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Home My WebLink About2019-05-06 School Council - Wood End Elementary Minutes ti orx Town of Reading x' Meeting Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MIA. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 99 School Council -Wood End Elementa4019 MAY 13 PM 5t 23 Date: 2019-05-06 Time: 3:15 PM Building: School - Wood End Location: Conference Room Address: 85 Sunset Rock Lane Purpose: Monthly Meeting for 2018-19 Year Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: Ellen Committo, Andrea Freeman, Jessica Hester, Joanne King, Michelle Mini, Casey Moulton A Jane Roberts Members - Not Present: Others Present: Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Michelle Mini - Topics of Discussion: The seventh monthly meeting of the Wood End Elementary School Council was held in the Conference Room of the Wood End Elementary School on May 6, 2019. Call to order: A quorum of members being present, and the meeting having been duly convened at Wood End School by the Principal, Joanne King called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m. and proceeded with business. Public Comment: None Review and Acceptance of Minutes: Members reviewed draft minutes from the April 1, 2019 meeting. There were no corrections or additions. Vote: Minutes Accepted 7-0-0 Old Business: Lori Abelson has accepted the two-year term opening on School Council being vacated by Ellen Commito. We are still in need of a parent representative to take on the two-year term being vacated by Casey Moulton. Dr. King will continue to reach out to the community to find a volunteer and encourage other Members of the committee to do the same. - New Business: FY20 Budget Update: N/A Page I 1 Kindergarten Screening: N/A School Improvement Plan: Dr. King presented an update on the progress made toward the goals outlined in the two- year School Improvement Plan for Wood End Elementary. The focus of this presentation was on data that supports work being done in reading and mathematics. The data utilized for mathematics included the Applied Math Concepts assessments being Implemented in K-2. MCAS results for grades 3-5 will be reviewed over the summer and reported out to School Council and the Wood End community in the fall. In mathematics, all K-5 and special education teachers attended the Math Perspectives training (3-day workshops) to better instruct students In developing number sense and learn the AMC assessments and activities. The activities focus on improving skills through more interactive problem solving approaches and are utilized during math and intervention times. We will be implementing a workshop model in math for next year in all grades, K-5, providing more time to practice and independently reinforce skills. Goal 1: To focus our energy and effort in identifying and implementing evidenced based instructional practices and interventions in mathematics which will close the achievement gap with our students, in particular, our students in the high needs group (i.e. special education). Strategic Initiative/Objective: Implement scheduling, academic intervention blocks, curriculum maps, pacing guides, supervision, professional development and coaching for teachers, and a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for students to increase the number of students from 70% to 80% who are proficient in mathematics as measured by AMC assessments (K-2), MCAS (3-5), and grade-level report card standards (K-5). The AMC data for the 2018-19 school year showed of students assessed, the following are MEETING grade-level expectations: • Grade 2 Grouping 10s - 54% meeting • Grade 2 Hiding - 67% meeting • Grade 1 Hiding - 36% meeting • Grade 1 # Arrangements - 30% meeting • Kindergarten Changing # - 34% meeting • Kindergarten Counting - 45% meeting Students not meeting expectations will continue to practice and be provided additional instruction on targeted skills before being reassessed in June. The question was raised about how we monitor student progress and schedule the assessments. In literacy, all K-5 teachers are utilizing the Readers Workshop Units of Study this year. In addition, they have been coached throughout the year by Kristi Mraz (K-2) and Maggie Roberts (3-5) in successful implementation of the workshop model for reading. Teachers have observed in lab site classrooms as well as observation of colleagues to Identify best practices. All elementary teachers in the district will be implementing a workshop model in literacy for next year in all grades, K-5, providing more time on text and explicit instruction In small groups to independently reinforce skills. Goal 2: To improve literacy instruction for all students, K-5, by providing teachers with time and training, timely supervislon and coaching, clear expectations, grade level progressions &curriculum mapping in literacy. Strategic Initiative/Objective (Curriculum Implementation) Implement-MA Curriculum Frameworks in reading and writing using a workshop model in all classrooms, with particular focus on achieving grade-level expectations for all students to Page 1 2 increase the number of students from 70% to 80% Who are proflclent in literacy as measured by F&P benchmark assessments (K-5), MCAS (3-5), and grade-level report card standards (K-5). The F&P Benchmark Assessment data for the 2018-19 school year showed of all students assessed: • 74% of students met the grade-level benchmark for Winter • 62% of students with disabilities (total of 28 students) did not meet the grade-level benchmark for Winter: 0 59 Reading residents 0 3 METCO students 0 20 females 0 42 males • In the fall, 58% of all students met the benchmark and by winter, that increased to 74% • Students with disabilities only increased from 32% to 34% from fall to winter. Students in Grades 1-5 (51 students total) who were not meeting the grade-level expectations (based on F&P) were reassessed in April and provided targeted interventions in reading. All but one student had shown progress by at least one guided reading level since February with most progressing 2 or more levels. All students will be reassessed in June. Teachers will continue to look more closely at those falling below benchmark, seeing what intervention is in place for those students, and reassessing to see if they are making gains. We are trying to be more proactive about students who are not at benchmark and providing support sooner, rather than waiting until end-of-year results. Questions were raised by members of School Council based on this report: 1. Why are so many students coming into kindergarten with limited literacy skills when they all attend preschool? 2. Should we review our homework policies to focus more on literacy? 3. How can we educate parents about this and provide them with information and resources to help at home? 4. Can we provide information to parents at kindergarten screening about the need to read with and to children every day? 5. Based on the June data, what will be the next steps? Adjournment There being no further business, the School Council adjourned at 4:00 p.m. with plans to reconvene for the final meeting of the 2018-19 school year on lune 3, 2019. Respectfully Submitted, Michelle Mini, Recording Secretary Vag. 1 3