|
|
|||||||||
|
Meetings
are all held in the Media Center
7:00-8:30 |
|
(Latest Issues/Parent
Postings/etc) 2003-2004 MSAC Parent survey results – This will drive the Agenda for this year’s MSAC meetings. Our first meeting will be focused on prioritizing which issues should be worked first. Thanks to all who helped put together the survey. We had approx 50% participation!
|
|
|
o
March
10 meeting will be a curriculum workshop for parents to share any curriculum issues
with the new curriculum director Mr. Bing. o
Parents
are encouraged to prepare questions in advance & send them to chairman
Patrick McNelis ( pdjmcnelis@goes.com) for consolidation. o
Next
Meeting 1.
April
7, 2004 2. Topics-Mid-marking period grade
process |
Back to Top of Page
|
|
|
June 2, 2004:T. Purnell, P. McNelis-Chairman, C. Russo-Co-Chairman,
Parents, Teachers Parents, Teachers, and Administration worked together to create a Parent Survey. We all decided to sponsor a raffle to encourage participation. All surveys would be collected by the homeroom teachers and delivered to the office. Additionally, it was decided to that the MSAC would be responsible to tabulate results and distribute to BOE, Faculty, & all MSAC Parents. February 25, 2004:T. Purnell, L. Nittel, P. McNelis-Chairman, C. Russo-Co-Chairman,
Parents, Teachers GMRSD: Mr. Nittel reviewed with the parents the 8th
grade pre-GEPA assessments and the 5th, 6th, 7th
S-Test Assessments. Mr. Nittel also
reviewed with the parents that there would be special ‘After School GEPA Prep’
work sessions scheduled over the next couple of weeks. o
Discussion: §
Hackettstown – One parent noted that the freshman math teacher in Hackettstown HS
had mentioned that our freshman class seems to be doing fine. §
Next year’s 8th grade – A suggestion was made that we schedule a
special S-test for the 8th grade in late November 2004 to ensure
that we identify any areas that still need improvement before the March 2005
8th grade GEPA’s. The
parents felt that after that time, the remainder of the grades would be
monitored annually. §
7th Grade S-Tests Ø
IMaST-
Based on the S-test results, several parents raised concern of the
effectiveness of the IMaST program. It was noted that the current 7th
grade students have been in the IMaST program for 1½ years. Test results included 47.4% Partial Proficient in
Math and 44.3% Partial Proficient in science. Mr. Nittel indicated that these results were low because the
test was given in the beginning of the year.
Mr. Purnell mentioned plans to test all grades at the end of the year
during the GEPA week. §
Math Program – One parent noted that we should contact a math representative in
Livingston to discuss successful programs.
§
GEPA Practice Books – Mr. Purnell & Mr. Nittle shared with the
parents the GEPA practice book. This
practice book comes free with the tests each year but had not been shared
with teachers in the past. This year
the free practice books were distributed to the teachers to ensure that they
are covering the required information.
They will also be making sure that the students are familiar with the
GEPA test formats. §
GEPA Web Site - The GEPA website is posted on the MSAC website for parents. This web site is designed to help students
prepare for the GEPA. www.njpep.org/assessment/Testspecs/index.html o
Next
Meeting – Scheduled for March 10, 2004 at 7:00. §
The
meeting is going to be a workshop on the GMMS Curriculum in which our new
curriculum director, Mr. Bing will be present to understand parents questions
& concerns. §
In
advance, all parents are encouraged to forward questions to me in advance
& I will organize them for Mr. Bing.
