Phillippi Shores Elementary SAC Minutes
11/05/2007
Meeting called to order.
Old business: nothing discussed.
New business:
- Miss. Sherry Paulson
(National Board Certified) an Activeboard Trainer, gave a presentation of
the Activeboard and NEXT Generation technology. Activeboards are
essentially the new “chalkboard” and are available in every class room and
in the school’s conference rooms. She discussed that this computer technology is the way of the
future and she was able to demonstrate just a small portion of its
tremendous capabilities. Teachers are able to access, through Promethian,
flip charts to use on the Activeboards which to help enhance their lesson
plans. Every teacher is trained in the multiple uses of the
Activeboard and 15 hours are dedicated to ongoing training. Although a
very complicated and powerful tool,
substitutes (with no training) are able to understand and utilize the
Activeboard after a 15 minute training session.
- Miss. Ruth Bennear next discussed the Voyager Program, a remedial
reading program, used to help 3rd grade children who are
a high risk for not passing the FCAT. Currently, 5 groups of children are
utilizing the Voyager program which consists of a maximum of 7 children
per group, 45 minutes everyday. Progress is monitored every 10 days
to determine the accomplishments of each child, with a goal of reading
(for comprehension) 110 words per minute. The program consists of “kits”
which cost $99 a piece. Last year, of the children who were enrolled in
the Voyager program, 100% passed the FCATs and 57% scored a 3 or better.
There is an open invitation to see the Voyager Program as a teaching
tool: every weekday at 12:30 in the media center.
- Mrs. Candace Dearing,
Philippi Shores Principal, then discussed the Possibility of utilizing an
additional reading program devised by
USF called, “Tuned into Reading”. The program cost is $4900 of which,
$3000 would be paid for through professional development, it is the hope
that the remainder of the cost will be covered by a Christmas tree vendor
who would pay Phillippi Shores a rental fee to sell trees and wreaths on
the corner of the school property.
- Finally, Talia
informed the SAC committee that Phillippi
Shores does
something rather unique during the morning announcements. The Phillippi
Shores Mission Statement is recited during the announcements, but it is
both recited and signed in American Sign Language. Mr. Jack O’Malley
and Mr. Jonathan Gonzalez, both students attending Phillippi Shores
were kind enough to sign the Mission Statement for the group. It was a
wonderful thing to see, and we thank the two gentlemen for demonstrating
for the committee. It was also announced that on Fridays, the Pledge of
Allegiance will begin to be recited in Spanish.
Meeting called to end. Next meeting scheduled for December 3,
2007.
Respectfully submitted by Michelle Rietsch, SAC Committee member