September 2018 Meeting Minutes

PiE Monthly Meeting

September 13, 2018

Flex Space 7:00-8:30

In attendance: Tanya Jones, Anita Howard, Jamie Cudney, Christine Lutters, Heather Roberts, Aimee Frost, Mary Hong, Suzie McCoy, Suzan Locke, Jim Goldsmith, Kim Gordon, Aubrey Gardner, Julie Zack, John Pontius

Welcome and introductions

Plans and thoughts for the year ahead

·         Plans for the year: (Suzan & John)

o   Vision: bridging connections of lower and middle school while keeping them separate when needed

o   Communicate with families in the community

o   PBIS and Restorative Justice- Reinforcing behavior and restoring relationships. This year celebrates the 10^th anniversary of PBIS at Hinesburg Community School.

o   Middle level numbers are bigger. The advantage to increased numbers in a school is more jobs are needed to support student numbers.

o   CVSD Consolidation has added positions .5 to school counseling has been added in tier 1 instructions social emotional programs: for k-3 “youth skills” co-teach with teachers 4-8 second step

o   Monica carter and Sarah Schoolcraft work as staff Proficiency Based Learning coach-facilitating studios with the teachers.

o   Support best practices in literacy and math. The goal is to effect change with the teachers directly with their instruction.

Professional Development (Tuesday early release): K-4

·         2^nd step collecting data to assess student outcomes.

·         Mind play (literacy based) All staff took 30-hour online course phonemic awareness data based to give instructional ideas. 3 Tuesdays per month, coach Jane Ashby (specializes in instructing kids with disabilities) provides mentorship and evaluates student data.

Professional Development (Tuesday early release): 5-8

·         Professional coaches for Proficiency Based Learning (PBL) how to take data and use it effectively.

·         Strengthen individualize goals

·         Focus will be on passion projects and speakers to inform employees on being trauma informed and gender equality

Feedback from parents thus far:

·         Middle School Curriculum Night-timing of lower and upper grade

o   Some families were late to upper grade classrooms because they were finishing up with school presentations.

·         Parents would like notification before topics of interest are discussed in school. One instance came up last year when a video on gender equality was screened without previous notification to parents.

·         Interest was voiced for the video “Screenagers” to be shown at HCS. It was suggested that the movie be purchased or rented and shown at 3 different screenings: PiE parents, staff and middle school.

o   Suzie McCoy has a background in media literacy and is willing to help

o   Could also be a partnership with Carpenter Carse library

·         What is the description of the HCS maker space and why do different schools in district have a different level of equipment?

o   Suzan explained that these resources are used by teachers and is driven by teacher interest.   This is a school level program not a district level program.

·         How often will fire drill and lockdown drills be scheduled and will students be notified before drills are held?

o   Suzan and John explained that all emergency drills are scheduled by the safety committee that includes John, Suzan, various school staff members, plus both the Fire and Police Chiefs. After our initial couple of drills, we do not notify students in advance about the drills for a number of reasons.  Finally, the state mandates that during September the school should practice two drills, then it mandates that we practice one drill a month. The type of drill we practice is also mandated by the state. 

·         Why was there a change in photography vender?

o   Portrait vendors were changed from Ambient Photography to Life Touch because of repeated order mix-ups, unreliable communication and increased prices of photography service.

·         What are the best ways to gather afterschool information?

o   Hinesburg Recreation department is typically geared toward grades k-4

o   Viking is typically geared toward grades 5-8

Cell Phone usage:

·         Cell phones are allowed at the teacher’s discretion until the end of the day. Cell phones are permitted on school grounds after school hours (during athletics).

·         Protocol for misuse of cell phones:

o   1^st offense-phone will be held at the main office until the end of the school day.

o   2^nd offense-Phone will be held at front office and parents will be notified

Involvement opportunities:

·         Vacant fundraising committee positions are posted on PiE website and in the PiE newsletter

·         Money raised

o   Student enrichment (field trips, grants, community garden, staff appreciation, etc.)

o   Community building event (Kindergarten orientation, donation of graduating class, student directory, meetings and mingles)

o   Family Support (star fund, contribution for vacation snack bags)

·         70% of money raised goes toward student enrichment (field trips) Direction of fundraising has moved from selling tangible things to events to raise money such as school dance, harvest dinner, etc.

·         “Free money” such as box tops, Amazon smiles, good shop, mighty nest, AmeriGas/Blue flame Gas school days program, Healthy Living, Hannaford, Price Chopper, Mabel’s Labels

Nominations for PiE Steering Committee:

Chair – Aimee Frost nominated, seconded and voted in

Treasurer - Jim Goldsmith nominated, seconded and voted in

Secretary – Mary Hong nominated, seconded and voted in