Site Council Minutes Final Site Council Meeting Notes - May 4, 2009 - 5:30 pm Attending:  Pat Siverhus, Brian Zambreno, Dan LeMire, Barb Shock, Liz Hathaway Castelán  Guests:  Aubriana Jackson, Tameishey Brown, Naajee Dennis, Peter Jackson, and for last half of meeting, parents from feeder schools:  Kara, Judy (sorry, I didn’t get these last names), Paul Duncan (Highland Elementary) and Jackie Kelly (Randolph Heights) Agenda: Old Business     SCIP Review     Budget Review     Parent Conference Report (2)     International Night Report (3) New Business     Student petition regarding 8th Grade Recognition (1)     Valleyfair (4)     Building continuity from the elementary feeder schools to HiJr (5) 1.  We began with New Business - the student petition.  The students presented a petition signed by 358 students plus parents who were requesting that the 8th grade Recognition Ceremonies be held in the evening with the entire 8th grade present, as opposed to the present plan of 8th grade recognition being held during the day and by team. The students also presented the following points: Most parents will find it difficult to attend during the day; students and families are willing to help with donations and fundraising if budget is the issue; the students want to be together for one last celebration; many of this year’s 8th graders have friends on other teams - in part, created by the cross team electives last year that were a part of the 8 over 2 schedule. Brian presented the following points for the administration:  everyone cannot fit into the auditorium (it only seats 700 and there are 312 8th graders plus two parent/guardians per student); students have to be held in adjoining rooms and view the ceremony on the monitors; not all students can come at night; the budget doesn’t have funds for a dance and reception.  Brian accepted the petition for the administration and would present it to Char when she gets back to school after her illness. 2.  Pat reported on Parent Conferences - We had an average of 27% participation - ranging from 19% to 54% on the different teams.  The pattern of lower spring participation is common.  (We had 48% in October, and 35% in January.) 3.  Pat reported on International Night, March 19 - 200 students participated in the performances - dance and song; food from around the world was served; the band played and there were booths from different countries.  It was supported by AVID and MYP and considered a big success. 4.  Valleyfair will be June 5 for all students who have fulfilled their obligations and not been dismissed/suspended in the last month of school. No new report on the SCIP or budget was given. The last part of the meeting was spent discussing how we can build continuity from Highland Elementary and other feeder schools.  Parents from HiEl want to be able to make the case with fellow parents and the classmates of their children that HiJr is the place to go.  They are hoping we can invite the students into the building to build enthusiasm and show them why it is a good choice.  The incident this winter reinforced a negative image of HiJr that the parents would like to help us overcome.  They have worked hard to build a strong school community at HiEl that they would like to have continue into HiJr.  Ideas:  Staff visit PTO meeting of 5th and 6th grade parents to talk about HiJr, students (alum) return to talk about HiJr in 5th and 6th grade classrooms, create top 10 Reasons to Choose HiJr list, emphasize drama options, invite 5th and 6th graders to HiEl to shadow students or for some activity, performance or “getting to know us” day. Editors note: a committee involving a few parents and staff from both schools to plan for this in 2009-10 might be a good approach. The meeting adjourned at 6:50pm