Curriculum Council Minutes 03/24/22

2021-2022 Ida Curriculum Council Minutes

Thursday, March 24, 2022 8:15-10:15 a.m. 

High School, Room 103

Staff and Community Representatives Present:

*Elementary School: Mackay Wickenheiser

*Elementary Parent Representative:

*Middle School: Audrey Hamm

*Middle School Parent Representative: Renae Jones

*High School: Gabe Giarmo, Caitlin Ryan

*High School Parent Representative: Andrea Allen

*Administrators: Dave Eack, Lucy Becker, Chuck Fuller

*Student: Kasey Jarrett

*Board Member:

*Chairperson: Sarah Ash

 Ida Curriculum Council Minutes for March 24, 2022  

1.  District  

• Jean Foster is hosting monthly brainstorm meetings to network with PE/Health teachers. The next one is scheduled for Monday, March 28th at 7:15am. Please contact Jean Foster from the ISD for the virtual meeting link if you are interested.

2.  K-12 Communications: High School Topics

• Leadership update was given by Gabe Giarmo and Kasey Jarrett. The classes are currently working on safety awareness week topics and a vaping initiative with the Middle School. Students are also beginning spring event planning for the student/staff softball game, powder puff game, and additional health initiatives with the police department for drug, marijuana, and alcohol awareness.
• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
  • Basic curse proposal was reviewed and discussed. Student benefits such as being in classes with higher level peers, making general education courses more proportional, and student behavior were addressed. Course curriculum would not be changed, instead teachers would differentiate content in their classes. A pilot of this model has been in place this semester and positive results have been noted. A concern was expressed around special education students not receiving appropriate services. A vote was taken, and the proposal passed with 9 people in favor, 1 abstain, and 0 rejections. Data and feedback will be shared out next year to evaluate this change.
  • English bok request proposal was reviewed and discussed. The Strange Case f Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was requested fr English 4 to replace Frankenstein. Hnors students would still be able to read Frankenstein, they wuld just now have a choice between the two books. Regular classes would transition to The Strange Case f Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A vte was taken and the request passed with 9 people in favor and 0 rejections. Books will be ordered soon.
  • Michigan Cares Scial Emotional Update was given by Caitlin Ryan. The social emotional team has reviewed some of the lessons provided by Michigan Cares and will be implementing some of them in classes this spring. Parents will be notified of the instruction and able to view the content prior to the lessons.
  • Intr to Leadership and Leadership course grades were discussed. Currently Intro to Leadership students receive an S+ or S and Leadership students receive grades on their report cards. It was proposed to switch both courses to grades only. Vote was taken and the change passed with 9 people in favor and 0 rejections.
• Counselors are scheduling students for next year and looking at CTE course possibilities. There are some options at neighboring districts such as EMT/Firefighter, health occupations, and HVAC. Ida is also looking to add an agriculture course.
• The Cash Campaign wrapped up in February. 75% of students completed their FASFA and applied for scholarships. There will be a prize party and drawing for scholarships soon.
• Decision Day will be on May 27th and hopefully it will be a schoolwide assembly as in the past.

3.   K-12 Communications: Middle School Topics

• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
  • Amplify Science pilt is underway. Feedback from the teachers piloting the program and student data will be shared at our next meeting.
  • English – pssibility of adding an 8th grade writing curse for next year was discussed. This would ensure students have literature and writing instruction daily as part of their core classes. The need for an additional teacher was discussed due to the larger 7th grade class and implementing a writing class wuld align with the same model 6th and 7th grade students currently receive. A vte was taken and the proposal passed with 9 people in favor and 0 rejections.
• The Middle School has a new counselor who has been working with many students on relationships, friendships, and social emotional skills.
• Math Counts – The Math Counts team did really well competing against other teams in Woodhaven last month. This is a great opportunity for our students.
• Quiz Bowl teams have been competing with other schools around the county via Zoom. While this is not a favored format, our students are still enjoying the competition.

