MCCPS Board of Trustees
Minutes
Academic Excellence Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Friday March 4, 2022 at 2:45 PM
If you need to meet via Zoom: https://marbleheadcharter.zoom.us/j/85414341015
Committee Members Present
Ellen Lodgen, Jessica Xiarhos, Kimberly Sullivan, Matt Cronin, Meg Upton, Molly Wright
Committee Members Absent
None
Guests Present
Elizabeth Burns (remote), Meghan Hale
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 Friday Mar 4, 2022 at 2:49 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes from 1/28/22
Ellen Lodgen made a motion to approve the minutes from Academic Excellence Committee Meeting on 01-28-22.
Kimberly Sullivan seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Matt Cronin |
Aye
|
| Meg Upton |
Aye
|
| Ellen Lodgen |
Aye
|
| Kimberly Sullivan |
Aye
|
| Molly Wright |
Absent
|
| Jessica Xiarhos |
Aye
|
II. Academic Excellence Committee
A.
Department Updates Re:Criteria
B.
MCAS Board Presentation - Update
We have discussed how to approach the data - which classes to focus on, class demographics.
We are not a microcosm of Marblehead Public, we are working with our own students.
C.
Next Steps - Setting Up a Timeline
Work of Academic Excellence to correlate with Strategic Plan committee. Working to get some action items to bring to the Strategic Plan of 2023.
- Grading/Assessment conversation. How are we measuring progress toward these skills? We have a very traditional report card, yet does not match what is going on in the classrooms.
- Standards based grading program ________, like Powerschool, but for standards.
- Getting feedback from parents on grading systems?
- Considering transition to high school.
- What are we trying to communicate with grades?
- Shift to 4 Essential habits from persistent, self-directed, responsible, reliable, etc. Essential Habits too vague.
- Process versus end-game. Speaking to how a student arrives at the end product. Does the grading support the learning. Students need to be connected to their own process.
- Looking to Saltonstall, Parker
- Looking to Parker, the conversations from students were: "How do we progress? Where do I go from here?"
- Student Led Conferences with Portfolios
- Connecting criteria to weekly news letters
III. Closing Items
A.
Action Items
- For future agendas: Agenda Item for Grading & Assessment
- Introducing Criteria via Parent Info Night: late April, early May. Peter to set firm date.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 3:50 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessica Xiarhos
Documents used during the meeting
None
Humanities update: February vacation, 1/2 days, and indoor recess has made meeting difficult. Megan checked in with teachers individually about Criteria and alignment with Exhibition projects.
Math/Science: All teachers have Criteria aligned to Term 1 and 2 projects. It was discussed that there may need to be updates to Math/Science Criteria.
Are projects driving Criteria or Criteria driving projects?
Criteria fostering collaboration between educators is a huge success.
Are MCAS scores why families are leaving? Limited sports offering. Class size.