CITY OF HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA
DATE: MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016 TIME: 6:00PM LOCATION: Holyoke High School, 500 Beech Street, Holyoke, MA
1. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION*
3. COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS a. Student Reports b. Receiver's Communications • FY 2017 School Department Budget (under separate cover) • Holyoke Highlights (pages 1-5) • Connections Newsletter • Summer Math Challenge (page 6) • Summer Reading Initiative (page 7) • Summer Reading Initiative Donation (pages 8-9) • MSBA Facilities Study Expanded to Include Lynch School • HPS is Going GoogleApps (pages 10 -11) • Parent/PTO Leaders Update (pages 12-13)
4. NEW BUSINESS a. Minutes of Meetings • Regular Meeting of Aprill3, 2016 (pages 14-20) • Regular Meeting of May 9, 2016 (pages 21-28) • Joint City Council/School Committee Subcommittee of April28, 2016 (pages 29-33) • Ward VI Meeting of April27, 2016 (pages 34-35) • Ward VII Meeting ofMay 31,2016 (pages 36-37)
5. OLD BUSINESS a. Policy Updates • Administering Medicines to Students - as revised (page 38) • Advertising in Schools I Revenue Enhancement (pages 39-40) • Tobacco Free Policy (page 41) • Tobacco/E-Cigarette Use on School Property By Staff Members (page 42) • Teaching About Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and E-Cigarettes (page 43) • Smoking on School Premises (page 44) SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA- JUNE 20, 2016 PAGE2 • Updates on Parks Bond (pages 45-46)
6. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.
*The Holyoke Public Schools makes available a public discussion period for persons in the audience to address the Committee on specific agenda items. In order to hear as may speakers as possible, the Committee asks individuals to continue their remarks to two (2) minutes. Any person wishing to submit longer testimony should give copies to the Committee Secretary before the meeting so that it may be distributed to Committee members. The speaker can then summarize this testimony at the meeting within the two (2) minute time period. Persons wishing to speak should register with the Committee Secretary immediately before the meeting begins. Individuals who request specific items to be included on the Committee's agenda should mail a written request fifteen (15) days in advance of a Committee meeting date to Liz Lafond, in care of the Receiver's Office, 57 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
2 Fo r HPS Staff May 30, 2016 HOLYOKE H GHL GHTS
·- ----·-----·-····------~------·------1/A community working together to prepare students for their future . ~~ ------·------···------·---
Upcoming Dates!
May30
No School- Memorial Day
May31
AII-SchooiiLT Session, 2-Spm
June 1-2
K and Grade 1 Fundations trainings HP S Professional Learning june3
Dean Gra duation Wilson Reading System (WRS) Training Opportunity
We are looking for 12 dedicated Special Educators (one june5 from each school) who are excited to be trained in Wilson Reading System and becoming Level I Certified! The Holyoke HS Gra duation initial training will be over the summer (August I5-I7th). Additionally; teachers will take part in a june2o practicum for the school year. The practicum will require each Level I Certification teacher to work 1:1 with a Last day of school!
School Culture & Climate teams Summer Leadership Institute, 8-3pm
HH #5 1 For HPS Staff May 30,2016
uutstae"""' ... ' urrenngs,.....,.,.,. . student for a minimum of 6o lessons. Schools need to support their participating teacher by providing MTEL SEI Sheltered English occasional release time for coaching and PD, as well as Immersion Exam Workshop the time to work with the selected practicum student. June 25th This will be an important part of developing the Tier 3 intervention program at each school and help a high All core academic teachers needs population. must earn the SEI Endorsement. Teachers can The Wilson Reading System® (WRS) is an intensive Tier meet the SEi requirement by 3 program for students in grades z-IZ and adults with taking and passing the MTEL word-level deficits who are not making sufficient progress SEI Sheltered English through their current intervention; have been unable to Immersion Exam. learn with other teaching strategies and require multi- sensory language instruction; or vv-l1o require more Description: Dr. Brent Daigie intensive struc:tured literacy instruction due to a will be holding a MTEL SEi Exam Workshop in Boston on language-based learning disability; such as dyslexia. Learn Saturday June 25, 2016. The more about WRS here: http://www;wilsonlanguage.com/ workshop provides an in pro~ramslwilson-readin&:system/ . depth review of all the content and standards that are Interested teachers please contact Perna Latshang currently targeted on the (platshan~@hps . holyoke . ma.us) as soon as possible! Thank certification exam and is a you. comprehensive review of the standards, topics, content, and Assessing ELLs with Disabilities Summer Institute question areas that are assessed on the MTEL SEI Educators are encouraged to apply for the opportunity to Sheltered English Immersion participate in a five-day institute designed for those who are Exam. The workshop has been involved with assessment ofELL-SWDs. Educators will highly successful in helping have the opportunity to together learn how to better teachers pass the exam on identify and implement sound evaluation procedures for their first attempt. students with disabilities who are also English Language Location: Boston College, Learners. Devlin Hall - 008 Auditorium, The Institute will be held in Holyoke from August 8-!2, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 2016, 8:oo am-4:30 pm (with three follow-up seminars days Registration: On-site on a Saturday in October 20 16, December 2016 & March 20!7). Date/Times: Saturday, June 25: 1 0:00AM - 1 :00 PM This institute is limited to 25 participants. Each participant will receive a $500 stipend for their active participation in Cost: $ 1 00 per person the institute and follow-up days and have the opportunity to
2 HH #5 2 For HPS Staff May 30, 2016
Outside Offerings earn either 67.5 PDPs or three graduate credits for attending all sessions and completing required assignments. EFFECTIVE TEACHER Interested teachers may apply by contacting Anna Lugo. COACHING: MATCH EDUCATION - July 28th FYI Change is hard. Your time is limit ed. How do you make Teach Ulestern Mass su re you are getting the most Refer a licensed educator for your chance to win a $50 from your feedback? Barnes and Noble gift card. Click here to enter: https:// Throug h t his 1-day worksho p docs.google.com/forms/d/ led by Orin Gutlerner, rMzCu3tuXPKeii9 YsMjOMdMM88SW 6gnM-IoflsrmZohA / nationally recog nized leader viewform?c=o&w=r in teacher development, learn how to maximize Apply today to join the result s throug h effective Holyoke Public Schools coaching. team of educators. Help Partici pants will learn how us spread the word! We to ... are seeking teachers TEACH who demonstrate WESTERN MASS * Quickly identify and determination, priorit ize areas for imp rovement. collaboration, and a passion to make sure all * Deliver direct actio nable their students excel in feed back. the classroom. Visit https:llholyoke.tedkrz.comlhireindex.aspx to view HPS * Build a culture focused on growth. employment opportunities and apply today! Visit our blog.
Introducing Kendra Salvador Register here: https:// www.eventbrite.com/ e/ Kendra Salvador will join the Holyoke Public Schools as the new : effective-teacher-coaching Principal of the Peck Full Service Community School in July. Ms. : tickets-25057462545? Salvador comes to Holyoke Public Schools with a mission to build 1 utm source=General on great programs that already exist at Peck and create new +Workshop educational opportunities that meet the needs of all students +lnvitation&utm campaign=Exe across the school. I c+Ed I 1 +Marketing&utm med iu m=em Ms. Salvador started her career as a math and science teacher in ~ ~ Los Angeles, CA and then Hartford, CT, where her role expanded and she served as the middle school Dean of Culture. Currently,
HH #5 3 3 For HPS Staff May 30, 2016
"'vutstoe • • ru~~ VIIenngs..,.,.p__L" • .M:s. Salvador is a Director of School Suppor'l with the Achievement Network in Springfield. Holyoke Community College: A first-generation American, who grew up in New Bedford • http://www.hcc.edu/business Massachusetts, Ms. Salvador is the first in her family to go to and-community/professional college, graduating from the University of Massachusetts development-registration Amherst. She also holds a master's degree in educational Collaborative for Educational leadership and human development from George Washington Services: University.
• http:/ /www.collaborative.org/ Free 6 "Weeks ofYoga Classes! events-and-courses/upcoming Mondays beginning June 13, zor6-6 week session (no class June events 4th) 4:45-5:45pm
UMASS: Experience the benefits ofY.:~ga : relaxation a11d stress relief plus flexibility; strength and balance. Appropriate for all ievels • https://vvvv\AJ.umassu!earn.net1 focusing on basic postures. Free for City Employees . Please bring programs/summer your own mat. Instructor: Norman Christiansen
Location: Wtstariahurst Museum Gardens 238 Cabot St. AMAZING $5,000 STIPEND Holyoke OPPORTUNITY-SEL Register: Sign up with Deb Schaier: [email protected] PROJECTS! 413-322-5598
Education First, NoVo BeUTimes Effective FaU 2or6 Foundation and Rockefeller Next year's bell times for each school are listed here. All K-8 Philanthropy Advisors, are students will attend school for 7·5 hours a day, with the exception currently offering stipends up of Kelly students who will attend school for 8 hours a day (and to $5,000 for individual or also have a slightly adjusted calendar to allow for some late teams of teachers to starts). The length and time of the high school day remains the implement classroom-based same as this current year. See HPS calendar on hupjL projects that foster social www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/calendar.htm emotional skills in students in grades K-12. o DeanTechnical High School: 8:15am- 2:52pm
The RFP and application o Donahue: 8:ooam - 3:3opm materials can be found here: http:/I education-first.com/ o E.N . Wl1ite: 7:45am- 3=15pm social-emotional-learning o Kelly: Sam- 4pm innovation-fund/ o Lawrence: 8:3oam- 4pm Contact ILA DESHfv1UKH o Holyoke High School: 8:15am- 2:52pm TOWERY with questions: ideshmukhtowery@education o Metcalf: Sam- nopm (with half-day prek being 8 - nam and first.com
4 HH #5 4 For HPS Staff May 30, 2016
12:30 - 3=30pm)
o McMahon: 7:45am- 3=15pm
o Morgan: 8:15am- 3:45pm
o Peck: 7:3oam- 3Pm
o Sullivan: 8am - 3:3opm Outside Offerings SHOUT-OUTs MASSACHUSETIS Congratulations to our recently Appointed Principals STATEWIDE POLICY FELLOWSHIP Congratulations to Ms. Gina Roy who has recently been appointed as the Principal of the Maurice A. Donahue School The Massachusetts Statewide starting onJuly 1, 2016. Policy Fellowship is a highly selective leadership Ms. Roy has worked in the district since the fall of 2004. During· opportunity for outstanding this time, she has served in multiple leadership roles in the teachers looking to deepen Holyoke School System. She was the Principal of Metcalf, their knowledge of McMahon and the Center for Excellence. In addition to having education policy and gain a extensive experience in administration, Ms. Roy has a strong voice in decisions that affect background in Special Education and Counseling. Ms. Roy is students and the teaching currently serving as the Director of Student Services leading the profession. The Fellowship district's work to bring positive behavioral interventions and offers you the opportunity to supports (PBIS) and alternative education programs to Holyoke expand your influence students. Ms. Roy is a passionate advocate for the creation of safe without leaving the and supportive schools for all students. classroom, starting in July 2016 and concluding in June With Ms. Roy's leadership, energy and professionalism the 2017. You will receive a Donahue community and school will continue to grow and thrive $1 ,500 stipend for your as a dynamic learning environment for all students. commitment and will meet in monthly sessions- either in Congratulations to Ms. Noreen Ewick who has been appointed person or virtually. There is as the Principal of the Lt. Elmer]. McMahon Elementary School. no policy experience Ms. Ewick has served in an acting capacity this year and has required to apply. distinguished herself as a leader who is a passionate practitioner, responsive, and above all, student centered. Please reach out to Sasha Ms. Ewick is a skillful educator who is strongly committed to her Zuflacht at students, and as a longtime educator and leader in Holyoke, she is [email protected] with well positioned to support and coach her colleagues to ensure any questions. that all students at McMahon have access to high quality (flyer attached) instruction and the supports they need to achieve in school.
HH #5 5 5
Holyoke Public Schools - 57 Suffolk Street- Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040 Tel. (413) 534-2005 Fax. (413) 53 4-2297 szrike@hps .holyoke.ma.us tclaiborne ~hps.holyoke.ma.us
Dr. Stephen Zrike, Receiver Dr. Tonya Claiborne, Elementary STEM Director
June 15, 2016
We are pleased to announce our first annual math challenge! In an effort to hone our students' numeracy skills over the summer, we urge students to participate in the free TenMarks Math Program. An introductory parent video from TenMarks can be found at- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNqNF1TphhY. To participate students should sign-up at tenmarks.com. Parents please create parent account, so you can monitor your child's progress on the assignments and the Jam Sessions.
To participate in our incentive program, students currently in grades 1-11 should print out and provide (or email) their Jam Session and their assignment report to their classroom or homeroom teacher. For every 5 hours of participation, a student will receive a raffle ticket (TenMarks recommends a minimum of one hour a week which equates to 10 hours for the summer). Raffle tickets will enter students into a drawing to be held at each school in September! If you have any questions, please email our STEM Director, Dr. Claiborne at [email protected].
Thank you in advance for making reading and mathematics a summer priority. We look forward to a meaningful community dialogue in which we celebrate reading and recognizing our community's mathematicians!
Sincerely,
Dr. Stephen Zrike
6 Students it1 Grades K-8
Holyoke Summer R--__eaa -•!!--n ... _. Challenge Students in High School JULY-AUGUST
Students in grades K-8 will return their completed reading calendar to their schools and students in high school will return their completed reading journals to their schools by September 6. All students who do this will be eligible to win a Chromebook in their school's raffle in early September. In addition, Dr. Zrike will provide a special school wide treat to the school that has the overall highest percentage of students returning their completed calendar or journal. If at least 1,000 Holyoke students complete the Reading Challenge, Dr. Zrike and Mayor Morse will have a dance off!
Summer reading lists, reading calendar, and journals can be found by going to: 7 http://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/summerreadinq.htm Holyoke Public Schools 57 Suffolk Street- Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040 Tel. (413) 534-2005 Fax. (413) 534-2297 [email protected]
Dr. Stephen Zrike, Receiver
May 13,2016
Dr Stephen Zrike, Receiver Holyoke Public Schools
Subject: Holyoke Summer Reading Initiative
Staff at Central Office chose to designate April's Jeans Fridays donations to support the the HPS Summer Reading Initiative. On behalf of the staff at Suffolk Street, I am happy to enclose a check for $214.00 to help support the Summer Reading Initiative and the children of the Holyoke Public Schools.
I'd also like to recognize Joanne Ferrari-Katzman, who has been collecting monetary donations every week in conjunction with our Jeans Fridays, and to thank you for letting this happen- staff who are participating are appreciating the dress down days and are being thoughtful and enthusiastic about the giving!
