April 1st Meeting Notes

In attendance:  Kate Dodge, Paul Lasher, Alyssa Lasher, Renee Durochia, Heidi Bouchard, Jim Goldsmith, Kelli Brown, Aaron Kimball, Ali Douglas, Jessica Wilson, Jeff O’Hara, Kim Gordon, Nancy Wood, Alesia Depot, Doug Stewart, Sue Bergeron, Anna Main, Lisa Ayer, Kate Suskin Peterson, Greg Glade, Kristin Miskavage, Ali Douglas, Sarah Murphy, Joy O’Neil, Sarita Baker, Heidi Simkins

Technology At HCS

Presented by Jess Wilson (HCS Technology Integration Specialist)

·      Technology is integrated throughout the day; no longer just going to the computer lab and working on keyboarding.

·      Technology is changing the ways in which children learn and in ways that were not possible before.

·      21^st century classroom skills: Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving

o   HCS is a “Google School”; this means they use Google docs, calendars, and other tools.

o   Kindergarten has 5 iPads. You can do more than games with apps. Literacy, math, and problem solving are all skills that can be utilized (as well as independent learning) on the iPad.

o   The 2^nd and 3^rd grades are using the Voice Thread app. You can upload your work, speak over your work and explain you work.

o   3^rd graders are blogging their book reports.  They can connect to this at both home and school (at home if they want to).  Teachers are working with students on appropriate commenting and making connections to what peers are sharing.

o   7^th and 8^th graders are using Google (Google Docs allows a revision history to see how students are editing their work and comment on works in progress.). Directions are part of the working document so that students can go back and make sure that they are on track.

·      There is a state initiative to have 1:1 technology available to students. Current 6^th grade students each have their own iPads.  Hinesburg is first in the district to be working toward 1:1.

o   Students are collaborating; being held responsible for both their work and devices, sharing learned information with teachers/peers, and doing more independent learning.

o   Students are using their iPads not only in core classes, but also in Unified Arts (art, health, and music especially).

o   Paul Lasher shared ways in which the iPad increases student engagement for math class.

o   As the Common Core comes into play, the SBAC assessment will be completed on an electronic device. This allows testing to go at the child’s pace.

o   For the 2013-2014 academic year, the tentative plan is that all 6^th and 7^th graders will be issued an iPad.  This conversation will be continued to see how funds can be reallocated and how 8^th graders will be not left out of the iPad loop.

·      Sharing Resources:

o   On the HCS website (under School Information and Technology) there are links to policies, plans, expectations. There is a tab for finding sites for educational apps, tips for using an iPad, and learning more about the district’s policies and ideas about technology use.

·      Questions to follow up on:

o   Research supporting use of iPads/technology for students in the primary grades.

o   Life span of the devices/overall cost.

o   Delineating when remedial work is done via an app or with a person. What are the policies? How do teachers decide the approach?

2013-2014 Kindergarten Conversation

·      Jeff O’Hara addressed the number of incoming kindergarten students entering HCS for the 2013-2014 school year.

o   The number of kindergarten students enrolled to come to HCS next school year is 68 total. (Not including retention, early admissions, etc)

o   Currently there are 3 kindergarten teachers. The numbers have been discussed at the School Board level. It will be discussed at the April meeting and tentatively voted on in the May meeting to see whether a new teacher needs to be added.

o   Budgets are stretched, positions have been eliminated for next year, and there are no further internal options to find a 4^th teacher.

o   Bob and Jeff will give the board their recommendation; however, ultimately, this is a School Board decision. Parent advocacy and attending board meetings to learn more are the best ways to weigh in on your opinion.

§  April 10^th is the next school board meeting at CVU (7 pm)

§  Jeff will check in with Keith to know the preferred method of communication from parents.
[Follow up, 4.5, please email Keith Roberts at keithrobertshcsboard@hotmail.com to communicate with the board.]

o   The current second grade class was the previous “bubble” or big class. They had 4 classroom teachers in kindergarten to support 68 students. (Currently they have 66 students in 3 classrooms)

o   School quality standards for CSSU recommend 15-18 students per classroom at a kindergarten level.

