windows at Bridge. Next week there will be more meetings with the Permanent
Building Committee and the School Committee to reopen the topic.
Meg will be sending out information to parents. Parents, not staff will have
to work on the campaign. If the override does not pass, nothing new will happen
for a long time. The projection is 15 years for a new Bridge.
Phasing for construction has been introduced at staff meetings. More
conversations will take place, and more information about the parking situation
and the way that the buses will enter and exit need to take place. Time for
moving classrooms out and back in will be discussed.
Air quality will be tested by a firm during construction. The major
construction will take place over the summer. During the school year, art, gym,
music will share space in the gym. The offices will be in the Art room.
Topics for further meetings can be sent to Meg.
Next Meeting: _October 21, 2011
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Diamant