Forum Meeting, November 28, 2012

Forum Meeting 11/28/12

Present: Paul Wallin, Clara Clark, Matt Porrovecchio, Matt Jensen, Brenda Clark, Josh Feller,Rhonda White, Amy Bessen, Tracy Swope, Amber Britt, Jen Wood, Sarah Taylor, Sami Jones, and Jesse Smiley

The first item brought up was the time frame involved with Forum meetings. Many of the participants felt that it could be held in the latter part of an early release day, since some were affected by daycare time commitments.

Rhonda felt the Forum’s job has changed, and asked “where does it fit with HPT teams’ goals?”

Sarah T explained the original purpose and format of the Forum.

Clara asked if we could narrow the meeting points to minimize meeting time length.

Matt Jensen noted that administrators are non-voting members. He said we can change the format (digital proposed) or can vote on format as a Forum. He stated that Forum serves as a vehicle that allows HPT’s to give and share ideas for direction and directives to groups.

Brenda Clark suggested digital format (email, blog) as a means of keeping a record of group work. Meetings would be formally organized on an “as needed” basis.

All present members agreed a digital format would be time saving, and allow more HPT’s a chance to have input to the Forum.

Next meeting will be complete with individual laptops so we can, as a group, learn to create and use a blog (chosen format). Stay tuned!

Sarah Taylor,

Recorder during Scarlett’s absence

Good News 5/6 Team, November 28, 2012

Good news: We have been working on the elementary food drive and that is going very well. We have organized a buddie system with fourth graders and that is building school community and involvment. HPT: 5th grade team PIR opportunities: We would like more training on Writing programs such as Step Up and 6 traits. We would also like to have more in-district technology opportunities. Thank you, Amber

Good News K-2 Team, November 28, 2012

Good news for K-2 Team: Report cards are done!!! We also devised some strategies to help next trimesters report cards run smoothly. What are we up to: Currently we are discussing student gap concerns for incoming kindergarteners and between grades. How does the transition from old standards to common core effect how we match student needs? Forum discussion ideas: Are there preschool options, not just for teachers but rather for the community? Gov't funding? We have big concerns about little ones coming to school with no preschool or family support. If they are held to common core standards are we creating huge gaps?

Grading Practices Team Notes, November 9, 2012

Meeting Notes: We discussed what we felt were the key reasons for the change. Additionally, we shared the research we found online about standards based grading and how other school districts went about doing it. Walla Walla Public schools broke down the implementation into phases; we would like to adopt some of these. Phase 1: Laying the Foundation. Research that supports why we should change our current grading practices. We plan on being done with phase 1 after our next HPT meeting December 7th Phase 2: Developing Framework How will it work? The logistics. Creating a rollout plan. Creating common grading rubrics/practices. We plan on being done with this after our last HPT meeting of the year May 3rd We would like to make our proposal/recommendation to the board at the May 8th board meeting. Phase 3: Implementing Rollout Plan This is created during phase 2, and we would be following it Parent meetings, easing away from letter grades, etc. We plan on this happening during the 2013-2014 school year. This is also the trial year for common core standards, so we felt that would go well together. Phase 4: Implementation in the Middle School Complete implementation of standards based grading for the middle school during the 2014-2015 school year. Official implementation of common core standards. Through our research we found that the districts and schools that were most successful spent multiple years in creating a plan and developing the resources necessary for standards based grading to be received well and effectively adopted by teachers. We want to make sure we don't rush and have quality material that will be used. What our key reasons for change: Making grades more meaningful Grades are meant to communicate student achievement, so separating achievement into standards and life skills will more accurately address student knowledge and the skills we'd like them to take into the real world. (pride in work and working hard vs do they know the content) Additionally, current grades are trying to summarize a students achievement on all standards taught in a trimester instead of clearly stating strengths and weaknesses. Benefits all students Students who are struggling but are good at "playing school" will get their recognition for having life skills, while still addressing their academic needs Gift and talented students will demonstrate their mastery of standards, which will allow them to be pushed even further in the content area. Consistence for students vertically and horizontally Students will have common and clear expectations for each classroom. These expectations academically will be clearly stated and demonstrated, so each grade level teacher will know about student academic achievement. Additionally, classroom behavior expectations will be common and are developed to help them be successful in high school and life. Standards based grading addresses our school mission statement "acquire the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to be individually successful throughout life" All of this must be facilitated/taught. Grading students on content and life skills is better way to communicate with students and parents what skills students need to develop further to be successful throughout life, not just in school. It will also give specific information on student knowledge. Amy Bessen 6th/7th Grade Mathematics Bigfork Schools