4.  K-12 Communications: Elementary School Topics

• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
  • Michigan Cares Scial Emotional update was given by Mackay Wickenheiser. Students watch a video and have a full class discussion with Mrs. Wickenheiser. Some topics that have been covered so far are on friendships, problem solving, and empathy. A teacher survey will be conducted next month to get feedback on the instruction but so far it seems to be going well.
• Reading month is underway. There are many activities taking place such as guest readers, special dress up days, class competitions, and rewards for raising Read a Thon funds.
• A behavior guidance plan is being developed to ensure consistency throughout the building.

5.  Technology Updates 

• Technology Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, March 30th.

6.  Parent Group Report

• Ida Public Schools, Parent Groups –
  • Read a Thn is underway and going very well
  • Mther/Son event at Urban Air was a success
  • Daddy/Daughter Dance was a success

7.  Upcoming Student Events

• Knabusch Math and Science Center is offering field trip opportunities for classes. Contact Nicole Shaughnessy if interested.
• Quiz Bowl – Season is underway with virtual matches with other schools in the county.
• Possible Science Olympiad/STEM Virtual Challenge event through the ISD sometime this spring. More details will be shared when available.
• Young Authors Event is underway. Final writing pieces are due by March 31st.
• PSAT/SAT Test Prep virtual session series concluded this week, we did have students participate and give positive feedback.
• Spelling Bee will take place on May 10th at the ISD. There will be two competitions this year, a 5th/6th grade competition and a 7th/8th grade competition.

8. Assessment Updates

• NWEA/STAR Reading winter data was shared. All grade level averages were above the national norm.
• Spring 2022 testing information: (note longer test windows for most grade levels)
  • 3rd Grade M-Step
    • ELA-April 11th-May 6th
    • Math-April 11th-May 20th  
  • 4th, 6th, 7th Grade M-Step
    • ELA-April 11th-May 20th
    • Math-April 11th-May 20th
  • 5th Grade M-Step     
    • ELA-April 11th-May 20th
    • Math-April 11th-May 20th
    • Science-April 11th-May 20th
    • Social Studies-April 11th-May 20th
  • 8th Grade
    • PSAT 8-April 13th
    • Science M-Step-April 11th-May 20th
    • Social Studies M-Step-April 11th-May 20th
  • 9th Grade
    • PSAT 9-April 13th-19th (*tentatively April 14th)
  • 10th Grade
    • PSAT 10-April 13th-19th (*tentatively April 14th)
  • 11th Grade
    • SAT-April 13th
    • WorkKeys-April 14th
    • Science M-Step-April 11th-May 20th
    • Social Studies M-Step-April 11th-May 20th
  • NWEA and STAR testing will begin at the end f April/beginning of May for kindergarten-8th grade students

9. Professional Development Opportunities

• If you have any PD ideas for the 2022-2023 school year, please share them with Sarah Ash. Post-PD surveys are being reviewed for potential topics of interest. Topics such as co-teaching, stop the bleed, sensitivity to student needs, and social emotional training for teachers was also shared.
• Building Windows and Mirrors – 6 day series, November 10th-April 22nd through the Monroe ISD. You can sign up for trainings you are interested in, you do not need to attend all. You will receive a picture book for each session you attend.
• EdTech Leaders – Educational Technology Group, next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 17th from 4-5:30 p.m. via Zoom. SCECHs are available to those who attend.
• Technology PD – Digital Instructional Design Strategies via email April 18th-21st.
• Michigan Council for Social Studies Annual Conference-April 18th-21st virtual
• MiSHCA (Michigan School Health Coordinators Association) – June 20-21st, Great Wolf Lodge
• Always available: EduPaths and Michigan Virtual online professional learning. https://www.edupaths.org. www.michiganvirtual.org.  Free, self-paced courses, SCECHs are available for most courses

10. Future Meetings

• Next meeting May 26, 2022-8:15am in Room 103 in the High School.

*** For all ISD PD register on the ISD course where/wisdomwhere site:

https://www.solutionwhere.com/ww/monroeisd/

Adjournment 10:15