Forum Meeting Minutes
February 12th, 2008

Chairperson Roger Wells opened the meeting.

Introductions – members introduced themselves to our newest member, Jenn Johnston.

Professional Development Plan –

•       The forum members went over the Professional Development Plan together making any needed changes in order to update it.  Mr. Cocozza will submit the changes to Mary Cahill
  

• Constituent Feedback:
  
          * Still looking for new chairperson for Middle States next year
          *School Safety
  
               o Greeter – a question was asked if the greeter could be given a list of names
                   of students, by teachers, that “should be in the building” in the mornings in
                   order to cut down on the amount of kids wondering the halls in the morning.
  

§    A similar issue has been previously discussed this year and it is thought that giving kids that “responsibility and freedom” in the mornings is part of what makes our school special. 

§    Hours of the greeters will be school hours 7:45 – 3:45. 

                        o Safety issues were raised about the intersection of Canada and Mountain
                           Drive and students crossing Canada Street in the morning.  Patricia Dow
                           will contact the village about possibilities.
 
                   *Spirit Week

                        o Student Council will be heading the committee to re-evaluate spirit week
                            for 08-09 school year.  The committee will be made up of students,
                            faculty and staff.

o  The committee's first meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 26th, in room 9 (Niki McGrath's room).
 

                    *Other

                        o       Social Worker position has been brought to the board.

o       March 29^th the gym has been scheduled for a “ FREE OPEN GYM”     night.  This will be sponsored by Communities that Care. 

§         The first meeting to plan this event will be held on Monday February 25^th at 2:35 in Room 9 (Niki McGrath’s room).  All interested please attend.

o       Extending Library hours

Suggestion to Forum is to look into having extended high school library hours more frequently than just at exam time.

                        Some thoughts:

      ·         possibly poll students to see if there is interest
·         look for grants to fund this
·         try initially having extended hours just for the last two weeks of           each marking period
·         be clear that the extended hours are for quiet study only or for           study groups to work quietly together.
·         my suggested time would be 3:30 to 5:00 pm M-Th

Additional ideas to take this up a notch:

·          try to get our own teachers to staff this at chaperone pay, to be      available for homework help or tutoring.

o        possibilities could include, say,

      §  Monday is Science night;
§  Tuesday is Math help night (and so on...)

·          specific, enforceable guidelines would need to be developed for this time so that students aren't just hanging around or wandering the building.

* Could there be a noontime bus next year during midterm week.  It may cut down on the noise levels in the halls.

*  Could intramurals start at 3:15?

*Please remember that kids participating in intramurals and the senior play must have probation cards signed by teachers if they are on the probation list.

* After discussing the last two pages of Goals for Forum a discussion was brought up again about the portfolios.  The general thought is the portfolios in senior year is a little late since kids have often already applied to schools.  Could we please re-discuss the guide room portfolio idea and discuss with constituents.  I have attached a copy of Tammy Darby’s Guide Room Folder handout.

Next meeting is Tuesday March 11^th  and the agenda is to discuss dances.

All members in constituent meetings are asked to discuss:

            *Feedback from constituents on last two pages of goals.
            *Open library hours
            *Guide Room portfolios
            *Need for parent organization at high school level.  Current Parent group functions primarily at elementary level.

Guide Room Folder

8^th Grade Year:

 Welcome to 8^th grade and welcome to your new guide room.  We will be together from now until the day you all graduate (exciting thought I know).  I thought it would be nice if we started a folder that would stay in here for your entire high school career, a private place where you can keep things you are proud of.  It seems like a long way off but when your junior year rolls around and you have to start filling out applications for schools I think this folder will come in handy.  So here is what I am thinking…

1^st extended guide room – September:

*  Remember this is PRIVATE!
*  This is a place for you to reflect on your academic year, your personal growth and anything else.
*  Hopefully as the years pass this folder will be a way for you to see growth in yourself.
*  Today we will take your 8^th grade photo.
*  You may decorate your folder – make it a reflection of you.  We will probably put your pictures we take on the front (as well as your pics from now until your senior year).

November Extended Guide Room:

*  Today you will add a piece of your work to the folder.  It can be anything you are proud of – a lab, an essay, a presentation, a project, a book you read and liked, an activity done with a club, a piece of art work, etc.

*  You will have about 10 minutes to write about the piece you are putting in your folder.  Talk about it, why you picked that piece, why you are proud of it, what inspired you to do that piece (if it is art work etc.)

*  There will be time if anyone would like to share their piece and their reflection.

3^rd & 4^th Extended Guide Room:

 *  Same as November EGR.

May or June Extended Guide Room:

 *  Reflection of the year.  I will have a worksheet prepared for you to reflect on the year (classes, clubs, friendships, accomplishments, areas for improvement, etc.)

 *  Here you will also set some goals for next year.  Your hopes and expectations for your classes next year, clubs/sports, etc.

 Freshman Year Plan:

 1^st Extended Guide Room:

 *  Take pictures

 *  Look at the goals you set at the end of last year – see if you would like to add or change anything.

 *  Reflection on your summer experiences and how you feel about being back at school.

2^nd – 5^th Extended Guide Room:

 Same as 8^th grade year.

Sophomore Year Plan:

 Same as Freshman year.

Junior and Senior Year Plan I will give you at a later date…