Sincer~y, i;.d Exebdi've Administrative Assistant cc: Joanne Ferrari-Katzman
8 "A community working together to prepare our students for their future." (ZiiE!l!DI''l:EC$iZrn::Il:~in·.@~Ell.ili!r'3:JeriTO!i!l1l]mrnt~Illll§d l ;;!l:l3Ma~::r-:rut.Wm:o~M! !l'L ~m~ RJ PeoplesBank Money Order 348504 53-7177f21 18 330 Whitney Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040 413.538.9500 May 13, 2016
j Pay to the I [ I Order of: $214.00 ! =H=o=- I (' . I [; i 17 I 2- /-IPS. (~ ~~t I1 ') Purchaser's Name rJ.f-/!tt!~ l Memo 1/a-fl!j /CUibjl . l~ ser.s,\ !iZ$?ct/tJ//{ '£1-- f ~ t: r s Address l ______...... -----·------.---- .. --·-----· · ------~=~~~~~ ------· --·----~.J?!!~------.... -- -.... --.--- ...... - n• j It 8 50 It n• 1: 2 ~ l. 8 7 l. 7 ? 21: ~ 0 5 It ? 5 '1 (; '1 j n• 9 .. .. · : ~ . Holyoke Public Schools +Go We are pleased to announce th at Holyoke Public Schools will be moving exclusively to Google Apps for Education (GAFE). This change will create possibilities for more collaboration, communication, and access to important information. To make this big and exciting change, we would like to share information about the migration process and offer opportunities for you to learn about these tools. Go to bit.ly/HPSgoesGoogle for more information and updates about Google training ! Why are we going Google? • Over 50 mill ion students and teachers are currently using Google Apps in schools and classrooms • GAFE supports fast, easy co llaboration capabilities that help bring students, teachers and teams together in real time with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, Sites and more • Unlimited storage for email and files in Google Drive with extra security • One Google account gives you access to your fi les, mail, and calendar anytime, anywhere! What that means for staff (Please read carefully): Go gle 1. Your email address WILL NOT change! One accour1t. All of Googlc: 2. All your current email in Outlook will migrate to S1g0 1!1 ·.0 COn(H"'U e LO .Ji l1Jll Gmail. We also expect your address book to transfer with your email. 3. Click here to access the Google Form where you will set your new 8-character password for your Google account. We will create your account with the password you request in this form . If you do not complete this form, you will be assigned a [email protected]. ma.usJ password and wi ll need to contact your building secretary to get your password. Need 1'1 9110 1 4. On June 27, you will be able to access your email by opening the Chrome web browser Create -1ccourr and typing gmail.com in the uri field. The screen at the right will appear. (See tutorials Jne Gcoqle Accou(lt fc:- eve1·jf"! ''9 Go.;gl" below) 7. M '! G c.,. 1. . ~ 5. You wi ll be able to login to your hps.holyoke.ma.us Google account with your current email username and your new password. Your Novell password for your computer login will not change (email and computer wi ll be 2 different passwords). 6. You will have unlimited storage for your email and files stored on Google Drive. 7. All your email will be archived for 7 years to comply with state regulations. Current HPS Outlook/Exchange email services will be shut off on June 24, 2016 at 4:00PM. You will no longer be able to send, receive, or view mail through Outlook. Your hps.holyoke.ma.us email will be unavailable from 4:00PM on Friday 6/24 through 8:00AM on Monday 6/27. Once you log into Gmail on Monday 6/28, you'll be able to send and receive new mail. It may take up to a week for all of your archived email to be available to you in Gmail. 10 Before Friday, June 24 please complete the following: i. Clean out your Outlook/Exchange email in box and folders. Delete old or unnecessary email. Reminder: All email sent to and from your HPS account is public and subject to public record laws and is archived for 7 years. 2. If you have been using your HPS account for personal correspondence, we ask that you create and use a personal email account immediately. 3. You may want to configure your Outlook emai! for an "away" or auto-send message that alerts people you will not be responding to email from 6/24-6/27. You may want to set this message a week before to let your contacts know that you will not have access to email during this time. We also recommend adding this text to your email signature. Possible text for this message might state: "HPS is transitioning to Gmaif. Please be advised that I will not be able to send or receive email from 4:00 PM on Friday, 6124 through 8:00AM on Monday, 6127. Your message is important to me. I will reply as soon as I can. Thank you." 4. We have scheduled Google Apps 101 Training Sessions (go to bit.ly/HPSgoesGoogle for date & location updates): a. \AJednesday, June 28 Central Office Staff and Building Administiative Teams i. 8:30am-11 :30pm ii. 12:30pm-4:00pm b. Wednesday, July 6 Central Office Staff and Building Administrative Teams i. 8:30am-11 :30pm ii. 12:30pm-4:00pm 5. Self-directed trainings can be found on the HPS goes Google Training Website: bit.ly/HPSgoesGoogle j une i 4, 20i 6 11 CITY OF HOLYOKE HOLYOKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT/ PTOLEADERSGROUP MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016 TIME: 6:00 P.M. PECK SCHOOL LIBRARY Present: Dr. Zrike, Carmen Sanchez and Maureen Fitzgerald from Sullivan School, Angie Delgado from Morgan School, Rey Figueora from Lawrence School, Ian Duryea from Metcalf School and Nyles Courchesne from Holyoke High School. Dr. Zrike provided an overview regarding many current happenings in the district: • Central office reorganization/downsizing- the main purpose of which was to be able to reallocate funds from central office to the schools. • Budget Hearing will be June 20th, 5:30p.m. at Holyoke High School • A dual language preK class has been added to E.N. White for next year. • P3 personalized learning pathways program will be added at Peck next year for 7th & 8th graders. • In conjunction with the Business Manager, Anthony Soto, central administration will continue to look for efficiencies to reduce the central office footprint. They will look at the possibility of taking central supply off-line. • The focus is adding programming in schools for students. Nyles Courchesne talked about what he's been hearing about the cuts in central office and criticisms he has heard from folks in the community about added administrative positions. Ian Duryea said he had heard similar comments from some folks. Dr. Zrike explained that there are two state-funded positions, paid through the turnaround grant. The Director of Turnaround & Strategy position will end in 2 years. The Director of High Schools is a new, temporary, role and it is fully funded by turnaround money. All other positions are reconfigured roles of existing positions. Central office is down fourteen positions. Some salaries are higher for director level positions, but the actual number of positions is down. There is a savings of approximately $700,000. The positions of Technology Director and Chief Academic Officer (formerly Assistant Superintendent) remain unfilled at this time but are important to fill. Downsizing was necessary to balance the budget. Most eliminated positions are clerical. Dr. Zrike talked about the reconfiguration of the special education department, which involved creating site based program coordinators that will be specialized to provide better oversight and services to special needs students. There will now be a program coordinator to oversee each of the following: • Autism/ Rise Programs • Special Ed Team Leaders • Itinerant staff - such as speech & language therapists, occupational therapists, etc. 12 PA RENT /PTO LEADERS- JUNE 6, 2016 PAG E 2 • TIP Program. This will allow for supervisors with specific expertise to oversee these specialized programs. • All teachers will have laptop computers next year. • The Di strict is moving to School Brains, a system for student data and communication, which has a more user-friendly parent portal. o Email will be moved to Google/ Gmail. o Google Classrooms and Google Apps will be used in classrooms, which will allow sharing of documents between teachers and students. • Information on the various summer programs was provided. o There is a push to have many more students enrolled in summer learning opportunities than in the past. • Summer Reading Challenge, in coordination with Holyoke Public Library, will be similar to last year. Students are asked to read 30 minutes each day in the summer. There will be prizes fo r participation, including a grand prize for each school. o If 1,000 students participate, Dr. Zrike and the ~.. 1ayor v1ill meet in Dance ""' Offl • An on-line summer math program is also in the works, with more info to follow. • Update on end of year teacher notifications: o Non-professional status teachers have been notified of non renewal. Many will be hired back, but the process requires non-PTS teachers to be notified by June 15th, o Teachers on waivers have been notified of non-renewal. Again, many will be rehired, but districts are required to employ highly qualified teachers wherever possible. Areas such as math and special needs are difficult areas to fill and many teachers do work under waivers where they must complete work that will lead to certification eligibility. o Some teachers have been non-renewed because of performance. There was discussion about this group continuing to meet going forward. There was agreement that the information, networking and resource sharing is positive and important. This group is also a resource to other parents who want to become involved, particularly with school PTO's. Nyles Courchesne said he would file the 501c3 paperwork and amend it when more schools come on-line. Once the paperwork process is complete, a bookkeeper could be hired over the summer and be in place for PTO fall meetings. Ms. Cintron told parents there would be a Parent Breakfast on June 14th at the Boys & Girls Club from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Mo re information will be forwarded. The breakfast is to celebrate parent contributions and there will be workshop offerings for parents as well. There will be a schedule of parent learning opportunities next school year. Next meeting August 8th, 6:00p.m., Peck Library. The meeting ended at 7:39p.m. 13 2 \ CITY OF HOLYOKE HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 TIME: 6:00 PM DEAN TECH HIGH SCHOOL TIME: 7:00PM School Committee Vice Chair Devin Sheehan called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Alex Morse, Devin Sheehan, Erin Brunelle, Mildred Lefebvre, Dennis Birks, Irene Feliciano Sims, and William Collamore. Absent: Rosalee Tensley Williams, John Brunelle, and Nyles Courchesne. Also present: Dr. Stephen Zrike, Receiver. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE STUDENT SHOWCASE- WHITE SCHOOL - GIRLS ON THE RUN Alison Burman, Council Director for Girls on the Run, Western Mass told members that the program is a national program with over 200 councils across the country. The Western Mass Council started about a year ago. Girls on the Run is an after school program for girls in grades 3-8, with a grade 3-5 program called Girls on the Run, and a grade 6-8 program that is called Heart and Soul. It is a social-emotional program that also integrates running. Girls meet two times a week after school, learn lessons about how to be good friends, how to stand up to bullies, and about good nutrition and healthy living, while training to run a 5K. In the first season this past fall, six schools and ninety girls participated in the program. All the girls ran in the Hot Chocolate 5K Run in Northampton. E.N. White School piloted the program in Holyoke this year. This season the program has expanded to 23 schools with over 300 girls training in 3 different counties in Western Mass. Holyoke now has a team at E.N. White and 2 teams at Kelly School. This season's 5K run will be at Holyoke Community College. There will also be games and festivities for the girls and their families around the event. The girls participate in a community service project and decided to donate to Dakin Animal Shelter; they made pillows, blankets and toys for the dogs and cats. All coaches are volunteers from the community. The girls are also members of the Connections program so they can stay after Girls on the Run to get homework support after they finish the exercising/running. They can then get bussing home at 5:45p.m. PUBLIC DISCUSSION None 14 REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2016 PAGE 2 COMrvtUNiCATi ONS & REPORTS Receiver's Communications Summit Program Teacher Visit Dr. Zrike recalled that at the last meeting the Committee heard about the P3 personalized learning experience that is being launched as a school choice option for families at Peck next year. Two teachers who visited the Summit model in practice in California are present to talk with the Committee about their experience. Tom Pandiccio, from Schoo! Works, Kelly School Teacher Laura Shanahan and Donahue School Teacher Dan Kinnie, talked to the committee about the Summit model and the visit to Summit schools in California. Mr. Pandiccio explained that P3 is a 1:1 initiative with every student vvorking on a computer, but it is not just a technology based program; it is more a program about teaching students to make proper personal choices, how to develop the skills they need to be successful and how to interact with caring and compassionate adults. They will be in schools the week after vacation to explain the program to all 5th and 6th graders, and in the community the week after that. In addition there will be a mailing going out to all families. They have partnered with the district to try to develop some foundational support They are seeking funding and recruiting teachers at this point. Ms. Shanahan told members they visited a high school and a middle school and she was impressed with the climate and culture in both schools. There was a lot of project-based learning going on; project time was student-led with the teacher facilitating. Most of the students she talked with said their favorite part of the program was the mentor program. Students said the mentoring program creates a community where there is very little bullying, kids get along and feel like it's a family atmosphere. Students also worked on non-cognitive skills such as appropriate health seeking, persistence issues, and response to setbacks. It was interesting to see teachers as facilitators and mentors and students self-directing their own learning, Mr. Kinnie said he liked the project-based, skill-focused approach. They had the opportunity to ask a middle school student about the project he was working on, and why, and the student listed the four cognitive skills the project was developing in him. During a student panel at the middle school, a teacher asked what students would do if school was abolished, and one student responded that he would miss out on the skills he was learning in schooL and that student believed the skills he was learning were helping him. Mrs. Brunelle asked how this personalized learning approach prepares students to take standardized tests. 15 REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2016 PAGE 3 Mr. Pendiccio said the program has been developed in conjunction with Standford University, looking at Common Core, integrating the curriculum in such a way that students who successfully move through the curriculum should be sufficiently prepared to deal with standardized testing. While students move through the curriculum at their own pace, they are still held to moving through the curriculum. Students who move successfully through the curriculum should be sufficiently prepared to deal with standardized testing. Dr. Zrike told members that the Summit school he visited in Rhode Island was an alternative school, with really challenging students who were completely engaged in their work. Ms. Lefebvre asked if students with IEPs would be included in this program at Peck. Dr. Zrike said the class size expectations are not being changed for this program; special education or ELL students would receive the same services as they currently receive. Overview of Recruiting/Retention Efforts Stephanie Davalos, Chief of Staff, said that the turnaround plan addresses the need to build robust systems to recruit, develop and retain strong staff members to employ where they are most needed, motivating high performing staff to remain in Holyoke, while recruiting new talent to the district. The vision for recruitment is to attract, select, develop and retain great educators who have the mindsets and skills to significantly improve the academic achievement of students in Holyoke. The vision will be achieved by getting out early and making good progress towards increasing the quantity, quality and diversity of the teacher applicant pool in Holyoke. Recruitment efforts are being focused on improving racial diversity, to increase the number of African American, Latino and Spanish speaking educators coming into Holyoke. The plan is to select and hire excellent teachers as early as possible, with a goal of having 100% of vacancies filled by August l 5t. Within the district work is underway to strengthen and promote professional support to attract and retain top candidates. A partner, The New Teacher Project (TNTP), has been helping to develop Holyoke's recruitment plan. The planning phase included identifying the role of recruitment manager, developing a plan and partnerships with experts, improving the talent management system whereby candidates apply electronically. The district will be using Talent Ed, which will allow for tracking of who is applying, when, the skillsets of candidates, etc. A recruitment team has been organized that includes ILSs and many principals. Work has been done with partners at TNTP, Lauren Woo from DESE, and principals to identify openings early. Job descriptions have been adjusted to better promote 16 REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2016 PAGE 4 Holyoke and to tell the story of what it means to teach here and to set ciear expectations. Employee incentives have been developed so they announce their plans sooner, rather than later. Implementation includes putting Kelly Curran into the position of interim manager of recruitment. Rigorous interviewing best practices have been developed, including a clear rubric of what to look for in teachers. Talent Ed has been chosen and built out as a rich way to schedule interviews, clarify expectations, and to scaffold and support the interviewing team. The district has partnered with Teach Western Mass and Teach for American (TFA), with multiple offers being made to TFA candidates to work next year. There is an anticipation of between 80 to 140 vacancies for next year. Work is ongoing with principals to minimize the number of departures from the schools. The TeachWesternMass website is up and members are encouraged to send anyone interested in working in Hoiyoke to go to the website to look at the types of educators Holyoke is looking for. Hiring goals include beginning hiring process in February, identifying candidates in March, and identify and staff 50% of vacancies by the beginning of May, and have 100% of the vacancies staffed by August 1st. All positions were posted as of March 1st and that will be clarified as the process moves forward. One hundred forty-tvvo applications have been received, with 87 going through phone screens. There have been four in-person interview sessions, at HHS, with principals watching practice teaching and doing group interviews. The district has held 2 webinars and members of the HR team have gone to multiple job fairs. Follow up surveys will be conducted with principals and with new hires to gather data to further refine the process going forward. The new professional compensation that has been introduced is a move away from a compensation system based on years on the job and educational credits to a new system that creates 5 new roles based on teacher development and impact on students. Excellent teachers will be rewarded with opportunities for higher pay and faster career progression. In reply to a question by Mrs. Brunelle as to whether student performance will be used to assess teacher proficiency and movement in the new compensation system, Dr. Zrike said student performance is a portion of the Massachusetts teacher evaluation system that all districts are required to use, but it not a sole determinant of the evaluation system. Holyoke is currently not using DDMs (district determined measures), but across the state, districts are moving towards that being one aspect of the evaluation process. The observation by the principal overwhelmingly determines whether a teacher is proficient, exemplary or needs improvement. The cost to implement the new compensation plan will be $1.2 million. To accomplish this, there will be cuts made to central office, positions that are not in 17 REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2016 PAGE 5 front of students, and there will be a reallocation of some things to grants. There is a need to be creative and innovative about how the money is used. Mayor Morse left the meeting at approximately 7:15p.m. 2016/2017 School Calendar The 2 016/2 017 school calendar will be posted on the website. The end of this school year will be Monday, June 20th. Kelly and Sullivan will have alternate calendars, but start and end dates will be the same for all schools. The district is working with the bus company to establish start and end times for all schools. If there are not two tiers, that should save some money in bussing costs. Freshmen will start at HHS before the rest of the student body in order to receive an orientation to HHS. Kindergarten registration days are being held with every school hosting a PreK and kindergarten registration day. McMahon will have a preK class next year, so that every school will have at least one preK option for families. MSBA/Facilities Study MSBA has given permission to move forward with a facilities study with the idea that it would be completed by the end of July. That will allow the district to make a recommendation to MSBA about which part of the city would get a new elementary school. The district will not have to go through the application process, it will be able to pick up the process where it currently stands. Dr. Zrike will be asking City Council to look at the energy audit completed recently and he will ask for a bond to focus on rugs and windows in schools. There are a series of schools that have rugs that need to be removed and replaced with tile. Charter school numbers are up with 40 more students scheduled to attend charters next year than this year. All 7th graders will have the opportunity to engage in a computer coding program with Holyoke Codes, beginning after April vacation. NEW BUSI NESS Policy Updates • Teaching About Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use by Students Prohibited • Administering Medicines to Students 18 REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2016 PAGE 6 These policies have been recommended by MASC and wiil be posted on the website for feedback before they are adopted. Ms. Lefebvre asked questions related to the Administering Medicines to Students policy proposal: Foilowing consultation with the school nurse, students who fall into the following exceptions may self-administer mediations: 1. Will self administration be under the supervision of the nurse (during self administration of medications)? 