OLD MILL SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MINUTES

Monday November 24, 2008

Time:  3:00 pm

Location:  Old Mill School Library

Present:

Jane McDonough - Treasurer

Mary Anderson – Secretary

Molly Bass

Dawn Dobras – Vice President

Andy Mercy - President

Lisa Mudd

Ann Nichols

Virginia Vanroyen

Absent:

Bryce Goeking

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes:   Minutes of the October 27, 2008 meeting were approved.

New Parent Site Council Member:  Hope Timberlake was unanimously voted on to the Site Council.

Andy invited the group to talk about programmatic points which were working well and also aspects of the program which were challenging.  The following action points are a result of this discussion.

2007/8 & 2008/9 Action Plan, Objective 3:  Emphasize life fitness as a core element of the P.E. program

Action:   Jane to explain this new emphasis and the accompanying revised P.E evaluation rubric in her GRIST column.  Post meeting note:  Completed Dec. 2008.

Action:  Dawn and Andy to write a blurb for the Creek encouraging parents to support their children to take P.E seriously and to do their personal best.

Action:  Virginia to draw up a form which will be given to a student, who is likely to get a “2 - improvement needed” or a “1 – poor”,  to inform the student’s teacher and parents so the student has a chance to improve his/her grade.

2007/8 Action Plan, Objective 1:  Support students in becoming effective problem solvers in math

Although this objective is not being carried over into the 2008/9 Action Plan Andy suggested that perhaps parents could take the lead on a “math problem of the month”.  As a first step he suggested that the Site Council parents test a math problem out with their children.

Action:  Molly to forward a “math problem of the month” to the Site Council parents.

 

2008/9 Action Plan, Objective 1:  Support students to develop strength of character

As part of this new area of focus volunteerism was discussed.  To determine the best way forward the following was agreed:

Action:  Ann to provide an audit of what community activities are already being performed  in  each grade.

Action:  Dawn and Andy to research opportunities.

Action:  Post meeting note:  Andy requested all Site Council members to come to the next meeting prepared to talk about “Tribes”, a well established learning program which addresses positive character development and which is already known to many of Old Mill School’s staff. All Site Council members should think about an appropriate definition for “character” in the context of “strength of character” and look at the Tribes website:  www.tribes.com  

Action:  Andy also requested Jane to identify a faculty member who loves “Tribes” and can provide a 5-10 minute overview at the next Site Council meeting.

Next Site Council Meeting:  Monday, January 12, 2009, at 3:00 pm in Old Mill School library.