2010-QUASHNET RIVER SCHOOL COUNCIL

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Quashnet School Council (2009-2010) Minutes of Meeting held Thursday, May 13, 2010 (3:15 PM-4:15 PM) Quashnet Conference Room Council MembePresent: Patty DeBoer, Sheila Arnold, Cary Marshall, Jackie Rastallis, Kristen Boyd, Calean LaCroix, and Jane Dolan Absent: Lisa Hettinger A enda 1. Parent/Student Handbook changes for 2010-2011 Parent/Student Handbook changes were presented at the May 13, 2010, School Committee Meeting. In addition to the changes detailed on the one-page memo (provided to council members prior to this meeting)—we also added: A dismissal prior to 11:15 AM will be recorded as an absence. Note: A few additional minor changes will be added to the 2010-2011 parent/student handbooks of all schools as a result of the 5/13 School Committee meeting The 10-11 Parent/Student Handbook will be primarily distributed electronically on the District's website. All new students who transfer to Quashnet as well as all third graders will receive a hard copy. Teachers will receive select pages for instructional purposes at the beginning of the school year. A parent will be given the opportunity to request a hard copy of the document if desired. An overview sheet of changes will also be provided to our families. Sign-off sheets will be hard copy. 2. Trimesters-2010-2011 calendar We are moving forward with the change to formal reporting of student progress using a trimester schedule. Progress reports will be provided midway through each trimester. This change puts both Quashnet and Coombs on the same reporting schedule. Next year's approved school calendar reflecting our trimester dates was distributed to each council member prior to this meeting. 3. 2010-2011 Instruction A draft schedule showing instructional time as well as recess/lunch was reviewed and further discussed. For next year a whole-class ELA instructional period is built into each grade-level's daily schedule. A 45-minute daily intervention block is being added. During the intervention block students will be grouped for Reading/ELA instruction specifically targeted to their needs and level. This plan will also allow for a more efficient use of our skilled staff. Every Day Mathematics is the new instructional/learning program adopted by the District. Materials have been ordered and professional development has been planned for all teachers prior to the end of this school year. In addition to lengthening the daily mathematics instructional period, our draft schedule also provides for a 30-minute small group math instructional period for each grade level. Next year we will have a 6-day cycle for specials. This schedule facilitates all teachers on a grade-level having a common prep period each day and also allows us to plan each arade's dailv intervention block. The current Dlannino includino the followina P aa