Archives for SIT and PACT Meeting Minutes
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SIT Team Minutes |
PACT Minutes |
School Improvement Team
Minutes of April 28, 2008 Meeting
Attendees: Karen Allen, Chris Cobain, Penelope Dvorin, Seth Hamilton, Sue Kelly, Michelle King, Diane Labrie, Pam Mackey, Bruce Macksoud, Jocelin Petrarca, Rita Ravo, Stephen Slattery, Pattie Walsh.
Note: the Next Meeting and FINAL MEETING of SIT has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The meeting will commence at 2:40 PM in the LMS Main Floor large group room.
April 28 meeting: Bruce Macksoud and Chris Cobain discussed and gave a PowerPoint presentation on the 2008-2009 school year schedule.
Next Meeting: Tuesday May 20, 2008
Lincoln Middle School
Please Note: Chairperson and volunteers needed for each of the following:
§ Teacher Appreciation Week: May 4-10, 2008
§ Final 2007-2008 PACT meeting – Monday May 19
§ Back-to-School Barbeque August 24, 2008
Also, 2008-09 PACT Officer Slate now open – all are welcome to participate.
If interested, contact Ed Cummins at 722-8317 or ecummins2@cox.net or
Pattie Walsh at 333-4411 or tpmjmwalsh@cox.net
Minutes of April 7, 2008 Meeting
Attendees: Mary Beauchemin, Arthur Carvalho, Ed Cummins, Penelope Dvorin, Sue Kelly, Donna Sullivan, Mike Turgeon, Pattie Walsh.
Note: The next meeting of PACT has been scheduled for Monday May 19, 2008.
The meeting will commence at 7:00 PM in the LMS Library.
Old Business
1. Treasurer’s Report – Mike Turgeon
a. Receipts since last meeting - $77.20 derived from Readers Digest.
b. Expenses since last meeting - $2,214.40 expended including $1,000.00 to Student Activity Fund, $1,000.00 for Junior Achievement courses, and $214.40 for the second-quarter, honor-roll certificates.
c. PACT is still waiting for approximately $2,700.00 from QSB (Readers Digest). Allegedly, these November/December checks have been sent twice. No one is sure as to the final destination of those checks. It was suggested that Luanne Hanley be brought into the matter.
2. March 3 PACT Minutes – Accepted as submitted.
3. Reader Board
a. Estimated final cost: $10,000.00. School Committee contributing $4,000.00. PACT budgeted $6,000 for non-illuminated sign.
b. Note: the $10,000.00 is a year-old quote, but it is assumed that the company will honor the estimate.
c. The idea of utilizing the existing sign brick columns has been suggested but that would mean a sign parallel to the road and set back a distance from the road. Mr. Macksoud prefers a sign located near the main road.
4. Honor Roll Recognition Second Quarter
a. All three grades received their second-quarter, honor-roll recognition certificates today April 7. Students gathered by grade for a congratulatory speech by Mr. Macksoud. Parent volunteers handed out certificates.
b. Students will get third-quarter certificates before the end of the school year.
c. Decision needs to be made regarding the fourth-quarter certificates:
i. Mail large-size certificates currently used. Expense?
ii. Mail smaller-size certificates to cut down on cost?
iii. Mail out eighth-grade certificates this summer and hand out sixth- and seventh-grade certificates during an assembly at the beginning the next academic year to encourage academic efforts?
iv. Suggestions welcome.
5. Junior Achievement – Penelope Dvorin
a. Junior Achievement commenced April 1 at Lincoln Middle School!
b. Sue Johnson and parent-volunteers Paul Harrison and Erin Casey-Fredette have approximately 23 students enrolled in a Junior Achievement course entitled the Economics of Success, which centers on preparing for career exploration.
c. Penelope Dvorin and parent-volunteer Joan Hobbs currently have 30 sixth-grade students enrolled in a Junior Achievement course entitled Global Marketing.
d. Students in both courses are enthusiastic and receptive.
