HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-20 School Council - RMHS Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERK R7 ,,, ., MA. School Council Minutes 2021APR2I PM 3: 27 10/20/10 In attendance: Elinor Freedman Michele Chiappani Doug McGlathery Julia Patadis Linda Sliwoski Shelley Lynch Ronda Henderson Paradis Sean Gildea Leia Richardson AGENDA: 1. Introductions 2. Review of School Council Mission Recapped last year's "hot topic" issues • Mandatory Breathalyzers • Social Host Laws 3. Selection of Co-Chair—Leia Richardson volunteered 4. School Improvement Plan 2010 -2011 —Examined District and RHMS' goals GOAL 1: • This year RMHS will analyze data from project based learning to determine if specific skills laid-out in school-wide rubrics have been met. • Project-Based Learning • Julia and Sean provided examples of"fun,more engaging"projects they completed in classes that helped them master the material better and "communicate to an authentic audience"such as creating a film in French, creating a virtual rollercoaster in Physics, and analyzing the Stock Market trends in Business. • Doug, a math teacher and technology liason at Cambridge Rindge and Latin, discussed his school's projects and school-wide rubrics. The main school-wide focus on projects is directed toward creating a senior capstone. School-wide rubrics used more by administration rather than classroom teachers. Common Assessments is a more wide-spread practice. • Leia,formerly an English teacher at Arlington High School,discussed AHS's use of Common Assessments with essays and the problems encountered when trying to retrieve data from them. Different types of writing have to be assessed differently. The assessments were not differentiated, so it become unfair that students who struggled in the subject area looked like they weren't making gains in comparison to an honors student when in fact they were. • Michelle,a science teacher at RMHS, discussed the importance of differentiating science projects, and how science classes are project based with the labs, so this concept of project-based learning fit seamlessly with science. • Doug asked clarifying question about the rubric, scoring, and teacher tone around the project-based learning • MCAS • Subject shifted to MCAS—most of our 10" grade students are in Proficient,no Advanced for ELA;however,Ellie emphasized that MCAS is one data source, not the data source. • Race to the Top funds. GOAL 2: Safe,Healthy,Sustainable Learning • World of Difference: Julia discussed her"World of Difference"training • Goals of W.O.D. are to create a safe school, respect differences • Ties into Anti-Bullying Curriculum • W.O.D. students will go into freshmen advisories and bring main take- aways of W.O.D. to them • W.O.D. will also help facilitate a Holocaust survivor in freshmen advisory groups • Common Experience: Lein wanted to know if the whole school could participate in a common"Health and Safety Day type of experience. • We brainstormed about which classes' curriculums would apply to the speaker—many would • Michele thought that perhaps we could video tape the Holocaust speaker as he spoke to the freshman and then streamed it live on the classroom Smartboards. • The entire group was excited about this possibility or another common experience around health and safety. • Senior Week Volunteering: Ellie branched topic of conversation to seniors giving back something to the school as a component of senior week. Goal 3: • Senior Projects. • Looking for senior project models • Examples of playwriting and film already in existence • Discussed VHS • Julia discussed her positive experience with Journalism • Sean discussed his positive experience with advanced math • Doug mentioned that Cambridge stopped using VHS due to the cost and curriculum issues that cropped up with unmotivated students. • Moodles: Doug explained moodles and advocated for their place in professional development and in the classroom. • Hybrid Courses: Ellie mentioned that RMHS is looking to develop hybrid courses—online/classroom. Wrap—up: Dr. Doherty will be at next meeting. Meeting dates 10/20 11/17 12/15 1/19 2/16 3/16 4/27 5/18 6/15