Monday, October 28, 2013

SIT Meeting October 2013



In attendance...
Stephanie Gentry, Principal
Brad Rhymes, 7th grade language arts
Lisa Turner, standing member-media
John Downs, standing member, technology
Brian Griffin, classified ISS
Sharman Lakey, encore
Rachel Holmes, encore
Portia Lakey parent/EC
Matt Halverstadt, 8th grade, social studies
Sherri Worrell, parent rep
Frankie Santoro, 8th  language arts
Jamie Sherman, guidance
Brian Graham, 6th grade science
Kristin Thorne, 6th grade social studies
Brendan Elkins, SIT chair

 SIT Meeting Agenda 10-28-2013
  1. Staff Development Survey Data - John Downs
  2. Testing Data Information
  3. Any other grade level concerns

Brendan R. Elkins

1)  Downs--Grade book tips for Power School--Completion of Quarter Grades
  • Please share with constituents
  • Make sure you are in Q1 when you click on grades in progress and select grades complete
  • When entering comments ( http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/powerteachercomments ), you could copy and paste and arrow down from student to student
    • Don't forget to print your verification and comment sheet for Ms Wilkes
Staff Development Survey:
  • Results are here and here
  • Brendan--One thing we are hitting some of these ideas already in the "Wednesday Swap Meets".
  • Though, the time for the swap meets is the least popular time that people sighted in the survey for staff development
  • There was surprise that teacher work day was listed as a desirable time for staff devlopement
  • Thorne:  What about  RC day for schools?
  • Gentry:  early release days for training might be something in the future with the new superintendent--Dr. Emory
  • Content area staff development is listed as highly desirable 
  • Recommendations: 
    • Brendan—going forward we will use this when considering staff development, perhaps staff development on an open Monday in the future? (Downs sighted January and February as next optimal time (after that we get into year end testing)
  • Suggestion that Teachers lead sessions on the swap meet Wednesdays
  • Turner--it would fulfill a leadership role in the teacher evaluation instrument
    • We have a couple more swap meets scheduled in November (Skype--1st week, and then looking at a "turn it in" session with Elkins then hiatus during the holidays and pick back up in January

Test Data Information

  • Gentry --everyone has access to EVASS data as of today
  • Will be sharing more information at next staff meeting & grade level/subject meetings
  • Nov 7th is the roll out of ALL of the EVASS data
    • May not get a chance to preview it before it goes live
    • Proficiency went down and will go likely down significantly for us
    • In areas we typically do well, compared with numbers in this county—those are down in the state--can be explained because of the new math curriculum and new math test
      • Everyone recovers over time—need to put it in perspective
      • Will share some on Monday—don’t let your peers get down about it
      • Why the downturn?  Common Core-- new, curriculum--new and raised the proficiency level 
      • We preach here about growth, and that’s what we will keep focusing on.
      • Example: State numbers for Algebra 1 –proficiency is in the 30’s—we usually fall in line with the state average, so that will be a drop
      • Gentry will be happy to share any numbers
      • We are a growth school and we will celebrate regardless
        • Reading has had the biggest growth we have had over the last four years.
      • Individual EVASS scores are not public—Gentry can not tell parents that for example

Good of the Order:

  • Sharman Lakey: 
    • Issue with breakfast in the AM
    • Still kids coming at 7:25 when Encore leaves duty.
    • What can be done?  Cut off time?
    • They have to keep coming—can’t deny breakfast
    • Office keeps a stack of breakfast passes
      • Enough passes?  Maybe 5 passes…?
      • Santoro--some teachers have breakfast log-out sheet (so kids don’t abuse that time)  Maybe others should consider?
      • Sharman Lakey—they do stop kids about chatting and not eating
      • Gentry--will talk to Karen to make sure she will be down there until 7:35 -7:40 and work on more passes

Brendan:   Paper Progress Reports half way through second quarter phasing out
  • Schedule is in the student handbook
  • Parent portal will transition over.—last paper one in early December. 
  • Gentry will send out several parent notifications and phone messages
  • Janie Murray—Parent portal information night?
  • Parents can have a parent emailed progress report sent to them once a week..let's work with the teachers on staff who have students show us how that is done
  • Volunteers to help with Janie Murray? parent night
    • An evening in November
    • An afternoon session and then one at 6:00
    • Parents can activate the log-in themselves
Brad Rhymes:  
  • Issue: bus lot in the afternoon, late buses--The kids on the side walk and other kids congregating with them.
  • Reminders to the kids of what are expectations are?
  • If a really late bus, where to put them?
    • If we know the bus is really late, move to end rooms of 800 hall?
Next meeting: Monday November 25th

Brendan:  Surprised we are not seeing more issues at this time of year?  
  • Not the case--which is great!
    • "If we see people slacking—point them in the right direction and lead by example". 
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