QES PSSC Meeting

September 30, 2013

Quispamsis Elementary School
Parent School Support Committee / September 30, 2013
7:00PM
Staff Room
Chair:
Vice-Chair:
Principal: / Barbara Creamer / 847-6207 /
Faculty Member: / Cheryl Stiles / 847-6207 /
Members: / Connie Culligan /
Deborah Irvine-Anderson / 216-0787 /
Erin Allison /
Jen Roberts / 847-1777 /
Kris McGrath / 343-1744 /
Krista Kraitzek /
Lis Trites / 848-2979 /
Renee Cheng /
Absent / Sarah Richards / 849-1474 /
Steve Roberts / 847-0625 /
Absent / Tom Snodgrass / 847-1711 /
Tracy Duffy / 849-4865 /
DEC Liason: / Roger Nesbitt /
AGENDA Minutes
  1. Welcome New and Returning Members

  1. Approval of Agenda

  1. Approval of Minutes from May 27, 2013
/ All Approved
  1. Business Arising from the minutes
/ None
  1. Overview of September school start-up: drop-off zone, Facebook page, Medical Plans, Fire & Emergency Plan
/ School start up:Was fairly smooth transition in Sept. 503 students (as of Nov) which is bang on what was estimated. Glitch with buses as there was no communication of bus changes to parents OR schools. Staff processed 65 chg forms and focused solely on bus duty and getting students to the right destination for the first 2 days. Feedback was sent to district office about the need to communicate to parents / schools in advance. District website was incorrect. Transition went well – no students were lost. Mme Stiles suggested for next year to have Kindergarten teachers to ride home on the bus the first week to help identify / resolve any mixups on the spot and to reassure parents of the focuson student transportation safety for kids entering school for the first time.
Facebook page: Need to make an announcement to direct new families to QES Families Facebook page. This site serves as a communication vehicle for parents / guardians. It is admin’d by PSSC members who control membership and monitor content.
Medical emergency plans: All forms are complete. Teachers on duty wear vests and carry emergency bags that include a junior epi pen and radio as well as laminated photo and protocol cards for each student with life threatening allergies or seizure.
Meet the teacher night: suggestions for improving experience for next school year include:
-having 2 nights, one for Primary and one for Elementary (to avoid heavy traffic)
-eliminate meeting in the gym – share announcements through intercom while families are in classroom.
-Stagger start times – k-2 start at one time and 3-5 an hour later to help eliminate congestion
-Have teachers call and leave a voicemail to introduce themselves and share where their classroom will be located. Can communicate that students can bring their supplies (this was inconsistent this year).
-Send voicemail 2 weeks prior to “meet the teacher night” and give a reminder to parents to visit the school website for information.
-Revisit best practices for this in May for Sept 2014
  1. Overview of recent PSSC achievements
/ Reviewed
  1. DEC sponsored PSSC Orientation Day – Oct. 5th 9:30 – 2:30
/ Planning to Attend: Jen, Erin, Krista, Connie, Renee
  1. School Improvement Plan – Core Leaderships Goal
/ Core leadership is working on a 3 year documents. One area that needs work is Math. Team will spend time this fall to come up with strategies on how to reach the goals, and what actions to take to meet these goals. Numeracy / Literacy – would like to see more direction on mental fitness. Others strategies avail include 7 Habits program, Superflex, Self Esteem
  1. Classroom Configuration
/ Classes are not nearly full. Optimum class sizes
  1. Play Place Update
/ Meeting will be held with Zoe Watson on Oct 2nd – this topic tabled to next meeting
  1. Universal Design for Learning
* Oct 10 & 11 PD
* Learning Profiles
* Benchmark Assessments
* Professional Growth Plan alignment – School & District Goals / Learning profiles are individual profiles that help identify styles the child learns best. Grouping begins after Thanksgiving once teachers have had time to assess and get to know the kids.
  1. Community SchoolCoordinator
/ Tabled to Oct Meeting
  1. Educational Support Teachers - Model
*Literacy
*Resource
*Math
Any other business:
Meeting Dates:
October ___28th__, November _25th___, December __x____, January ___27th_, February ___24th_,
March ___31st___, April __14th_, May ___26th_, June __16th – Dinner TBD__
Potential Items for future meetings: