FEBRUARY
Feb. 5, 2009
Attending: Arlene Crum/Parent, Amber Petersen/Librarian, Crystal Widman/Gr. 5, Erlinda Suarez/Gr. 4, Sonja Griffing/Kinder, Sandy Holway/Gr. 6, Lisa Benjamin/Gr. 2, Kim Pisha/Gr. 3, Sally Wolslegel/Gr. 1, Barbara Stroud/LAP, Miles/Assist. Principal, Arturo Gonzalez/Principal
Facilitator: Barbara Stroud
Family Math Night
Discussion of a February 24th Math Night. Kim P. had shared with PTA President some options for a Math Night format. Commitment includes teachers running this event. Kim is willing to help with the organizing. PACK members will gather the following information from teams: 1) What date is best as a school wide evening event, and 2) find out who (by name) is willing to commit to helping with this event.
Read Across America Day
In honor of Dr. Seuss there will be a school wide read-in on Tuesday, March 3rd, from 1:00-2:00 pm. Students will be reading in their classrooms. Specialists will cover classes in rooms during that time so that teachers' planning times are not impacted. Classrooms can expand upon this event by making it a pajama day, etc. if they so choose. We'll even be showing a fireplace on channel 74 to put everyone into a cozy reading mood.
Read Alouds Curriculum
A reminder that the Celebrating Cultures artwork is due to Janet Tran to organize for the district display. In addition, teachers are to have artwork up and on display in the building throughout the month of March. The artwork is to be directly related to a book from the read aloud curriculum. Teachers certainly have the option of creating their own art ideas for the read alouds.
Penny Drive
There was a discussion and approval of increasing the Pennies for Patients fundraiser another week-the group agreed to extend the event through Thursday, February 12th. Last year this event was also run three weeks. There is a possibility of reaching the $4,000 mark.
Upcoming Report Card
The A.R. cut-off date is March 6th. This is the due cut off date for all classrooms
Report cards are due to Miles and Arturo by Friday, March 13th.
Report cards go home on March 19th
Classroom Sections/Looping Classrooms for next year
Arturo gave an overview of potential challenges for more classroom sections next year. If staffing formulas continue as they currently are we may have an additonal two classrooms. This will require finding another two classroom spaces. A reminder that the portables have been first designated as third and sixth grade classrooms due to these grades in the building being closest to the portables. Although the first grade classroom was moved last fall, it was due to the addition of another kindergarten section.
Looping Classrooms/Teachers
Arturo shared the following points about our looping program:
1. Although we are looking at ultimately having at least one looping teacher at each grade level, there is no maximum as to how many classroom teachers we may have looping.
2. If there is more than one teacher per grade leve then it makes sense that they would be sharing a project room. This may require a one time change in classrooms. However, they would not be physically changing classrooms each year.
3. Part of the understanding of supporting a looping program is that changes in the number of sections would impact the looping teachers last.
4. As positions open up in the building, they will be identified as looping classrooms for teachers who are bidding into the building or applying from the outside. The intent is to help assure that as current teachers move who are or may become looping teachers, they are replaced with staff who are not only supportive of looping but are also commiting to participating in this instructional model then or in the future. Otherwise, in the long haul we may find ourselves in a position where grade levels have teachers who are supportive of looping but not interested/committed to being a looping teacher.
Discussion of a February 24th Math Night. Kim P. had shared with PTA President some options for a Math Night format. Commitment includes teachers running this event. Kim is willing to help with the organizing. PACK members will gather the following information from teams: 1) What date is best as a school wide evening event, and 2) find out who (by name) is willing to commit to helping with this event.
Read Across America Day
In honor of Dr. Seuss there will be a school wide read-in on Tuesday, March 3rd, from 1:00-2:00 pm. Students will be reading in their classrooms. Specialists will cover classes in rooms during that time so that teachers' planning times are not impacted. Classrooms can expand upon this event by making it a pajama day, etc. if they so choose. We'll even be showing a fireplace on channel 74 to put everyone into a cozy reading mood.
Read Alouds Curriculum
A reminder that the Celebrating Cultures artwork is due to Janet Tran to organize for the district display. In addition, teachers are to have artwork up and on display in the building throughout the month of March. The artwork is to be directly related to a book from the read aloud curriculum. Teachers certainly have the option of creating their own art ideas for the read alouds.
Penny Drive
There was a discussion and approval of increasing the Pennies for Patients fundraiser another week-the group agreed to extend the event through Thursday, February 12th. Last year this event was also run three weeks. There is a possibility of reaching the $4,000 mark.
Upcoming Report Card
The A.R. cut-off date is March 6th. This is the due cut off date for all classrooms
Report cards are due to Miles and Arturo by Friday, March 13th.
Report cards go home on March 19th
Classroom Sections/Looping Classrooms for next year
Arturo gave an overview of potential challenges for more classroom sections next year. If staffing formulas continue as they currently are we may have an additonal two classrooms. This will require finding another two classroom spaces. A reminder that the portables have been first designated as third and sixth grade classrooms due to these grades in the building being closest to the portables. Although the first grade classroom was moved last fall, it was due to the addition of another kindergarten section.
Looping Classrooms/Teachers
Arturo shared the following points about our looping program:
1. Although we are looking at ultimately having at least one looping teacher at each grade level, there is no maximum as to how many classroom teachers we may have looping.
2. If there is more than one teacher per grade leve then it makes sense that they would be sharing a project room. This may require a one time change in classrooms. However, they would not be physically changing classrooms each year.
3. Part of the understanding of supporting a looping program is that changes in the number of sections would impact the looping teachers last.
4. As positions open up in the building, they will be identified as looping classrooms for teachers who are bidding into the building or applying from the outside. The intent is to help assure that as current teachers move who are or may become looping teachers, they are replaced with staff who are not only supportive of looping but are also commiting to participating in this instructional model then or in the future. Otherwise, in the long haul we may find ourselves in a position where grade levels have teachers who are supportive of looping but not interested/committed to being a looping teacher.