6. PACT Grants (Source of information: Ed Cummins, Pattie Walsh, Joyce Burlington)
P. A. C. T. Grants
2007-08
The Lincoln Middle School P. A. C. T. is proud to announce the following grants resulting from the Reader’s Digest Fundraiser and other activities held this past fall.
|
Team |
Amount |
Reason |
|
1 |
$500 |
Support student field trip to IMAX Theater to view films relating to social studies and history lessons. |
|
2 |
$500 |
Support luncheon representing the cultural experience of various foods from Europe. |
|
3 |
$500 |
Support student field trip to BIOMES to study the predominant vegetation on the planet. |
|
4 |
$500 |
Support student field trip to Boston relating studies involving ELA, science, and math. |
|
5 |
$500 |
Support student field trip to Newport. |
|
6 |
$210 |
Regal Reptiles presentation to supplement students’ science class. |
|
7 |
$500 |
Support student field trip to NYC to explore Liberty and Ellis Island as a supplement to the civics curriculum. |
|
8 |
$500 |
Purchase digital camera and accessories for presentations, pictures of activities, and team building. |
|
9 |
$500 |
Support student field trip to John F. Kennedy Library which relates to the presidential unit in the civics curriculum |
|
Library |
$670 |
Purchase two copies of the 20 books to be nominated for Rhode Island Teen Book Award. |
|
Phys Ed |
$300 |
Support 2nd Annual LMS Olympic Games and Ceremonies. |
|
Music |
$350 |
Purchase ‘Finale’ software to enhance music program presentations. |
|
Eighth Grade |
$350 |
Support music for Eighth Grade Social. |
Previously awarded grants (2007-2008) include:
 |
$1,000.00 gift to the Student Activity Fund |
|
$200.00 gift to the Lincoln High School Post Graduation Party |
|
$1,000.00 commitment for the Junior Achievement program to support five presentations |
|
$800.00+ for the purchase of snacks for student use as they took the NECAP testing in the Fall |
|
$1,000.00 was committed for the Honors presentation programs |
TOTAL FUNDS DISTRIBUTED $ 9,880.00
None of these grants would be possible without the good will of the students, their parents and guardians, the LMS teachers and the PACT volunteers. THANKS!
7. School Kits – (Source of information: Email written by Kris Turgeon)
a. The goal is to offer parents the opportunity to purchase a school-supply kit for the 2008-09 school – each will be apropos for a grade rather than a specific team.
b. Order forms and Responses
i. Will be sent home via backpacks the week of May 12.
ii. Will be posted on the PACT website.
iii. Responses and orders are due no later than May 30.
c. Costs to parent
i. Sixth grade - $38
ii. Seventh grade - $39
iii. Eighth grade - $33
d. Kits can be picked up at the welcome-back barbecue. Note: it appears the welcome-back barbeque will be held Sunday August 24.
e. Kris Turgeon will meet with current 5th graders to discuss kits. Elementary principals will be contacted by email requesting day and time for meetings.
f. Purchase of extra kits to be discussed
g. PACT will receive $5 from each kit purchase.
8. Spring Book Fair – Reading Specialists
a. The Scholastic Book Fair will be held at LMS the week of April 21st-25th.
b. It will be located in the large group room on the Main Floor.
c. Coordinated by Yvette Coulombe (ext. 1792), Carol Fishburn (ext. 1781), and Joy Maselli (ext. 1731).
9. Lincoln Family Literacy Center Fundraiser – Mary Beauchemin
a. The March 29, 2008 Fundraiser at Hi-Hat Restaurant for the Family Literacy National Center in memory of Marissa Lorea raised $15,000.00!
b. Books, in memory of Marissa Lorea, can be purchased at this time through the HUG-A-Book drive. See LMS librarian Lisa Doherty. You may also send donations to “Hug A-Book for Marissa Fund”, in care of Citizens Bank, 622 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI 02865.
10. Topics discussed at the School Improvement Team (SIT) Meeting March 24, 2008 as related to PACT by Pattie Walsh
a. NECAP scores – Mr. Macksoud
i. LMS scores are good but have plateaued for the last three years
ii. NECAP scores have declined across the state; there are exceptions: Providence district scores have risen a bit.
iii. Impact of NECAP scores:
1. short-term: student placement
2. long-term: curriculum
b. NECAP Focus/Performance-based Assessment – Mr. Macksoud
i. NECAP is focusing on Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) and Grade Span Expectations (GSEs).
ii. Lincoln has been emphasizing GLEs and GSEs at the high school level for three years. This emphasis is moving down to the middle school level.
iii. Performance-based assessment, currently conducted at the high school level, is moving down to the middle school level.
c. Writing – Mr. Macksoud
i. LMS NECAP writing scores show a decline from those of the fifth grade to those of the eighth grade.
ii. On the middle school level, English grammar and writing skills have historically been emphasized in English classes only.
iii. The new LMS schedule will incorporate writing skills in all content areas.
d. 2008-2009 Schedule – Mr. Macksoud
i. 2008-2009 is 98% complete; slated for a final yea/nay vote April 10.
ii. Common Planning Time (CPT) is increased.
iii. Advisories sessions will occur once or twice a week.
iv. Spanish/French language classes will be offered in all three grades.