Send your questions to: pdjmcnelis@goes.com. o
November 12, 2003:T. Purnell, Dr. T. Severns, Chairman, Co-Chairman,
Parents o
GMRSD Quality Assurance Annual Report: Dr. T. Severns,
Superintendent reviewed and discussed the annual report which focused on some
of the disappointing trends. Much
discussion centered around areas of improvement and the need for an
evaluation tool to highlight student skills vs. core curriculum
standards. o
Discussion: §
How do we secure methods for evaluation – Tim & Tracy
discussed with parents their recommendation to use prior year tests for 4th
& 8th grades. The 8th
grade would be given the GEPA (Math/Science/Language Art) tests before
Thanksgiving & then manually graded by the teachers. Remaining grades, 3,5,6, &7 were going
to be given a new test format, ‘S-Tests by Standardized Test Scoring Co’
before year-end (Pending BOE approval).
These tests actually determine what skill level the student is
performing in relation to the core curriculum standards, which provide the
teachers and administration with targeted information for all student on
where improvement needs to be made. §
Parent Question-IMAST -How do we determine is IMAST is working? Tim & Tracy both commented that if the
test results show deficiencies based, then an evaluation & course of
action will be taken in early January. §
Parent Question-7th & 8th Grade-Parents expressed concern
about being able to address deficiencies for 8th and 7th
grade students? Tim & Tracy both
assured that they are aware of the importance of addressing potential
deficiencies and will be developing strategies with the 8th &
7th grade teams, as well as all other grades as soon as the
results are available. They are
expecting to have the 8th grade results some time in December. The
7th grade, as well as all other grade, results should be available
in early January. Once available they
will be addressing all deficiencies immediately. o
Closing- Parents asked for a status update at the next MSAC meeting and
encouraged Tim & Tracy for the action they were pursuing and ensured them
that they would support their action at the next BOE meeting if required. |
|
o
October 5, 2003:T. Purnell, Chairman, Teachers, Co-Chairman, Parents o
T. Purnell reviewed all new changes that have been implemented for
the 2003-2004 school year. §
Reviewed Background – Principal Purnell reviewed his experience and desire
to work with parents while principal stressing that this year begins with a
clean slate. §
2003-2004 Goals – Mr. Purnell shared with the parents his goals for the school year,
which mainly focus on improving math & language art proficiencies. §
Class Schedule-Reviewed how the modified block schedule works for each grade. Specifically, how the activity schedule
works for each grade, which centers around fewer choices for the lower grades
with more flexibility for the older grades. Also, how the language program is
scheduled. §
Math & Language Arts- Mr. Purnell reviewed with the parents that
beginning this year that an additional math and language arts classes have
been added to help improve the basics involved with both of these curriculum
subjects. §
Bully Hotline - A new feature has been added to the schools automated phone
system. Just enter extension ‘900’
and leave an anonymous message. o
Open Issues-Parents raised the following issues to be addressed at
all subsequent MSAC meetings § Books – There are not enough math & social studies books for the 5th grade students. Mr. Purnell said he would follow-up on this. §
Parent Questionnaire-Discussion centered on the low response. Parents suggested that we split into two
separate exercises. The first rename
to “PARENT RESOURCE BASE” and mail home with students. The second make anonymous and send out in
January after the winter break. §
Schedule-Parents suggested that on the GMRSD website, post which days an A
& B so that if there doubt, parents can refer to the website easily. §
General: Attendance Policy §
Curriculum 1.
IMAST-Many
general questions were raised with much discussion around the DAPIC. Most parents felt it was too subjective in
the way it was applied & graded. 2.
Activity
Period 3.
Individualized
homework to re-enforce skills learned that day vs. rote & busy work. 4.
Foreign
language 5.
Discipline: · Lunch detentions-Detentions given to all students may not be the best use of this discipline especially when only a few students are the cause. · Why are lunch detentions issued by teachers? Instead of focusing on the negative aspects, can we try to stress POSITIVE REWARDS for good behavior. |
|
o
March 5, 2003: D. Festante, J. Alercia, Chairman, Parents o
Reviewed
preliminary Budget #’s o
Discussed
new opportunity to partner with company to try a new “Phone Broadcast”
product, which would allow school to contact all parents regarding
emergencies, school closings, & important meeting notices. Also discussed to fact that each message
will carry a short advertisement for sponsor. Parents all reacted positively. o
Discussed
a new program with AT&T that parents that sign up with AT&T as there
long-distance carrier, monies would be credited to their local school
district. Parents all reacted
positively. Agreed to hold next meeting after the School Budget election to discuss and fall out issues from the budget process. |
|
Jan. 23, 2003: J. Alercia, D.
