[Mjhsteam] March Minutes, April Meeting Reminder, and Misc.

Tue Mar 31 13:41:38 PDT 2009

Dear Parents,

The minutes from our March PST meeting appear below.  They contain important
information about the implementation of next year's new schedule (see Mr.
Hill's report) and also news from Moscow School District Superintendent
Candis Donicht about how the budget cuts may affect our school.

With regard to school district finances, you should have all received an
email from the PST School District Liaison, Lisa Morris, forwarding a survey
from Dr. Donicht seeking your opinion about how the budget cuts should be
implemented in our schools.  This is a chance to be heard on this important
issue, so please take a moment to complete the form and return it to Lisa
Morris by Friday April 3rd.  If you did not receive the original email or
need another copy of the survey, email me and I will send you another one.

One final parent opportunity:  School Counselor Charlie Gerke has a few more
i2i parent packets available from our recent parent night; these contain
information and other goodies that will help improve you communicate with
your student about drugs and alcohol.  Contact Charlie at
gerkec at sd281.k12.id.us.

Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:15 a.m in Room
216.  I hope to seek you there!

Peggy Jenkins

MJHS Parent Support Team 

Meeting Minutes

March 3, 2009

Principal's Report 

*	Focusing on Redesign and how to implement new schedule/access
period.
*	Thursday assembly for winter activities
*	Thursday Wind Ensemble at the high school at 7 p.m.
*	8th Grade Parent Night on March 23 at 7 p.m.
*	9th Grade Orientation at high school on March 25 at 6:30 p.m.
*	7th Grade Registration - packets come home, and students do at
school
*	Redesign- waiting for what legislature is going to do for the
budget; also waiting to see the results of the lottery and the impact on the
district.  May have staffing cuts.  

Vice-Principal's Report - New Schedule/Access Period Update

How the access period is managed is important for success.  Can be used for
assemblies but also for students who need more support.  There are a large
number of students (80%) who don't need the support, but then the question
becomes what meaningful offerings to create for them and how to motivate
them.  There can even be fun access opportunities.  If grades are up, then
they can do fun activities.  

Visited Lewiston High School.  The junior high age needs more structure and
direct instruction.  Visited Jennifer Junior High.  MJS will do a hybrid of
the two.

In terms of overall instruction time, there is no cutting of time at all.
Classes will be longer but will meet 28 times/week with the same overall
instruction time.  In addition, there will be academic enrichment
opportunities along with academic remediation.  

The schedule will run 75557 in a typical week.  Two-day weeks will have the
MF schedule of 77, and three-day weeks will run 555.  Access will happen on
Thursdays.  This will make it predictable for parents re: good times for
appts. and will also help teachers who are at the junior high and high
schools (e.g., the French and choral teachers).  Science teachers will have
predictable lab times.  

Can tailor to different grade needs. 

Overall schedule is now a draft.  Will change and be dynamic.  It is not
stagnant and will change as we go - fluid.

Homeroom - will be used as a starting point to launch from - 20 - 25
minutes.  Then switch to a 45 minute block of time.  For the students with C
and above, could be a choice of activities, opportunity for getting homework
done, or be able to go to teachers for help.   There are a lot of options.

For the D and below students, they would be assigned to some sort of
remediation.  We need to focus on what the school can do during the school
day rather than depend on after school.  

Has to be building-wide, and consistency and management are key.  Students'
agendas could be signed, perhaps in red ink for the parent to note clearly,
which would help accountability.

It is an exciting project and a big change.  We want to do it right. There
are a lot of possibilities, but it is important at this stage to keep it
relatively simple.

Teaming is still being looked at.  Funding is also an issue. 

Elizabeth Young asked if there had been any discussion re: peer mentoring.
Kevin mentioned that we do have ambassadors.  U of I students might also be
incorporated.  

Jennifer Lynn commented that we do some of that with tutorial situations.
It is informal now, but perhaps it could be formalized.  

Peggy Jenkins wondered about the students who are not challenged enough.  

Aleisha Barber noted that the high end students often have a lot of homework
and could use the time.  We should contact Aleisha if we have any further
comments/questions.

Financial Report:  Peggy Jenkins - $478. Some of the money went to the
parent night. No other big projects coming up except for 9th grade
graduation.  Perhaps parents could donate.  Peggy will put out an e-mail to
9th grade parents.  Aleisha pointed out that we don't know what the hold
backs might be for next year, so it might be better to leave a "more flush"
situation.  Dale commented that the Weathercam actually came in cheaper and
that there isn't a need for more funds.  There were also donations from
Schweitzer and U of I.  

Penny Drive - Kevin Hill, Vice Principal - was successful with over $4000
collected.  

Boxtops-  Faye Nagler- Chad's class collected the most boxtops.  Will get a
check for $120 with another $230 coming at some point.

Superintendent's Report: Aleisha Barber (for Lisa Morris who couldn't
go):Acting President of U of I, Steve Daley-Larson, visited the
superintendent and apologized for the behavior of the U of I students at a
basketball game.  

In terms of the budget, we won't know until April the effects of the
stimulus package.

Social studies - will take Idaho History out of 8th grade and spread World
History over 8th and 9th grades.  Next year's 9th graders will still have
World History only in the 9th grade.

Zena Broughton, who was the head of all elementary school libraries, passed
away in December.  There will be a tree-planting in Palouse next to a bench
for her husband.

There was also a discussion re: MOSS (the outdoor school program).  There is
unequal funding/parent participation across the district. At Russell, there
is a problem with getting enough money and enough parents to participate.  

Other -  Peggy - E-mail Peggy ideas/interest for officers for next year.
Peggy will contact LCYSC re: possible computer safety presentation.  

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:15 a.m.

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