Fox Run SGC Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 9, 2021
6pm
Minutes taken by Gloria Niederer
In Attendance (All via Zoom): Mrs. Carla Monteiro-Walsh, Dr. Monique Bartling, Mr. Brian Irrera, Ms. Deirdre Savarese, Ms. Lori Santella, Ms, Sheila McDermott, Ms. Emily Bonebrake, , Mrs. Melissa Bramble (Parent Co-Chair), Mrs. Gloria Niederer, Mr. Billy Thomas, Mr. Andrew Anello, Mr. Bill Lessa
Absent: Mr. Juan DeChoudens, Mrs. Kirsten Scott
STAFF VACANCIES
- Recess/Cafeteria Monitor
- Reading/Writing Improvement Teacher
This position comes with a Reading Licensure requirement, which is difficult to
find during the school year. What is needed is intervention for Tier II and Tier III students. To circumvent the licensure requirement, we could call the position an Instructional Interventionist. It cannot be called coach, can call it an Intervention Specialist – Certified. Certified in Special Education is preferred. Principal Montiero-Walsh will post the position with these parameters/preferences.
FACILITIES REPORT
- Hallways repainted, new blue vinyl baseboards have been installed. Hoping to get classrooms painted and a cafeteria “face lift” – lighting and painting. Dr. Estrella has given permission to paint the wood paneling in the hallways.
- Every classroom received new ViewSonics, smart boards and document cameras. Central Office IT Department will give a class for staff on how to use the ViewSonics.
- Acknowledgment given to Erik Hernandez, a parent of a fifth grader and owner of a landscaping company, for sprucing up the grounds at the front of the school. They weeded and mulched the beds and around the trees just in time for the first day of school.
- SGC parent member Gloria Niederer made an inquiry regarding the status of the front overhang and the peeling paint. Principal Montiero-Walsh reported that it is slated to be painted in early spring but it could be done earlier.
- Financing is holding up the start of the Outdoor Classroom project. Furniture has been ordered and needs to be delivered. With these delays and with the winter months approaching, Principal Montiero-Walsh hopes to have the classroom up and running by Spring of 2022.
- The faculty break room was spruced up by volunteers and Melissa Bramble and the PTO added decor accents.
- SGC teacher member Deirdre Saverese reported that the C wing gets water and th plumbing backs up. Principal Monteiro-Walsh reported that last spring the district brought in a team of plumbers outside of the district staff because of this ongoing issue. They snaked the drain and worked the whole length of the c wing and it seemed to be fixed. Extensive intervention has been done on this issue, but Principal Monteiro-Walsh will follow up with Central Office.
- SGC teacher member Lori Santella inquired if the staff bathrooms can be spruced up. Principal Monteiro-Walsh stated that painting and cleaning can be done by facilities but the Beautification Committee can give the “homey touches”.
COMMITTEES
- School Climate and Culture Committee
Started this summer, currently only staff is on this committee but it can be opened up to SGC parent members. This committee will meet once a month, and is tasked with making Fox Run feel like a “home away from home” and how we can make the school more of a close community. It will also review discipline policies.
A Fox Run Pledge was created, with an acronym PATH:
As a Fox Run Fox on my PATH to success, I will be Friendly, Open-minded and eXcited to learn every day because I am a thoughtful, accountable and helpful member of my Fox Run family and community. P I am a Problem Solver A I am accountable T I am thoughtful H I am helpful
This will be rolled out to families in Year Two, with Year One focusing in in school and the students. The mascot remains Foxy. The staff will be using these words daily with the students. It was suggested by SGC Parent Co-Chair Melissa Bramble that the students be involved to help roll it out, starting with 4th and 5th graders. Principal Monteiro-Walsh stated that without Covid we would be able to have a community meeting every Friday, but right now that is not possible. As a result, we need to think about how we can get the students involved virtually and have a virtual roll-out. Ideas include skits, plays, use of Flip Grid, other virtual tools.
Lori Santella possibly will start a newscast by students, named “PATH News”.
Possible reintroduction of “Buddy” classrooms, with implementing buddies into a “theme of the month”.
Parent member Andrew Anello discussed his experience when meeting voters during his candidacy for Common Council District E, and stated that there are many people that feel disconnected.
- Equity Committee
Mrs. Monteiro-Walsh and Dr. Bartling attended a district workshop on how to bring equity to our school, with an eye on how many gifted and talented kids are from minority groups, etc. They looked at testing data, attendance data, and technology accessibility. It is important that all kids have access to all programs.
- Instructional Leadership Team
With all of the changes to the curriculum, the team consisting of Mrs. Monteiro-Walsh, Dr. Bartling, Ms. Savarese, Mr. Olson Mrs. Minoff, and Mrs. Ortiz, with the help of the district IT coach Steph Dean, will be going through all and packaging it so it is easier to introduce the new curriculum to the staff.
- Safety Committee
Committee is fine tuning safety plans, making sure there is consistency. The may be an implementation of a color coded safety system. There is a drill schedule set for the year, and there is access to emergency go bags.
- Beautification Committee
Purpose is to beautify the indoor and outdoor spaces, making it a place that students and staff want to and enjoy being at Fox Run.
- Currently all of these committees have only members that are staff, but soon families will be invited to be a part of these committees.
ELECTIONS
- A call for a parent member of the SGC was included in the Fox Run Newsletter. No one has expressed interest yet but there will be another email sent out to families. If an election is needed, voting will take place the first week of October.
