Faculty+Meeting+Summaries

This is a page to follow-up with summaries/reflections of our faculty/PLC meetings for 2008-2009.
See discussion board for addtional comments on faculty meeting topics. =__Sept 4, 2008: Faculty Mtg. Focus__: 1) Peer Observations Kick-off! and 2) Upcoming Technology Changes = = =  Focus 1) Dr. Sterrett gave a form and some reflective time for faculty to write down strengths that they are willing to share with other colleagues... as well as strategies, techniques, etc. that we were looking to observe and learn from. A point was made that we may want observations to include feedback on areas that we are working on, but are maybe not a strength. We will turn these papers into Ben Williams' office, where he will compile a grid. Edie shared 2 professional books which will be logged on the recommended book page soon!

Focus 2) Carmella, our network administrator, explained the upcoming changes for both staff and students coming to Woodbrook as well as other county schools. The point was made that we will move slowly and offer a lot of support. Many great improvements will come from this transition... such as complete access to your files anywhere in ACPS. Students will not be able to accidently or intentionally get at other students' work or to teacher/secure files. Saving files will be SIMPLIFIED. Teachers will be able to log on to computer with their personal login on any computer and this will also be the same monthly password for email. Simplification can be the result of these changes with a little upfront organization. It is important that all staff prepare computers for re-imaging by BACKING up all FILEs.

Also... please note: laptops are on a 3 year replacement cycle, other machines will be supported longer in an effort to work within tight budget Summarized by Janelle

 **Sept. 18: Rotational PLC Mtgs were held. The purpose was to give specialists a chance to attend numerous grade level mtgs.**
=Sept. 25, 2008: Faculty Mtg Focus: 1) Olweus Kick-off 2) Nuts and Bolts for Montpelier field trips and Peer Observation Chart Talk by Dr. Sterrett = = Olweus Faculty Meeting Presentation =

I. Ben read aloud the book, Chrysanthemum A. Joselyn and Edie give teachers paper and pencils B. Joselyn instructs teachers to look for and write down, “What bullying is and what bullying isn’t” at their tables II. Chalk board t-chart A. Joselyn asks teachers to share what they wrote down B. Joselyn records the answers on the board and discussed III. HandOut A. Janelle and Lee pass out the teacher hand outs B. Janelle and Lee orient the teachers to the handout and go over definitions, resources, rules IV. Olweus Video, “Darryl the New Girl” A. Janelle plays the video B. Joselyn passes out the revamped Olweus Model C. Lynda, Joselyn, and all hold discussion on what happened in the video, who were the bystanders… using the olweus model as a reference V. Resources A. Edie presents resources VI. Teacher’s Expectations A. Lynda and Lee talk about what the teacher’s are expected to do from this point on, “when you leave here today, use language, hold classroom meetings, prepare students…” VII. What’s Next A. Janelle plays the closing video, “Michael at Lunch” B. We all have discussion and Susanne and Edie facilitate the signing of the hands C. Joselyn tells that we will be holding assemblies that look like the start of this presentation: the book, discussion, and signing of the pledge.

summarized by Janelle ===//I quit summarizing our meetings because I just could not maintain this wiki alone. Collaboration, discussion and reflections work best when others participate. Alan November uses the quote... If I participate, I benefit. Please join me// === =March 2009: New interest in tools and discussion is arising... = =3/12/09 MidYear Review: Click on the glog below to see the midyear review slideshow - jac=

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The email comments from Dr. Moran:

//Dear Colleagues,

It was a delight to attend the midyear review yesterday along with Bruce and Luvelle. We all walked away thinking how wonderful it would be to be in your classes and in EDGE! We loved the visual images of children at work, creatively, analytically, and collaboratively- inside and outside- in writing, math, social studies, the arts, PE, reading, science, using technology, team-building, researching Woodbrook- I thought if our School Board could have heard you discussing learning work at Woodbrook, they would say, “this is our vision, this is our mission, these are our goals – this is what it looks like, sounds like, feels like.”

I appreciated your sense of team, your cogent understanding of how learning comes together for children who bring risk challenges to school with them every day, and what you see on the horizon for reaching out to each other to take your partnerships as professionals to new levels as you continue to develop and refine expertise. I appreciated hearing from our former Henrico colleague that we are a long way from the top down management systems in place in larger divisions. At the same time you seem to appreciate the need for enhanced consistency at Woodbrook as you firm up support- consistent language in math, consistent community expectations, consistent progress to improve schedules and other structures.

Thank you for your suggestions about assessment systems and rationale for why some assessments still are of concern. I also am intrigued by the 3-semester idea- interesting. To be continued!

Regards,

Pam//