Note: The ability to complete five years of language before college boosts
the accreditation standing of a high school.
e. Budget – Mr. Macksoud
i. The budget was originally submitted with a 5% increase over the prior year. This level represented a huge cut of needs. The budget has been further reduced to an increase level of 3.17%! This is an additional cut of $1.2 million!
f. LMS Lighting and Patio – Erin Casey-Fredette
i. A 10 foot reinforcement around the patio is necessary for safety purposes.
ii. Tables needed for patio.
g. Earth Day April 22 - Cathy Carlson is working with LMS teams for this effort.
h. NELMS visit – Mr. Macksoud
i. LMS fared well with its overall evaluation but fell a bit short – per the evaluators - in the area of curriculum; therefore, LMS did not receive the designation of “Spotlight” school.
ii. We are addressing the issue of curriculum and will try again at a future date for the “Spotlight” designation
New Business
11. After-School Programs – Sue Kelly
a. Basketball – Starts April 21; runs from 2:40-4 PM; $60 for 6 weeks.
b. Yoga – Starts April 21; runs 2:40-3:40 PM; $55 per participant
c. Acting Program – Beginning of May; details TBA
d. Note: LMS teachers are given the first opportunity to teach any after school program.
12. August 24, 2008 Back-to-School Barbeque
a. Chairperson and volunteers needed for event ***
b. Ideas: handout schedules as students arrive, have a couple of raffles instead of soliciting multiple businesses for donations, and have just ice cream, cookies and juice instead of hot dogs and hamburgers.
c. Keep event simple!
13. Teacher Appreciation Week: May 4-10, 2008
a. Chairperson and volunteers needed for event ***
14. 2008-09 PACT Officer Slate – all are welcome to participate. If interested, contact ***
15. Final 2007-2008 PACT meeting – Monday May 19.
a. Chairperson and volunteers needed to coordinate the evening ***
b. Invite all 5th grade parents,
c. Liz Enos – invite elementary school PTOs.
*** Contact Ed Cummins at 722-8317 or ecummins2@cox.net or
Pattie Walsh at 333-4411 or tpmjmwalsh@cox.net
Next Meeting: Monday May 19, 2008 7:00 PM Lincoln Library
Respectively submitted: Penelope Dvorin 041508
Lincoln Middle School
School Improvement Team
Minutes of March 24, 2008 Meeting
Attendees: Pamela Azar, Erin Casey-Fredette, Chris Cobain, Penelope Dvorin, Paul Harrison, Sue Kelly, Diane Labrie, Bruce Macksoud, Rita Ravo, Pattie Walsh.
Note: the Next Meeting of SIT has been scheduled for Monday April 28, 2008.
The meeting will commence at 2:40 PM in the LMS Main Floor large group room.
Items Discussed
1. National Science Foundation Program – Chris Cobain
a. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Education & Human Resources Division of Undergraduate Education has issued a grant program solicitation for Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) proposals.
b. Building upon the Governor’s initiative, Project Making the Grade, to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education statewide, the Rhode Island STEM Center has convened a team to develop a proposal for this five-year, $12.5M opportunity.
c. The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Rhode Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the STEM Program Manager (collectively the MSP proposal team) are recruiting a limited number of K-12 districts to mentor as those schools participate as Core Partners to this proposal.
d. The project’s purpose is to support Rhode Island high schools and middle schools in science instruction and assessment, correlated to the RI Grade Level Expectations-(GLEs) and Grade Span Expectations (GSEs) in Science and the upcoming NECAP Science Assessment.
e. Lincoln Public Schools has been approached to participate as a Core Partner.
f. Sixty percent of science teachers must “buy-in” to this project in order for the school to participate.
g. The five-year project would consist of a two-year pilot program and a three-year implementation program.
h. Participating districts would greatly benefit from the infusion of monies, equipment, and improved curriculum.
i. The status of Lincoln Public Schools involvement will be updated as it evolves.
