FORUM
MINUTES
Tuesday
December 9, 2003
PRESENT:
Cara
Beames, Deb Beck, Carol Heller, Dave Eagle, Linda Kissane, Sue Mellon, MaryAnn
Gipson, Nick Round, Patricia Dow, Nicole Tearno, Margaret Jones, Tom Dittus
ABSENT:
Cathy Stanilka
Cara Beames opened the meeting at 2:45 and welcomed new parent
representative Tom Dittus.
Patricia Dow presented an overview of the Community Cares program.
The program originally was started by District Attorney Kate Hogan and
would include all students, at all levels (including at-risk, high-end and
“kids in the middle”). A
framework was set at the county level with each community setting its own goals
and priorities. Presently communities in the area that have groups include
Warrensburg – which is working on substance abuse after a fatal accident
occurred, Queensbury in which students are leading the effort, and Greenwich
which unit was organized after a fatal accident a few year ago.
The Lake George unit is trying to get something going before something
fatal or disastrous happens. So
far, the group has been very active by sponsoring group question and answer
meetings, Battle of the Bands, community boat ride and other events.
One large request has been to form a community center and another has
been to add more children activities to the Winter Carnival, rather than so many
adult events. Ideas and activities
that were suggested in a recent student survey (and are being looked into and/or
planned in the near future) include ice-skating, bowling, movie nights, and pool
nights. The group meets the last
Monday of the month from 7-8 p.m. at the Town Hall, except this month on
Tuesday, December 16th. The
county plans to have a link added to their website to list activities in the
community.
Debbie Beck reported on the Middle Level meetings.
Presently the committee has developed four sub-committees:
§
Resource/Study Skills (which is
working on finding more time for study skills)
§
Academic Intervention Support (AIS)
(which is working on finding time for math support groups)
§
Social Transitions and Needs
(orientation went well at the year end last year and will be continued this year
along with a junior high/6th level dance)
§
Scheduling Committee for 7/8th
levels (to find more time for support and more time in CORE classes.)
Next full meeting in January.
New Business
Cara reported that she talked with Mr. Levin about the new traffic zone
on Canada Street, which is supposed to go into effect.
A small change still needs to be done with the Board of Education, which
should be completed by early spring.
Dave reported that new Guest Authorization Release Forms for students to
bring guests to junior/senior high dances has been drawn up (a copy is attached
to these minutes). He also reported
that a new sign welcoming visitors to our school (with directions to the main
office for signing in) is being made for the main hall.
Mary Ann Gipson reported that Effective Schools’ “Word of the
Month” program will be picked up after the first of the year.
The Talent Show is being planned right now, with auditions planned for
Tuesday and Thursday next week.
Nikki Tearno reported that Student Council is working on Christmas
charities including a nursing home and House of Allison fundraisers.
They are presently working on revising their web page and encouraging
students to attend the Communities that Care meetings.
Other Feedback
§
Question:
What can we at LGHS do to help students better prepare for college goals
and career searches? Dave reported that an alumni visitation day is being planned
for the week after vacation.
§
Question:
Could we ease the 9th grade load by exchanging Earth Science
with Biology. Dave reported that we
have discussed that question, as Earth Science has more problem solving and
Biology is more memorization. Older
students may do better at problem solving, but with the 2-year Earth Science, we
have been very successful with the Regents.
About 50% of other schools teach Biology first, but at this point we will
continue with Earth Science first.
§
Question: Should 10th
period be included in the regular day? Dave
reported that 9th period is the official end of the school day unless
a student is requested by a teacher to stay for extra help.
10th period may also be used as an extra period to make up
classes, for getting extra help, detention and for activities.
This wording will be added to the Student Handbook next year.
10th period ends at 3:15.
§
Question:
Could a class on organizational skills be offered at the 9th
grade level? Dave mentioned time
might be better spent in conjunction with another area as a part of a specific
assignment rather than an isolated course.
§
Question about a special reading
period such as the one program we had several years ago was raised.
A discussion evolved around the fact that many students just may like to
read. This seemed to be the general
consensus of everyone at the meeting. Dave
is aware of this problem and told us that even math courses deal with reading
comprehension in solving many of the logic problems that students are presented
with. Dave has asked that we discuss the reading strategies across
curriculum areas with our constituents and try and get some feedback on this
matter.
§
Comments on Open House – a memo
was received from the custodial department answering some questions about the
facilities during Open House. The
doorways in the hall that were under construction were for new fire doors, which
will be installed soon; a map of the school could never be posted on the
internet for security reasons; room temperature problems are being adjusted by
calibrating thermostats.
Lake George Jr.-Sr. High School
Guest
Authorization Release
Permission
is hereby granted for Lake George Jr.-Sr. High School to receive information
regarding:
Guest Name ____________________________________________
Guest’s Date of Birth
___________
(Print Full
Name only – no nicknames)
Guest’s Phone No.
______________
Guest’s Address: ________________________________________________________________________________
Activity requesting to attend:
_______________________________________
Date: ____________________
Guest Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _______________________
Guest Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________________________ Date: _____________
Emergency Contact Person and
Phone Number __________________________________________________
(Mandatory)
Lake George Jr.-Sr. High
School has a guest attendance policy in place.
The person named above has been invited to a Lake George Jr.-Sr. High
School function by a Lake George student. Please
complete the following information so that we may obtain some background on the
guest. Thank you for your
assistance.
School currently attending
_________________________________________________________
If guest is not in school, check here and attach employment
information:
Is the student currently in good standing in your school? Yes No
Does the student have a record of drug/alcohol/violence or other serious violations of school policies?
Yes No
If yes, please explain (be specific as to dates, etc.) _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of person filling out form:
__________________________________
Title: __________________
(Print)
(Print)
Please
forward information to:
David A. Eagle, Principal
OR
Fax to: 668-2285
Lake George Jr.-Sr. High School
By:
_____________________________
381 Canada Street
Lake George, New York 12845