EQUITY/CLIMATE AND CULTURE TOPIC REVISITED
- Parent member Billy Thomas requested a secondary meeting to discuss the equity piece further, and also requested to discuss further what Mr. Anello brought up regarding people feeling disconnected. There seems to be a need to clarify information or inform families and the community more effectively.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
- There has been some discussion on social media regarding a change to the morning announcements. There has been a change to the announcements, but not for an unpatriotic reason, only reason is due to scheduling and time constraints. The Pledge of Allegiance is still being said, then the Fox Run Pledge, then birthdays. While this change was not communicated ahead of time to families, there was no nefarious reason for the change.
- Mrs. Tracey Greenberg, the new music teacher, has agreed to take over the morning announcements. She will teach the kids in class the U.S. National Anthem as well as other countries’ songs, and will have a couple of students present each one weekly during morning announcements.
MEMBER TERMS ENDED
- This is the last meeting for Teacher Members Deirdre Savarese and Brian Irrera, and Parent Member Gloria Niederer. Everyone thanked these members for their service to this council.
MEETING ENDED
Fox Run School 228 Fillow Street Norwalk, Connecticut Tel: (203) 899-2860 Fax:( 203) 899-2864 |
Mrs. Carla Monteiro- Walsh, Principal
Dr. Monique Bartling , CISD October 14, 2021 SGC Agenda
Fox Run Library Media Center
6pm-7pm
SGC Discussion Items:
Meeting Norms- Meliissa Bramble
Review committee roles:Coordinator, Co-chair,Team Recorder,Team Task & Time Keeper
Welcome new members: Seidy Martinez, Pam Serlin, Sarah Grayeb
School Data Review: SBAC last testing year was 2019
Outperformed district in all grade levels and improved from the last assessment
Math: grades 3 and 4 had growth
Working with grade 5 with additional interventions to improve SBAC schores
Fall Assessments: NWEA - 2021: Grades 1-5
4 goal areas
Grade 1 (scored 41 percentile) strength operations in algebraic thinking
Grade 2 (scored 35th. percentile) strength was geometry
Grade 3 (scored 35th. percentile) measurement/data
Grade 4 (scored
Grade 5 (scored
Reading scores are higher compated to SBAC.
BOY testing update
Spring 2021 SBAC
NWEA Math K-5 Fall Report
NWEA Reading 1-5 Fall Report
MClass Reading K-5 Report
Tier 2 Interventions/SRBI schedule blocks
K-2 cross grade grouping
Intervention immediately, assessment ongoing
Block schedule: A/B Days
Begin day with Literacy and Math within an A/B day schedule.
Kindergarten will start in groups within 2 weeks based on individual student data.
Average group size is 5 students based on student need/assessments every 6 weeks.
Progress monitoring will be implemented.
Grades 3-5
Cross grade groupings (22 groups) average size 5 students per group
Centers occur everyday alond with math intervention.
Programs are protocols research based interventions - interventionists are trained in the programs.
(ECRI, fluency groups, comprehension focus)
Math: every interventionist provides Bridges and will add additional math centers in grades 3-5
Tang math games and symphony math has been included within math centers.
3-5 cross grade grouping
Additional items to add to agenda as seen needed by SGC : (please add them)
(Billy Thomas added) Fox run score under greatschools rating is a 2/10. My questions are.
Why is it so low? Does is seem right? What are the contributing factors? What can the SGC do to help bring up that score?
We can improve SBAC scores and positive reviews as a school body.
Next meeting Thursday, November 18th at 6pm
Work in small groups regarding hw policy.
Fox Run School 228 Fillow Street Norwalk, Connecticut Tel: (203) 899-2860 Fax:( 203) 899-2864 |
Mrs. Carla Monteiro- Walsh, Principal
Dr. Monique Bartling , CISD
April 28,2022 SGC Agenda
6pm-7pm
Members in Attendance: Carla Monteiro, Monique Bartling, Emily Bonebrake, Lori Santella, Sarah Grayeb, Sheila McDermott Juan DeChoudens, Seidy Martinez, Andrew Anello, Billy Thomas
NWEA EOY MAth & ELA Results- Dr Bartling –
Math: Growth measured in all grades. Fox Run outscored the district average in 5/6 grades. Conditional growth outpaced expectation in all grades.
ELA: K-2 only took the EOY so there is not growth comparison for those grades. Grades 3-5 huge growth measured. Fox Run outscored district averages in all grades.
SBAC Schedule; Information on SBAC Boot Camp: Instructional Coaches
Grades 3-5 May 17, 2022-May 26, 2022
SBAC Bootcamp – Teachers planning activities with Instructional Coaches for a final push to prepare students 2 weeks before.
Schedules, reminders and suggestions will be sent home to parents May 4.
SBAC Pep Rally May 11
Schoolwide and Classroom Goals set to support positive reinforcement and emothional growth.
Master schedule will change to accomodate testing conditions for the testing period.
SBAC is based on Grade Level Standards only. Results are published mid summer.
PINE Parnteship with NYU Presentation- Carla Monteiro
Partnership for Inclusion and Neurodiversity Education
Includes 1 Inclusive Co-taught classroom in each grade by 2023/2024 School Year
Cotaught Classrooms in 2022/2023 School include K, 2, 3, 5
PINE is a schoolwide philosophy to help all staff support all students as individuals.
ALL staff will receive quality PD by NYU to support this philosophy in all classrooms and non classrooms in the buildings.
Fox Run Family Night at Nathaniel ELY - Very successful. 40 people in attendance. The last one will be held at Fox Run
International Family Night- May 18th -
First Book- May 21st – Need table manned by SGC members to help promote our school. Let Carla know if anyone can help.
SGC Discussion Items for next meeting: Table at the Ice Cream Social to promote the SGC, give parents information and recruit new members. Not many parents are aware of what it is.
Farm to School Iniattive (Grants)
Outdoor Classrooms
Summer Academy