Minutes from West School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting

1-7-16

4:00-5:00

Members in attendance: Kristy Sieckhaus, Erik Viafore, Vaishali Kukreja, Brian Giannini-Upton, Alice Finch, Miriam Finch, Carol Best, David D’Souza (School Board liaison)

Topic / Details / Comments/Next Steps/Decisions
Signing of BYLAWS / · Final BYLAWS signed / All members present. All members agreed to the BYLAWS as written. Carol signed as the representative of the team.
Recess / · Kindergarten recess success
· Recess assembly
· Recess hallway display
· Rainy day recess concerns
· Rainy day recess process / WM recess was reviewed in the following ways:
· Kindergarten recess has been successful. Significantly fewer discipline issues.
· Reintegrating Kindergarteners with 1st & 2nd graders for recess will be handled slowly (first afternoon recess and then morning recess) but only after both teachers and parents have the chance to share (via survey) that they think students are ready.
· SAC team recommends starting next year with kindergarten having their own recess.
· Other recesses are also going well thanks to the following actions (recess assembly, recess hallway display, additional recess supervisor)
· They rainy day recess concerns were shared (students’ thinking that there isn’t enough to do and para’s thinking that students are too loud and do not sit where they are supposed to)
· Student Council has been asked to get involved in this process and try to solve the problems themselves. We are awaiting their ideas.
SIP Implementation plans / · Fundamental 2: maintain the highest standards in academic areas
· Fundamental 7: foster diversity, inclusiveness, and equity with a focus on respect and acceptance of every student / WM SIP implementation processes were explained.
Fundamental 2 Goal One (ELA) / · Mondo Bookshop
· Observable components
· Universal screening
· Monitor and collaborate
· Utilize Coaches / Discussed the new Mondo curriculum and how it is different from previous curriculum (differentiated, comprehensive, imbedded staff development, district coaches to support teacher implementation).
Fundamental 2
Goal 2 (Math) / · Math Expressions K-5
· Observable components
· Monitor and collaborate / Discussed the new curriculum and CCSS (fewer targets but taught with more depth and to greater student mastery).
Fundamental 7 / · Diversity Action Team
· EES data
· Second Step Social/Emotional curriculum
· Second Step Bullying Prevention Units / Discussed EES data (lower than expected % of staff and parents who report positive cultural indicators). Additional follow up was requested (how does our cultural data compare to others—not just in MI but for all districts that EES surveys). Carol will follow up and report back at our next meeting.
DAT / · Work of DAT
· Demographic Trend data
· Growing ELL #s / WM demographic trend data presented which promoted discussion regarding how best to include students and families from more diverse backgrounds in our school and its events. Having 3rd grade coordinating their cultural study with the Culture Fair was seen as a very positive move. Additional Culture Fair ideas were proposed (perhaps more than one Culture Fair so that different cultures could be focused on at each fair, perhaps involving LEGO building blocks with interactive maps). Brian will gather ideas to share with PTA.
Transition / · 3 elementary schools to 4
· How to honor those who are moving to other schools?
· How to welcome those who are joining us?
· “new” school in 16-17
· “branding”? refreshed logo? / Meeting time was over before we got to this topic. Team members were asked to bring ideas to our next meeting.
Additional Items? / Additional concerns that were raised:
· Car pick up/drop off (Safety team will address and reminders will go to parents through PTA newsletter and Principal monthly newsletter)
· High HiCap class #s (Carol will pass this on to district and ask if a representative can come to one of our meetings this year to discuss with us)
· It was suggested that an emotional readiness component (like the teacher rating scales which are used for PEP) be added to the HiCap identification process (Carol will pass this suggestion on to district)
· It was recommended that a parent education component be added for HiCap (or as a precursor to HiCap)—what does it mean to be “highly capable”?
· A concern was expressed that dog’s have been running off leash on campus (when parent’s come to pick up their children). A reminder of district policy can be included in school communication.