Sankofa Montessori
Minutes
March Academic Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday March 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Location
Please go to zoom.com and join meeting.
ID to join: 601 495 1069
Through a culturally responsive, child and family-centered Montessori education, Sankofa Montessori ensures that all of our students develop the knowledge, skill, and agency to have a life of purpose.
Committee Members Present
A. Allen-Thames (remote), E. Moore (remote), S. Harvey (remote)
Committee Members Absent
None
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
None
II. Academic Excellence
A.
Leadership Team’s Corner
Member Errika Moore shared with the committee the following:
School will be receiving donations from Founder and CEO of Brown Toy Box, https://browntoybox.com
https://browntoybox.com/collections/college-builds-hbcu-edition
https://browntoybox.com/collections/types?q=Puzzles
https://browntoybox.com/collections/types?q=STEAM%20Kits
B.
Discussion of Special Education
Currently, a new SPED teacher starts on Monday, 3/18/24. Through the MTES process, 3 additional students have been identified for special needs (1 for 504 and 2 for IEP plans).
1. Enrollment status- Enrolled for 2024-2025- 87 K, 25 1st, 14 2nd, 12-3rd
138 newly enrolled plus the current return number of 64 students= 202
Campaign ends on 3/15
128 applications currently un-submitted
2. Personnel Updates- one new SPED teacher
3. Updates on school suspensions/expulsions- Data from 2/12-3/8
K- 0 out of school suspensions and 0 in school suspensions
1st- 6 out of school suspensions (noted on one day w/no outdoor recess)
1 in school suspension
2nd- 0 out of school suspensions and 0 in school suspensions
School has instituted "active indoor recess" on rainy days/bad weather days to incorporate body movement exercises to curb misbehaviors.
4. Further info on January MAP testing and comparisons to Fall- Noted with data that some children were taking too long on the test questions and other children were taking too little time (~5 minutes) to complete test questions. For Spring MAP testing, the plan is to administer MAP in the classroom with teacher oversight instead of pulling children out of classroom for testing. Also, looking into Reading Mediation Pathway teacher tracking data and pre & post assessments of Math curriculum to identify any gaps in learning.
5. Miscellaneous- Attendance has been on average 92% from 2/12/24 - 3/8/24. Highest attendance numbers per grade: K 46, 1st 25, 2nd 18. School plans to change day to day schedule to improve curriculum by school-wide AM "Morning Cycle" (led by teacher and co- teacher) and PM "Seminars" with focus on literacy and math (led by teacher only); this schedule change is for the upcoming 24-25 school year. School plans to delay construction of second phase by one year and maximize current school space to accommodate growing enrollment.