PTSO Meeting/Coffee with the Principal

1. Welcome and Activity 
1. Activity from Innocent Classroom: a program that all teachers, admin, and staff are going through this year - http://innocentclassroom.com/
2. Summary of the start of the 2018/2019 school year
1. All PTSO meetings will be conducted in both English and Spanish. Agendas will be shortened to ensure that the meetings remain the same length. 
2. Enrollment: 472 including 40 in pre-k
3. Workshop Week: 
1. Lucy Calkins reading curriculum 
1. High Expectations, Achievable Goals
1. Reading units of study… (5-6 weeks, varies by grade)
2. A Clear Instructional Arc
1. Focuses on more than just the level the student is reading at
2. ENVoY
1. Provides a range of strategies which focus on non-verbal communication skills to manage classroom groups
2. Systematic approach to managing four distinct parts of a lesson
3. A vehicle to influence
4. 2 hour refresher for trained staff
5. 1 day training for new staff
3. Observations of staff
1. Renewing contract – peer reviewers (2)
2. Renewing contract on cycle – administrator (1) and peer reviewer (1)
3. Probationary – administrator (3)
4. Probationary – mentor (peer reviewer)
5. 9 new teachers this year; 2 brand new to teaching, 2 from Spain
4. SES – Student Engagement Specialist
1. New position this year: Meghan 
5. Amities: Santiago – Columbia; Marta – Spain; Nestor – Columbia
1. Need winter clothing for Santiago and Nestor. Clothing has been purchased; how can we support the purchase?
1. Approximately $300 has been spent, but all amities could use new/better boots. 
2. Ann, Yesenia are heading to a sale this weekend. Will look into getting some boots in different sizes to store in the basement. 
3. Ann: other dual schools ask parents to contribute some money for the amities every year. $5 per family per year might be appropriate for RDLS families? This could be used for winter clothing and incidentals.
1. Important: Amities do not receive their first stipend for their work here until the end of October/beginning of November. 
4. Polly: can we see the amity contract/does it clarify what is the responsibility of the host families? There is a lot of grey area here. 
1. Need to develop a sustainable program going forward to support the amity program.
2. Sra. Marta: we need to have a meeting between the PTSO Board and the Amity program.
6. Book of the Month Program
1. Each month teachers will receive a selected book that lends itself to conversations around culture, race, and equity.
2. Our First Book: All the Colors We Are: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color
3. Windows & Mirrors: windows – see outside of themselves and their world (perspective-taking); mirrors – see themselves reflected in the curriculum.
4. Project cost is $1783 for the school year
1. We have applied for a grant for $750 of that. Won’t know if we received the grant until the end of November.
5. Sheridan Hills began the program in the district. We have selected bilingual books and/or Spanish books.
6. Members approved the proposal – we will move forward with Book of the Month. 
7. MCA Data – will be discussed next meeting
8. SIP (School Improvement Plan) – will be discussed next meeting
9. Audrey: Concordia Language Villages might provide opportunities for the amities; willing to take the lead on the Box Top program.