Minutes from the March 8, 2010 Meeting

Ridgewood High School’s Improvement Team (SIP) met on Monday, March 8, 2010 to discuss the school improvement initiatives and activities carried on by the team’s committees.

Attending the meeting were:

Jim Smith (co-chair), Michelle Kumor (co-chair and PDC chair), Jill Laubenstein (PTO chair), Michelle Felde (RtI chair), Rob McCarthy (Discipline & School Safety chair), Jennifer Kelsall (principal).


Kudos!
The team began with celebrating the new classroom decorations that are helping motivate students in Jill Laubenstein’s science class. The windows were covered up due to the construction of the band room. Jill’s students wanted to add their own decorations and it has produced a student-owned learning environment. Many team members have witnessed or know of teachers that are using Scantron Performance series data with their students to monitor growth. Sonja Birazian was celebrated for her use of goal-setting motivation that encouraged her students to use KeyTrain. Finally, Kasia Butryn was celebrated for her facilitation of a book discussion group during third quarter.

Updates
After celebrations, the SIP team turned the meeting over to the committee chairs to provide an update of school improvement initiatives and activities:

RtI Committee
The division head and leadership team has begun coordinating efforts with the RtI committee to expedite the planning and implementation of RtI at Ridgewood High School. The division head team is developing the problem solving model, while the RtI continues to plan for the final universal screening day and monitor pilot interventions.

Professional Development Committee (PDC)
February 2nd Institute update
The Professional Development Committee has designed and implemented two successful institute days focusing on differentiated instruction.
March Institute 26th
The PDC is still seeking volunteers for the March 26th institute. Another e-mail will be sent out to solicit presenters.

PTO (formally the Community Relations & Communications Committee)
PTO/teacher involvement update
The PTO is working through its beginning stages of development. There is a hope for higher participation rates during meetings and events in the future. An e-mail data base is being developed to in an effort to increase communication.
Next Meeting Dates
Meetings will now be held every second Tuesday of the month. The PTO will be developing a Calendar so parents can sign up for upcoming events.
Partner School Science Fair update
This will need to be postponed until next year.
Help Cards update
Tracy Jopa is developing these cards to be distributed at Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Technology Committee
School Website update
Results of Survey
107 students/teachers/parents/community members responded to the survey about the school website. Overwhelmingly, the New Trier Website scored the highest in all assessed categories.
Internet Safety Instruction
Most of the student body received Internet Safety Instruction during the Universal Screening day in January. There are still a handful of students who need to receive this instruction. Jim Smith and Sam Lewis will be developing methods to ensure this instruction takes place before the end of the school year.

Reading & Literacy Committee
RAFT update
The committee is in the process of distributing the RAFT strategies to the staff. Vocabulary posters are a big hit with students.

Discipline & School Safety Committee
Update on Natural Helpers
Staff members have provided names of students they believe would be positive “Natural Helpers” for next year. There is a need for one more speaker for the Natural Helper’s April 20th meeting. Rob will contact the Leyden Health and Family Services for possible volunteers.

Hardwood Heights Police Department
Active Shooter – March 30th – Staff are invited to participate

New Business
Before closing the meeting, new business was introduced:

The committee heads will review the School Improvement Plan expectations with their committees and return with feedback for the next SIP meeting.

Next Meeting
The SIP Team’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 12 at 3:15 in the Board Room.

Special Thanks
Special thanks to Michelle Kumor for taking the minutes for this meeting.