2. What would the age requirement be fo r self-administering and possession of specified medications? 3. Is there a self-med administration assessment that will be performed on students before the doctor will sign off and say yes it is safe for child to self admiD.ister the medications? Questions will be answered at the next meeting as part of the feedback process. Minutes of Meetings Regular Meeting of March 14.2016 MOTION: Ms. Brunelle made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lefebvre, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 14, 2016. The motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS None ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Courchesne told members that the Co-op Wrestling Team, the Nighthawks, would have a fundraising event at May 15th, at Summit View, from 12:00 to 5:00p.m. The funds raised will be used to purchase team warm-up outfits. A $20 donation includes food at the Summit View. He encouraged all those who could attend to participate. Ms. Lefebvre reminded everyone that the Homework House Spelling Bee would be held at Gateway City Arts. Ms. Lefebvre told members that May 1-7 is Children's Mental Health Week. The Parent Professional Advocacy League theme this year is that Mental Health is a Family Affair. The color green is designated as the color that signifies support for the fight against the stigma of mental health. 19 REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2016 PAGE 7 Mr. Birks reported that the Parent/PTO Leaders Group has met monthly. Nyles Courchesne has been helpful with the group around establishing a Citywide PTO as a non-profit corporation. Mr. Courchesne said that PTO funds have been handled in varying fashions. This will provide an opportunity for each school to develop a vibrant PTO. Dr. Zrike brought together a number of participants from the various schools to meet regularly to talk about PTO and parent issues as well as to keep the group updated on various district programs and activities. The Citywide non-profit will be a way to organize PTOs and provide support to emerging PTOs. Mr. Birks said parents have been attending consistently and the hope is that will catch on and other parents will be encouraged to start PTOs in schools that don't currently have them. PTOs are able to raise funds and provide various enrichment activities that schools would not otherwise be able to participate in. Mr. Collamore announced that the Ward VI meeting would be held in conjunction with the Ward VI City Councilor. Dr. Zrike will be present to talk to about happenings in the district. Mr. Sheehan reported on the National School Board Conference that he, Ms. Lefebvre and Ms. Feliciano-Sims were able to attend. He recognized Ms. Lefebvre, who served as a minority delegate for the State of Massachusetts, along with about 150 other people from 49 other states at the conference. Ms. Lefebvre was recognized for her efforts and the work she did at the delegate assembly. She stepped up and represented Massachusetts well. Mildred's work was recognized and acknowledged by a number of people, including by the National Executive Committee. Dr. Zrike noted that the first week in May is Educator Appreciation Week. He wants to recognize the talented staff in the district with a series of activities. MOTION: Ms. Lefebvre made a motion, seconded by Ms. Tensley Williams, to go into executive session to discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices, not to reconvene in open session. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Mr. Sheehan - yes Mrs. Brunelle -yes Ms. Lefebvre - yes Ms. Tensley Williams -yes Mr. Birks - yes Ms. Feliciano Sims -yes Mr. Collamore -yes Mr. Courchesne -yes 20 CITY OF HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE REG ULAR MEETING OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016 TIME: 6:00 PM DEAN TECH HIGH SCHOOL School Committee Vice Chair Devin Sheehan called the meeting to order at 6:10p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Alex Morse, Devin Sheehan, Mildred Lefebvre, Rosalee Tensley Williams, Dennis Birks, Irene Feliciano Sims, John Brunelle, William Collamore and Nyles Courchesne; absent: Erin Brunelle. Also present: Receiver Dr. Stephen Zrike. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE STUDENT SHOWCASE- 25 Book Campaign Iwona Langlois, Donahue Teacher, lead a group of students in a song to encourage students to read more. Students commented how they thought it was fun for students to read and that if you read more you will learn more things. Reading can help you to learn language and new words. The lyrics of the song tell that if you read more, life won't be hard because you will be smarter if you read more. Ms. Langlois wrote the lyrics. STUDENT SHOWCASE- Edeni Colon, Dean Tech Student Edeni Colon, a Senior at Dean Tech, competed in Skills USA and won a Gold Medal recently. Edeni read the speech that won the Gold Medal. Was it Worth. Was it worth going through all the pain of people constantly judging me and me letting them down? Coming to Dean was not an easy choice, mainly because it never felt like a choice. Dean was not the good school. The decision was made from a lot of courage and honestly, it was a very hard decision for an 8th grader. Although people told me I was just another dumb student for coming to Dean, I knew deep down that one day I would prove every single one of them wrong. Day by day, year by year, this has become my motivation. Although at first my accomplishment never seemed to meet my past teachers' expectations, and even my parents', today I've been able to prove all those things wrong. Now Skills USA has signed my comeback. Skills USA has allowed me to be trained as a leader but it has also opened the doors to make a difference in my community. Being able represent Dean at a state level conference has allowed me to prove that Dean Tech has students just like me that are capable of 21 REGULAR MEETIN G OF MAY 9, 2016 PAGE 2 doing anything and everything. The competition was not easy, as this year it came to my attention that I would be fa cing all three medal winners from last year, including thei r national competitor. This scared me to death, but it never took away one thing hope, the hope of doing the best that I could for every single word that I said. After the conference, awards ceremonies came in and I couldn't believe I was District Extemporaneous Speech Gold Medalist. And why is that such a big deal? For Dean Tech, because it is our first Gol d Medal in our Dean Tech history, as well, I'll be the first National Competitor for the Holyoke Public School System. To me, it is more than just that simply because I have proven that I'm not just a dumb student. I'm not just a failure for not choosing Holyoke High as my high school career. It's an honor to represent not only Dean, but Holyoke, as an English language learner, or an ELL student, and being the fi rst student to actually win a gold medal, being an ELL student. Our state might say that we are a level 5 school district, but let me tell you something, I competed against four students who come from a Ievell district and I still won. That tells us that Holyoke is doing something right and we should keep doing it. Moving to nationals is my big next step. It will allow me to inspire my peers and engage them to a more motivated en-vironment. I believe that this is the stait of a nevv beginning in the Holyoke Public Schools System and I want to start it off. I'm more than committed to come back next year to Dean as a Skills USA alumni to help out students with leadership, employability and communication skills as well as community service to help them give more to their community. My dream is about to come true but there is a tremendous barrier betvveen me and my dream, and that is money. Our school was not expecting to get this far, which kept us from preparing for such an amazing opportunit';. Tonight I come vvith a most humble heart and kindly request donations so that l can meet this dream and I can bring Holyoke back to the map. Our goal is $5,000 as it will pay for my expenses, Miss Larouix's, my chapter advisor, and hopefully it will allow me to take an underclass student, preferably a sophomore, to participate as an observer and help to encourage future Dean Tech students to make a difference. To demonstrate that this is reflecting positively in our school, this past Friday we held a contest fo r students that were interested in being the lucky winner to come with me to the national conference. They had to write a three hundred word essay describing how Skills USA connects with real life success and how it could affect our school. I'm happy to know that twelve students were working on their essays during the weekend and they will come up tomorrow to be scanned and hopefully proceed to the phase that will determine a winner. I know money is not an easy giveaway but I promise to make the experience the best that I can, use it to learn and come back to teach students to become leaders, but not just leaders, Holyoke leaders. Please help me make this dream come true. It will be something to mark the difference. It is in your hands, the decision for me to go to this national conference and make a positive influence in our district. Let's make Dean the best again. Let's make Holyoke the number one district everyone talked about. Ms. Colon said that during the contest, she had five minutes to create the speech, with no advance notice of the topic. She only had time to bullet point with flash cards. She had to face three judges and give a 3-5 minute speech. This is how Skills USA connects to real life success. She explained how Holyoke is not seen as a good place to study 22 REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 9, 2016 PAGE 3 and neither is Dean Tech, and being able to represent Dean at a state level has helped her to prove to her and her teachers that they did something right, but it also helped convince her parents that her decision was right for her life. Skills USA has allowed her to get into the physical therapy program at AIC next fall. The national conference will be in Louisville, Kentucky this year, over 4 days, June 20- 24, with students from all 50 states competing. Dr. Zrike said the district would find money to send Edeni to the National Competition. He is very proud of Edeni. She represents the best the district has to offer. Holyoke might be a level 5 district in name, but there are no level 5 students in the schools. What Edeni has accomplished is impressive. Holyoke deserves this opportunity to compete on the national stage and Edeni will represent well. Ms. Lefebvre said that Edeni's words touched her and they touch the lives of many people and students in Holyoke. Ms. Colon thanked John Brunelle for his help when she was younger. He helped not only her but her family as well. Mr. Brunelle said he coached basketball at Our Lady of Guadalupe for many years. Edeni and her family were wonderful to work with. The whole family would come to games and practices. It's wonderful to see her succeed. Members congratulated Edeni on her accomplishments and wished her well in the competition. CO MMUNICATIONS & REPORTS Student Reports No ne Receiver's Communications Transportation Presentation Dr. Zrike said that district officials are worki ng with the transportation around efficiency of services, and working with the city as FY 17 budget planning moves forward. Mr. Soto told members that the presentation was for information only and not fo r purposes of making recommendations. 23 REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 9, 2016 PAGE 4 Law requires school districts to transport any student iiving 2 miles or more from schooL School Committee policy provides transportation for students living 1 mile or more from school for students K-5, one and a half miles for 6-8, and high school students are transported if they live more 2 or more miles from schooL McKinney Vento homeless transportation must be provided for any student who lacks fixed, regular and adequate night time residence, including students living in shelters, campgrounds, parks, cars, public buildings and doubled-up with friends or relatives. Districts cannot discriminate based on religion, and therefore, must transport parochial students in the City as well at the same level provided to public school students in the district. The majority of students, 63 %, are walkers, 12% ride regular buses, 12% ride special education buses and 1% are transported out of district. The cost for bus monitors is projected at $1.2 million this year. There were questions about whether it would be feasible to hire bus monitors in house, rather than having the bus vendor provide bus monitors. It was felt the district would see a big savings by hiring in-house. Ms. Lefebvre also asked if a review could be done as to how bus monitors are assigned to buses that transport students with IEPs and whether the monitor is written into IEPs. The Committee talked about putting a focus on lhe biu specs for the next transportation bid, in terms of mileage, preferences, monitors, etc., to look to bring costs down. Mr. Soto told members that a consultant looked at all routes with an eye to tier routes wherever possible. Consideration was given to school start and end times to ensure the ability to maximize the amount of buses on the road that could be tiered. Dr. Zrike explained that every school would have a different start time and end time next year, which will allow for savings because there should be a need for fewer buses on the road next year. Mr. Soto said that IEPs would be looked at as well to ensure that transportation required is provided. Another opportunity would be to look at the way PVTA passes are issued for high school students. Dr. Zrike told the Committee that all schools were given their first choice for start and end times for next school year. 24 REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 9, 2016 PAGE 5 On Thursday information and recommendations will be presented from the Special Education Review, for staff at 3:30p.m. and for families at 6:00p.m. The Rising Stars event will be held on June 8th from 5:30 to 8:00p.m. at Dean Technical High School. Members have a schedule for all moving up ceremonies taking place this school year. On Wednesday there will be an open house in the evening for 9th grade at HHS. Members were given a series of FAQs about the high school redesign. Wednesday, from 5:45 to 7:00p.m. HHS will host an open house for families and will offer tours, sign ups for athletics and extra curricular activities, and families will be able to ask any questions they have about the changes for freshmen next year. The district continues to expand programs of choice. The P3 program has received over 100 applicants, which far exceeds what was anticipated. The dual language program will also be expanded, with a second preschool classroom being added at White, because the demand for the program is so high. There is consideration for possible consolidation of some of the career-technical shops at Dean for next year. There is movement on an alternative school program next year. Parent Engagement Plan Ileana Cintron, Director of Student, Family & Community Engagement, told members that Yamaris Rivera, Family Access & Engagement Coordinator at Lawrence School was named one of six 2016 Mass Literacy Champions today. This award includes a $1,000 grant for a literacy project and a professional video that will focus on the Holyoke Early Literacy Initiative. Holyoke parents have been receiving training in the Parent Cafe model, an initiative to engage parents in conversations around strengthening families, as well as conversations around early literacy. Parents will be having those conversations with other parents in coming weeks. The presentation includes data related to the Panorama parent and community survey. The issue of trust in the district and rebuilding relationships with parents is built into the turnaround plan. The vision of the Family, Student and Community Engagement office is: HPS has highly effective relationships with a significant number of actively engaged families and community partners, who are empowered and committed to 25 REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 9, 2016 PAGE 6 iifeiong learning, and who trust in and contribute to their children's classrooms and HPS as the best educational option for their children. The department has been reorganizing and continues to change to put all the pieces in place to focus on highly effective relationships with families. Work will include offering a parent resource center for families and developing a parent university that offers courses and seminars for parents. The Family, Student and Community Engagement office handles enrollment, family engagement, including access to information and resources, volunteerism, feedback/complaints, community engagement related to partnerships to support family engagement, attendance policy oversight, and coming soon- recruitment of students to the alternative school that will begin in the fall. The Student Assignment Center will be transformed into a Family Resource Center. A Panorama survey was conducted last February, with over 1400 surveys collected. Some of the responses were not as expected nor \AJhat is being heard from parents in the community. District leaders are working hard to engage teachers and staff around communicating good news about students to families. Responses related to family engagement were not high. The proposed reorganization for 2016-2017 includes centralizing parent engagement staff to ensure family engagement strategies remain central to turnaround efforts and to be able to provide professional development as a cohesive framevJork for the team. Staff wiil be aliocated equitably across schools. There will be a focus on direct contact with families and building capacity to expand parent leadership across the district, enhanced communication to families, making the HPS district more visible and reliable in the eyes of the community. Dr. Zrike said he sees the role of family and community engagement as a more centralized role. This is an area where resources need to be better utilized and centralizing the services will allow for more effective use of family engagement staff. Ms. Cintron said there would be more of a mobile effort moving forward as well so that families can more easily access services of the family engagement center. The district has started mobile enrollment opportunities this spring for the convenience of families. In addition, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays the Student Assignment Center will be option from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. so that staff and processes are more available to parents. Ms. Lefebvre said she was concerned that families with more than one child in the HPS, would have received more than one survey and many families completed more than one survey. That would skew the returns. 