Lillie B. Haynes PTA Minutes, Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The mtg. was called to order by Paula Page at 7:00 p.m.

Attendance: David Miko, Kathy Doherty, Annemarie Gucwa, Shane & Angela Leroux, Kris Stelter, Sonja Mazzulli, Karin Delesdernier, Raji Kurumbail, Cynthia Young, Jenine Toback, Laurie Green, Britt Colom, Linda Farragher, Ellie Hazen, Karey Dow, Karen Costello, Rosemary Littlefield, Paula Page

President’s Report: As Karen Costello was a guest speaker this evening, the president’s report and other business will be carried over to our next meeting due to time constraints.

Treasurer’s Report: This report will be reviewed at the next PTA meeting.

Principal’s Report: After the teachers gave their report, Dr. Miko commended them on being able to get everything done in a 2½hr time-frame. A parent asked if kindergarteners missing school due to delayed openings or early dismissals has a bearing on meeting the number of days requirement. The answer is no, kindergarten is not state-mandated. Full days have been built into the schedule (i.e., Fun Day, Beach Day, etc.) to help compensate for this. Grades 3 and 4 are continuing with CMTs. Dr. Miko asked each student to give it their best. When asked what they would like for a reward at the completion of the testing, most kids chimed in with RECESS!!!! Grades 3 and 4 enjoyed the science spectacular kick-off. A special thank you to Raji and Kim Fennell for helping initiate this. Looking to use the DNA Epicenter in some way (this facility offers field trips, afterschool activities, & summer camps). Would like to have our staff trained to teach curriculum from epicenter to students. Kathy Doherty commented on how clear the directions for getting the projects started was. April 15th kids will know if their project were accepted. Kudos to Raji for her attention to detail and for being active on the curriculum council. Waiting for the newly added blacktop pavement to be sealed. After which, stencils and playground equipments (i.e., balls, hula hoops, etc.) will be purchased by the PTA (as discussed and voted at prior meetings). There has been some difficulty in getting kids outside on some of the warmer days. There is sand on the blacktop which has caused several children to slip.

Teacher’s Reports: Heidi Henry and Tara Hardink presented “A Day in the Life of a Kindergartener”. Wonderful presentation. Here is how their day goes: 1. Morning Work – this reinforces basic skills previously taught. This allows for differentiated instruction as the work can be laid out according to students’ abilities; 2. Morning Meeting includes greeting, calendar, weather, graphing, sentence of the day (which can elicit a yes or no response and then the responses can be counted to use math skills), daily letter (uses fill – in – the – blank method to reinforce power words, other times there will be blanks at the beginning or endings of words), music and movement; 3. Snack – reinforces manners, self-help skills and hand washing; 4. Specials – these are the arts; 5. Shared reading – focuses on character/setting/solution and beginning/middle & end; 5. Shared Reading; 6. Activity Related to Story; 7. Centers

Centers include: Library, writing, computers, listening (stories on tape), math and abc; Alt. Centers: Rainbow writing; read it, make it, write it; read the room; write the room; sticker story

Areas of study: Self, School, Seasons, Holidays, Family, Animals, Weather, Farms & Gardens, Beach and Rainforest. The students work with Lana Burton with dance and creative movement related to curriculum.

Karen Costello: At this time, Dr. Karen Costello presented a curriculum overview. Dr. Costello is the administrator for program improvement. She facilitates curriculum and professional development, the BEST program, ED 165, holds weekly meetings with principals, librarians, and others; and is involved in the development of curriculum in 13 or 14 areas. Prior to 2001-2002 in the East Lyme School district, the elementary/middle/high school curriculums did not work together. There were problems with coherency – not all areas aligned with state standards – outcomes needed to be the same at each level.

