Issaquah Middle School Council Minutes

November 20, 2003

 

Approval of Minutes

            Minutes from the October 23 School Council Meeting were approved as submitted. 

 

Parent/Community Comments

            Ron Thiele was asked why there were still early dismissal days scheduled for students with the Learning Improvement Calendar.  He explained that these are in the teacher’s contract for report writing/grading days. 

            Nancy Campi reported that the Issaquah High School Site Council was looking at changing the format for their Curriculum Night to be like ours.  She asked for feedback on how teachers and parents liked the format.  It was shared that feedback from parents and teachers was mostly all positive.  They seemed to like having the evening move along faster and getting the parents where they want to be which is in the classrooms and not in the gym listening to speeches.    

           

Old Business

            Pat Randall introduced Margaret Brown as the fourth Team Leader Staff Representative to School Council.

            Teams discussed the effect of earlier bell times on student learning and they shared feedback.  Students say they are very sleepy in the mornings, most staff feel it has had a big impact, staff feel that after school meetings make the day too long if they have to wait for elementary teachers who have a later dismissal time, time for parent meetings before school is shortened, they feel more tired in general, students seem to have more tardies in the morning, many students are bringing in lattes (caffeine), some teachers are spending class time doing “wake up” activities before starting lessons, students in the last class of the day seem very tired as opposed to last year when they were very active during last period, students say they are not eating  breakfast as there is no time, there is not enough time to get homework completed as after school activities are at the same time but bedtime is earlier.  Buses are not getting students home any earlier even though school is getting out earlier.

 

New Business

            Pat requested a volunteer representative from school council to the District Bell Time Committee.  Marianne Kersten volunteered.

            Ron discussed the building budget.  He is looking at increasing the library and the subject area team allocations fairly significantly.  He is also looking at setting aside money for subject area tutoring after school.  He asked teams to prioritize their tech needs so some of these needs can be provided for.  Ron will bring the proposed budget to the next council meeting.

 

Team Reports

6th Grade

None

7th Grade

Kurt Wieland reported that the seventh grade field trip to the ballet went very well.

8th Grade

            The eighth grade team is discussing ideas for a field trip.

 

Special Needs

            The team is also discussing ideas for a field trip.

 

Classified Staff

            None

 

ASB Report

            Adopt-A-Child will run through December 12.  We have adopted 50 children in the Juanita area.

            The Husky/Cougar food drive is going on this week.

 

PTSA Report

            The student directory should be distributed next week.

            “Parents, Teens & the Law” was mailed to homes of middle and high school students.  The PTSA will be printing extras for the staff and the building.

 

District Liaison Report

 None

           

Community Center

            The Community Center has obtained permission to let outside organizations sponsor middle school dances at the center as fundraiser events. 

 

FYI – Ron Thiele

November 21             Student of the Month Celebration

November 21             Panther Press Deadline

November 25             Lock Down Drill – Period 1

November 25             Staff Meeting 2:15

November 25             Band Concert 7:00 p.m.

November 27 & 28               No School – Thanksgiving Holiday

December 1                          End of Tri I – Students dismissed at 10:26 a.m.

December 5 & 6                   Theatre Production 7:00 p.m.

December 9                          Chorus Concert 7:00 p.m.

December 11                        Team Leader Meeting 2:15 p.m.

December 12                        Activity Day

December 12 & 13               Theatre Production 7:00 p.m.

December 18                        School Council Meeting 2:15 P.M.

December 19                        Student of the Month Celebration

December 19                        Staff Meeting 2:15 p.m.

December 22–January 2     First Winter Break – No School

 

Other

            Gatekeeper for the next meeting will be Brian DeBroux.

 

Next meeting will be December 18, 2003 at 2:15 p.m.