2. NECAP – Mr. Macksoud
a. Individual LMS student NECAP scores and second-trimester grades were recently sent home. Each individual student’s NECAP report also lists state and overall LMS statistics.
b. NECAP scores
i. LMS scores are good but have plateaued for the last three years
ii. NECAP scores have declined across the state; there are exceptions: Providence district scores have risen a bit.
iii. Impact of NECAP scores:
1. short-term: student placement
2. long-term: curriculum
c. Board of Regents requires equal access to education; therefore, all students are tested on equal material. Accommodations are made as necessary, e.g., students who learn in small groups are tested in small groups, and those who learn with the aid of computers are tested with the aid of computers.
d. Some students are saying that they did not get through all the material on the tests.
i. Note: The test is based on prior year material, i.e., sixth graders are tested on fifth-grade material.
ii. Theresa DeRiso spent a lot of time at the beginning of the year working with all classes getting them familiar with the NECAP format of writing.
e. NECAP Focus/Performance-based Assessment
i. NECAP is focusing on Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) and Grade Span Expectations (GSEs).
ii. Lincoln has been emphasizing GLEs and GSEs at the high school level for three years. This emphasis is moving down to the middle school level.
iii. Performance-based assessment, currently conducted at the high school level, is moving down to the middle school level.
3. Writing
a. LMS NECAP writing scores show a decline from those of the fifth grade to those of the eighth grade.
i. On the middle school level, English grammar and writing skills have historically been emphasized in English classes only.
ii. The new LMS schedule will incorporate writing skills in all content areas.
b. At the last faculty meeting, administration requested faculty commence adding a writing piece to each test to build skill.
c. A non-English core-subject faculty member expressed her astonishment regarding the inability of students to decipher cursive writing, poor spelling ability and lack of English grammar skills in numerous areas: punctuation, knowledge of parts of speech, identification of types of sentences, e.g., declarative, interrogative, etc. She finds it necessary to teach English before she continues on to her subject matter.
d. Administration and faculty – at both the middle school level and the elementary level - agree that a major step towards improving writing skills would be to “get back to basics.”
4. 2008-2009 Schedule – Mr. Macksoud
a. 2008-2009 is 98% complete.
b. The 2008-2009 schedule is slated for a final yea/nay vote April 10.
c. Common Planning Time (CPT) is increased.
d. Advisories sessions will occur once or twice a week for approximately one-half hour.
e. Schedule will concentrate on team teaching.
f. The new schedule will emphasize writing skills in the core subject areas. A core subject will emphasize writing each quarter.
g. Back-to-basics approach, which is a big change from the “exploratory-learning” approach in place in recent years at the elementary/middle school levels.
h. Spanish/French language classes will revert back to:
i. Sixth grade: exploration of Spanish and French - one-half year each.
ii. Seventh grade: students choose Spanish I or French I (equal to Part I of a full year of high school language).
iii. Eighth grade: Students continue onto Spanish II or French II (equal to Part II of a full year of high school language).
iv. Students can then commence Spanish II (high school level) at the high school.
Note: The ability to complete five years of language before college boosts the accreditation standing of a high school.
5. Budget – Mr. Macksoud
a. The budget was originally submitted with a 5% increase over the prior year. This level represented a huge cut of needs. The budget has been further reduced to an increase level of 3.17%! This is an additional cut of $1.2 Million!
6. PACT – Pattie Walsh
a. Directories are in the process of being printed.
7. LMS Lighting and Patio – Erin Casey-Fredette
a. A change order for $5,000 has been submitted to the town of Lincoln to get the lighting done. Per Angelo Mancucci, the lighting can not be done before April.
b. Tables for patio: How many? They would be constructed out of what material? Where would we derive funding for the tables? Suggestion: Lowe’s “Outdoor” Grant.
c. Note: next year all eighth graders will lunch at the same time.
8. Earth Day April 22 – Pattie Walsh
a. PattieWalsh will send e-mail School Committee to request inclusion of Team 7’s request for approval to plant trees on LMS property-perimeter line on Earth Day.
9. Junior Achievement - Penelope Dvorin
a. PACT provided the funding for five Junior Achievement courses.
b. A Junior Achievement representative came to LMS March 14 to train parent volunteers Paul Harrison, Erin Casey-Fredette, and Joan Hobbs and teachers Penelope Dvorin and Sue Johnson.
c. A JA course for sixth graders and a course for seventh and eighth graders will commence as an afternoon program Tuesday April 1.
d. Note: Students have shown significant interest in signing up for the courses.
Forty sixth graders and twenty-five seventh and eighth graders have signed up for the two courses being offered at this time. Each course accommodates thirty students.