26 REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 9, 2016 PAGE 7 Mr. Courchesne said that he went on two home visits with the team from E.N. White. Teachers received welcoming receptions from families in the neighborhoods. School administrators did a really good job leading teachers through the first home visits. Summer Scholars Program Information Dr. Zrike provided members with copies of flyers for summer school programs. New this year is a program for ELL students going from 8th to 9th grade. There will be a push to sign up many more students this summer than past summers. OLD BUSI NESS Policy Updates Administering Medicines to Students - Revised Teaching About Alcohol. Tobacco. and Drugs Alcohol. Tobacco. and Drug Use by Students Prohibited Dr. Zrike told members that there was no feedback on the Teaching About Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs or the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use by Students Prohibited, policies so they will be adopted. Mrs. Lafond reminded members that Ms. Lefebvre raised some questions on the Administering Medicines to Students policy draft. This is a new policy to the Holyoke manual. In consultation with Patty Alford, Nursing Supervisor, all language related to "full delegation" of authority, which requires fo rmal agreement with DPH, was struck from the policy. Holyoke is not a "full delegation" district. Holyoke has school nurses in every school. Full delegation is typically used in smaller districts, or districts with significant distances between schools where there is not a full time nurse in each building. Holyoke will not move to full delegation fo r administering medications. Also added was an item related to an exemption fo r Epi pens, per current protocols and statute. The revised Administering Medicines to Students will be posted on the HPS website and will be returned at the next meeting. NEW BUSI NESS Other Mr. Courchesne said that he had been hearing about moving away from the traditional valedictorian I salutatorian at the High School. He hoped that was not, in fact, a plan for the future. Dr. Zrike said there had been discussion at HHS about changing the practice around Valedictorian and Salutatorian, and beyond that for the rest of the graduating class to 27 REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 9, 2016 PAGE 8 go in alphabetical order, however, because there was not process around that, the decision was tabled until next year. Any decision of that nature would have to involve engagement of the school community. Mr. Courchesne said that specific information on scholarships received is not announced at graduation, rather a total amount is announced. Mr. Brunelle said that announcing each scholarship makes class day very long. Last year the change of a total scholarship amount was announced. Mr. Courchesne said it seemed as though there was a move to not celebrate achievements for the sake of not making someone else feel bad. He felt it should be just the opposite so that others would know what they could strive for. Dr. Zrike said he did not believe that to be the intention of the schooL It is good feedback for Principai Suiiivan and his team. Students' accomplishments should be celebrated as much as possible. Mr. Collamore asked that congratulations be sent out to Edeni Colon and her family on her accomplishments. MOTION: Ms. Lefebvre made a motion, seconded by Ms. Feliciano Sims, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Regular Meeting of May 9, 2016 adjourned at 8:i 9 p.m. 28 CITY OF HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE JOINT CITY COUNCIL- SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 TIME: 6:00 PM DEAN TECH HIGH SCHOOL Present: Co-Chairs John Brunelle and Nelson Roman, School Committee members Irene Feliciano Sims & Mildred Lefebvre, and City Councilor Gladys Lebron Martinez (arriving at 6:17p.m.); absent: City Councilor Michael Sullivan. Councilor Roman asked for a motion: MOTION: Mr. Brunelle made a motion, seconded by Ms. Feliciano Sims, to suspend the necessary rules to allow Michael Moriarty to speak (on Early Literacy Campaign.) Mr. Moriarty explained his work with the Campaign for Grade Level Reading in the BPS. There was a gathering of communities and funders last month. Folks from the Davis Foundation represented Pioneer Valley. Following that gathering, Ralph Smith, the Managing Director of the GRLC, came to the Pioneer Valley and specifically requested to meet with representation from Holyoke; Mary McAndrew and Stephanie Davolos joined him and Amy O'Leary from Strategies for Children, a statewide advocacy organization. The mission of GRLC is to have a community-wide focus on early literacy and the need to improve the capacity of students, especially as they move from 3rd to 4th grade to be reading proficient because statistics are clear that when that is not the case, the chances for those children to be successful in high school are reduced by 75%. Holyoke has been recognized as a Pacesetter on two occasions for very good work on the Holyoke Early Literacy Initiative. Holyoke has shown solid progress across every school, across just about every grade, in chronic absenteeism figures, cutting the numbers in half in a number of schools. Holyoke is making good progress on expanding preK opportunities as well. Holyoke moved 6 points last year in third grade reading proficiency, which is significant, but Holyoke is still significantly behind every other community in Massachusetts. This work involves the entire community, not just the schools. The consequences of toxic stress and poor nutrition show in children who are not functioning at a proper social/emotional and academic level as early as kindergarten. This is a wide ranging campaign that involves public health and early childhood providers. In 2017 there will be a national gathering of Campaign communities. Holyoke needs to be thinking about that because it is an opportunity to redesign what goals should be. The campaign suggests that the number of proficient readers in the community now, double by 2020, which is an achievable goal for any community. Holyoke has received a grant from WGBH for $7,500 for books to be distributed to children in Holyoke. They will also be underwriting and supporting a literacy event 29 JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE of 4/ 28/16 PAGE 2 to include PBS characters. They are expanding in the early childhood offerings, incl uding a video series in Spanish and English. Ms. Lefebvre expressed concern that Holyoke is not retaining a high percentage of children who attend preschool in the public schools. Families are opting their children in to charter and parochial schools after preK. Mr. Brunelle said this discussion is all in line with the desire to keep Lynch School as a school facility. That building could be used to expand programming that could be attractive to parents who are taking their children to other programs after preK. Holyoke has the only Spanish/English dual language program in the state. Holyoke could be attracting not only Holyoke families, but families from outside the city to that program, if there were space to grow it. Ileana Ci ntron, Family, Student & Communit"y Engagement Coordinator fo r the HPS, said one of her functions nmv is to oversee the student enrollment process. The district has started a campaign for preK and kindergarten registration, reaching out through traditional and nontraditional media sources to spread the word. There are nine different options for preK in HPS school buildings. The work is around making it easy for parents to understand the various preK and kindergarten options in Holyoke. Ms. Lefebvre asked if the district could create an exit survey for parents who chose to take their children to another schooi option after attending the preK experience in the HPS. That would provide valuable information to the district as to what parents really want that the BPS are not offering. City Council or Howard Greaney said that Lynch School has been vacant fo r six years. He voted against giving that building to the city six years ago. That structure could be rehabilitated and could house special education programs, kindergarten programs and the school department offices. The warehouse could also be consolidated to the Lynch building. The City has been paying rent fo r offices on Suffolk Street fo r the school department, which seems to be a waste of money. That site is also not properly ADA compliant in case of an emergency evacuation. Mr. Moriart'y said he is serving a five-year appointment on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Holyoke is a high priority with BESE and DESE. A report has been part of every meeting agenda he has attended. DESE is a resource for the city, They have a specific charge to communities where schools are in receivership. DESE has placed a high priority on socialjemotionallearning and the impact that good health in the social/emotional realms has to exist if a child is going to thrive academically. This is a city where children are profoundly impacted by trauma. That trauma will always have a deep and ongoing negative impact on a child's capacity to learn. Social/ emotional learning is about creating a school culture and a 30 JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE of 4/ 28/16 PAGE 3 way for classrooms to manage and thrive in a context where really challenged children can remain in an inclusive environment and be successful. The language in Chapter 60, Section lK, the receivership statute, mandates that other state organizations, such as Housing, DCF, Child Welfare, Probation, Law Enforcement and DPH, find the supports that their particular departments have to offer to cities that have been declared chronically underperforming. These are agencies that are statutorily required to stand up for these communities. MOTION: Ms. Lebron-Martinez made a motion, seconded by Ms. Feliciano Sims, to table minutes of meetings until the next meeting (when minutes are available from the City-side.) The motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Ms. Feliciano Sims made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lebron Martinez, to take up the presentation from Ileana Cintron, Family, Student and Community Engagement Director. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. Cintron explained that her role in the HPS is around helping families and increasing families' roles in supporting their students. Her work includes supporting students and helping families access needed resources. Her department handles enrollment for K-8, student transportation and parent complaints. The family engagement function is broad, and includes the work of engagement staff in the schools that support families. She works in community engagement through the Holyoke Early Literacy Initiative, HELl, and the workgroups that have to do with families and attendance, as well developing other partnerships that support the participation of families to support their children in school. Attendance also falls within her work, including addressing the issues of chronic absenteeism. More opportunities and events are being incorporated that encourage children to attend school, including positive rewards for attendance. She will be working with the district team on the alternative school program that is being designed and her department will be working to recruit students who would like to come back to complete their educations. Family engagement work also involves creating spaces that promote positive family interactions with the schools so families can have more voice and can be more active in their children's educations. The work is complex and challenging. The work is about getting parents and families to have consistently good communication with teachers so they can understand where their students are and how to help them at home, which will support their work in the classrooms. This is exciting work and she looks forward to making advancements in getting parents more actively involved. When this happens and parents feel welcome they will become more active organizers within the schools and help to sustain turnaround work. 31 JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE of 4/28/16 PAGE 4 The student assignment center wiii be transformed into a hub of activity and information for parents so they can get consistent information and access resources that will support their work with their children and the schools. There was discussion about the various types of parent concerns brought to the main office, staff response and training, and training and support going forward for staff who work with parents. There was discussion about the need to develop cultural competence with staff. MOTION: Mrs. Lebron Martinez made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lefebvre, that the item related to receiving an update from the Family, Student and Community Engagement Director has been complied with. MOTION: Ms. Feliciano Sims made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lebron-Martinez, to take up the item (#2) related to the location of school department offices. The motion carried, Ms. Lefebvre voted no. Dr. Zrike provided demographic information for current staff in the HPS. He agreed with Ms. Lefebvre that cultural competence is an important skill for staff. In a recent survey, the area on cultural competence saw the lowest scores. This is part of the district's intentional recruiting strategy. There is also a need to educate the staff on cultural competence. Dr. Zrike provided a report on capital project needs that was request. The report was completed by Whitney Anderson and Lenny Gibbons as a capital pian map of projected needs for the schools for FY 17 through FY 21. Dr. Zrike said that the location of the School Department Headquarters has been an item of discussion for some time. Where the headquarters are is a City responsibility in terms of providing space. He and his staff can work anywhere. The City has done some work in terms of appraising the building in consideration of possibly purchasing the building. The cost of central office space is above net school spending. Anthony Soto said that the State prohibits using net school spending dollars on transportation, adult education and any lease greater than 3 years old. In addition to net school spending, the City does fund transportation and the central office lease. Mr. Roman said he and some of his colleagues wonder whether it would be better to move the school department headquarters out from Suffolk Street and into a school or some other space the city owns. Dr. Zrike said he is open to moving the office, but there would be a one time cost for retrofitting and outfitting for technology, etc. There is not much space in the existing schools but Lynch would be an option. " 32 JOINT CITY COUNCIL/ SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE of 4/ 28/ 16 PAGE 5 Mr. Roman said for the record that he was displeased that other city officials from other ci ty departments that had been invited were not present to discuss this matter. The City budget is $2.5 million short for next fiscal year. The rental costs for the school department offices could be used to fund some other needs in the city budget. Mr. Roman asked how much the city pays for transportation of students who attend parochial schools. Mr. Soto said the cost for parochial school students is a little over $300,000. Ms. Lefebvre said in order to have a meaningful discussion on this topic other city departments that play a role in this should be present. Mr. Roman suggested sending a letter to other city departments requesting a presence at the next joint subcommittee meeting. Mr. Brunelle said he is concerned that if the zone change for Lynch is passed that the opportunity to use that building for school uses would be lost. That could not only be used for central office, but for expanding preschool classes and the dual language program, which could possibly attract students from other school districts and make money for the district. MOTION: Mr. Brunelle made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lebron Martinez, to lay on the table the items related to the (5.) MSBA projects and (6.) the dollars available for capital improvements now that school construction bonds are completed. The motion failed 2-3. Mr. Brunelle suggested that any specific questions on these items be forwarded to Dr. Zrike and Mr. Soto so that they can come to the next meeting prepared with answers to specific inquiries. MOTION : Mr. Brunelle made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lebron Martinez, that the order related to discussing the permanent home of the school department headquarters and the feasibility of 57 Suffolk St. being acquired to permanently house the school department, including through the use of eminent domain, to save taxpayer dollars, has been complied with, with a recommendation to send to City Council Finance Committee for further discussion. The motion carried 4-1. MOTION : Mr. Brunelle made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Lebron Martinez, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Joint City Council j School Committee Subcommittee meeting of April 28, 2016 adjourned at 8:13p.m. 33 CITY OF HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WARD VI MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016 TIME: 7:00PM SULLIVAN SCHOOL Present: William Collamore, Rosalee Tensley Williams, Mildred Lefebvre, Irene Feliciano Sims, John Brunelle and Dr. Stephen Zrike, Receiver. Dr. Zrike addressed those present and provided an update on the many happenings and changes in the district, including: • Dr. Zrike has spent a lot oftime listening and learning about the community and the children in the schools. • Special Education and ELL Department reviews have taken place to take a close look at how resources are used that impact children in the schools and to determine if resources could be better used to more effectively impact children. • P3 personalized learning program at Peck next year will include 1:1 programing for 7th & 8th grade students. • Dual language program is very popular and there is consideration to expand if possible. • Dean Tech needs to be rebootedjrebranded as a technical school of choice for students. Career technical education is booming across the state. There is a high demand in the fields of nursing and manufacturing. • Fall 2016 all 9th graders will attend HHS to explore pathways before deciding on which high school path to take. • There will be significantly more dual enrollment opportunities for students to take college courses while in high school with students being able to earn up to 2 years of college credit while in high school. The district has partnered with HCC, Westfield State and UMass. ~ Next year students in grades K-8 will have a fuller school day, with extended time in school that will include more enrichment opportunities and academic intervention opportunities. The school year will increase by approximately 300 hours at the elementary level. • There will be more time for planning and collaboration among teachers next year. ~t Holyoke needs to invest in staff to be competitive with surrounding communities. There will be a new compensation plan in place for teachers next year. • The district wants to provide each teacher with a laptop next year. • Recruitment is a major focus right now for next year. • The pockets of excellence that exist must be expanded across the district. 34 WARD VI MEETING- APRIL 27, 2016 2 Dr. Zrike took a multitude of questions from those present, including about: • Suffolk Street office space - Dr. Zrike said he does not care where the offices are. The City has to provide office space for the School Department. His staff can work anywhere. • Grant for a facilities study of all school facilities to determine whether/where a new school building would be most beneficial in the Cit';. • The popularity of the dual language program is an opportunity not only to attract and retain families in the district, but also for bringing new revenue to the schools. • Use of Lynch School - the building would need considerable work to be brought up to code/be made ADA compliant. • The "school choice" concerns relative to parents sending children to other school districts - Dr. Zrike talked about the need to provide dynamic learning opportunities for students to make Holyoke the district of choice for Holyoke families. There also needs to be better communication 'vVith families. • Technology- there needs to be continued investment in technology for schools and classrooms. • Possibility of working to increase the dropout age (currently 16.) Dr. Zrike wants to offer alternative pathways for students to continue learning and working towards completing their high school diploma requirements. The meeting ended at 8:33p.m. 35 CITY OF HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WARD VII MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 31,2016 TIME: 6:00 PM E.N. WHITE SCHOOL Ward VII School Committee member Nyles Courchesne welcomed parents and community members at 6:12p.m. