School Council

School Council

Mindy Taylor  (CoChair) Pipier Smith-Mumford  (Ex Officio) Members: Joshua Abrams, John Badger, Blanka Bogdanovic, AnaMaria Cabellero, Suzanne Elovecky, Mara Krechevsky, Melissa London, Sandy Lundy, Karen Sutton, Mindy Taylor

The Pierce School Council is an advisory board, consisting of parents, teachers, and the principal. It helps identify students' educational needs and school goals. Specifically, the Council: Makes recommendations to the Principal about the development, implementation, and assessment of the curriculum. Assists in reviewing the annual school budget. Helps formulate an annual school improvement plan to improve student performance and meet designated goals.

• Meeting minutes
• April 2007
• January 31, 2007
• January 11, 2007
• December 2006
• November 2006
• October 2006
• Goals (2006-2007)
• Goals (2007-2008)
• What to expect from different grades
  • Fourth Grade
  • Fifth Grade

Pierce School
Summary of Improvement Goals
2007-2008

I. Continue to Focus on the Academic Challenges of Differentiation

A. Use Data to Drive Decisions and Impact Practice:

Continue to expand the number of teachers using a variety of techniques to further differentiation of instruction across disciplines and grades.

B. Remain Focused on Math

1. Work with additional math specialist position to increase services to upper grades, 7-8, and help support the implementation plan of the new Think Math! curriculum materials.

2. Continue to model flexible math groupings for inclusion in more classes. With the help of the additional math specialist, identify other support staff to implement a variety of flexible grouping models.

3. Continue the work of the School Council Math Subcommittee and the Pierce Math Committee with specific focus on supporting the above goals and others identified by those committees.

II. Expand the Communication and Community Service in Grades 6, 7, 8

A. Create additional opportunities for parents to view student work and meet informally with staff

1. Explore the use of teacher web pages and websites, guidelines and next steps

2. Invite all student performers (6^th grade plays, musicians, artists, 7-8 play, speech contestants, etc.) to PTO meetings to highlight and showcase their talents

3. Formalize parent support groups starting at 7^th grade

4. Add at least one Family Breakfast time during the 8^th grade year

5. Expand the 7-8 Corner of the website to include 6th grade and continue to place all appropriate school communications in that corner of website

B. Expand community service opportunities both in and out of school

1. Formalize the Little Buddy/Big Buddy program so all 6^th -8^th grade students have Little Buddies in the lower grades

2. Expand in-school service learning opportunities with lower grades

3. Work closely with outside agencies to establish community service opportunities beyond Pierce

III. Continue the work of the Equity Team

A. Implement the pilot Mentoring program

B. Provide all staff with an opportunity to participate in an Empowering Multicultural Initiatives (EMI) workshop

C. Continue to look at student work and MCAS scores by following cohorts of students who perform poorly

D. Highlight the achievements of Pierce students and alum at BHS

IV. Technology at Pierce

A. To have our equipment in good working order

B. To increase the numbers of computers and arrange them so that they can be used more easily and as frequently as desired

C. To have a compiled list of websites and software that support each grade's curriculum have all interested teachers familiar with and competent in the use of Smartboards, software and websites to support their teaching

D. To be sure students have the computer skills they need for high school work.

E. To own new software that enhances teaching, especially with the new math curriculum.

F. To use technology in a way that best serve the many needs of Pierce, especially with communication

V. Focus on Wellness and Nutrition at School

A. Examine the presence of food outside of the cafeteria.

B. Align Pierce's practices with the district's Wellness Policy.

C. Help to inform our community about our policies and wellness.

VI. Continue to Enhance Facilities

A. Complete the window project for the historical building and finalize plans for windows for the main building

B. Complete the plan to repair the roof, replace lockers for 6th grade and install cabinets/display case for 1st floor library entrance area

C. Develop a plan that would address an upgrade to the auditorium

D. Complete building security upgrades: installation of swipe cards, security gate for the garage, and phones with access to outside lines

E. Address space needs at lower grades while resolving the need for an additional science lab

F. Install new signage around Pierce as follows: Pierce School Historical Building, Main office, Library (3) auditorium, cafeteria, music rooms (2), art and IA rooms, gymnasium, Computer Lab, Unit A, B, C.

(Revised 5-24-07)