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School Council Agenda/Minutes
North Falmouth School Council
October Agenda
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81229956853?pwd=YjNQMkJtdjhHNzJSNXQ2ZktJblZNdz09
- District Goals Review and School Success Plan
- We will review the 3 main district goals that will inform our SSP this year.
- Presenting school success plans on 10/27
- Equity: A focus on race and equity challenges facing the district.
- Equity as a district and in schools overall
- White fragility book study
- PTO book group
- Woods Hole Partnership
- Establishing a greater partnership with them through PD, curriculum development, and students having opportunities to work in their labs
- COVID interrupted this goal last year, so it remains a district goal for this year
- Digital learning and the 3 models for schooling:
- In-person
- Hybrid
- Remote
- Safety focus was previously on ALICE protocol but due to our current situation, the focus has shifted to digital learning and how we’re supporting students
- “innovation in the moment”
- Grades 3 and 4 teachers are doing both in-person and remote teaching
- K-2 teachers may pivot to both in-person and remote teaching if a student is out for an extended period of time
- Mr. Adams will share a draft of the school success plan prior to 10/27
- Possible elementary level goal can be Fundations? Remains under discussion
- School Reopening Overview
- Still evolving and changing as new situations arise
- New staff added to support in-person learning:
- Due to 6ft distancing in classrooms, additional staff was hired
- Ms. Sarah Murphy - grade 3 teacher
- Ms. Kathreen Mahoney - building assistant (helping with duties)
- Ms. Kristin Taylor - health assistant (at NFE everyday)
- Building substitutes (interviewed, committed to our building, and have been coming in everyday)
- Grade 1 remote teachers based at North Falmouth:
- Ms. Sarah Garceau (responsible for NFE students)
- Ms. Isabella Magro
- Share successes and challenges
- Co-teaching structure and current staffing
- SPED staff are co-teaching → they’re assigned a small cohort and teamed with a grade level teacher and these teachers can switch classrooms
- SPED numbers are growing (new students) so looking to hire 1 SPED teacher to float outside of the co-teach model
- Looking at the TLC program, the previous cohort was ready for more inclusion opportunities; however, new cases continue to move into district so restructuring needs to happen
- Specific discussion on remote learning
- Half days were helpful and eased student anxieties
- Students are happy to be back in school but recess is a bit tough
- Parents were happier with fall remote learning (consistent remote learning schedules)
- Trying to minimize screen time
- Specials were an improvement from spring
- Parent pick up and drop has been going well from parent perspective
- Parent Q: Why don’t older kids have a remote teacher for remote kids?
- Decision was made before we knew how many remote students there would be
- Older students can be more/most independent
- Teachers face challenges teaching both in-person and remote students
- Live stream cameras being tested at school to help the two group of students interact
- 3 check-ins for live instruction
- Number of remote NFE students is estimated to be in the high 30s
- Trend is students returning to in-person learning (none going from in-person to remote learning)
- Increase in positive COVID cases in neighboring towns, but Falmouth remains in green
- Mr. Adams has had people reach out to him in regards to donating warm clothing to students who may be in need
- Outdoor learning spaces
- Parent Q: The creation of outdoor learning spaces has been mostly parent driven, so how are teachers using the outdoor learning spaces?
- Teacher sign out for designated spaces and times
- Mrs. Giardi has been reading stories outside and has done some writing outside
- Mrs. Zychowicz & Mrs. Giardi have taken their classes outside for snack
- Director of the 300 Committee is interested in seeing what teachers need for the outdoor learning spaces
- Exploring options for more permanent tent structures for inclimate weather months (heaters?)
- Parent Concern: Making sure the use of the outdoor learning spaces are equitable and consistent
- Parents respect teacher autonomy
- Designated outdoor PE space (behind staff parking lot)
- Specials in the classroom and/or outside
- November 4th virtual back to school night