Friday, November 22, 2013

November 21, 2013 Minutes

Lehi Elementary School Community Council
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013

Meeting Minutes
Welcome and Pledge of Allegiance

In Attendance- Joel Miller, Susan Archibald, Lance Madigan, Liz Ash, Gayle Christensen, Brittany Gray,  Amy Grace, Rae Garn, Coryn Oaks, Cathleen Tronson,  Bryn Brown

Good things- 
  • Veterans Assembly
  • Fundraiser
  • Knowledge Bowl
  • New Gifted and Talented program
  • Double Dosing
  • Great parent volunteers
Items Discussed-
  • Voting on Sept. 26 minutes and Rules of Order and Procedure
  • A motion was made by Susan Archibald and seconded by Rae Garn to approve last meetings minutes.  A motion was made by Susan Archibald and seconded by Liz Ash to approve and accept the Rules of Order and Procedure.  Both motions were given a unanimous vote of approval.
  • Test Scores and Data Presentation (Mr. Miller)
    • Review of data graphs for Language Arts, Science, and Math CRT scores
    • What did we see? 
      • As a school, the students are making steady improvement in all areas. 
      • The most noticeable improvement came in science over the course of 5 years. 
    • This year a new testing model will be used called SAGE. 
  • The new common core is raising the bar in all areas. 
  • An effort is being made by the faculty to observe best practice ideas from those on their grade level team and also between grade levels.  This observation is taking place during music rotations. 
  • DRA-
    • There has been a steady climb in the DRA scores as a school.  One exception was noted in the 6th grade.  They were not given the DRA 3 times in 2012-2013 school year, so the 6th grade data was somewhat off. 
    • Now, all grades will take the DRA test 3 times each year.  The DRA assessment shows the reading level of each student at certain times throughout the school year. 
    • By using the CRT score data and DRA score data we can better understand which kids are proficient in which areas and which kids need help in certain areas.
  • DWA-This is a writing assessment given to 5th grade only.  From 2010-2013 we see a positive climb in writing scores. This is in part due to:
    • Teachers have learned better ways to teach writing.
    • Lower grades are teaching more writing so kids are coming to 5th grade more prepared with better writing skills
    • We are working to establish a school wide writing rubric so that the writing skills taught in each grade level will support each other.
  • Double Dosing-is working great.  The teachers are seeing improvement in student abilities. 
  • Greatest Academic Need-
    • Continue Double Dosing
    • Continue and expand Gifted and Talented program
    • Add more teacher training
  • Concerns: 
    • Some kids cannot make it to double dosing.  Suggestions were made to make parents aware of other programs either during school or at home that could give the kid extra help.  For example:  RAZ Kids, IXL, Latino’s in Action, Community Literacy Center, parent volunteers.  
Adjourned

Thursday, November 14, 2013

November 21, 2013 Agenda

Lehi Elementary School Community Council
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Library 3:30 pm


1. Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance

2. Celebrate Good Things

3. Voting on Sept. 26th minutes & Rules of Order and Procedure

4. Test Scores & Date (Principal Miller)

5. Greatest Academic Need—continuing double dosing and gifted &talented programs

6. Questions or Concerns

7. Upcoming Meetings
   **January 23rd, February 20th and March 20th at 3:30 pm.

8. Adjourn

Thank you for attending! We appreciate your time and input to make our school better.

Friday, September 27, 2013

September 26, 2013 Minutes

Lehi Elementary School Community Council
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013

Meeting Minutes
Welcome
In attendance- Joel Miller, Susan Archibald, Lance Madigan, Liz Ash, Gayle Christensen, Brittany Gray,  Amy Grace, Cathleen Turner, Missy Zeller, Paul Hancock

Good Things-

  • Science lab, goal date Oct. 21
  • Carnival, Profits of $3000
  • Food Drive sponsored by Lehi High School.  Our school is doing the best.
  • Voting Officers:  Susan Archibald-Chair
  • Brittany Gray-Secretary
  • Voting members are as follows-Shara Call, Rae Garn, Brittany Gray, Lance Madigan, Liz Ash, Gayle Christensen
  • Brittany Gray was nominated for Secretary by Susan Archibald and Gayle Christensen seconded the motion.  