Forum Meeting, October 10, 2012

Forum Meeting October 24, 2012 Attendance: K-1-Jessie Smiley 2-3-Sami Jones 4-5-Amber Britt ELEM/MID Sped-Tracy Swope ELEM/MID Title- Grading Practices-Amy Bessen ELEM/MID MBI-Jennifer Wood Wellness- Tech Team-Scarlett Shermn Fine Arts –Sarah Taylor Evaluations - HS MBI –Josh Feller HS Tech –Stormy Taylor HS RTI Industrial Arts Welcome Discuss time: 3:20-4:30 (to be adjusted in my opinion) Review: (Given Handouts) • Role of Forum. HPT group breakdown, Role of Instructional Forum • Professional Development Overview for 2012-2013 per last years FORUM & et al. • Professional Development Framework with regards to PIR per last years FORUM & et al. Good News 3rd Grade held the first Elem recognition assembly. They did a really great job! 3rd grade has also started the Daily 5 a reading program and is having success. 5th Grade students are paired with 2nd grade student reading buddy program. Going really well. 6th Grade hosted the annual Carnival again. Reports on HPT meetings K-1 working on math common core, looking at changing report card to align. 2-3 2nd grade working on report cards to align. 3rd grade working on math common core. 4-5 working on school community. Pairing 4th & 5th graders with “buddies” working towards school to community project. ELEM/MID Sped working on developing program where getting students out into the community ie. Recipe building, grocery shopping, meal preparation. ELEM/MID Title Grading Practices goal setting and developing a rubric to try to get grading changed over. Going in direction standards based grading. ELEM/MID MBI MBI hasn’t met yet. Middle school hosted Dr. Corso from My Voice Survey. Looking at school climate. Elem did the peach prize again. Ready to do self-assessment survey with the staff and my voice again. Tech Team Tanya, Gloria and I are surveying staff to see what type of technology they would like to implement into their classroom. Also, how can get more teachers using their Interwrite board. We have also been making sure the Interwrite boards are working consistently. Gloria and I would really like to see more people using the digital library. We all would like more new tech training. Fine Arts discussing music arts culture. How to incorp more into the school. Evaluations working on developing a new eval tool for staff. Appleyby is included in this to provide staff input/representation because he is the Union Presi. HS MBI conference on Oct. 29 & 30, finishing up posters, pair freshman with upperclassman. Would like to do video announcements. Starting Birthday announcements 6th peiod HS Tech Summarized last years goals and rolled over into this year. Goals include: poll staff of tech issues/ideas or things want to learn; setup printing to Copier(staff room) and Library Copy Machine; make sonic wall access longer than 30 min?; what’s up with the Internet/are we getting something faster?; please clarify what is expected with regard to MBC and/or rschooltoday; what are some “real-world” tech things that students will need in the workforce; do we know what colleges and/or the workforce recommend? HS RTI Industrial Arts ???Here are some questions for next time: Does OPI offer any differentiation training/support? When is the next CRISS date? Does that include everyone or just those taking it for credit? Can there be sub-release time to vertically align with the Common Core? Ie. Math Can we move FORUM meeting to the last half of HPT time? How can we get more membership from all the teams? Meeting Dates: Oct. 24 Nov. 28 Dec. 19 Jan. 30 Feb. 27 March 27 April 24 May 29

Forum Meeting, May 11, 2011

Attendance:

K-2:  Celie Perleberg

3-4: Michelle Kaney

5-6: Kathy Manders

Wellness: Mary Ahnert

Intervention (Elementary): Bridget Martel

English:  absent

Math:  Josh Feller

Tech Team: Sue Zielanski

Intervention (High School):  Clara Clark

Social Studies:  Stormy Taylor

Science:  Vicki Heupel

Art:  Sarah Taylor

Administration:  Jackie Boshka

Good News:

Stormy Taylor’s classes are having a cultural week.  Highlights include dances, songs, Japanese culture, and the Salish and Kootenai tribes.

