MHS Parents Council & SBMT Meeting

November 13, 2007

 

Welcome & Introductions: 23 Attendees

 

PRESENTATIONS:

 

Students Representative Reports

 

Freshmen Presenting: Josh Chmara – Treasurer

Other Officers this year are: Max Bates President

Kelsey Davis, VP

Emily York Secy

Ari Ratner Historian

Freshman Class Made $539 at their Bake Sale

Next week is Spirit Week

Other events:

Concert Jan 25 – have booked Jessica ProudyÕs Band and expect student performers

Freshman Valentine Rose & Flower Sale

Welcome Mrs Norman as their Student Activities Clerk

 

Sophomore Presenting:  Jess Lipkind VP & Pat Grady Secy

Other officers this year are:  Max Sherman Treasurer

Wes Rosen President

Adam Smokler – Historian

Fundraisers: ParentsÕ Night - Notes to Students

Magazine fundraiser in process

Spirit Week:  Sophomore colors are to wear yellow and pink

Class with most spirit gets $200

Tues NE sports teams

Wed Rally

 

Junior Presenting:  Treasurer Patrick Trout

Spirit Week:

Lunches competitions

Egg Race, Toilet paper wrapping

Fundraisers & Activities Planned:

Rent A Kid winter & spring – do chores

Holiday Dance – e.g. Valentines Day

Sell Class clothes

Jr class auction – April/May

Prom

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Speaker Michael HannaCurriculum Director Social Studies and Foreign Language

Dr Dulac focus items:

-Working in teams – working to find ways to find time to meet together

-Assessment Led Instruction.  Common summative assessments (e.g. common quiz, exam, projects); common formative assessments (Òdip stickingÓ); working on common summative assessments for all levels then will work to develop formative assessments; foreign language have made progress, US History in progress; 2011 US History MCAS in 11th grade; curriculum realignment may result in more US History in 10th grade; would result in other changes

Priority on non-fiction writing- started with goals for 9th graders

-Metacognition – Kids being conscious of themselves as learners; trying to infuse it into classrooms

 

Questions:

Has there been more discussion or decisions around starting languages earlier? Add new languages?  Pilot programs in progress at Village School; 35 mins classes three times week possibility

 

Social Studies is one level vs other disciplines have leveled classes. Mr Hanna expressed his thought that there are better dynamics with the diverse classroom population for these types of courses; there was some good discussion regarding the pros and cons of having homogeneous vs leveled classes;

Had some discussion on AP Euro sophomore course regarding open enrollment and pointing out that it is a big step from freshman class World Cultures

 

ParentÕs Council Report

No open requests for funding

 

Treasurer:  YTD Dues collected $11,768 plus $6579 from Magic Hat and growing; need to decide how to spend Magic Hat money that has certain criteria; Marianne suggested brainstorming for best ways to allocate the money.

Principal Z suggested that we use some funds for teachers to run seminars for other teachers to create web pages.

Mr Hanna suggested asking teachers for ideas.

Principal will put it on the agenda for next meeting this week

 

Some discussion about what are general criteria for funding approvals; would like to remain flexible but try not to fund items that have other sources of funding

 

Friends grant for garden –wtg for the town to level ground before can plant

 

Other Income coming in from selling note cards: Last Month:  $264, $400+ from ArtisanÕs Fair at the BYC

Looking for parents/kids to sell cards are CrosbyÕs Saturday – see Liz Lipkind; Possibly will sell at Christmas Walk

 

 

Marblehead Friends of Public Schools: Delia Barrett

Feb 15th is deadline for grant proposals

2006-07 Grant recipient presentation is November 20th 7:00 pm in MHS library

 

Team Up: Delia Barrett

Parent Survey:  Have close to 300 respondents, have extended deadline to Nov 30th to encourage more parents to take survey; actual results of Youth Risk Behavior study will be made available and then will compare students vs parents answers

Team Up Mailing is going out this week.  Will feature up coming event with Dr Englander.  Last year she talked about body image and bullying.  This year she will talk about on Understanding the Online Social World of Pre-Teens and Teens on December 4 at the Tower School Performing Arts Center 7-9 pm.  Admission $5

 

PrincipalÕs Update

 

Principal Ziergiebel brought up a concern that Barbara Malatesta will be on extended leave – Guidance Counselor serious issue; with significant potential impact on early admissions process; Carla Cefalo offered to fill in for Barbara; request was made to send communication to parents regarding BarbaraÕs status

 

Follow up on idea to fund buses to transport athletes to other schools for practice e.g. Village School - idea looks like it will move forward; provides time for kids to get help after school; might be able to start as early as this year

 

New email addresses: Suggestion was made that names are actually listed to be sure proper address is known (e.g. full name vs. nickname)

 

Next Meeting:  Dec 10 @ 8 am in PrincipalÕs Conf Rm; expect Mike Plansky as guest speaker

 

For Jan 14 meeting @ 7 pm we expect Dr Dulac as guest speaker