Items discussed-

  • 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades applying for Tech grant to get Google Mobile Computer Lab-Chrome Books
  • Fall School Fundraiser-Lemon Drop Lane
  • Spring Fundraiser-Cookie Dough
  • Review of current use of TLF
    • New math double dosing
    • Writing rubric
  • Next Year’s Plan-
    • Double dosing to continue, hopefully the district will match funds.  Are we seeing the improvement we want?  Is the district seeing this also?
    • Emphasis on technology
      • Chrome books
      • Learning keyboarding skills
  • Also discussed ways to incorporate some Gifted and Talented areas
    • Mrs. Lish –GT
    • Spelling Bee
    • Battle of the Books
    • Great American Award
  • Timeline-Nov. 15-Stakeholder Report
    • Apr. 4, 2014 –Trust Land Plan and School Improvement plan due
  • Meeting Dates
    • Nov. 21, 2013
    • Jan. 23, 2014
    • Feb. 20, 2014
    • Mar. 20, 2014

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

September 26, 2013 Agenda

Lehi Elementary School Community Council
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Conference Room 3:30 pm

1.    Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance

2.    Celebrate Good Things

3.    Announcement  & Voting of Officers

4.    Rules of Order and Procedure

5.    Report on the use of Trust Land Funds

6.    Briefly discuss next year’s plan

7.    Questions or Concerns

8.     Calendar of Upcoming Meetings
**There is a State Wide Training on October 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Mountain View High in Orem.

9.    Adjourn



Thank you for attending! We appreciate your time and input to make our school better.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

September 11, 2013 Minutes

Lehi Elementary School Community Council

Wednesday, September 11, 2013
3:30 pm—school conference room


Meeting called to vote to add an amendment to the 2013 – 2014 plan; due to extra money being given to the school and Principal Miller was made aware of some carry over from last year.

In attendance:  Principal Miller, Gayle Christensen, Liz Ash, Susan Archibald, Missy Zeller, Lance Madigan, Alicia Cutler, Rae Garn, Amy Grace, Coryn Oaks, Cathleen Tronson, Teresa Gonzalez.

Our school was given an increase of $7,848 and we had a carryover of $1,455 from last year.  In total we have $9,303 to be used.

The amendment to the plan proposed that we use $4,548 to add an additional teacher for math double dosing for 1st and 2nd grades.  It was also proposed that an aide be hired to work 15 hours a week in 2nd, 5th and 6th grades.  The cost of the aide would be $4,182 for hourly work, the rest of the money would go for benefits for the aide.  There would also need to be some school funds used to pay these as well.
The council was informed that the following teachers are teaching double dosing for our school: 

Reading:                                                         Math:
1st - 2nd      Mrs. Ferre                      1st – 2nd    Mrs. Farnsworth
3rd – 4th      Ms. Burton                     3rd – 4th    Mrs. Thomason
5th – 6th     Mrs. Christensen            5th – 6th    Mrs. Sloan

A motion was made by Missy Zeller to amend the current plan with the above plan and was seconded by Alicia Cutler. 

A question was made about how the kids feel about the double dosing and if they feel bad about themselves for needing extra help.  The teachers said they enjoy it and they have seen improvements.  One parent said her daughter thought of it as a reading club and enjoyed going each morning.  It was clarified that once a student reaches benchmark for their grade level, they are moved out and another student fills that spot. 

Another parent wanted to know if using aides and teachers is the best way to spend the money or if the teachers need more materials.  The teachers at our meeting said they are fine on materials and would rather have the extra help.

A vote was taken and all in attendance voted “yea”. There were no “nays” and no abstains.

Next meeting to be held Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 3:30 pm in the school conference room.