HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-09-28-Harrington-min
Harrington School Council Meeting
September 28, 2010
Members present:
Amy Chamberlain, Suzanne Cherenson, Judy Crocker, Michelle
Dardeno, Susie Lee-Snell, Elaine Mead, Genevieve Ng, Susan Rosie, Liz Sherriff, Grant
Smith
Attachments:
1.Draft of Harrington Goals 2010-2011
2.“The Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket” from How Full Is Your Bucket? By
Tom Ruth and Donald Clifton 2004.
3.Harrington School Council Enrichment Program Request Form – Grade 2
4.Harrington School Council Open Meeting Schedule
I. Introductions and Welcome to New Members
Welcome Guidance Counselor Amy Chamberlain and parents Suzanne Cherenson and
Michelle Dardeno. In accordance with open meeting laws, the attached Harrington
School Council Meeting schedule for the year is publically posted and submitted to the
Lexington Town Clerk.
Harrington also welcomed two new bi-lingual parents to our Harrington Welcoming
Committee. They proved very helpful in aiding the orientation of some of the 50 new
students over the summer, particularly for those who spoke primarily Chinese or Korean.
They conducted new parent tours with Ms. Mead.
The adult message of How Full is Your Bucket? is included in the hand-outs.
II. Minutes for June 15th
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The minutes for June 15 were unanimously approved.
III. School Improvement Plan Draft
8% of the 258 Harrington students in Grades 1-4 were identified as positive peer
influences. The school would like this number indicating pro-social behavior to be
higher. Conversely, only 3% were identified as needing significant intervention and
support for behaviors.
This year, Dr. Ash is instituting uniform goals that will be utilized in every school
improvement plan across the district. Each school has unique implementation plans to
support these common goals. Discussed were the Instructional Goals, one being
academic and the other social/emotional.
Goal 1: Instruction –Academic
This objective focuses on assessment data processing through the Professional Learning
Communities. Teachers work together in order to identify what students are able to do
versus want they should be able to do and set appropriate instructional goals.
New this year is the school-based collaborative approach in examining school-
wide data. Some teachers have volunteered their interest in researching trends in
MCAS and other school –based data.
Increase the use of instructional technology in order to better integrate some of
the existing tools and to further utilize that technology already in place.
Professional development through the coaching model, namely in math, literacy,
and technology. The Better Beginnings program emphasizes a team approach.
Goal 2: Instruction – Social/Emotional
By reducing sources of unhealthy student stress, it is believed that student and academic
well-being will improve. Stress is seen as a barrier to student achievement.
The premise of growing a culture based on the positive is a topic covered in the
Elizabeth Englander anti-bullying forum held last spring. The book How Full is
Your Bucket? will be the focal point for this discussion and activities. The
premise that bullies need an audience is difficult to accomplish when student’s
buckets are full. The goal is to raise awareness of the impact of positive
relationships on the school community.
Working with the entire staff, develop ways to heighten the awareness of positive
pro-social behavior in the younger grades. Focus will be on awareness of self and
of others. Discussion ensued on creating a school visual for a bucket – whether
there be one per student, classroom, or the entire school. District-wide services
can also help in this effort.
IV. School Council Grants
Susan Rosie spoke on behalf of the Grade 2 teachers, who have requested an Enrichment
Grant for the purchase of books. These books will help with writing strategies as part
of the Primary Writing Program being introduced this year. The grant was unanimously
approved.
Next meeting is October 19, 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Crocker