Notes+3.18.08

Norms for our work: 1. Check in (4 min)
 * Engage in clear, open, honest communication among team members.
 * Be open to consideration of others’ ideas.
 * Be clear about how we communicate with teams.
 * Communicate the status of ‘items brought by staff.’
 * Balance whole-school perspective with advocacy for learning areas.
 * State clearly how decisions will be made.

Ted shared a story around our engagement work in a senior classroom. Julie relayed that freshmen team have made a plan for frehmen CEP time. Melissa said there was a problem with freshmen registration (art classes) (Brenda said they were fixed.)

2. Decide on notetaker (1 min)

Chris took notes

3. Review notes from last meeting (5 min)

4. Items brought by staff members for the leadership team to consider (10 min)

A) Claire: Feedback about Spirit Week; went well, concerns abut cafeteria, waste from all the paper, etc, not environmentally friendly, things seem to be getting extreme in terms of decorating, kids here late (10 PM). Melissa: maybe students could do a sculpture of non-perishable items? Margaret suggests that next year the class advisors set up times where they are in the cafeteria, maybe set a time limit/guidelines for decorating Julie: might be a good idea to give feedback Spirit Week now that it is fresh in our minds. Need clarity on face/body paint. Melissa: seemed to be a lot of kids floating around Period 4 and it must be difficult for Period 4 teachers Tom: Any way for faculty to give feedback on Spirit Week? Kids asking "oh, we have a test?" this week, complaining that there is work, teachers are expecting students to learn this week...this is different than a few years ago. Julie: there was some feedback yesterday about hearing from faculty, similar to Rick Biskup's comment last week Jodi: Time to work on collaborative inquiry next Friday?

B) Chris: summer work approvals….one month turn around time? Let people know so that they can plan their summers? Ted: He will try to get them back by mid May.

Tuesday May 27th as 11th grade Public Policy practice…will this also be the day they are off because of SAT testing? No, the day off will be Monday May 19th (same day as senior picnic)

Melissa: supervision in the cafe after school, especially among younger classes, she had noticed some bad behaviors (girls sitting on boys' laps; i-Book misuse)

5. Timeline and process for developing master schedule and determining teacher assignments (20 min)

Ted will send out a process/timeline for this work

6. Inservice Day agenda feedbac/ Ted's intentions: 1) LA time 2) whole faculty time 3) Continued work in book groups to finish chapter 5 It was decided that there will be time for faculty (after lunch) to break off and work alone or in small groups on soem of the action steps in chapter 5. (12:15-2:00) Then, there will be sharing in the book groups about what was worked on, what strategies will be tried. ted will develop questions that will frame the work during that time.

Deborah: Needs to be a common understanding among the book groups. Some people in her group are in different places with gathering feedback from students, trying strategies, etc. Melissa: **How do we keep faculty energized about engagement strategies and** **thinking about engagement as part of their normal practice and not just a "check off in the box."** **There needs to be clarity in the purpose.** Lorrie: Getting the feeling that her group is in need of a change of protocol. Ted: We should have a discussion with the whole faculty (after lunch?) about behavioral and cognitive engagement for our students

7. Discussion of engagement work (15 min) Suzanne: Had a discussion with other senior teachers about how to keep seniors engaged in their learning during their senior year, especially after AP Exams. Ted: Could be a summer work proposal