March 2019

NAPAGE

March 4, 2019

1:00 p.m. - Baierl Center

MEETING MINUTES


Next NAPAGE Meetings (all meetings in the Ponce Room at the Baierl Center)

  • Monday, April 1, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.

  • Monday, May 13, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.


Note: Secretary (KG) left prior to end of meeting at 2:50 p.m.


Upcoming Gifted Advisory Committee (GAC) Meetings

March 19, 2019

All meetings are held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Central Administration Office


Middle School Day Update

  • Goal is to have a final schedule by end of month (March 2019)

  • Begin in Fall 2020

  • Nutshell: 10 minute homeroom, 56 minute periods (ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science), 42 minutes for Unified Arts and Music/HPE, 40 minute activity period 5 days/week


First recommendations were in 2006, there was a big push to change then.

Slide 2 - Inflection Point and Middle School Philosophy external links/reports.

Inflection point report - need for high school offerings.

Middle school philosophy comprehensive teaming


Need to make staffing plans now beginning in 2019, to prepare for Fall 2020.


Currently reading and english are very siloed, work these subjects into other areas.


Ted Dintersmith video - “What School Could Be” and “Most Likely to Succeed“ Author (link)


NEW

  • Core classes are longer = 56 minutes (Math, ELA, Social Studies/Geography, Science)

  • Activity period is 5 days a week.

  • Adds a DAILY team planning period. Use time for IEP, GIEP meetings etc. Time to work on multi-disciplinary projects.

  • Hope is to be able to complete (home)work during the class day with longer periods.

  • Pull other teachers in for SAMS (strength area modules) ex. Tech Ed teacher for robotics, Latin teacher for medical


Rigorous ELA tasks - What do they look like? Transition from 15 mins of writing a week to 20 minutes of writing a day. Complex questions. Not everything needs to be right all the time (low level knowledge).


Professional Development for Middle level teachers through the Institute for Learning from the University of Pittsburgh. (slide) Institute will meet with Math and ELA staff two more times this year, and then again next year. Use instructional rounding where staff observes and learns/compares from other staff.


Brief mention of John Hattie and student success - deep learning etc. (Not specifically mentioned at meeting, but further information on the topic.) Being connected pairs well with meaningful instruction.


Still looking at the transitions from 5th into 6th grade, and 8th into 9th grade. Generally the most challenging.


Other Classes

  • World Languages

    • 6th Grade: Intro to World Languages touch on all the languages including history, how are they related

    • 7th Grade: Start of language instruction. 8th grade would continue.

    • 9th grade: Ability to start level 2 of language, OR select a new language a level 1.

  • FCS and BCIT (Family and Consumer Science, and Business, Computer, and Information Technology) for 6th grade only. Split into two semesters. FCS would include topics such as wellness, nutrition, and home finance. BCIT include keyboarding, and project based learning ex: design a food truck.


Other items

  • How to build a sequence to advanced technical and engineering classes at the high school level. If you complete the sequence it could yield an Associate’s degree at CCAC etc.

  • Financial literacy a required class in HS (result of feedback from alumni survey)

  • Increase the rigor to provoke deep learning, thoughts. Compliance vs. engagement. Everything has to be right, but what if there’s multiple right or wrong answers.

  • Move keyboarding to the elementary school?

  • No specific professional development or certifications for anyone dealing with GOAL students.

  • Teachers are motivated

  • Tech Ed department received a $45k grant from Project Lead the Way. Using to transform tech ed curriculum (robotics, programming etc.)



Upcoming Events

Upcoming School Board Meetings - 7 p.m. at Central Office

  • March 20, 2019 – Work Session

  • March 27, 2019 - Regular Meeting

  • April 24, 2019 – (Combined Meeting) – Work Session/Regular Meeting

  • School start time decision to come to a vote soon - potentially February.

  • To register to speak, please call the Board Secretary at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting at 412-369-5437. It will be necessary to give a topic, and you must be a resident of the District. When called upon to speak, the individual will be asked to give his/her name and home address.


NASH Counselor / Principal Coffees (third Thursday of month at 7 a.m. in Ponce Room) Slides available at link

  • March 21, 2019 - Career & Major Planning and Principal Coffee

  • April 11, 2019 - Finding the Right FIT College

  • May 16, 2019 - 11th Grade Parents: Summer To Do List (Combined High School Principals’ Coffee/Counseling Coffee)

NAI Principal’s Coffee - 1:30 p.m. at NAI unless otherwise noted

  • Thursday, May 16, 2019 - 11th Grade Parents: Summer To Do List (Combined High School Principals’ Coffee/Counseling Coffee) at 7 a.m. at Baierl Center

NAI Counselor Coffee/Cocoa Series Information


Updates & Reports by Officers & Building Representatives


Building and School Updates

  • No building updates shared

  • 2019-2020 calendar available

  • Looking to combine some NAPAGE and GAC meetings next year.

  • Speak with elementary GAC members to get on the same page and share info about NAPAGE etc.

  • AP accommodations

  • Stress - pulling kids out. Workload, limited noticed and timing of applying to National Honors Society


Mission Statement:

NAPAGE is a parent support/advocacy group. We are the North Allegheny chapter of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE). PAGE is a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to helping gifted learners, parents and educators. You can visit their website at www.giftedpage.org for more information.

NAPAGE’s mission is to advocate for and support gifted children and their families in the North Allegheny School District. We accomplish this by:

  • Providing parent representation to NA’s Gifted Advisory Committee (GAC and SEAC)

  • Sharing experiences, concerns and successes

  • Proactively addressing issues that arise

  • Encouraging the use of best practices in gifted education


District Gifted Education information can be found at:

https://www.northallegheny.org/Page/25870