Festante, K. Jinx, Teachers, Chairman, Co-Chairman, Parents o
Review & Update on past meeting issues. §
Class Size-Is being looked into for next year’s 5th & 8th
grade. No other classes seem to be an issue. §
Class Time – Longer time for the core subjects is being looked into. A modified Block schedule is being
considered which would place complementing subjects back to back giving the
teachers flexibility to use extra time when needed. All core subjects would be taught throughout the full year. o
New Item: Curriculum §
Language Arts - Specifically writing, grammar and the meaning of words. Mrs. Jinx agreed with the parents that our
children are lacking writing skills.
It was brought up that the 5th grade book reports consist
of a mask, gift box, and poster. We’d
prefer that they have to write different types of creative essays. Many children are getting good grades in Language
Arts because of their projects, but they can’t write. §
Math-The
parents agree our children are good mathematical thinkers due to Chicago Math
but they are concerned about the basics.
Examples were given where A & B students were not able to handle
basic math skills. We learned that
Chicago is based on 90-minute periods vs. our 38-minute periods. §
Social Studies – The parents would to see more taught about local government,
(Mayor, councilman, board of ed, etc), our community which is rich in history
and our country, and less about other world countries (Africa, Egypt, India,
….) §
Projects – The parents do not like projects in general and especially group
projects in core subjects. Their
observations included: One student ends up doing the majority of the work,
the amount of time put in does not outweigh the benefit, can be costly, we
need to focus more on the basics and facts and less on creativity. §
Technology
– We don’t want to see our technology labs and instruction get out
dated. It was made clear that it is a
strong focus for the 2003-2004 school budget. o
New Item: School Budget § Parents discussed the importance of passing the new budget and writing letters to our Governor about funding. www.NJ Office of the Governor-James E. McGreevy.com [Click on contact info on top, go to bottom and click on contact us, click on Governor’s Office and a form will be there to email him.] |
|
Nov. 26, 2002: Attendance-C. Yeager, J. Alercia, D. Festante,
Chairman, Co-Chairman, Parents o
Class Size: o
Reviewed
projections of where there would be “Middle School Class Bubbles” over the
next 4 years based on current Liberty & Central enrollment. Noticed that the current 7th grade
will continue to be a “bubble class” next year and then the upcoming 5th
grade would be a “Bubble Class” throughout their Middle School experience. o
Discussed
impact & options. Parents suggested
that we need to address in order to make sure that we don’t allow any class
to exceed 22-23 students per class. o
Mr.
Yeager, Mr. Alercia, & Mr. Festante said they would take the parents
advice into consideration during the 2003-2004 School Budget process. o
Class Time: o
Parents
raised concern that the current class time of 38 minutes is not sufficient to
due justice on all core subjects. o Parents made several suggestions regarding how the school could get more time dedicated to core subjects. Mr. Festante and Mr. Alercia both said that they would discuss with teachers to see if they could make adjustments in the 2003-2004 school year. |
|
Oct. 1, 2002: Mr. Festante, Mr. Alercia, parents o
Kick-off
meeting for 2002-2003 School Year. o
Gave
Mr. Festante and Mr. Alercia the background of the Middle School Advisory
Committee (MSA): o
The
Beginning o
Our
Goal/Mission Statement o
Review
of 2001-2002 Open Issues. o
Mr.
Festante recommended that we fold the MSA under the PATHS umbrella. |
|
|
|
Great Meadows School Is Patriotic !!! |