Spring Grant Review

·      Tonight is the second of two annual grant reviews for the portion of money raised by PIE to support the school community.

·      Jim shared the history and process of how money has been allocated from PIE.

o   Budgeting was done for this year was based on a yearly “take” of $14,000.  This year we’ve had successful fundraising efforts with a projected take of $19,000.

o   30% of the allocations go to the 23 classroom teachers (divided equally). 30% of the overall budget is used for PIE grants. The remainder gets divided between the Wellness Committee, Staff Appreciation, and retaining discretionary money.

o   Jim proposed that we use some of the extra funds raised to add to the money distributed to the grants and teacher distribution.  Currently this grant round was budgeted to give away $2,100.  It was proposed we increase that amount to be $5,000.  The group agreed.

·      Discussion took place around how to make the distribution of funds more equitable. In the current set up, special education teachers and UA teachers are not included in the equation. 

o   One suggestion that was made was that grants could be flipped between special ed and UA teachers.

o   PiE will discuss this at the next meeting and hear from additional members.

Grant Proposal #1: Paul Rocheleau presented on his grant proposal. He would like to bring in a Caller and band for a Contra Dance for the 5^th grade students during the school day. This has an estimated cost of $500.  Ideally, he’d like to do this in June of this year. He has not yet talked to folks about availability and to see whether folks would volunteer their time.  This project would tie in to history and movement.  The hope would be to inspire and gain community-wide support…with the possibility for the HCS to host dances. Paul Rocheleau wants to have students make a “Cranky” ($300). This is a box that would be made by students and teachers. The cranks on the box are attached to paper that both plays and shows a story/song.  This box could also be used for shadow puppets. This project would tie into art, language arts, and folk art. (Of his two proposals, the Contra dance would be his priority).

Grant Proposal #2: Theatre Program: A mini-musical for students in 3^rd and 4^th grades. This would include hiring a director and props/supplies, etc.  If funding were granted, than this program would tentatively be at the end of October 2013.  Bob Goudreau has met with the proposing group and has agreed to make stage space available. This would be a six-week program that would occur after school. Ideally, a schedule will be mapped out now (re: space) so that the incoming principal would have a solid idea of scheduling and needs. Requested amount, $1,400.

Grant Proposal #3:  Digital wireless camera for Stephanie Konowitz that would let kids view through a microscope lens.  This would benefit 7^th /8^th science classes and could interface with iPad use. The cost of this would be $500.

Grant Proposal #4:  Be A Star Program: This money would go to support the rewards given for student achievement through the Be A Star Program.  100 Star t-shirts, ice skating, and pasta dinners are examples of how this has been used in the past.  The cost proposed would cover $250 per grade level/team; $750 total.

Grant Proposal #5:  2^nd Grade books: Second grade is looking for multiple copies of non-fiction books. Currently, there are multiple copies of books that are shared throughout the primary wing. This would allow for more 2^nd grade level books that go beyond the means of the current classroom/library budget.  Requested amount, $2,000.

Grant Proposal #6: Wellness/Composting:  The school has a new composting initiative.  This money would go toward plastic cups that could be washed (for water) and reused by students, silverware, soup/cereal bowls, condiment dispensers to reduce overall waste.  This teaches life skills, responsibility for personal waste, and would help reduce money spent by the cafeteria budget.

After some discussion, the group decided to award the following grant amounts:

Requests	Requested Amounts	Grant Amount	Students Served
Konowitz	$500	$500	110
3/4 Theatre	$1,400	$1,000	145
Be A Star	$750	$750	496
Rocheleau	$800	$500	48
2nd grade - books	$2,000	$1,700	60
Wellness	$800	$550	496
TOTALS	$6,250	$5,000

PIE Committee Updates/Announcements:

Principal Search/Parent Input Session – Thursday 4/4 at 6:30 in the Wainer Room

Save the Date – PiE Golf Tournament – Sunday, 5/19 at Cedar Knoll

Keep clipping Box Tops, Labels for Education and Project A+ Labels by May 28 to enter to win some great prizes.

PIE Meetings to be held on the first Monday of the month at 6 pm   (Next meeting May 6^th)