Curriculum Council Minutes 12/04/2025

1.  District  

• Jean Foster hosts monthly brainstorm meetings to network with PE/Health teachers. Please contact Jean Foster from the ISD for the virtual meeting link if you are interested.
• New K-12 Health Standards were approved on November 13, 2025. A comparison to the 2007 standards was shared with the group. These are guidelines for local districts, districts still set the curriculum, and parents retain an opt-out right for instruction.

2.  K-12 Communications: High School Topics 

• Leadership update was shared. The group is assisting with Give A Kid A Christmas and the food drive. They also completed a successful Operation Christmas Child initiative, filling 24 boxes to support individuals in need. Additional projects underway include popcorn Fridays, a Senior Acceptance Wall, creating locker signs for student athletes, and recognizing birthdays. In November, the group also organized a Gratitude Gram initiative to send notes of appreciation.
• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates 
  1. Library disposal list was shared with the group. The library will be seeking approval to donate, recycle, and/or dispose of the books as they have not been circulated in multiple years and are either significantly worn or damaged beyond repair.
  2. Math course sequence was shared with the group. In an effort to streamline the math course sequence and provide greater clarity for students and families, a request was reviewed to update the names of some of our existing math classes. The request was reviewed and passed with all in favor.
• Counselor Update - College Month was a success, with many locker signs displayed and numerous prizes awarded during the raffle. The counselors also hosted Coffee with the Counselors and a Pay for College night, both of which were well attended and successful. The ASVAB test will be offered to students on Monday. Scheduling for the second semester is underway, senior seminar presentations will begin soon, and grade level presentations and student check-in meetings are ongoing. Bridges continues to meet twice a month, and Bluestreak Buddies have also been meeting regularly and completing fun activities with their buddy.
• Give a Kid a Christmas is underway, and Student Council will be shopping for gifts in the coming days.
• Caitlin Ryan applied for an apprenticeship wall grant and was awarded the grant. This wall will highlight the trades and promote CTE programs.
• HSSIT meetings have started and have been successful.

 3.   K-12 Communications: Middle School Topics 

• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates 
  1. Literature request (6^thGrade)
     • Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio was reviewed for use in a 6^th grade skills class. Although the book had been approved previously, the exact date of approval was unclear. After reviewing it again, the group agreed to continue approving the book for use in the skills class.
     • Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story was reviewed for use in a 6^th grade skills class. Although the book had been approved previously, the exact date of approval was unclear. During the review, some concerns were raised; however, the group agreed to continue approving the book for use.
     • Helen Keller from Tragedy to Triumph – will be revisited at an upcoming meeting as books were not available to read
• Counselor Update – Student council created a float and will be walking in the Christmas in Ida parade, there was a skating party for 5^th/6^th grade students, and there will be a holiday dance for 7^th/8^th grade students next week.  Students are contributing to the food drive and participating in a dollar war to support Give a Kid a Christmas. Mrs. Butz, along with high school students, will be presenting to 6^th grade classes about the hazards of vaping using the Catch My Breath resource in the coming months. Another Tools for Schools CTE event is scheduled for May, and seventh grade students will be attending a Holocaust field trip in January. The school recently hosted its first mental health fair with several community organizations. Students also completed a bullying survey, and the results are currently being reviewed and followed up on. Counselors and administrators continue to meet with 8^th grade students to ensure they are on track academically and keeping up with their schoolwork.
• Deputy McLaughlin and Mrs. Butz will be giving a presentation to 6^th grade students about online, social media, and phone safety.
• Targeted interventions have been implemented to support students in strengthening their reading and literacy skills in 5^th and 6^th grade.

4.  K-12 Communications: Elementary School Topics 

• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
  1. Really Great Reading supplemental resource was shared with the group. This is a resource funded by the state with grant funds and will be available for intervention and small group instruction for the next three years.
• Counselor Update – none given
• The Give a Kid a Christmas cereal collection is ongoing, and the domino event will take place on Friday. Music therapy classes are being held twice a month in Mrs. Quick’s class and will culminate with a performance in the spring. The 4^th grade leadership group held a successful sock drive for Oaks of Righteousness. Additionally, three 4^th grade students traveled to Lansing to participate in the MACUL Student Showcase, where they demonstrated their coding skills and various robotics activities. 
• Young 5’s – 4^th grade students will be participating in an in-school Holiday Music performance next week. The performance will be recorded and shared on the school website and YouTube page.
• The school is hosting a 12 days of Christmas dress up days for the next 12 days until Christmas break.
• The PTA Santa Workshop will be running next week.

5.  Parent Group Report 

• Parent Group update was not shared; however, many events are coming up such as Santa’s Workshop, holiday grams, Dine to Donate events, and Book Fairs. The parent group also provided food for teachers during conferences.

6.  Upcoming Student Events 

• Knabusch Math and Science Center Field Trips are available. New spring dates will be offered in January.
• MathCounts competition is in February
• You be the Solution Challenge (5^th-8^th grade) will be on February 26^th for teams of 3-4 students. 
• Monroe County Science Challenge for 3^rd-4^th grade students will be on March 2^nd-3^rd  
• Quiz Bowl season is underway. In person tournaments will be:
  1. 7^th Grade Tournament-Wednesday, March 4^th
  2. 8^th Grade Tournament-Thursday, March 5^th
  3. High School Tournament-Friday, March 6^th 
• Monroe County Authors’ Program will take place during the month of March
• Monroe County Spelling Bee will be on Thursday, April 9^th for 5^th-8^th grade students

7. Assessment Updates 

• NWEA/STAR Reading, K-4 will begin at the beginning of January 
• Fall 2025 PSAT/NMSQT testing went well. Scores came back and have been shared with counselors and students. 
• Spring 2026 Testing Windows:
  1. 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, 7^thGrade M-Step
     • ELA-April 6^th-May 15^th
     • Math-April 6^th-May 15^th 
  2. 5^thGrade M-Step
     • ELA-April 6^th-May 15^th
     • Math-April 6^th-May 15^th
     • Science-April 6^th-May 15^th
     • Social Studies-April 6^th-May 15^th 
  3. 8^thGrade 
     • PSAT 8-April 6^th-30^th
     • Science M-Step-April 6^th-May 15^th
     • Social Studies M-Step-April 6^th-May 15^th 
  4. 9^thGrade
     • PSAT 9-April 6^th-30^th (*tentatively April 9^th)
  5. 10^thGrade
     • PSAT 10-April 6^th-30^th (*tentatively April 9^th)
  6. 11^thGrade
     • SAT-April 6^th-30^th (*tentatively April 10^th)
     • WIN Work Readiness-April 6^th-May 1^st (*tentatively April 9^th)
     • Science M-Step-April 6^th-May 15^th
     • Social Studies M-Step-April 6^th-May 15^th 

8. Professional Development Opportunities 

• Next PD Day is January 19^th, if you have any suggestions or topics in mind, please let Sarah Ash know.
• Michigan Music Conference – January 22^nd-24^th in Grand Rapids
• Michigan Career Education Conference – January 25^th-27^th in Grand Rapids
• Michigan Science Teachers Association Annual Conference – March 5^th-7^th in Kalamazoo
• Michigan Reading Association Annual Conference-March 6^th-8^th in Lansing
• MACUL Annual Conference – March 18^th-20^th in Grand Rapids
• 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

9. Future Meetings

• Next meeting February 26, 2026-8:15 a.m. in the Middle School Library. 

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

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

Adjournment 10:15