Next Meeting: Monday April 28, 2008
Respectively submitted: Penelope Dvorin
Lincoln Middle School
PACT
PACT Minutes of March 3, 2008 Meeting
Attendees: Julie Anzivino, Pamela Azar, Mary Beauchemin, Joyce Burlingame, Ed Cummins, Lori DeSimone, Penelope Dvorin, Dawn Maceroni, Pam Mackey, Bruce Macksoud, Kris Shepherd, Kris Turgeon, Mike Turgeon, Pattie Walsh.
Note: The next meeting of PACT has been scheduled for Monday April 7, 2008.
The meeting will commence at 7:00 PM in the LMS Library.
Old Business
1. Treasurer’s Report – Mike Turgeon
a. Deposits since last meeting - $2,629.85 derived from school-store sales, dues, Christmas Carol and Readers Digest.
b. Expenses since last meeting - $12,620.43 expended including $10,226.00 disbursement to Readers Digest (their 60 % of revenue for magazine, postcard, etc, sales), and $200.00 (Platinum level donation) to Lincoln High School “Post-Grad” Party” committee.
c. PACT is waiting for $2,700.00 from QSB (Readers Digest). The $2,700.00 is PACT’s share of revenues from postcard sales. It appears postcard sales were higher this year because Readers Digest sent out postcards twice.
2. PACT meeting minutes
a. January 28, 2008 minutes have been posted to the PACT website.
b. Current and archived minutes will be maintained on the website.
3. Reader Board
a. Estimated final cost: $10,000.00. School Committee contributing $4,000.00. PACT budgeted $6,000 for non-illuminated sign.
b. The sign will be erected in the near future.
4. Honor Roll Recognition Second Quarter
a. All three grades will receive their second-quarter, honor-roll recognition certificates on the same day. Date to be announced.
b. An assembly will commence at 1:00 PM that afternoon. Each grade’s ceremony takes about 20 minutes.
c. Special Note: All parents are invited to attend.
d. LMS teachers, who were present, suggested that all students be called down to the auditorium for the honors ceremony so that there would not be a repeat of what occurred first-quarter. First quarter, it was very apparent to those left in the classroom that “they didn’t cut it - they were not the smart ones.” Mr. Macksoud and PACT members agreed that all students should be called down. Seeing honor certificates being given out might serve as an incentive to those who did not make the honor roll to study harder.
5. School Directory – Lori Mancini
a. Needs to be printed.
b. Approximately 140 parents filled out forms.
c. Will be distributed soon – specific date not stated.
6. School Improvement Team Meeting Topics – as related to PACT by Pattie Walsh.
Regarding:
a. Liz Enos’ Collaborative Meeting with Elementary School PACT Presidents
i. Liz Enos met with PACT presidents from Fairlawn, Lonsdale, Northern elementary schools.
ii. Representatives from Central and Saylesville Elementary Schools and Lincoln High School were not present.
iii. Goal of meeting: determine how to develop coordinated calendar listing events, fundraising efforts, meeting dates (SIT and PACT teams, etc.)
iv. Next meeting: May, 2008
b. Erin Casey-Fredette’s Coordination of Efforts to Complete LMS Patio
i. Per Angelo Mancucci - lack of one light – should not interfere with patio completion
ii. Upcoming meeting with town to inspect patio
c. Pattie Walsh’s Communications with Outside Parties to Support Cathy Carlson and Team 7 with that team’s Earth Day (April 22) efforts.
i. Lincoln Gardens is donating some plants to LMS for Earth Day. Note: these can be planted any time after April 15.
ii. Pattie Walsh will send e-mail to School Committee to request inclusion on agenda of Team 7’s request for approval to plant trees on LMS property-perimeter on Earth Day.
7. Junior Achievement
a. An effort is underway to bring Junior Achievement financial literacy and entrepreneurship courses to LMS.
b. Penelope Dvorin and Sue Johnson, both of whom have business-education backgrounds, will, together with JA-trained parent volunteers, conduct JA courses as an after-school program this Spring, 2008.
c. Junior Achievement has offered to charge LMS $200.00 each for up to five courses for a total of $1,000.00 – a savings of $4,000.00!
d. PACT voted to fund the $1,000.00 needed to purchase JA five courses
8. LMS Website – Diane Labrie
a. Suggestion regarding teacher bio’s: update website to include teachers’ names and school e-mail addresses but not pictures.
b. Website development is progressing well; inclusive of many facets of communication to Lincoln School community, including:
i. Upcoming events
ii. Notices sent home
iii. Tryout dates for sports, e.g., baseball, track
iv.&nb