PTA Meeting Minutes - October 20, 2020

10-20-2020 PTA Minutes

PTA Business
Budget and Bylaws (Annual approval required)
Fewer fundraisers than unusual, so the budget looks a little different this year. Several are items indicated with a 0.
Looking for more creative ways to fundraise to make up the difference between credits and expenses.
Walkathon may still take place in the spring, but it may look different than in previous years.
CLIMB Theater
At this time, we are not holding assemblies so we have not scheduled our annual visit from CLIMB theater.
Kelli will ask at the next Superintendent meeting if we can repurpose the funds designated for this event.
Spirit Day Shout Outs
A new tradition at school that celebrates the good things that are happening in our building.
Teachers and students nominate others for shout outs
On Fridays, Mrs. Richardson visits classrooms with the Road Runner trophy and celebrates students, classes, and teachers.
Kids put their names in the trophy for a drawing for Whitey’s gift card, or similar prize.
Fundraiser opportunity for this year; possible line item for future
Budget and Bylaws passed.

Book Fair - Katelyn Darling, Chair
A Virtual Book Fair will be held Nov 5-18th
Book Fair Flyers coming home with students first week of Nov.
New shopping experience available
“Walk” through a virtual book fair, listen to a book talk, purchase right from the “shelf”
Katie Rokusek is helping with book talks and wish lists when students visit the library.

Giving Tree - Nicole Puryear, Chair
We will not be able to put it up this year as we have done before
Looking for ideas on how to make this a successful thing for teachers
Sign up genius?
Room parents send email with sign up genius and help manage within classrooms?

Guest Speakers- Dr Cindy Lewis and Dr. Darcie Kress, Standard Based Grading and Our New Report Cards
What standards entail
Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies
21st Century Skills, Universal Constructs
Recommended standards for PE, Fine Arts

2020 Standards Based Report Card
Indicators of Mastery of End of Year Standards
B: Having a little bit of struggle. Teachers will communicate what supports are in place to help the child continue to grow.
P: Some learning toward mastery
PM: On track toward mastery
M: Fully, deeply understanding the entire standard
Example of learning progression toward mastery
Math Standards are grouped in clusters
Science K-2 has not been included in the report card for 2020-21
Children are still receiving science instruction, but it might be more embedded in literacy instruction
Social Emotional standards and Work Habits will not be included with every report card this year, but they are still being instructed

Purpose of grading is to communicate proficiency with the academic standards
Gives a picture of the whole child
Communicates what the child has learned

Q&A
Math Facts?
Committee of teachers learning about math fact fluency
Better ways to teach and assess than timed test
Timed tests can be stressful, so we are placing less emphasis on them
Teaching strategies
Building and measuring fluency in more authentic ways, digging deeper than memorization
Still expect students to recall at a rapid pace, but with deeper understanding
Special Ed
Students are still working on the same standards
Strong collaborations between classroom and special ed teachers
Accommodations (highlighting, more time, color overlay) v. modifications (changing the task)
Can the child meet grade level standards with supports as described in the IEP?
Mailing copies of the report card at the end of next week
Not intending to mail copies of the handbook, but you can ask for a printed copy in the office

Principal Jennifer Richardson- Announcements and Q&A
This has been a challenging year for everyone, but great things are happening in our school!

It has never been more important to have positive partnerships between home and school

Please be sure to sign up for conferences!
Teachers have been encouraged to focus on supporting students and families, as well as academics, during conferences.
How is this year going?
What is going well?
What can I help you with?
Plan to bring your questions and concerns to your conference meeting

Miscellaneous Business
Where can I find PTA info?
Riverdale Heights Elementary PTA on Facebook
http://www.riverdaleheightspta.com/
Enews in your email each Friday!
Send submissions for Enews to Kelli by Wednesday afternoon, cc Jennifer Richardson

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