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Essex Elementary School
School Council Minutes
May 12, 2009
In Attendance: John Skiba, Beth Kelley, Liz Guerin, Maggie Tomaiolo, Karin Carroll and Eric Gordon
1. Meghan Trenholm briefed the Council on the kindergarten re-accreditation process currently underway. EES receives a kindergarten grant, a requirement of which is to receive accreditation by going through a 5-year review through an organization called NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The review is extensive and consists at this point of a self study and gathering of information (into portfolios) as to the quality of the kindergarten program relative to criteria such as qualifications of staff, extent of training, breadth of curriculum, quality of health services, safety and physical plant standards, parent involvement, the level of support services, quality of social skills programs and more. The process culminates in a site visit by a NAEYC evaluator to take place in the
fall. Needless to say the process is very time consuming.
2. The Council looked at the proposed schedule for fourth grade for next year and reconsidered whether to include a morning recess. Unlike last month, the schedules are in draft form so the council could actually see a visual model for the schedule. The Council heard a written concern from a parent who valued recess for the break and opportunity to refocus that it provides. Given that the fourth grade will have a special every morning (including PE twice a week), an early lunch (11:45), an extended lunch recess and the option of an afternoon break at teacher discretion, the Council agreed that it was reasonable to try the proposed schedule.
3. Eric Gordon clarified that in the School Improvement Plan the term 'Activboard' would be replaced by the more generic 'interactive whiteboard'.
Submitted by
Eric Gordon
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