SIP Team's Last Meeting! (for the school year)

The SIP Team met on Monday, May 11, 2009 to convene on what committees are working towards in regards to improving student learning, professional development, and relationships with parents, and a host of other specific items.

Starting with celebrations, the team was thrilled to cheer Jennette for attaining grants via the donorschoose.org web site that allowed her to write a grant and receive a donor to support her continued efforts towards developing a love for reading and assistance to teachers.

The first committee to report was the Discipline & School Safety Committee that sent out surveys for the Natural Helpers program to students and teachers. The surveys are currently being tallied, but Rob expressed that invitations to the program may not go out to students or teachers until late into the summer to then begin implementation of the program next fall. Rob also expressed that questions on the survey regarding what students and teachers felt were the biggest problems at Ridgewood be the focus on the Natural Helpers group and the volunteers associated with the program. Kudos should be given to Rob and the entire Discipline & School Safety Committee for their time and efforts. If you would like to be a part of the committee for next year, be sure to contact the SIP Team or Rob.

Jill next reported on the ongoing efforts of the Community Relations & Communications Committee. Jill reported that she has had a great response from the parents that she is working with and is eager to continue the efforts of the committee throughout the summer and into next year. Among the celebrations of the committee was the ice-cream social it hosted where some parents who were less than sure about sending their child to Ridgewood, left with a much better impression of our school. Other ideas planned include welcoming the incoming freshmen, having RHS host a 7th & 8th grade science fair, and developing efficient ways for RHS teachers and parents to communicate and work together. Hooray to Jill and her entire committee for working so hard this year to meet with parents and community members and developing solutions to improve our school.

Michelle could not attend our meeting, but she provided notes on what the RtI Committee is currently enthralled with. First, the goals that the committee had outlined in the beginning of the year to accomplish have been! Interventions for reading and math will be piloted next fall. Information regarding PBIS has been attained and the SIP Team was able to discuss that it will be best for our school staff and faculty to move forward with training in the behavioral intervention. Work labs for special education will be piloted next fall along with an assessment system for identified Title I students through Scantron.

The SIP Team took some time discussing some solutions to the Problem Solving Team (PST) component that the RtI Committee must solve. Among the ideas discussed was allotting time in the afternoons for the Tier 1-2 PST to meet at least once a month with Division Heads covering the classes of the teachers who are on the PST during that time. That way it would not remove a teacher from their division or team meeting on Wednesdays. Congratulations to Michelle and the entire RtI Committee for the time spent on researching and meeting to discuss how best to serve the needs of our students!

The Professional Development Committee hadn’t met since the previous SIP Team meeting and is concerned with their focus and direction. The SIP Team offered up several solutions and Michelle K introduced the School Improvement Grant proposal at that time. The SIP Grant will provide our school with possible funding for professional development and school improvement initiatives. However, the grant must be very specific and concise. After some discussion, the team divided out the work to be done and will work with their committees to accomplish it by early next week. Thank you to Brian and Jason as well as to the entire PDC committee for the work accomplished this year with professional development!

Sam gave the team an overview of what the Tech Committee has been working on where they are headed. Included in the report was a discussion regarding professional development with new Mac Books. The team provided Sam with the suggestion of sending out a quick survey to attain the opinions of the faculty and staff. Sam stated the Tech Committee has much to celebrate including the completion of the Tech Plan to the State, brining in three students and at least one parent into the meetings, and assisting Tracy with a DVR grant. It’s celebration time for Sam and the entire Tech Committee!

Finally, Jennette discussed the Reading & Literacy Committee’s efforts this year, including the finalization of obtaining the last of the Borders Books provided through the Illinois Literacy Fund which are helping to increase teachers’ classroom libraries. The final R&L Committee will meet on Wednesday morning. Great job to Jennette and the entire R&L Committee for a job well done this year!

The SIP Team wrapped up the final meeting by agreeing to meet at 10AM on August 10th in the Board Room.

Have a great summer everyone!