The following were answers to questions previously asked by parents as well as questions offered on the night:

1. How much time should be dedicated to each subject? 120 min. LA/80 min. math/60 min. science (when it occurs)/45 min. social studies (science and social studies are interchangeable)/50 min. arts/80 min. social (lunch/recess/class meeting/closing) ---- specials teachers are shared between the elementary schools). Are our allotted times consistent with state guidelines? Pretty close 2. What is the priority of Elementary education, How much emphasis is placed on academic as opposed to social values? Social values are embedded into the day 3. The curriculum standards are set according to State guidelines; does EL BOE aim for minimum standard or higher? K-12 document is aligned with national professional goals in each particular area plus state guidelines. The state gives a framework, schools need to be in alignment but can be different. We are doing quite well. Curriculum guides are developed for all children. Develop goals then see what is reasonable. K-12 education should be seamless but not repetitive. Are teachers communicating between grades? Yes, transition meetings are held when children leave and enter a new school. Communication can improve and they are striving to make it better. Professional Development days are used to facilitate cross level meetings eg between Elementary & Middle / Middle & High schools. Curriculum must be planned/ongoing and systematic. This means it must be written down, see growth over time, and be for all children 4. Are the curriculum standards for each grade level, set at the same level across subject areas? In other words, do we aim for minimum standards in all subject areas, minimum in some but high in others, above average in all subject areas? We must embrace differentiation. To do this we must assess each child’s level and work with them all aiming towards the same goals and expectations. A curriculum has to be planned (written), ongoing (should see growth over time) and systematic (it has to be for all children). The State provides a framework but districts are autonomous, so we are aligned with State standards. How do we know this is working? Assessments with data analysis to determine if they are improving, what has the child learned? 5. Do you have a plan to challenge students that are above grade level in certain areas? Yes, we need to make sure that we have more and more application-type activities for this. There is a reading/language arts consultant to address these types of needs. There are resources available to the teachers. STEPS training approach – sharpens teacher’s ability to recognize advanced levels. We use differentiated learning to achieve the same end goal for children. This is an easier process to achieve with lower class sizes. Ways to ensure that your child is reading for content. Ask these three questions: What do you think will happen? How do you know it will happen? Prove it! 6. How often is math curriculum reviewed? It is being reevaluated at the present. After assessments are evaluated we will reevaluate curriculum and see if changes need to be made. We also use the CMT results to identify areas that may be missed. Why doesn’t the district have textbooks? We do not want the district to be slaves to a particular book or publisher. (Jason Bitgood will speak more on the math curriculum at the May PTA meeting). Who monitors the implementation of curriculum? The principals do that and they meet with Dr Costello weekly 7. Are kids grouped by ability in the middle and high school? Heterogeneous grouping through 8th grade. Testing can be done in math in 6th grade to see if students can do advanced work. Groupings change in high school as children choose paths. At the 8 th grade level, placement talks will happen to see if children are ready for AP courses. There is flexibility. Honors courses start in 10th grade. 8. Can parents view the curriculum per grade? Yes, there are many curriculum outlines available for viewing on the East Lyme Public Schools website for availability (go the Educational resources on the East Lyme schools website). The principals of the schools have curriculum available for perusal. Contact the principal to make arrangements. The teachers also have Portfolio contents for grades which you can ask to see. (This question was asked by parents of home-schooled children thinking about enrolling their children in the school system). 9. Is there a standard for homework? Homework increases in 10-15 minute increments as grade level increases and should be relevant to program objectives. CT Statue 10- 221/6154 policy outlines homework procedures “homework which is … augments, enhances, reinforces… independence” 10. How much time is there for teachers to go outside the curriculum? A good curriculum allows the educators leeway that is the aim.

Thank you to Paula for arranging this very informative question and answer session with Dr. Costello.

New Business: Due to time constraints, this will be held over to the next mtg. Spring clean-up will no longer be held on 3/23 – this had to be cancelled as the ducks have moved into the courtyard.

Committee Reports: Due to time constraints, no committee reports were given.

Meeting adjourned at 9 pm. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, April 7th.