Notes

Site Council Retreat

November 9, 2004

Jose - Facilitator

Annie - Recorder

Attendees: Hillary Freeman, Suzanne Solomon, Betty Krumboltz, Lucas Matze, Jackie Bullock, Jose Ezcurra, Mark Ginanni, Sue Pound, Elisabeth Edeen, Annie McQueen, Julie Lloyd, Nancy Panayides, Rebecca Stamm,

Agenda changes: No GATE report,

No Site Council meeting in December - Plan to meet with SEBI group instead

Minutes approved with the following changes:

• Attendance reflect Julie's absence;
• Hillary Freeman reclused herself from Jack Hamilton presentation

Correspondence:

• Site Council Chair meeting with Superintendent: November 18 - Hillary and Nancy attending
• Sweetheart Award for adult making difference to child with special needs. Nominees received by January 15. Suzanne will put in eNews and December Jordan Journal.
• Discussed ways to correspond with seriously ill students

Jack Hamilton Adolescent Skills Program - Questions/Vote

Question: Hire Jack to address continuing education re harassment and bullying both with students and with staff.

Vote: $15,200 for Jack Hamilton

Money available: $25,594

Questions:

• Could we use it for a two-year program?
• What else could we use the money for: nothing obvious right now..
• Wait for Measure I final resolution
• Which pot of money should pay for this good program?

Motion: Site Council will support the conflict resolution program offered by Jack Hamilton. Nancy first, Julie second: Motion passed

Decided to wait to pass motion on how much money to use until after discussions this morning.

Review School Development Plan 2004-05

Ideas were generated for decisions on objectives for the year.

VTP Report - Joleen Roach

• Review of activities for 2004-05 school year
• Approximately 58 families at Jordan
• See Joleen's handout for other information
• How do we keep connection kids feel at Jordan?
• What is next level? What are systemic rather than incremental changes we can make?
• Technology outreach
• How do we keep the achievement expectations high?
• How do we discuss the achievement gap issue with elementary schools.. How are they addressing these issues?
• Addressing the language barriers to staff-parent communication.

Survey Results - reviewed

SEBI suggestions

• Refine survey and give again
• Posters - inspiration and success
• Classrooms reflect diversity
• Person to note student achievement and to find opportunities for students, i.e.competitions, contests
• Communication between staff/students - breakfast
• InClass/Homework hotline … training and use.. parents and staff
• 3-year cycle of school-wide international festivals
• Improve communication through better email management.
• Differentiation coach

English Department Report - Renee Johnson

• Review 6 - 8 Writing Matrix which addresses articulation
• Looking into better ways to communicate with parents (online portfolio)
• Developing consistency for requirements in each grade
• Grammar and mechanics are addressed across all middle grade levels
• 6 Trait writing program provides a common vocabulary but can also be built upon

World Language Program - Norman Masuda

• Only one full time teacher at Jordan - all others are shared with JLS and Terman
• Working on collaboration (district standards #5a and #5b)
• Level 1 standardized tests were given at all schools and will be revised
• Currently studying electronic portfolios which provide a better picture of the student
• About half the students at Jordan take a language - this goes up at the high school

Prioritizing SEBI

• Survey - Jackie, Hillary, Betty, Lucas
• InClass Sue, Rebecca, Elisabeth
• Posters - Mark & Nancy
• Person to notice and publicize - Julie & Cathy
• Breakfast or lunch with administrators - Suzanne & Betty
• International lunch - Annie & Jose

• Managing e-mail will be passed on to Suzanne
• Differentiation coach will be invited to a future meeting by Julie

By January 11, we should have a plan for how to get things done.

Student Council Report - Lucas

• Upcoming events: Student Council elections and Turkey Trot
• Trying to find ways to make pride card assemblies more interesting

Vote for Jack Hamilton Adolescent Skills Program

Motion passes unanimously

PTA Report - Rebecca Stamm

• E News will continue with school focus
• "Just Buy It" program is up and running
• Jordan Journal may but put online on a trial basis to save printing costs
• Partners in Education will push to raise more money after Measure I results are in

Principal's Report - Suzanne

• Construction is ongoing including resurfacing of PE areas, canopy, and breezeways
• Honor roll discussions about what is the best way to hold this event

Meeting adjourned at 1:15