Art club received a thank letter from the Food Bank for the 20 bowls they made and donated to the Empty Bowls project.

Jackie commended the last school board presentations from the teams.

Wellness team went on a field trip to Peaceful Gardens.  They are willing to do field trips next year for classes.

Teacher Appreciation Week—great lunch at elementary school.

Agate conference—several attendees from both schools, great information.

Grades 3 and 4 are working on musicals—The Solar System and The Lewis and Clark Expedition

High School Intervention is two years into their five year plan already.

Reports on HPT meetings

PIR ideas:

·          Agate—specifically how to include enrichment activities in the curriculum, Eliza Sorte is a great speaker

·          Intervention time to develop more consistency in grading

·          Life coach training with Gina Lyons

·          Creating literacy and math activity centers

·          Curriculum Compacting

·          Web 2.0 tools

·          Creating my view for school website

·          Refresher on Step up to Writing

·          Focus on the direction of grading and grading practices

·          Time for new department members

·          Policies and procedures, especially for new teachers

·          Refresher for school website

·          Gradebook

·          Interwrite and Smartboard

·          Blogs

·          Brain Processing and Stress with Bridget

·          Dr. Ruby Payne—Framework for Understanding Poverty

·          Nutrition education in the classroom

·          Yoga

·          Yoga in the classroom

·          School Gardens in the curriculum

·          Junior Great Books training

·          Share Agate information from workshop

·          www.bigforkschools.org advanced training

·          Clickers

·          Basic Computer Troubleshooting

·          Copy Machine-scanning, email

RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE AND UNANAMOUSLY AGREED NOT HAVE IT IN THE CAFETERIA FOR ALL DAY, SUGGESTION TO HAVE IT AT CROSSROADS WITH THAT GREAT SOUP WE HAD LAST TIME!

Forum Meeting, April 27, 2011

Attendance:

K-2:  Celie Perleberg

3-4: Michelle Kaney

5-6: absent but sent report

Wellness: Mary Ahnert

Intervention (Elementary): Bridget Martel

English:  Charlie Ball

Math:  Josh Feller

Tech Team: Sue Zielanski

Intervention (High School):  Clara Clark

Social Studies:  Stormy Taylor

Science:  Vicki Heupel

Art:  Sarah Taylor

Administration:  Jackie Boshka

Good News:

Student Council elections this week at the high school.

Stormy Taylor has had Mike Bennett, a Vietnam Vet, as a guest speaker in her classroom.

Assembly at the elementary school on Wednesday.

Wellness Committee has received a grant to teach health and yoga and to pay the wellness chair a stipend.  There will also be two PIRs offered next year for teachers.

Jesse Venteicher won a national photography contest.

Reports on HPT meetings

K-2: worked on end of the year assessments and how to put them in a report card style

3-4:  worked on teacher/student numbers for next year, combining classes and departmentalizing content areas; 4^th grade is getting ready for the Lewis and Clark play

5-6:   worked on assessments and the board report

Wellness:  three high school students have joined the committee, the school board requested a prioritized list which includes—fresh produce for school meals, Farm to School speaker, field trip to Peaceful Garden, nutritional education at all grade levels, yoga for 8^th grade, webinar on school garden, lunch time for high school, vending machines, student store

Intervention:  evaluated what is and is not working, what should be contained in the files from grade to grade

Tech team: worked on board report

Intervention (High School):  looked at elementary data room and what can come across with 8^th graders and Swan River students

English:  worked on board report, looked at how Science was using assessments on a quarter basis, checked out the national standards, and looked at aligning semester finals

Science:  discussed the Science department changes

Social Studies:  worked on board report

Math:  worked on board report, continued on the assessment database for PreAlg            

Art: worked on board report

HPT meetings—please discuss with teams PIR ideas for next year.  What are you willing to present and what would you like to see presented.  Speaker for HPT work????