Community Council Mtg Minutes 10/5/21

Majestic Elementary 

Community Council Minutes

October 5, 2021

Those attending:  Shauna Cooney, Karen Eyre, Angie Francom, Melissa Copeland, Jenn Votava, Karianne Moore, and Christine Watson

Mrs. Copeland introduced our new school counselor, Angela Willcox.  The district-wide program of Restorative Practices was explained. The purpose of this new program is to better enable the teachers and staff to prevent negative behaviors by building an atmosphere of trust between the adults and the students. Our hope is that inappropriate behaviors will decrease and better communication between teachers, staff and students will exist.

Mrs. Copeland reminded the council about the steps the school district takes to ensure internet safety on school equipment.  The district has a strong firewall that averts threats on a daily basis.

Mrs. Cooney addressed the changes to the reading program this year.  We are implementing a “walk to intervention” plan based upon the reading time designated on the master schedule.  Every student is in a reading group based upon data gathered every three weeks to determine the needs of the individual students.  It was noted that the Spanish Immersion classes are not included as their schedules are very different from the other general education classes.  These groups are held four times a week as Wednesday is a short day.

Another awesome program we are using this year is the 95% Group phonemic awareness program.  Our school was selected to be a part of a research project implementing 95% Group in the Kindergarten, first and second  grade classrooms.  Kindergarten groups use five adults to teach smaller groups. Teachers instruct students who test below benchmark  and instruct students based upon. Teachers teach different skill levels.  If the students are above benchmark levels, they participate in literature groups and emphasize reading comprehension skills.

Trustland money is utilized for salaries for our staff and aides.  We are trying to catch up on the lag in academic achievement and social skills due to the events of the past few years.  The teachers are being taught to use Restorative Practices for classroom management and building better relationships between teachers, staff, and students.  A main emphasis is on individual self-esteem skills.

The Trustlands proposal is due in November.  Additional meetings have been scheduled for November 2nd, January 4th, and March 8th.  These will begin at 4:00 pm.  Karianne was nominated, seconded, and approved to be the Chairperson this year.  We are in the process of finding a new webmaster.  Mrs. Copeland requested that we send out this request by word of mouth.  Please contact her if you have any names for her.  The meeting was adjourned.