Garden Elementary School Advisory Council Minutes

January 25, 2005

 

Present – Emile Quinn

Teachers – Debbie Flamion for Anne Feely, Barb Henschell, Susan Ionescu, Gabrielle O’Berry, Robbie Thomas

Classified – Kim Tubbesing

Community – Jack Shultz, Dot Moore

Parents – Karen Blackburn, Gary Gray, Mollee McFarlane, Sandra Ryan, Anita Weber

Absent –Terri Ramey

 

1) Welcome – Gabrielle O’Berry welcomed SAC members and started the meeting at 3:00 PM.

 

2) Budget – The budget was presented. There were no new budget items. The balance remains at $7,856.82.

 

3) SAC Project –

Garden Family Night – January 13, 2005 – There were approximately 50 families in attendance. The storyteller session went well. Discussion was held to brainstorm ways to bring more families in. A concern was raised about the number of children taking AR tests and the number of computers potentially available.

 

For the next Family Night on February 10, 2005, from 3:30 – 7:30 PM:

SAC members agreed that an incentive (i.e.…homework pass, 1 AR point, etc…) to bring more families in on Feb. 10 should be tried. It was decided that a “Homework Pass” would be given to each child who attends. Passes will be given as families sign in.

Gabrielle O’Berry will send a flyer out the first week in February. Homeroom parents will be asked to call families to invite them to the event. Kathy Rule will be paid to run the Media Center from 3:30 – 7:30 PM. We will ask staff to volunteer to help students take AR tests and work the sign-in table (Barb Henschell).

Staff members will be asked to read a story, poems, etc…. The Primary time will be from 5:30 – 6:00. The Intermediate time will be from 6:00 – 6:30 PM. Mrs. Skow and Mrs. Bendix previously volunteered and will be asked if they would like to be our featured readers. We will ask for Intermediate teachers to volunteer.

Gary Gray (5:00 PM), Karen Blackburn (3:30), Mollee McFarlane (5:30 PM), and Sandy Ryan (4:30 PM) have volunteered to assist as needed. Emile Quinn will get the popcorn supplies ready. Robbie Thomas will make popcorn. Gabrielle O’Berry will get soda/water from Kash-N-Karry, thanks to Jack Shultz. (Carol Kopp will be contacted to see if a donation of water can be made).

A parent workshop will be held in the Science Lab at 6:30 called “Getting to Know Your Child: Thinking and Memory Skills.”

 

 

4) SuccessMaker Report – Susan Van Alstine presented data to show members how the morning computer lab SAC project, which was initiated last year, was progressing. AIP and ESE students in first through fifth grades were invited to participate by logging onto an individualized learning program, SuccessMaker, from 7:45 to 8:15 AM Monday through Friday. A total of 62 students are taking advantage of this program. There is a direct correlation between the number of hours a student works on SuccessMaker and success on the FCAT test. Emile Quinn stated that 20 – 30 hours of SuccessMaker means one year’s academic growth. Students are being rewarded with prizes for their attendance and effort.

 

5) FCAT Packs – SAC members put the FCAT packs into large envelopes. These will be distributed to 3rd – 5th grade team leaders. Teachers are asked to hand out the packs just before the testing window as an incentive for their students to tackle and beat the FCAT!

 

6) 2005-2006 Budget – Emile Quinn reported that he should be receiving the projected budget by March. It does not look like we will be adding any more teaching units. The projected enrollment looks like it will remain consistent with this school year (650 – 660). Garden will most likely not receive the funds to build an addition. This addition would help to eliminate having so many children being taught in portables. 50% of the population is housed in portables.

 

7) Other – Mollee McFarlane suggested that Garden Elementary have a “Welcome New Families” time or activity. She explained that she wished she could have had a chance to meet with teachers and staff members all at one meeting time to ask questions about her children’s new school. Emile Quinn suggested a “Welcome Bag” or “Welcome to Garden Tea.” Anita Weber and Mollee McFarlane volunteered to work with the staff to come up with something for the 2005-6 school year. Emile Quinn will address this at the February 1 Faculty Meeting.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 PM.

 

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 @ 3:00 PM

Front Conference Room