Parent Meeting Minutes 4/19/10

Parent Meeting Minutes 4/19/10

Attendance:
Bob Goudreau
Sally Kimball
Rob Gauthier
Jen Prue
Carol Smith
Patty Drew
Sharon Henry
Jill Reynolds
Diedre Gladstone
Maria McCormack
Sue Hoeppner

Parent Group Agenda April 2010
Parent Group Formation Update/Forming partnership with other community groups supporting children and families
Middle school Update 2010 – 2011 Sixth Grade moves to the Middle School
Claudine Bedell – St. Michael’s College working with Middle school Staff
Primary Grades Update for 2010 – 2011/ K Enrollment
Update on Primary Wing Renovation/Classroom assignments during construction are to be within HCS
Transportation Plans for the 2010 – 2011 academic year – Combining routes with CVU to save $$$
Charlie Fortin Day at HCS April 23, 2010
Other
Next Meetings – May 12 – 8:30 AM & May 13 – 6:30 PM

Parent Group Overview – challenge is sustainable numbers; participation in ongoing meetings continues to be low. One suggestion to consider is an “umbrella” organization that connects existing parent/family groups that are already formed.

Middle School Update: Survey regarding integration of 6th grade – results came back positive.
6th grade will move to the middle school next year. Typical learning environments might include 6th and 7th graders together and it might include 7th and 8th grade students together. It will rarely include 6th, 7th and 8th graders in the same groups. Claudine Bedell is working with the middle school teachers in terms of developing a philosophy that incorporates 6-7-8. Conversations include team of special education, Title I, support staff. Next year, 5th grade is self contained. Similar philosophy conversations will take place regarding 3-4-5.
Reconfiguration includes an alternative project based model in 6-7-8; may even be available to 3-4-5 in the future.
Next year’s numbers:
K-1-2: 157, 3-4-5: 152, 6-7-8: 152
K registration indicates 63 +/- students at this time.

Discussion of vision of school calendar: current calendar is based on agricultural society, might be antiquated; How can we better meet the needs of kids. Other possibilities looks like:
*8 weeks instruction, 2 weeks intervention/enrichment, 8 weeks instruction, 2 weeks intervention/enrichment, etc.
*Delayed opening for middle school (addressing developmental needs of adolescents),
*longer school day
*integrated instruction
*Alternative project based learning

A parent made a suggestion to provide opportunities for parents to learn about middle school models – the request was made with the idea of include parents to a greater degree in the reconfiguration journey. There was a lot of discussion about the logistics of “a day” in the middle school. Bob maintains that it depends on the needs of the kids. The point of reconfiguration is to NOT define the logistics, but to stay flexible based on the current group.

Renovation update – K-2 wing and “52 wing” (staff room and special ed). Construction schedule was optimistic. Likely we will not move back into the primary wing until November 1st.

Next year - morning bus runs will include K-12 as a cost savings. Will likely push our day 15 minutes later – closer to 8:15 start 2:50 end. Watch for updates this summer.

Charlie Fortin Day at HCS is Friday 4/23. Charlie’s birthday is 4/23 and he is retiring on 4/30.