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to hear from parents and community members about what they like or do not like at the school, and what they might like to see included at the school in the future. Dr. Zrike spoke to the group about a number of initiatives underway in the HPS as part of the turnaround effort. • There was discussion around what families in the community feel would make the school more attractive, as a school or first choice for families. Many families in the ward are choicing-out of the district. • While implementing changes in the district, he is also facing budgetary challenges this year and next, and is trying to do more with less. • The District is working to create personalized learning experiences for students in Holyoke. o P3 Program at Peck for 7th & 8th graders beginning next year. Over 130 applicants so a lottery will take place to fill slots. o Need to continue to look at programs families want in Holyoke. o Need to look at vocational technical education. Voc schools across the state have wait lists. Dean needs more viable options for students who want vocational-technical education. o Early college/ dual enrollment options for up to 200 high school students next year with HCC, Westfield State and UMass. o HPS will offer an alternative program next school year for students who are over-aged and under-credited. • The district will continue to better invest in its talented teaching staff, including professional growth opportunities and a new compensation system. • Recruitment is a major focus. • The district will be using resources more efficiently and will continue to look for efficiencies so money can stay in the classrooms. • Engaging families in the educational process and in the schools is a high priority. Relationship building is a priority. • K-8 schools will have a fuller school day beginning in September, to include more enrichment opportunities for students. Parents talked about a number of issues of importance to them, including: 36 • The new move to add more preschool classes and especially full day preschool, which is important to working parents. • A concern over too much time prepping for tests. o Dr. Zrike said he did not think a focus on test prep for students to be the focus of education in Holyoke today. He wants to create dynamic learning opportunities for students, rather than drill & kill experiences. o The fuller school day includes more opportunities for enrichment. o Students should be engrossed in discourse, communication and writing. • One parent spoke of the drain of resources families take from the system when the choice out or send their children to charter schools. Good teachers and good students who stay in the system have to adjust to doing more with less and less. • There was strong support for the dual language program and hope expressed that it would be expanded. • Need for more technology for students and teachers. • Concern that not more parents from Ward 7 were in attendance to hear about programming. Finding ways to increase parent involvement is important. • Ileana Cintron talked briefly about efforts to engage parents, including the way information is being sent to homes. Parents have many responsibilities and the district needs to meet parents where they are and get the message out more effectively and more creatively. • One parent spoke about the way zone lines are drawn. She lives within close walking distance to White but her daughter goes to Sullivan. The meeting closed at approximately 7:20p.m. 37 File: JLCD ADMINISTERING MEDICINES TO STUDENTS Medication may not be administered to students while at school unless such medicine is given to them by the school nurse acting under specific written request of the parent or guardian and under the written directive of the student's personal physician (see below for exceptions). No one but the school nurse and those others listed in the medical administration plan may give any medication to any student. Exceptions: The school district shall, through the district nurse leader, register with the Dept. of Public Health and train personnel in the use of epinephrine auto-injectors. The school district may, in conjunction with the School Physician and the School Nurse Leader, stock nasal naloxone (Narcan) and trained medical personnel and first responders may administer nasal naloxone to individuals experiencing a life threatening opiate overdose in a school setting. If the school district wishes medical personnel to train non-medical staff in the administration of nasal naloxone, the School Committee shall vote to approve such training and the Superintendent shall ensure that medical personnel have a written protocol which complies with medical directives and regulations from the Dept. of Public Health. Following consultation with the school nurse, students who fall into the following exceptions may self-administer medications: 1. Students with asthma or other respiratory diseases may possess and administer prescription inhalers. 2. Students with cystic fibrosis may possess and administer prescription enzyme supplements. 3. Students with diabetes may possess and administer glucose monitoring tests and insulin delivery systems. 4. For the limited purpose of permitting unlicensed, properly trained school personnel to administer epinephrine (by auto-injector) to students with a diagnosed life-threatening allergic condition when a school nurse (RN) is not immediately available, provided that the conditions defined in 105 CMR 201 .100 are met. SOURCE: MASC January 2016 LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71 :54B Dept. of Public Health Regulations: 105 CMR 210.00; 244 CMR 3.00 38 File: KHB ADVERTISING IN SCHOOLS I REVENUE ENHANCEMENT Revenue enhancement through a variety of district-wide and district-approved marketing activities including but not limited to advertising, corporate sponsorship, signage in or on district facilities, etc., is a school committee-approved venture. The superintendent may approve such opportunities subject to certain restrictions in keeping with the contemporary standards of good taste. Advertising will model and promote positive values for district students through proactive educational messages and not be simply traditional advertising of a product. Preferred advertising includes messages encouraging student achievement and establishment of high standards of personal conduct. The terms of all sponsorship agreements shall be memorialized in writing and will allow the district to terminate the contract on at least an annual basis, if it is determined that it will have an adverse impact on implementation of curriculum or the educational experience of students. The revenue derived should: 1. Assist in maintenance of existing district 2. Provide scholarships for students participating in athletic, academic, and activity programs who demonstrate financial need and(lor) merit. 3. Athletic facilities, including stadiums, school baseball fields, and school gymnasiums. 4. District-level projects. 5. Expanded usage of facilities beyond traditional uses (i.e., concerts, rallies, etc.). 6. Individual school publications (when not in conflict with current contracts). Advertising will not be allowed in classrooms. The following restrictions will be in place when seeking revenue enhancement. Revenue enhancement activities will not: I. Promote hostility, disorder or violence; 2. Attack ethnic, racial or religious groups; 3. Discriminate, demean, harass or ridicule any person or group of persons on the basis of gender; 4. Be libelous 39 5. Inhibit the functioning of the school and/or district; 6. Promote, favor or oppose the candidacy of any candidate for election, adoption of any bond/budget issues, or any public question submitted at any general county, municipal or school election; 7. Be obscene or pornographic, as defined by prevailing community standards throughoul the district; 8. Promote the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, firearms or certain products that create community concerns; 9. Promote any religious or political organization; 10. Use any district or school logo without prior approval. LEGAL REF: M.G.L. 44:53A CROSS REFS: GBEBC, Staff Gifts and Solicitations JJE, Student Fund-Raising Activities JP, Student Gifts and Solicitations 40 File: JICG TOBACCO FREE POLICY The Holyoke Public Schools is dedicated to providing a healthy, smoke-free environment for staff, students, and citizens. The Holyoke Public Schools believes that education plays a critical role in establishing life-long health habits for its students. A comprehensive health curriculum for grades P.S.- 12, emphasizing the dangers of tobacco, e-cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol, remains a major goal of the Holyoke Public Schools, which has a strong interest in the health of its employees and their importance as positive role models. Smoking, chewing or other use of tobacco or e-cigarette products by staff, students, and members of the public shall be banned from all District buildings. All forms of tobacco and e cigarettes use shall be prohibited on all District property. In addition, tobacco and e-cigarette use by students is banned at all school-sponsored events, even though this use does not take place on school grounds. LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71 :3 7H 41 File: GBED TOBACCO/E-CIGARETTE USE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY BY STAFF MEMBERS Smoking or the use of tobacco ore-cigarettes within school buildings, the school facilities or on school property or buses by any individual, including school personnel, is prohibited. Staff members who violate this policy will be referred to their immediate supervisor. LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71 :37H 42 File: IHAMA TEACHING ABOUT DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND TOBACCO AND E-CIGARETTES In accordance with state and federal law, the District shall provide age-appropriate, developmentally based drug and alcohol education and prevention programs. The drug and alcohol education program shall address the legal, social, and health consequences of drug and alcohol use. It shall include special instruction as to the effects upon the human system; the emotional, psychological and social dangers of such use with emphasis on nonuse by school age children and the illegal aspects of such use. The program also shall include information about effective techniques for resisting peer pressure to use illicit drugs or alcohol. The objectives of this program, as stated below, are rooted in the Committee's beliefthat prevention requires education, and that the most important aspect of the policies and guidelines of the District should be the education of each individual to the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and e-cigarettes. To create an awareness of the total drug problem--prevention, education, treatment, rehabilitation, and law enforcement on the local, state, national and international levels. To relate the use of drugs and alcohol to physical, mental, social and emotional practices. To develop the student's ability to make intelligent choices based on facts and to develop the courage to stand by one's own convictions. To understand the personal, social and economic problems causing the misuse of drugs and alcohol. To develop an interest in preventing illegal use of drugs in the community. The curriculum, instructional materials and outcomes used in this program shall be recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the School Committee. SOURCE: MASC LEGALREFS.: M.G.L. 71:1 43 SMOKING ON SCHOOL PREMISES Use of any tobacco ore-cigarette products within the school buildings, school facilities, or on school grounds or school buses by any individual, including school personnel and students, is prohibited at all times. A staff member determined to be in violation ofthis policy shall be subject to disciplinary action. A student determined to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the student discipline code. This policy shall be promulgated to all staff and students in appropriate handbook( s) and publications. Signs shall be posted in all school buildings informing the general public of the District policy and requirements of state law. At each athletic event where announcements are made, the announcement will include the statement that by law there is no smoking on school premises. LEGAL REF: M.G.L. 71 :37H 44 Mayor Alex B. Morse William D. Fuqua, Superintendent City of Holyoke Department of Public Works To: Mayor Alex B. Morse From: William D. Fuqua ~; General Superinten Date: 5/18/2016 'Re: Progress Update -Park 'Facility Improvements Progress continues on the capital improvement projects at Roberts Field, Mackenzie Stadium, Crosier Field and Jones Point Park. Roberts Sports Complex- The contract to replace the artificial turf and resurface the running track was recently awarded to Mountain View Landscapes. The project will replace the artificial turf and crumb rubber infill athletic field with a new, state-of-the-art synthetic turf with coated silica sand infill, completely eliminating crumb rubber. Site work will commence in June with the installation of perimeter drains around a portion of the running track. Installation of the new athletic f1eld is scheduled for late August while work on the track wilt also take place in late August into September. All work on site will be completed by mid-October. Mackenzie Field - Bids are currently being requested for renovations to the baseball field. Plans call for a portion of the outfield to be regarded while the infierd will be removed and reconstructed with improved materials. Work under this contract will take place in September and October. Sod will be used to ensure the field will be ready for play in the Spring of 2017. Plans are being developed to remove the old field house and replace it with a smaller restroom/concessions building. This project should go out for bid in July with construction slated for later this Fall. 63 CANAL STREET· HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS 01040-5836 PHONE: (4 13) 322-5645 ·FAX: (413) 539--6807 ·E-MAIL: [email protected] Birthplace of Volleyball 45 High School/Crosier Field/Jones Point Tennis Courts- Plans are being prepared for the reconstruction of these three tennis courts. The High School courts will be reconstructed as asphalt courts wh ile Crosier Field and Jones Point Park tenn is courts will be reconstructed in concrete. This package of work will be ready to bid in June with construction anticipated in September/October of this year. Progress Update - Park Facility lmprovemen1s- page 2 46 CITY OF HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA DATE: MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016 TIME: 6:00PM LOCATION: Fifield Community Room Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main Street 1. CALL TO ORDER ~ ROLL CALL ~ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. STUDENT SHOWCASE • 25 Book Campaign (page 1) • Edeni Colon, Dean Tech Student 3. PUBLIC DISCUSSION* 4. COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS a. Student Reports b. Receiver's Communications • Teacher Appreciation Update o Monday, May2, Raffle (results attached- page 2) o Tuesday, May 3, All Staff Reception at Holyoke Merry-Go-Round o Wednesday, May 4, Breakfast Delivery for All Staff o Thursday, May 5, Dean Culinary Students Baked Cupcakes for Teachers o Friday, May 6, Free Cup of Coffee for Teachers at Dam Cafe • Graduation & Moving Up Ceremonies o Dean Graduation- Friday, June 3, 6:00p.m., War Memorial o Holyoke High Graduation- Sunday, June 5, 1:00 p.m.- Holyoke High School o gth Grade Moving Up Ceremonies- Friday, June 17, 2016 • Transportation Presentation (pages 3-14) • Parent Engagement Plan (pages 15-27) • Morgan School Level 5 Third Quarter Report (pages 28-42) • Special Education Review Report Meetings for Staff and Families (page 43) • Summer Scholars Programs 2016 (pages 44-50) • Secondary Redesign F AQs (pages 51-55) • YMCA Peer Scholars Academy Program Description (pages 56-47 5. NEW BUSINESS 6. OLD BUSINESS SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA- May 9, 2016 PAGE2 • Administering Medicines to Students- Revised (page 58) • Teaching About Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs (page 59) • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug use by Students Prohibited (page 60) 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. *The Holyoke Public Schools makes available a public discussion period for persons in the audience to address the Committee on specific agenda items. In order to hear as may speakers as possible, the Committee asks individuals to continue their remarks to two (2) minutes. Any person wishing to submit longer testimony should give copies to the Committee Secretary before the meeting so that it may be distributed to Committee members. The speaker can then summarize this testimony at the meeting within the two (2) minute time period. Persons wishing to speak shouid register with the Committee Secretary immediately before the meeting begins. Individuals who request specific items to be included on the Committee's agenda should mail a written request fifteen (IS) days in advance of a Committee meeting date to Liz Lafond, in care of the Receiver's Office, 57 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 2 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, "There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best ofall." Grade 4 students at Maurice A. Donahue School wanted to share a message, and did it through a song. "Until You Read", written by their teacher, Mrs. Iwona Langlois, shares the message of the importance of reading, and that there is a world of books just waiting to be read. The students and their teachers, Mrs. Iwona Langlois, Mrs. Synthia Rodriguez, and Ms. Emmalyn Hicks not only are trying to spread the news at Donahue School, but also supported the Barnes & Noble and Holyoke Pediatrics' "Reach Out and Read" book fair on Saturday, April 9th, 2016 by performing their song. Principal Salvatore Frieri is thrilled that his students and teachers are singing out this important message and he, along with all of the students and teachers involved, would like to share it with all of our Holyoke Public School family. Until You Read Lyrics by Mrs. I. Langlois Instrumentals by Bruno Mars" It will Rain" If you don't read us baby, 'Cuz life will be harder You will never ever know. if you don't read baby. All the knowledge that we can give you, You'll be a lot smarter to realize how good reading is ... and, and do it more. the more that you read, baby. Just choose a book We are filled with lots of stories, adventures, fantasies, and more. So keep in mind how we're just waitin', to be read by you, don't let us stay unread. and keep you wanting to read more. Ifyou walkaway, lonely we will stay, stay, stay ... 'Cuz life will be harder uh- unread. if you don't read baby. You'll be a lot smarter the more that you read, baby. Don't just go. Just choose a book Don't just go. don't let us stay unread. A-way. Ifyou walkaway, A-way. lonely we will stay, stay, stay uh- unread Don't just go. Don't just go. 0000000! A-way. A-way. I may end up being your favorite, but you won't know until you try. Pick out a book and just start reading, 0000000! that will make it right I know there are other things that seem more fun, 'Cuz life will be harder like playing video games if you don't read baby. or listening to that Bruno Mars guy. You'll be a lot smarter the more that you read, baby. But life is filled with so many things that you should do. Just choose a book Ooh, and reading is just one of them. don't let us stay unread. Yeah, and please read, and read, and read, and read If you walk away, Pick out a book and just start reading. lonely we will stay, stay, stay ...... It's really good for your mind. uh-unread. 1 Central Office Leaders to cover 45 minute class period - before the end of this school year, at a time of staff member's choosing - agreeable to both parties. Staff Member I Winner Central Office Leader to Cover Alaina Nummy, Special Education Inclusion@ McMahon Gabrielle Agron, Director of Early Childhood Education Martha Mulcahy, Art@ Donahue Ileana Cintron, Director Family, Student and Community Engagement Caleb Colon, Paraprofessional@ White Tonya Claiborne, Elementary STEM Director Michael Garcia, Custodian@ Morgan Stephanie Davalos, Chief of Staff joan Champagne, Paraprofessional@ McMahon Beth Gage, Chief Talent Officer Ellen Bouthalette, Special Education Inclusion@ Donahue Megan Harding, Full Service Community District Manager Colby Verge, TIP@ Dean Nicole LaChapelle, Special Education Director Bevan Brunelle, Grade 7 Science @ Kelly Deb Lantaigne, DESE Assistance Liaison Nicholas Zyla, Grade 8 Social Studies@ Donahue Perna Latshang, Director of Professional Learning and Leadership Dev. Matthew Killian, Health @ Sullivan Dale, Libkin, Interim Chief Academic Officer Crystal Durrand, Paraprofessional @ Donahue Erin Linville, Chief of Strategy and Turnaround Ruth Silva, Grade 1 Dual Language @ Metcalf Anna Lugo, Director of English Language Education Mary DiCarlo, Grade 3 @ McMahon Mary McAndrew, ELA/Humanities Director Ann Brennan, Physical Education @ White Gina Roy, Director of Student Services Donna Sokol, Paraprofessional @ Dean Anthony Soto, Chief of Finance and Operations Ingrid Vega, French@ Holyoke High Stephen Zrike, Receiver Staff Member I Winner Prize jorge Rodriguez, Custodian@ Peck One Year AAA Membership 2 Tickets to an upcoming Patriots Game Pamela Nadeau, Counselor@ Holyoke High 2 3 "" TransportationRegulations 0 Ch. 71 Section68 - Statesthat SchoolDistricts are requiredto providetransportation to studentswho live 2 miles or morefrom their residence ~ Currentlythe Districtspolicy is to transportk -5 that clreover 1 mile. 6-8 within 1.5 miles, and high schoolsare over 2 miles McKinney-VentoHomeless Education Assistance Act - Anyonewho lacks fixed, regular,and adequatenighttime residenceis homeless. This includesstudents living in shelters,campgrounds, parks, cars, public buildings,doubled up with friends and relatives, abandoned,awaiting foster care, etc. );;;> Transportationfor thesestudents is mandatoryand they are entitledto stay in their schoolof origin );;;> The Districtcost shares with the host schooland vice versa (50/50) Ch. 76 Section1 - Speaksto transportationof parochialstude nts Riders 0 Hometo School HPS RIDERI NFO RegularBus AM 646 In-distictSPED 621 Outof District SPED 63 PVTA-HHS 321 PVTA-Dean 340 Walkersor ParentPick Ups 3,357 • Regular Bus AM • ln-distict SPED Out of District SPED PVTA-HHS TotalStudent Enrollment 5,348 • PVTA-Dean TotalStudents being transported 1,991 • Walkers or Parent Pick Ups PrivateSchools MaterDolorosa 102 BlessedSacrament 55 01 "' Cost B1reakdown 0 2017 2016 I 2015 2014 2013 I I Regular $ 1,649,790.00$ 1,5B4 ,000.00 1,357,303.98 1,601 ,533.62 1,374,181.82 Homeless $ 721,000.00$ 700,000.00 618,3:l0.20 578,238.00 423,86.25 , , , 1 SPED '$ 4,334,400.00$ 4,200,000.00 3,823,3~i8.113,994,973.11 3 ,108,324.85 Summer $ 333,720.00$ 324,000.00 327,512.34 167,061.12 138,884.15 Other $ 63,975.00$ ()2,112.00 51,715.34 21,169.17 21,372.