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JOSEPH CASE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL COUNCIL

 Minutes of November 12, 2009 Meeting 

 

Meeting began at 7:02 p.m. 

 

In attendance:                        Robert Monteiro                       Timothy Cabral

                                                William Whalen                        Barbara Baraby

                                                William Lapointe                       Keith Mello

                                                Andrew Crisafulli                      Stephen Sullivan

                                                Kim Moniz-O’Connor  Patricia Carreiro

 

 

Introduction of Newly Appointed Member

Mr. Timothy Cabral, newly appointed faculty representative, introduced and welcomed to the Council

 

Department Goals Review

Mr. Monteiro reviewed the 2009-2010 goals of each department at the Junior High School [ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science/Technology, Special Education, Art, Health/Physical Education, and Music].  Attention was brought to each department’s goals and their addressing the District and School Improvement Plans in relation to Instructional Strategies, Instructional Technology, MCAS Goals and Strategies, Interdisciplinary Curriculums, and Department Management.  Achievement Indicators for each goal were also identified.

 

MCAS/AYP- Review and Strategies

Mr. Monteiro shared his PowerPoint presentation on the 2008-2009 AYP and MCAS results and strategies and action plans going forward.  Mr. Monteiro explained how CPI and Performance Targets are determined by the State.  Mr. Monteiro identified what the benchmarks in Cycle 5 of AYP Reporting were and what the improvement targets would be for Math and ELA going forward. 

 

Mr. Monteiro also gave a brief explanation of what “Safe Harbor” was in relation to AYP determination.  Safe Harbor – a school that can reduce the number of non-proficient students by 10% in any content area would be considered to have met its target. 

 

In summarizing the report, the difficulty with Open-Response Performance was identified across the Math and ELA testing with a recent improvement in the Science and Technology testing.  Mr. Monteiro shared the strategies that have and will be implemented to address these areas of concern. 

 

Mrs. Moniz-O’Connor provided input on Professional Development that she had experienced as a member of the Fall River School Department [“Accountable Talk” by Dr. Sarah Michaels] and its effectiveness with her students and the researched-based data that the program has accomplished around the country.  Mrs. Moniz-O’Connor expressed that the strategies that she has learned through this Professional Development has provided her with instructional strategies that have helped her students progress in their Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and creating a voice in their communication both oral and written.  Mrs. Moniz-O’Connor offered her assistance in providing Mr. Monteiro with the information regarding this Professional Development.

  

Mission Statement Development

Mr. Monteiro distributed mission statement samples prepared by several Council members.  He requested that the Council table the discussion of the mission statement until the December 10^th meeting, citing the time as 5:05 p.m. and time restriction to complete the remainder of the agenda.  The Council was in agreement to table the discussion.

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Mr. Monteiro reminded the Council that Monday, November 16^th, and Wednesday, November 18^th, were the conference dates.  He informed the Council that parent have bee notified by mail on two occasions, on students’ report cards, and on two separate “One-Calls.”  He also discussed the distribution of Parent Surveys on the conference nights in an effort to increase parent participation with the survey.  Mrs. Moniz O’Connor suggested that the surveys be provided outside each classroom so parents could fill them out while waiting and turn them in to the next teacher that they met with.  The Council agreed that this would be a good strategy, and Mr. Monteiro agreed to implement the strategy.

 

Information

·        Absenteeism was discussed with statistics for the last four days of school being identified.  A peak of 105 students absent and 13 dismissed on Day 3 of that cycle was identified.  Mr. Monteiro identified the precautions that were being taken including providing sanitizing hand and surface wipes for students throughout the school day.  Mr. Monteiro recognized the PTO and concerned parents for their assistance in providing the sanitizing wipes

 

·        Grade 6 MMA-Essay Contest was discussed and Mr. Monteiro recognized the Town officials that attended an assembly with the sixth grade students [Fire Chief P. Burke, Selectman S. Ventura, Town Administrator-J. Kern, and SRO Shane Mello]

 

·        Council contact list was finalized so that the majority of the communication for the Council can be electronic/green

  

Meeting adjourned:  5:12 p.m.

Next meeting:  December 10, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.

  

 

 

JOSEPH CASE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

SCHOOL COUNCIL 

AGENDA 

 

 

Meeting:

Thursday

December 10, 2009

JCJHS Conference Room

4:00 p.m.

  

                                                                                                                                                         

o         Mission Statement – Development/Approval

 

o         Parent-Teacher Conferences – Follow-up

 

o         Parent Survey – Follow-up

 

o         Distribution of 2008-2009 School Improvement Plan

      for review

 

o         Information:  TBA