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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-07 School Council - Killam Elementary Minutesa� ItFRc aaanx<oxvoe> Board - Committee Town of Reading Meeting Minutes commission - Council: RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MA. 2022 JUN 13 AM 8: � School Council -J Warren Killam Elementary Date: 2022-06-07 Time: 3:00 PM Building: School - Killam Location: Meeting Room Address: 333 Charles Street Session: Open Session Purpose: Quarterly Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Sarah Leveque, Kim Adamo, Tonia McGuire, Bryn Panee Burkhart, Marc Cerasulo Members - Not Present: Others Present: Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bryn Panee Burkhart Topics of Discussion: As the school year comes to an end, Sarah acknowledged the hard work of teachers and celebrated the accomplishments of this past year and forecast new opportunities coming next year. A new comprehensive literacy curriculum called Arc -Core is going to be unveiled next year for Grades 3-5 next year (2022-2023), K-2 the following year (2023 - 2024). Each classroom will receive between 700 - 900 books as a part of this program. It includes an assessment system, has outstanding reviews and has been field tested. Teachers are very excited about this new opportunity. Illustrative Math will also be going into its second year (it was piloted in Grades 3 - 5 this year) and rolling out to other grades, it's done well this year. Teachers have commented it is engaging, more project and inquiry based and has been well received as it is student directed. The K-2 version is more math center based with hands-on activities. All of this aligns with district goals and Dept. of Education goals. DOE has recommended these tools which is fantastic. Technology will be more widely available now that budgets are done. Next year, K - 1 will receive grade level !Pad carts for their grade. Grades 2 - 5 will be 1:1 with laptops. In terms of other future expenses, priorities will be replenishing well-worn furniture and rugs for the school. Also looking at new PE equipment and new art/creative supplies, as well as building non-fiction and fiction classroom libraries. Kim Adamo talked about coding and robots that are being used in the school. In particular, robots were used last week at the annual MBCA Book awards - they paraded across the stage in hats! Page 1 1 Also, Kim mentioned that once again, the 5'h graders are writing messages In the new MBCA books to next year's 5"' graders that will go Into their classrooms. A nice tradition and a way for graduating 5'° graders to leave a legacy. Sarah mentioned the success of this year's February and April school vacation academy for learning, whereby general education students could come in over school vacation time. They will be doing it for the Summer School period, Grades 1 - S. One class per grade level across the district. Teachers are recommending this to students who qualify. Everyone reflected on the hard work of Killam teachers and staff over the last year and the parents on the committee expressed gratitude for their dedication and hard work. The Committee said their goodbyes for the summer and concluded the meeting shortly after 3:30 p.m. Page 1 2