~14 Total $ 7,102,885.00$ 6,880,~ 12.00$ 6,178,21!~.97 $ 6,362,975.02$ 5,066,625 .01 COSTDRIVERS ---0 ~ McKinney-VENTOHOMELESS (>$700,000 for FY 16 from $424,000in FY 13) ~ SPECIALEDUCATION (IN-DISTRICT AND OUT-OF-DISTRICT$4.2 million for FY 16 vs. $3.1 million in FY 13) ~ Bus Monitors ($1.2 million for FY 16 from $833,000in FY 13) -...I 00 - McKinney-VENTO I 0 ~ Child care agenciesand HPS unfortunatelyhave not forged a workingrelationship when come time to place children in foster I group homesor entire families in hotels and shelters. This is somethingthat HPS has no control over and when this happensthe District is responsiblE!to transportthe Homelessstudents to their origin school ~ The McKinney-Ventol aw is deemed an unfunded mandate by the Commonwealthof Massachusetts. 30% Reimbursementreceived in FY 15 ~ This unfunded mandate has a direct effect on the rising costs of transportationdue to the uncertaintyof homelessness. ~ Homelessnessand rising costs mostlyaffect UrbanDistricts like Holyoke McKinney-VENTO- cont'd --0 Residing in Other Districts Residing in Holyoke Springfield 77 Springfield 159 West Springfield 4 Chicopee 35 Chicopee 14 West Springfield 3 Northampton 1 Huntington 1 Greenfield 5 Northampton 2 Amherst 1 Easthampton 2 South Hadley 2 East Longmeadow 1 E. Longmeadow 1 South Hadley 1 Indian Orchard 2 Westfield 7 Longmeadow 2 Total 107 Total 213 1.0 I-' 0 SPECIALE~D OVERVIEW I 0 I ~ Transportationcosts in the area of special needs has increased this school year due to placementof childrenin specializedprograms not offeredor specificservices available within the district. Large part of these placementsare outside the City of Holyokeand usually require a distanceto travel to and from. These particular placementsare not knownwhen preparingthe Transportationbudget. ~ As mentionedin previousslides, SPED students in many cases require bus monitorsvia their IEP and this costs the District$1.2 million(S ame as Springfield) Soecial Programingand Start/End 0 .... )o> When the District embarkson special programinglike the Dual Languageprogram and the P3 program,it often times increasesthe amount of busing required becausethese specialized programsbus kids that wouldnormally be walkersto their zoneschools )o> Start and Endtimes for schoolsis a big factor in beingable to managecosts I-' I-' 1--' N Managing Costs 1 0 SEQUENCINGI TIERING- Sequencingor Tiering is a term used by SchoolTransportation Departments when it comestime to build routes. For example,you take the school with the earliest start time and deliver studentsto their appointedschool. Once this portion of the run is completeyou assign another run (second school) that has a later start time. The TransportationDepartment will take a look at each school run to build the most efficient routes possible. Time and locat~ionare key factors in determining sequencesor tiers. Consultantwas hired to he!lp Even with an additionalgrade to the Dual Lan!guageprogram and other new programmingfo r next year we believewe will be able to maintainthe samenumber of routesfor regular transportation Review SPEDTransportation process With a new SPED Director there could be opportunitiesto revie~wall IEP's and only give door to door transportationto those studentsthat require it. We could also evaluate how we are writing IEP's to ensurethat transportationis grantedto studentsthat requireit going forward Managing Costs Cont'd t 0 Re-Bid Contracts for FY 2018 ~ There could potentiallybe some significantsavings if the next contractawarded in parts rather than as a whole(i.e. Regular,SPED In-District, SPED OOD) ~ Do not includeBus Monitorsas part of the contractand bringthem in-house ,. Putting this into prospective Holyokeand Springfieldspend the sameamount of moneyon bus monitors ~ PVTAContract - Trippervs. Bus PassProgram ,. Also spend the same amountin Springfieldthan we do in Holyoke I-' w l I . 14 Holyoke Public Schools Famil~ Student and Community Engagement Department Presentation to Holyoke School Committee May9, 2016 I-' lJ1 I-' "' HPS Family, Student and C:ommunit'' Engagement ~JP --4. lj/ --- - Vision: HPS has highly effective relationships with a significan~ number of actively engagect families and community partners, who are empowered and committed to lifelong learning, and who trust in a[ld contribute to their childrenl's classrooms and HPS as the lbest educational option for their- children. I Family Engagement in the HPS Turnaround Plan ---~---·- / • Turnaround Plan Vision: ''The Holyoke Public Schools will be a service oriented district~truly welcoming and engaging families as active participants in students~education." • 6th Critical Action for Turnaround I m pie mentation: ''Engage families as active partners~repairing relationships and building trust in the district." 1-' -...1 I-' 00 Family Engagement in the HPS Turnaround Plan "!!l.!'·' /// •.___ ..... • Turnaround Priority A1rea 3: I ''Create a climate arr1dculturE~ that support students and enga~1efamilies .~~ • Benchmarks: l o Designate clear central office leadE~rship o Develop a prospectus f1or a Family !Resource Center o Develop a Parent Unive~rsity,offering courses and seminars that will help Holyoke's families develop their workforce skills. .. I Family Engagement in HPS Turnaround Plan .....~ i the ', .'~~!PI; - - / -·-- - • Relevant Measurable Annual Goals: (specified by Chapter 69, Section lK) o %of families reporting they have opportunities to learn how to support child's learning at home o % of families reporting they feel welcome when they visit their child's school o % of families reporting they receive timely responses to central office and school inquiries o % of teachers conducting at least 3 home visits during the course of the year o Increase in attendance rate o Decrease in %of students chronically absent 1-' 1.0 N 0 Panorama Family Survey -~~-t '// r~o\1. • Administered between I 2015 and Feb. 2016 • Collected 1,457 surveys • Barriers to Family Engagement (school-related factors that can create ch,allengE~sfor family involvement): o 87% - Unsure how to connmunicate \rvith school o 84%- Little information abo~tinvolvement opportunities o 84% - Worry staff will treat child differently if concern is raised 1 Panorama Family Survey • School Customer Service: o 84% - Prompt response to calls, messages or emails o 67%- Usually hear from school about positive things my child does in school o 84%- School communicates school policies and procedures clearly o 77% - It's easy to get concerns about student support addressed in a timely way • School Fit o 55%- School is preparing child well for college and career N I-' "" Panorama Family Survey • Family Engagement: D~egreeto \Nhich families become involved and int~ractwith child's school o 25% - Have met in person with teachers at school 1 o 26% - Have had conversation in the neighborhood about child's school in the last 12 months o 49%- School offers opportunities to learn how to support child's learning at home o 84% - School encourages rn¢ to be active partner in child's education 1 o 72% - School helps me fi(~ureout soc ial and emot ional skills my child needs to develop ', ...... I /~.i HPS Family, Student and Community Engagement \ . ~t!'l'. ·; '·~' ·;::;.. ,• • Parent Complaints o 43 complaints received between February-March 2016 o Key reasons: • Dissatisfaction with services (student not making progress) • Need for support services not addressed • Bullying not addressed • Parents feeling disrespected or mistreated by staff • Verbal or physical abuse of students by staff • Lack of communication with staff (feeling not heard or misunderstood) • Violent incidents at school or on buses (schools perceived as dangerous or unruly) • Timeliness of communication (regarding incidents or requests) • Disagreement with the application of a policy (usually discipline or attendance) • Dissatisfaction with school enrollment/assignment or placement in a particular program 1\.) w N ~ I ' Holyoke Public Schools '!11.~'}!!1I I ···-- ~-. Family, Student and Community Engagjement Department Assigned Functions starting February 2~016 ~ I ,, STUDENT COMMUN ITY STUDENT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT W ITH EI\IGAGEMENT ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT & ENGAGEMENT HPS (alternati'Ve .. WITH HPS ASSIGNMENT program ) " SCHOOL-FAMILY RELATIONSHIPTO SUPPORTSTUDENT LEARNING ACCESSTO RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES FAMILY CONNECTION & CONTRIBUTION TO HPS PARENTCOMPLAINTS , I HPS Family, Student and Community Engagement ~J '/ Level6 Model for Parent Involvement and Development Ownership • "When outsiders turn into insiders, they become defenders" LevelS Leadership ~ Level4 Parents are organized to Mutual Support Level3 Parents are advocate and Authentic included in the press for discussion and Relationships Parents sustained decision actively continued making Level2 respond to improvements process Action school calls for in the school around key Levell consistent help, input or district. school issues Quality communication support. Parents are with teachers, or policy. Information well informed understand Parents about and student mobilize Parents able to act progress, and resources, Families of advocate for upon their use tools at including their enrolled increased rights, home to volunteer students have responsibili support what time, to quality or consistent ties, quality happens in the support the access to access to standards, and classroom. school and the improve quality access to children. services information Parents are provided to support and Parent and targeted knowledgeable students. lifelong complaints are HPS services and share learning from Pre-K to opinions about minimized and services 12. what happens positive at school and feedback 1'\J increases. l11 the district. 1\.J 0'1 i; il!! ' HPS Family, Student and Comrnunity Engagement ', , ... !i ~~~ .·f '~ - - ~·/ ·-- -· -1 Proposed Reorganization 2016-201".7 o CENTRALIZE STAFF • Ensure family engagement strategies re~maincentral to turnaround efforts • Provide a cohesive frame\Nork and consistent professional development for the tean1 I • Allocate staff support equitably across schools 0 AREAS OF FOCUS: I • Increase direct work with families and school staff • Capacity building to expand parent leadership and rebuild trust across the district • Enhance communications to families, visibility and reliability of HPS in the community 1 i: \ ...- HPS Family, Student and Community Engagement ~~ - .. "!/ / • Projected outcomes (next 12 months) o Restructure and build department and school-level capacity to promote positive family interactions with HPS schools. o Increase HPS presence in the Holyoke community, by transforming the Student Assignment Center into a main hub and a distributed network of access points for communications and educational information for families across Holyoke o Strengthen key community partnerships (such as HELl) that expand opportunities for family engagement and lifelong learning. o Revise district policies and school procedures to address student attendance and punctuality issues o Complete the successful recruitment of students for Pre-K and Kindergarten, and for the new alternative school program starting in the fall 2016. 1\J -..J LevelS Schools 2015-16 Quarter 3 Report: Morgan Full Service Community School Seboollnformation Student Enrollment and Demographies Total SY 2015-16 Location Holyoke, Massachusetts 382 Enrollment Current Status LevelS Percentage SWDs 18% Receiver Name Dr. Stephen Zrike Percentage ELLs 39% Year Designated Level 5 20 13 Percentage Black 3% Percentage Year Designated Level 4 2010 93% Latino/Hispanic Grade Span PK-8 Percentage Asian 0% Percentage White 3% Number of Full-Time Staff in SY 2015-16 Percentage Multirace 1% ~· :: '· T Pnqtitf.~ .. ·:,;,: "!;.1¥",•7•;;.;;-' ;4. :·T:"~':', . .r ~- ,. c!""co ·t·. .; Priority Area 1: Recruitment and development of professional talent. Priority Area 2: Systems to support professional learning and responsiveness in practice. Priority Area 3: Creating a Center of Excellence for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Priority Area 4: Targeted and aligned resources. Priority Area 5: Enhancing and sustaining fami ly and community engagement. Content provided by Receiver Stephen Zrike. Executive Summary A briefsummary ofthe turnaround efforts that have taken place in the third quarter, from January 2016 through March 2016. Talent Development: In order to continually improve the professionalism of the Morgan faculty, the Morgan Full Service Community School (Morgan) leadership team is developing plans for peer observations of classroom instruction. The instructional leadership team (ILT) will oversee this process to embed it as a professional system for instructional improvement. In addition, all Morgan staff members continue to receive frequent feedback and coaching to improve teaching practice as it affects student outcomes. Core Instruction and Intervention: Morgan leadership has increased and tweaked teachers' daily professional development time to leverage standards-based planning using core instructional resources. There has been a particular emphasis on backward planning and developing lessons in a logical sequence because this was a need for the teachers identified in classroom observations and lesson plan review. In addition, the IL T and teachers have continued to refine the intervention block to identify and plan for specific instructional needs to advance student learning. Enrichment and Targeted Resources: Principal Lingsch and her leadership team are working with district office staff to expand their arsenal of specialized resources and interventions to better address the needs of students with disabilities. In addition, they have chosen a small set of high-leverage sheltered English instruction (SEI) strategies, aligned to their instructional focus, 28 Level 5 Schools Quarterly Report Morgan Full Service Community School- I to use as a focus for classroom observations a.1d feedback. Morgan has developed a weekly enrichment block for students to diversify their educational experience through offerings such as crochet, filmmaking, storytelling, American Sign Language, and recycled art. It is currently taking place on Fridays, with plans to expand and integrate enrichment more broadly next year. Updates on Priority Areas Priority Area 1: Recruitment and development of professional talent. Highlight: Morgan's Panorama Climate and Culture Survey collects anonymous data from students, teachers, school staff, and parents about perceptions of school safety, school climate, student support, and cultural competence. These data have been analyzed by the Morgan Culture and Climate Leadership Team in collaboration with the full faculty. The data indicate that the school made significant progress on all indicators in the "capable and collaborative teaching" domain during the last three administrations of the survey. From a review of these data, the leadership team determined a need to begin a strategy of peer ciassroom observations to share instructionai strategies and develop instructional improvement throughout the school. The three content planning teams (English language arts PK-4, English language arts/SS 5- 8, and mathematics and science 3- 8) have scheduled time for teams to participate in monthly peer observations. Next steps include IL T members calibrating a protocol and reporting on the peer observations in order to create an embedded system for instructional improvement. The areas of strength identified on the survey include adequate time for teachers to examine student work, professional development with opportunities to try new ideas, implementation of instructional strategies that meet diverse needs, administrator feedback on teaching, and teachers feeling prepared for the age level and subject they teach. Highlight: Ongoing observation and feedback continues through various modes: Principal and assistant principal use formal observations as a way to provide ongoing feedback to improve instructional practice. District directors (English language learners [ELL], English language arts and humanities, early childhood, and STEM) use a combination of formal feedback and coaching cycles to target specific cohorts of teachers in their designated content areas in order to provide feedback aimed at improving instructional practice. There are regular check-ins with administration to coordinate and communicate the work of the district directors. Administrators, district directors, coaches, and outside partners conduct monthly learning walks to identify schoolwide trends across content areas and inform next steps for data analysis, professional development, and coaching. Highlight: The school's mathematics coach is working collaboratively with the district STEM director to provide coaching to one of Morgan's new mathematics teachers that is struggling. This cycle includes a detailed six-week plan that has a slow gradual release of mathematics instruction from the coach to the teacher. The school's mathematics coach is providing guidance to the teacher, and the district director is providing feedback to the coach. The coach and STEM director then debrief with the administration. Challenge: Although Morgan has many systems in place to provide teachers with 29 Level 5 Schools Quarterly Report Morgan Full Service Community School-2 feedback and support for improving instruction, as well as a system to analyze data regularly, further refinements are needed to elevate instruction to close the gap in students' performance levels as rapidly as possible. Morgan will continue to monitor its their work with partners and district directors to make revisions, midcourse corrections, and adjustments to improve instructional delivery and outcomes for students. Priority Area 2: Systems to support professional learning and responsiveness in practice. Highlight: Morgan staff and leadership have increased and tweaked the daily morning professional development time to focus time on standards-based instructional planning. Coaches are coplanning with teams throughout the week. The coaches are meeting with teams on Wednesdays to determine the standard and objective for the following week using their core instructional resources (Reach for Reading, Envisions, Glencoe, and Expeditionary Learning). Planning continues on Thursdays and Fridays in small content area teams. This work is led by IL T members, including coaches and administrators. As part of this process, teachers are continuing to drill down to planning for rigorous student tasks and instructional supports to address students' needs. Highlight: Significant progress has been made on improving the structure of the school's intervention block. Middle school completed its fourth set of data analyses in February. Data has informed the fifth round of middle-school interventions to include the following instructional foci: Algebra 1 course, debate, Lexia Strategies, Focused Mathematics Readers, JogNog for Science, close reading strategies to identify author's purpose, compare and contrast texts, and explain reasoning on text-based evidence. In addition, in Grades K-5, teachers and staff continue to implement and improve the use ofLexia Core 5. Using initial data, they identified inconsistent use of program components by teachers, which negatively affected some of the growth. In order to improve consistency, building leaders developed an intentional tracking tool for teachers to use to maximize the use of the program for all students. Morgan has seen an increase in February's Lexia data, indicating an increase in the percentage of students that will meet the end-of-the-year benchmark, an increase in the percentage of students identified as at low risk for failure, and a decrease in the percentage of students at high risk for failure. A small cohort of students in Grades 3-5 has gained maximum fluency in addition and subtraction in the Reflex program. They have advanced to the multiplication/division fluency unit within the program. Highlight: IL T planning revealed that new teachers had difficulty utilizing the many English language arts resources (English language arts scope and sequence, pacing guides, unit assessments, formative assessment guides) to explicitly backward-plan all identified standards in a logical sequence. As a result, leaders have adjusted the monthly planning meetings to include an in-depth session for explicit backward planning in both the PK-4 and 5-8 English language arts cohorts. Challenge: In January, leaders and teachers identified three critical areas of weakness or need among students from the ANet2 mathematics data in Grades 5-7: (1) number systems (14 percent below the network), (2) fractions (1 0 percent below the network), and (3) ratios and proportions (1 0 percent below the network). Morgan partnered with Blueprint Math Fellows to set up tutoring for these targeted grades and areas. Tutoring was delayed, however, by challenges in tutor recruitment, and the services began on 30 Level 5 Schools Quarterly Report Morgan Full Service Community School-3 March 9. Priority Area 3: Creating a Center of Excellence for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Highlight: As part of a new partnership with the National Science in Education Association, Scientist Evan Palmer-Young from UMASS Amherst will be a science a..'llbassador to Morgan classrooms. He is working with Grades 6 and 8 on invasive species and their evolution tied to climate change and the environment. Highlight: The STEM director and