MCCPS Board of Trustees
Minutes
Academic Excellence Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday December 11, 2019 at 7:30 AM
Location
17 Lime Street- Treehouse
Committee Members Present
Ellen Lodgen, Jessica Xiarhos, Kimberly Sullivan, Matt Cronin, Michael Condon, Peter Cohen, William Sullivan
Committee Members Absent
Emily Westhoven
Guests Present
Meg Upton
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Jessica Xiarhos called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee Committee of MCCPS Board of Trustees to order on Wednesday Dec 11, 2019 at 7:35 AM.
C.
Approve Minutes from 11/06/19
Matt Cronin made a motion to accept the minutes as is.
Michael Condon seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Academic Excellence Committee
A.
"Big Picture"
B.
Dissemination of Academic Excellence to Staff
Action items- what do we want to ask staff, when
1st- Departments- What math, science, music skills should a graduate have by the end of the year/graduation?
2nd- Grade level- what do you want students to know and be able to do by the end of the year
1st- Departments- What math, science, music skills should a graduate have by the end of the year/graduation?
2nd- Grade level- what do you want students to know and be able to do by the end of the year
C.
Parent Recruitment to Committee
Going forward- developing questions to ask families to get community perspective about what we're doing.
III. Closing Items
A.
Next Meeting- January 8th
B.
Action Items
Jessica to ask IA teacher to join Ac Ex, research frameworks of "What a Graduate looks like?"
Peter to reach out to other schools to set up visits in the new year.
Talk to Judith about curating independent school applications
Kim to reach out to public schools
Meg to continue to have conversations with families.
Peter to reach out to other schools to set up visits in the new year.
Talk to Judith about curating independent school applications
Kim to reach out to public schools
Meg to continue to have conversations with families.
C.
Adjourn Meeting
Ellen Lodgen made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Matt Cronin seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:42 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessica Xiarhos
Elevating exhibition across all grades and subjects.
Creating a network to help support framework- Committee to visit Francis Parker. Skype with High Tech High
How do we frame our work, and how do we make sure everyone else knows?
Graduate activity- connecting to "Here's what happens after".
Values in reaching out to MHS, SHS, SJP, asking "What skills are you hoping that students have when they come to you?"
-SJP recommendations reveal priorities- Academic integrity, etc., knowing vs. using vs. applying skills.
-Recent graduate- what did you get from Charter, what didn't you get. (high performers and low performers)
We don't want to fall into the trap of teaching to the test; maintain the excitement about learning.
Gamification- why can kids persevere in video games but not in school? Grading is the opposite of working your way up levels. "Charter Amazing Race." intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation.
If we can define- then we can align
Giving students choice- and then students being able to articulate who they are as a learner.
Why portfolios are so important-