IL T members are currently participating in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Massachusetts Focus Academy course Learner Variability Through Universal Design (variability and how it applies in content areas) and will lead professional development for the ILT once the course is finished. Highlight: Initial STEM fair planning began with all Grades K-8. Teachers and leaders updated the STEM handbook with a timeline for all teachers in Grades 3- 8. All students in Grades 3-8 have chosen their topics. Topics had to be real-world problems in one of the four main science domains: earth, life, physical, and technology/engineering. Challenge: Core instruction for English language arts and mathematics continue to be a major area of focus for school leaders and the IL T. The STEM key strategies are not a current schoolwide priority; all grade levels are, however, integrating STEM challenges weekly, biweekly, or monthly into classroom practice and showing improvement in the design process. Between 67 and 90 percent of students across all grades have scored either a 3 or a 4 on the last STEM challenge rubric. Priority Area 4: Targeted and aligned resources. Highlight: The ELL director and administrators are conducting weekly classroom observations and holding debriefing sessions with the staff using a small set of focus elements from the SEI smartcard that are aligned to the school's instructional focus. This has both provided teachers with focused feedback on high leverage SEI strategies and informed the ongoing professional development for all English as a second language and special education teachers. Highlight: As a result of participating in the district's full-school-day training, the Morgan team identified the lack of enrichment opportunities for students as an area of need. As a first step for this year, Morgan has instituted Enrichment Fridays during which teachers use the intervention block for the following activities led by Morgan teachers: crochet, Amherst Cinema filmmaking, storytelling/story acting, American Sign Language, no-bake recipes, and recycled art projects. The plan is to improve and expand this learning experience with the goal of increasing student voice and choice in enrichment activities. Highlight: As part of problem solving to meet the individual needs of students, Morgan leaders worked with the district to provide specialized training opportunities for special education teachers. Morgan began using the Sonday System guides for beginning reading, writing, and spelling instruction and reading intervention. The system is being used for small-group special education intervention in Grades 6 and 7. Morgan will 31 Level 5 Schools Quarterly Report Morgan Full Service Community School-4 continue to integrate resources that address specialized instructional targets as needed. Challenge: Although Morgan teachers have the foundations for specialized training, there is a gap in the staffs knowledge base and repertoire to close the gaps of both the ELL and special education students. Morgan staff will continue to work with the appropriate district directors and coaches to improve the staffs knowledge base and repertoire. Priority Area 5: Enhancing and sustaining family and community engagement. Highlight: The Parent-Child Home Program is a 23-week program in a two-year cycle that services low-income families. It targets the young children in these homes, as early as 16 months to 3.6 years of age, before the children enter prekindergarten. Home visitors visit the families twice a week and provide educational toys, books, and resources to build school readiness through playing and reading. Morgan is currently serving 10 families of students who will eventually attend Morgan's PK program. Highlight: An English for Speakers of Other Languages class has been offered to all Morgan families. The course is run by the Valley Opportunity Council as an extension of their partnership with Morgan. The course is designed to teach the ELL families the necessary English language skills so they are able to support their child's academics and further their own education. Currently there are six families participating in this cohort. Highlight: The Parent Volunteer Program is part of Morgan's family engagement efforts to increase and sustain family involvement at the school. The goal of the program is to recruit parent leaders to become active participants in the school's family engagement work. This creates opportunities for parents to be part of the daily culture of the school, because they are given roles and responsibilities, trainings to develop new skills, and resources to be able to support learning at school and at home. There are currently five active parents in Morgan's volunteer program. Challenge: Morgan offers various programs and opportunities for families to participate in the school regularly. It is evident that attendance is higher for the activities that focus on building school culture and lower for the academically focused events. The school continues to attract the same small group of parents for the academically focused opportunities. Staff will continue to work through the Full Service Community School model to increase parent participation in the academic arena. Level 5 Schools Quarterly Report Morgan Full Service Community School-S 32 LevelS Schools 2015-16 Quarter 3 Report Updates on Benchmarks: Morgan Full Service Community School Please indicate the current status ofeach benchmark and provide comments and evidence to support each status. Please use one ofthe following status labels: Complete, In progression track, In progress/delayed, On hold, Not yet started/projected on track, Not yet started/projected offtrack Priority Area 1: Recruitment and Development of Professional Talent Benchmark Ql Status Q2 Status Current Comments and Evidence Status 1.1: By October 1, 2015, Not yet In In progress/ Through the use of Morgan coaches and administrators started/ progress/ on track administrators, academic coaches, will develop a cycle for projected on track and district Teaching and Learning instructional monitoring, co- on track Team leaders, all Morgan teachers teaching and feedback as a are receiving feedback regularly continuous cycle of through a coaching model. All improvement for all staff. Morgan teachers have an assigned This will be monitored observer and receive feedback quarterly by the ILT. weekly, biweekly, or monthly, as determined by identified need. The school instructional leadership team (ILT) has begun meeting on the instructional focus and curriculum issues and helping teachers develop lessons that focus on student engagement strategies aligned to the newly developed instructional focus; observers have begun providing teachers feedback on the basis of those strategies. The IL T has begun to use the schoolwide focus to provide feedback and support professional development activities and common planning sessions and will move to a focus on monitoring instructional improvement efforts in the coming quarter. 1.2a: By October 1, 2015, In Complete Complete all teachers will have progress/ completed their self- on track assessment. 1.2b: By November 1, 2015, Not yet In Complete All teachers have completed all teachers will have started/ progress/ student learning goals and approved student learning projected on track professional practice goals. The goals and professional on track Morgan administrative team has practice goals aligned to met with teachers to provide Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School- I 33 I school goals/priorities. I feedback toward their goals. All I student learning and professional practice goals have been approved. Sample goals: Student Learning: • 100% of all third graders will show growth from the I I I I I I I preassessment to the postassessment for each unit, with 50% of all third graders receiving a score of proficient or higher (70% or above) on at least three of the eight unit assessments. • When taking ANet assessments (A1-A4), third-grade students will improve the overall percentage on 3.NF.2b (21% last year), 3.MD.7c (25% last year) and 3.0A.8 (36% last year) by at least 10 percentage points for each standard. Professional Practice 100% of teachers will conduct at least three home visits during the year. -- I 1.3 : Beginning on Not yet In In progress/ Morgan administrators and September 30, 2015, and started/ progress/ on track academic coaches conduct weekly throughout the year, projected on track learning walks and discuss bite- administrators and coaches on track sized feedback to ensure that will conduct (at least once feedback is calibrated across team weekly) collaborative members to support teachers in learning walks to calibrate delivering increasingly effective their instructional lens. instruction. Learning walks also consist of district directors and key academic partners such as ANET and SchoolWorks. 1.4: Administrators will Not yet In In progress/ The principal and STEM director design and implement a started/ progress/ on track are each visiting eight classrooms schedule no later than projected delayed per week and providing face-to- October 1, 2015, to observe on track face feedback to at least half. This at least 10 teachers per schedule will ensure that each week, with at least 50% of teacher receives feedback within a these visits resulting in face- two-week cycle. The district to-face meetings around Teaching and Learning Team also improvement in provides feedback to a select group instructional practices. of teachers regularly. 1.5: Coaches will design a In In In progress/ Each coach (mathematics and schedule no later than progress/ progress/ on track English language arts) has five 34 Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School- 2 October 1, 2015, to observe on track on track teachers assigned to her or him in a 5 teachers per week with two-week cycle with whom they 100% of these visits meet face to face to discuss resulting in face-to-face improvement of instructional meetings around practices. As a team, administrators improvement in and coaches review the feedback instructional practices. data every two weeks and determine appropriate next steps for coaches and the teachers with whom they work. Administration uses formative data to help determine coaching cycles. In March, the mathematics coach's schedule was changed to complete a four-week intensive coaching cycle with a middle school teacher. Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School-3 35 Prioritv Area 2: Systems to Support PI'Ofessional Learning and Responsiveness in Prdctice ~ -=·· Benchmark Ql Status Q2 Status Current Comments and Evidence Status 2.1a: During August PD Complete Complete Complete 2015, curriculum maps are introduced to staff for ELA, math, science, and social I I studies 2.1 b: By September 2015 In In In progress/ All observers look for evidence of (and ongoing), progress/ progress/ on track the core instructional materials in administrators, coaches and on track on track English language arts, mathematics, staff will monitor the and science and then give feedback implementation and use of around the delivery of content and these maps through regular scaffolding strategies to impact classroom visits (see student outcomes. Priority Area 1). 2.2: By September 2015 In In In progress/ (and ongoing), students will progress/ progress/ on track These are the current interventions: be assigned (as part of on track on track Lexia Core 5 (K-5), Algebra 1 classroom reviews) to tiered course (6-8), Focused Mathematics instructional groups which Readers ( 6-7), Lexia Strategies ( 6- are flexible. Every six 8), Debate (7- 8), Reflex (3-5), and weeks throughout the year, JogNog for Science (8). Groupings these groups will be were readjusted using current data reevaluated and students I during the week of February 22. ur111 h~ rA'='C'C'1CTn,:,,.1 ac n':u:ulorl I I 'I' Y .l.li '-'"' .l ""'U.IJIJ.I.f:,l.L'-'U U..:J I.J. ""'""'"'""U based upon student assessments including BAS/F & P, ANET, SRis, DB As. 2.3: Beginning October Not yet In In progress/ Daily professional development and 2015 (and ongoing), started/ progress/ on track team time is allotted to all teachers administrators and coaches projected on track (7:30-8:15). The ILT has designed will lead teacher teams to on track structured content planning use data from curriculum meetings on Thursdays and Fridays. based benchmark The student support team meets to assessments monthly and discuss various grade levels or quarterly including BAS/F students on Tuesdays and & P, ANET, SRis, DBAs to Wednesdays. Mondays are used for monitor student progress various topics, such as data toward standards and to reflection meetings and formative plan appropriate assessment reflection directory. instructional shifts. 2.4a: By January 2016, at Not yet In Completed Each grade completes unit least 45% of students will started/ progress/ assessments in English language show improved academic projected on track arts. At least 45% of students outcomes on skills based on track schoolwide have shown assessments/curriculum improvement on benchmarks. Grade levels in which a smaller 36 Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School---4 based assessments. number are scoring proficient or advanced are receiving small-group instruction in English language arts. The average proficiency through half of the units is as follows: K=74% 1st= 50% 2nd=23% 3rd =55% 4th= 24% 5th= 45% 6th= 52% 7th= 44% 8th= 39% 2.4b: By June 2016, 80% of Not yet In In progress/ See 2.4a. students will show started/ progress/ on track improved academic projected on track outcomes on skills based on track assessments/curriculum based assessments. Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School-S 37 Priority Area 3: Creating a Center of Excellence for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Benchmark Ql Status Q2 Status Current Comments and Evidence Status 3.1: By August 31,2015, the Complete In Complete The STEM director is monitoring 1 class schedule for grades K- I progress/ I STEM pacing by reviewing weekly I 5 will reflect a 50% increase on track lesson plans and making weekly in STEM instruction learning walks to science compared to the 2014-15 classrooms and provides feedback school year. The STEM to teachers in this domain. This Director will monitor K- 5 year's science schedule has created classes to ensure the STEM an opportunity for more STEM instruction is being instruction. implemented as scheduled. 3.2a: By January 2016, 60% Not yet In Complete Percentage of students scoring a 3 of students in K-8 wiii started/ progress/ or 4 on rubric of iast STEM demonstrate an increase in projected delayed Challenge: their understanding of on track K=86% STEM practices as measured by challenge 1st= 62% specific student reflection 2nd= 70% sheets (scored with a rubric). 3rd = 67% I 4th = 86 percent I I I I 5th= 72 percent 6th = 86 percent 7th = 83 percent 8th = 90 percent 3.2b: By June 2016, 100% Not yet In In progress/ Students continue to complete of students in K-8 will started/ progress/ on track STEM challenges on a weekly or demonstrate an increase in projected delayed biweekly cycle. Each challenge is their understanding of on track accompanied with a student STEM practices as reflection sheet and rubric. Rubric measured by challenge grading is showing an increase in specific student reflection proficiency at all grade levels. The sheets (scored with a culminating STEM challenge will rubric). be assessed at the STEM fair in June. 3.3 : By June 2016, 100% of Not yet In In progress/ In February, a full staff meeting students in all grades will started/ progress/ on track was run by Morgan' s STEM contribute to the completion projected delayed director to check progress and of a STEM Fair project that on track current selection oftopics and is created through multiple needs. All students in Grades 3-8 content classes around one have chosen their topics. of the four STEM areas. 38 Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School- 6 3.4: By August 31, 2015, Complete In In progress/ School leaders plan to provide more STEM teachers in Grades 3- progress/ on track professional development for 8 will be provided training on track project-based learning in spring and support for project- 2016. Currently, all science based learning and the teachers receive feedback on all meaningful incorporation of lesson plans on problem-based technology into daily learning and technology. Their instruction as measured by assigned observers are providing the weekly lesson plan feedback as part of their routine monitoring tool. observations. 3.5 : By October 2015, Not yet In In progress/ Ended at conclusion of first Morgan will create an started/ progress/ delayed semester of Connections to extracurricular club with a projected on track accommodate the college schedule STEM Focus that will meet on track and will resume third and final three times weekly for the session of Connections. remainder of the school year. Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School- 7 39 Priority Area 4: Targeted and Aligned Resources Benchmark Ql Status Q2 Status Current Comments a nd Evidence Status 4.1a: By January 2016,50% Not yet In In progress/ See slide 8 of data slide deck. of Pre-K students will meet started/ progress delayed Although more than 50% of I I the minimum requirements projected I Morgan PK students are on track in for Kindergarten readiness. on track Talking and Thinking, and more than 50% of the VOC PK students are on track in Talking and Listening, fewer than 50% are on track in reading in either program. 4.1b: By June 2016, 80% of Not yet In In progress/ Reading buddies has been Pre-K students will meet the started/ progress/ delayed implemented with both PK classes. minimum requirements for projected delayed This allows PK students to read Kindergarten readiness. on track ,;vith kindergarten students ever! day. This practice will increase reading levels in both programs. 4.2: By the beginning of In In In progress/ Through the collaboration of special October 20 15 (and progress/ progress/ on track education teachers, counselors, and ongoing), IEP and 504 Plans on track on track the school's educational team leader for all students with (ETL), all current staff members are disabilities will be reviewed, aware of students' disabilities and and will be implemented their goals, and teams coilaborate to and monitored. A team will develop lesson plans to provide surface goals for all students scaffolds to meet their goals. School with IEPs and 504s that will and central office administrators are be shared with all service working closely together to provide providers. coaching and support for the new ETL to ensure this process continues and deadlines are met. 4.3 : By September 20 15 In In In progress/ Morgan administrators and the (and ongoing), 80% of progress/ progress/ on track district ELL director have teachers will use SEI on track delayed conducted three specific SEI strategies with their English learning walks this quarter and have language learners to support visited mathematics, science, ESL, English language acquisition and special education teachers. 92% across the content areas, as of teachers pose high-quality monitored through the SEI questions for students to discuss. Card, observations, and/or lesson plan review. 4.4: By October 2015 (and In In In progress/ Morgan administrators and the ongoing), 90% of students progress/ progress/ on track district ELL director have will be seen engaged in on track delayed conducted three specific SEI student-to-student discourse learning walks this quarter and have opportunities (such as tum- visited mathematics, science, ESL, and-talk, think-pair-share, and special education teachers. 40 Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School- 8 think-pair-write-square) to 100% of teachers provide negotiate understanding of opportunities for students to talk content. with their peers. Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School-9 41 Priority Area 5: Enhancing and Sustaining Family and Community Eneaeement ' ~ -:: ~ = Benchmark Ql Status Q2 Status Current Comments and Evidence Status 5.1: September 2015 (and In In In progress/ Currently, PCI-IP visitors work with ongoing), PCI-IP continues progress/a progress/ on track families to teach them how to read to work with families in n track on track I and play with their children at support of the development I 1 home. The assessments will be ofPre-K readiness skills as completed at the end of program in measured by both the PACT June. and CBT end of program assessments. 5.2: By June 2016, 100% of Not yet In In progress/ As of the end of February, 46% of families will attend at least started/ progress/ delayed families have attended at least one one school and/or teacher projected on track school event. Events include open academic event that will on track house, second-grade poetry reading, reflect an increase from 85% third-grade Thanksgiving dinner, 1 in the 2014-2015 school fourth-grade holiday store, Puerto year. By January, it is Rico celebration, and six family fun expected that at least 75% of nights. parents have attended at least one school event. 5.3a: By September 10, In Complete C~mplete 2015, 100% of teachers will progress/a send home a letter to all n track student families. 5.3b: By October 1, 2015, In In In progress/ During the second quarter, all 100% of teachers will make progress/ progress/ on track Morgan teachers have called all at least one call to all on track on track families at least once to report student families with something positive happening with positive feedback. The goal student learning. is that personalized communication between teachers and student families would occur at least once quarterly. 5.4: By September 2015 and In In In progress/ When new students enter Morgan, ongoing, welcome progress/ progress/ on track the families are introduced and initiatives for new families on track on track welcomed by the family will include the following engagement coordinator and supports: pairing 100% of outreach worker, and each new new students with grade student is greeted by a selected level ambassadors, classmate and teachers. This helps developing a welcoming create a feeling of being welcomed committee of school staff into the student's new environment, and ensuring that all new ease any anxieties, and create a families receive a Welcome transition into school. Center orientation. 42 Level 5 Schools Quarter 3 Report Morgan Full Service Community School-10 Special Education Special Education Review On Thursday, May 12, 2016, representatives from the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative will share the results of their review of the Holyoke Public Schools Special Education Program. Meeting Place: Holyoke High School Meeting Time: 3:30pm- 4:30 pm- Holyoke Public School Staff Only 6:00 pm- 7:30 pm- Families and Community Stakeholders Please join us to learn about their recommendations and the implications for our work with diverse learners. Please share with your community. T711l1.1', riM E FO~,,~~ ..#~ ,~ ~ 4 ~ w""" Summer learning Learn Strengthen academic skills and return matters. to school prepared to succeed Students lose an average of 2 months of learning over the summer. Discover Explore new activities in sc ience, arts, sports, and more Connect Spe nd time with classmates and meet new friends •I o --o Transportation Breakfast and provided when ind1cated Space is limited in 44 lunch provided by district policy al l programs Summer Scholars at Holyoke Public Schools LAUNCH: Elementary School Programs Additional Programs For students entering 2nd-5th grade For students entering PK-5th Grade Power Scholars Program Summer Excelsior Program Power Schola rs Acad emy™ is a powerfu l program that combines The Summer Excelsior Program provides interactive learning and academics (literacy and math) w ith fun and engagi ng enrichment enrichment experiences for students with IEPs w ho qualify for activities to ensure all schola rs (children) reach their full potential - extended school year se rvices . Over the su mmer, students will academ ically and socially Scholars will gain critical ski lls over the 5-week participate in personalized learning experiences and work towards program, all owing them to return to school in the fall prepared for their individual goals, ensuring that they're prepared to succeed when academic and social success. Mornings will be spent in engaging and they return to school in the fall . Peer partner slots are available based interactive academic activities lead by certified teachers. Aftern oons on enrollment. wi ll focus on physica l activity and enrichment, such as arts, sports and dance. Fridays will be fi ll ed with field trips, guest speakers, field days Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 and more. Over the summer, students will spend time building their K-12 Times: Monday-Thursday, 9am- 1pm (Grades K-12) reading and math stamina and confidence w hile learning new skills. PreK Times: 9am- 11am or 11am- 1pm This program is provided in partnership with the Greater Holyoke YMCA and BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Li fe) *Pre K students receive eit her breakfast or lunch depending on the session they attend Dates: July 5, 2016- August 5, 2016 Locations: EN White School or Jericho - depending on student needs Times: Monday- Friday, 8:30am - 3pm and/or grade level per IEP Locations: Kelly School and Peck School Transportat ion: Provided for students w ith IEPs Who can attend? HPS Principals and Teachers will lead a selection Who can attend? Students with IEPs who qualify for ESY services . process based on interest, commitment to learning, and academic abi lity Peer partners slots may be avai lable based on enroll ment. For additional information contact Jennifer Gilburg, For additional information contact Jennifer Baribeau, (413) YMCA, (413) 534-5631, jgi/[email protected] 534-2008, [email protected] Holyoke Summer Strings Program Sullivan Summer Program The Summer Stri ngs program provides group violi n, cello, guitar, and The Su llivan Summer Program brings reading to life for students voice lessons to students in Holyoke Public Schools. In addition to through guided reading lessons, engaging conversations about learning an instrument, student w ill have opportunities to practice literary characters, and opportunities to write about connections yoga, participate in da nce classes, sing, and take part in a variety of between their lives and the stories they're reading. In addition creative language arts activities. The program is also open to students to working towards personalized learning goa ls throughout the who already pl ay an instrument and are looking to improve their ski ll s. program, students will participate in a range of extracurricular Instruments are included for all participants. activities including gardening, cooking, dance fitness, and field trips to local destinations. By the end of the program, students will have Dates: July 11, 2016 -July 28, 2016 discovered a range of new activities, completed their summer reading chal lenge, and developed a love for reading. Times: TBD Locations: TBD Dates: July 5, 2016- July 29, 2016 Who can attend? Students entering grades K-5. No experience or Times: Monday - Friday, Sam - 1:30pm instrument is necessary! Location: Su llivan School For additional information contact Jenifer Gelineau at Who can attend? This program is for Su ll ivan School students. [email protected] or call (413) 559-1026 to Teachers will lead a selection process based on interest and reading see if this is the right fit for your HPS student abi lity. For additional information contact Jo hn Breish, Sullivan School, (413) 534 2061, jbreish@hps holyoke ma us 45 Summer learning Learn Strengthen academic skills an d return matters. to school prepared to succeed Students lose an average of 2 months of learning over the summer. Discover Explore new activities in science, arts, sports, and more Connect Spend time wit h classmates and meet new friends 1111 •I o ..... o Tra nsportation Breakfast and provided when indicated Space is limited in 46 lunch provided by district policy all programs Summer Scholars at Holyoke Public Schools play and will perform it for family and friends on a beautiful outdoor CONNECTIONS: Middle School Programs performance space, located on the grounds of The Center for For students entering 6th-8th grade Renaissance Studies at UMass Amherst. In addition to field trips with other CONNECTIONS programs, students in the Youth and Shakespeare An Adventure in Learning: A CONNECTIONS Program Academy will have the opportunity to visit UMass Amherst and Mt. An Adventure in Lea rn ing is an activity-based program that brings Holyoke College as part of th eir Access to College campus experience. academic skills. including math problem solving, science, and verbal Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 communication into daily activities. Students participate in enrichment clubs, where they acquire new vocabulary and improve their writing Times: Monday- Thursday, 8:30am- 1pm skills while engaging in athletics and team building games. Through Location: Peck School hand-on activities, students will explore the co llege and career pathways Who can attend? Students who are interested in theater/creative arts that await them while gaining skills for high school success. During For additional information contact: Jorge Castellano or weekly field trips and team-based learning activities. students will Stacey Funston, (413) 534-2168 [email protected]. improve their communication ski lls, make new friends, and learn to ma.us or [email protected] work together to achieve their goals. Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS Times: Monday- Thursday, 8:30am- 1pm For students entering 6th-8th grade Location: Peck School Summer Excelsior Program Who can attend? Students entenng 6th-8th grade looking to have fun, make friends, and build new skills The Summer Excelsior Program provides interactive learning and For additional information contact Jorge Castellano or enrichment experiences for students with IEPs who qualify for extended Stacey Funston, (413) 534-2168 [email protected]. school year services. Over the summer, students will participate in ma.us or [email protected] personalized learning experiences and work towards their individual goals, ensuring that they're prepared to succeed when they return to Zero Robotics Program: A CONNECTIONS Program school in the fall. Peer partner slots are available based on enrollment. Zero Robotics is a 5-week intensive program for students interested in Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 Science. Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) provided K-12 Times: Monday-Thursday, 9am - 1pm (Grades K-12) in partnership with MIT, NASA and MAP (Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership). Students will learn the basics of computer programming PreK Times: 9am- 11am or 11am -1pm and will program their own "SPHERES" (Synchronized Position Hold *Pre K students receive either breakfast or lunch depending on the Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites), which are located inside session they attend the International Space Station . Students wi ll program their SPHERES Locations: EN White School or Jericho- depending on student needs to address a challenge and wi ll compete with other students around and/or grade level per IEP the state for the best designs. The winners will compete in a live Transportation: Provided for students with IEPs championship hosted by an astronaut onboard the ISS . Students will be exposed to new possibilities for pursuing careers in STEM fields and wi ll Who can attend? Students with IEPs who qualify for ESY services. Peer interact with professionals in these fields. Students in the Zero Robotics partners slots may be available based on enroll ment. Program will also have the opportunity to take part in Thursday field trips For additional information contact Jennifer Baribeau, (413) with middle school students in the Adventures in Learning program. 534-2008, [email protected]. us Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 Holyoke Summer Strings for the Advancing Student Times: Monday- Thursday, 8:30am- 1pm The Summer Strings program provides group lessons and performance Location: Peck School opportunities to Holyoke Public Schools students with musical experience who are looking to improve their skills. The program wi ll Who can attend? Students entering 6th-8th grade who are interested place students into small groups, where they will focus on advancing in STEM fields instrumental techniques, music theory, and chamber music ensemble For additional information contact Jorge Castellano or skills. Students will end their two week session with a public Stacey Funston, (413) 534-2168 [email protected]. performance at the Farmer's Market on High Street. ma. us or [email protected] Dates: June 27, 2016- July 7th, 2016 Youth and Shakespeare Academy: An Enchanted Circle Times: TBD Theater/CONNECTIONS Program Location: TBD This five-week intensive program offers exciting and unique exposure to Shakespearean literature designed specifically for middle school Who can attend? Students entering grades 6-12 with experience students. Participants will learn and explore Shakespearean language, playing a violin, viola, cello, guitar, or voice stage combat and pub lic speaking. Along the way, they will build a For additional information contact Jenifer Gelineau at 4/bhesive community and discover that they can rise to great heights. [email protected] or call (413) 559-1026 to see if Students will read and write their own vignette from a Shakespearean this is the right fit for your HPS student Learn the skills and Learn Strengthen academic skills and return strategies to school prepared to succeed you need to succeed. Discover Summer Scholars programs Exp lore co ll ege and provide opport unities to career pathways accelerate your learning, recover credi ts, and build leadership skills. Connect Spend time with classmates and meet new fr iends Cost: 1111 FREE •I o --a- Transportation *Except paid summer school courses at HHS Breakfast and provided when indicated Space is limited in lunch provided by district policy all programs 48 Summer Scholars at Holyoke Public Schools Programs for students entering 9th grade Location: Holyoke High Sc hoo! Who can attend? Students entering 9th grade who are designated Build your skills for the 9th grade academy as English Language Learners 9th Grade Readiness Program For additional information contact: Anna Lugo, Director of ELE, Th e 9th grade read iness program provides media rich instruction to (413) 534-2000 ext. 214, [email protected] help students learn the skills they need to succeed in high school. Through the PLATO credit recove ry program, students have the Programs for high school students opportunity to learn in a new way and gain credit for core courses . Teachers will use personalized strategies to assist students and Deepen your learning and stay on track to make sure they understand the material. graduate Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 Youth Leadership Camp Times: Monday -Thursday, 8 30am - 1pm The Youth Leadership Camp is a 5-week leadership enrichment Location: Holyoke High School program designed to develop the future leaders of our community. Students will growth their leadership skills, gain awareness of Who can attend? Students who have failed one or more core community issues, develop an appreciation for diversity in our subjects in 8th grade and need to demonstrate mastery in core community, and build a commitment to lifelong involvement content to progress to 9th grade in community service. Students will increase their personal For addlttonalmformatlon contact: Gina Roy, understa nding of each individual's unique gifts and taients, expiore (413) 534-2000 ext. 268, [email protected] different leadership styles, and gain leadership experience by 9th Grade Summer Acceleration Program, A leading activities and service projects for peers and middle school CONNECTIONS Program students. Through dynamic instruction, meaningful service projects, mentorship, and field trips, this program helps young leaders The 9th Grade Summer Acceleration Program prepares students recognize and grow their potential. for high school by li nking classroom learning experiences to the Dates: July 5, 2016 - August 4, 2016 real world through field trips and hands-on activities. Over the course of the program, students will participate in service learning Times: Monday- Thursday, 8:30am - 1pm opportunities, expiore coliege and career options, and engage in Location: Holyoke Community College team-building activities while gaining skills in math, science, and ELA . The program will give students a head start on high school Who can attend? Teachers will nominate students for the camp learning by introducing 9th grade concepts, ensuring that students based on leadership potential will be ready to excel when they arrive at school in the fall. For additional information contact: Jorge Castellano or Stacey Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 Funston, (413) 534-2168, [email protected] or [email protected] Times: Monday- Thursday, 8:30am- 1pm High School MCAS Summer Success Academy, A Location: Holyoke High School CONNECTIONS Program Who can attend? Students entering 9th grade at Holyoke High The Summer Success Academy combines classroom instruction with who want to build academic skills to prepare for high school activity-based learning to help students gain the credits needed For additional information contact: Jorge Castellano or to graduate. In addition to personalized instruction that wi ll help Stacey Funston, (413) 534-2168, [email protected]/yoke. students understand the material, participants will enjoy field ma us or sfunston@hps holyoke.ma.us trips and career readiness workshops to explore the col lege and career options available to them after graduation. Upon successfu l ELL Summer of Power Academy completion of this program, eligible students will recover academic Through sma ll group literacy tutorials, targeted academic writing credits in either ELA or Math through Plato Credit Recovery. instruction, and project based workshops, students will explore Dates: July 5, 2016 - August 4, 2016 the college and career pathways that await them after graduation as they strengthen their English proficiency. The program includes Times: Monday- Thursday (with possible Friday field trips), 830am - 1pm field trips and visits to community service sites linking learning Location: Holyoke High School with life experiences that enable students to bu il d college and career readiness skills and prepare for high school. Through their Who can attend? Students from HHS or Dean who scored below participation and attendance, students will have the opportunity to 220 on the grade 10 ELA or Mathematics MCAS earn 2.5 high school credits and a $50 gift card each week of the For additional information contact. Jorge Castellano or Stacey program. Funston, (413) 534-2168, [email protected] or Dates: July 5, 2016- August 5, 2016 [email protected]. ma. us 4 9"imes: Monday - Thursday, 8:30am-2:30pm Summer Scholars at Holyoke Public Schools STEM Expeditions Project at Dean Tech Pathways Summer Program Holyoke Community College is recruiting 25 rising junior and Pathways Summer Program will provide the opportunity for students senior students for a Summer STEM Expeditions Project. STEM to take blended learning classes and credit recovery courses. In Expeditions allows you to lea rn more about the college experience addition to personalized instruction, students will experience career while exploring STEM career fields including health sciences, forensic readiness workshops to explore college and career options available science, engineering, mathematics, clean energy, life sciences, and to them after graduation. biotechnology. Students will participate in field trips, listen to guest Dates: July 11, 2016- August 11, 2016 speakers, learn about financial literacy, explore college opportunities, and grow their STEM knowledge. Transportation will be provided for Times: Monday- Thursday, 8:30am - 1pm pick up/drop off at several locations around the city. Location: Holyoke High School Dates: July 11, 2016- August 10, 2016 Who can attend? Students enrolled in Pathways or by Guidance Times: Monday- Thursday, 1pm -4pm Counselor recommendation Location: Holyoke Community College For additional information contact: Freddy Andujar, Pathways Coordinator, (413) 627-4130, [email protected] Who can attend? Rising JUnior and senior students who are interested in STEM Holyoke Summer Strings for the Advancing Student For additional information contact HCC STEM Project The Summer Strings program provides group lessons and Administrator, Carolyn Gardner-Thomas, performance opportunities to Holyoke Public Schools students with 413-552-2257 or [email protected] musical experience who are looking to improve their skills. The program will place students into small groups, where they will focus Career Summer Program at Holyoke Community College on advancing instrumental techniques, music theory, and chamber Are you a Dean Tech student looking to gain college experience/ The music ensemble skills. Students will end their two week session with Career Summer Program offers Dean Tech students the opportunity a public performance at the Farmer's Market on High Street to enroll in a free college course prior to graduation. The program Dates: June 27, 2016 -July 7th, 2016 gives students an opportunity to explore career interests and prepare for college-level work. Course offerings include Career Planning, Times: TBD Computer Applications, lntro to Health Careers, lntro to Hospitality, Location: TBD lntro to Forensic Science, and lntro to Robotics. Who can attend? Students entering grades 6-12 with experience Dates: July 11,2016 -August 10,2016 playing a violin, viola, cello, guitar, or voice Times: Varies by course For additional information contact Jenifer Gelineau at [email protected] or call (413) 559-1026 to see if this Location: Holyoke Community College is the right fit for your HPS student Who can attend? Current Dean Tech students as well as those who are graduating in June 2016 and enrolling at HCC For more information contact Heidi Rademacher at (413) 552-2250 or email [email protected] High School Summer School (paid courses) Summer school courses give students the opportunity to recover credits and remain on track for graduation. Students are able to retake any course that they did not pass during any year of their high school career. Students who successfully complete the program will earn the designated high school credits. Dates: July 5, 2016- August 4, 2016 Times: Monday- Thursday, Session 1: 7:30am- 10 10am, Session 2: 1020am -1 OOpm Location: Holyoke High School Cost: $150/course/session ($200 non Holyoke resident) Who can attend? Any high school student who has received an F+ in a course he/she needs to pass in order to graduate. Students from other districts are welcome to participate in this program. For additional information contact: Stephen Sullivan, Principal, Holyoke High School, (413) 534-2020, [email protected] 50