Quincy Citywide Parents’ Council

Minutes for November 14, 2005

Broad Meadows Middle School

Meeting was called to order at 7:15pm, with Barbara Isola presiding.

Barbara introduced our special guests- Dr. Carmen Mariano, assistant Superintendent of QPS; Colleen Roberts, Director of Curriculum: Sylvia Pattavina, Director of ESL, and Title 1; and Jennifer Fay-Beers, Principal of Central Middle School.

Dr. Mariano’s humorous presentation focused on the fact that every child is gifted. He said that the average human brain has the capacity to learn 50 different languages, among other things. He explained that there are eight types of smart- word, number, picture, body, music, nature, people and self and every human is smart in at least one of the above. Educators teach children how to develop their other smarts, which is very different than they were taught. Teachers use many methods to teach children- using song, pictures etc. Dr. Mariano said that teachers don’t put greatness into the students; they find the greatness that is there.

Sylvia Pattavina spoke about the ELC Program. She explained that Lab students are pulled out of their home schools one day a week and do the Lab Program at Wollaston school, taught by June Joyce. Their main project is an independent research project. ELC students who choose to do so can enroll in APC at Central M.S. A screening committee selects the students for Lab Program. Teacher recommendation is the main criteria but achievement and ability scores from standardized tests are counted also.

Jen Fay-Beers spoke about the APC Program at Central. She attended Central Middle School. She is very happy that QPS has continued offering services to gifted students while other areas are cutting funding. Gifted students have needs too. Central has whole school goals and all students are treated equally. All students at Central are taking a multiple intelligence test online to find out where their strengths lie.

Sylvia Pattavina then spoke about the APC Program at the high school. It is very different at the high school level. Students can choose whether to be in all or some APC classes, based on their strengths. Many colleges give credits for APC courses taken. There are many enrichment programs also at the high schools. You can take APC classes in high school even if you weren’t in APC at Central.

At the high schools, there are APC, honors and standard programs.

At all the middle schools, there are standard classes, with some honors programs in the 7^th and 8^th grade.

At Central middle school only, there is the APC program.

Sterling has an honors program.

Marsha questioned the different levels of education at the middle schools. She suggested that it could be a problem if different middle schools have different programs. She said that she hopes it would be a level playing field.

Roseann Russell asked what the task force on the Gifted and Talented Program found. The task force is comprised of 15-20 educators and is in its third year. They are continuing to research the program. They have broken down the program into eight categories. Parents and students in the ELC program were surveyed.  The task force will make recommendations to Dr. DeCristofaro, who will send it to the policy sub-committee of the School Committee for review. Jen Fay-Beers explained that they are trying to align with national standards.

Barbara Isola said that she feels that there is weaknesses in letting parents know how to help their children pick courses. She would like parents informed about critical courses that their children should take. Jen Fay-Beers suggested putting the track in writing so that parents and students would know which courses to pick.

There is a test to get into biology in high school but they might be getting rid of it as it has problems. A lot of kids miss out on biology because of that test. They hope to use teacher recommendations in the future.

Hank Brawley asked about the cost of Lab. Dr. Mariano said that we are not spending any more on Lab than regular classes and that size-wise classes are about the same. Materials expenditure is also about the same. The ELC teacher is assigned full-time to that program.

Roseann Russell felt that it must be disruptive to 5^th grade teachers to have students pulled out for ELC. Fiona Canavan disagreed, saying that with all the IEP’s etc that teachers must be used to students being pulled out of their classes.

Colleen Roberts spoke about Primary Source, which is a non-profit program that offers seminars and workshops for professional development. Two teachers travel to China for ten days and they teach workshops upon their return. This year, one teacher will also go to Japan. The 5^th, 8^th and 10^th teachers teach American History and they take courses about that for professional development. Those programs are over and above regular professional development programs. Getting teachers motivated motivates the students.

Social studies text books are different in every school. Hank Brawley said that there are state learning guidelines that QPS is not following, as the textbooks are outdated. Atherton Hough Social Studies books are 12 years old.

Colleen Roberts explained that the Design in Learning is 5 years old and that frameworks have changed since. Colleen said that books are merely resources and that there are other ways to get information.  They are looking into the outdated textbooks and next year they will have a pilot program for 5^th graders.

It was agreed to invite Colleen Roberts back again as guest speaker, as there were many questions for her.

Dr. Mariano gave an overview about the open enrollment numbers at the high school level.

Last year, 123 students from the Quincy high school district went to NQHS, 13 students from the NQHS district went to QHS.

This year, 73 students from the QHS district went to NQHS, 6 students from the NQHS district went to QHS.

Dr. DeCristofaro should have a report about all day kindergarten to the School Committee by January. We may have full day kindergarten by next September. There will be a cost involved, as more teachers will be needed and more classrooms. A parent asked if Lincoln Hancock 5^th graders would be moved to the middle school if the full day kindergarten takes effect. Dr. Mariano said that he doesn’t know yet.

The minutes from the October 17^th meeting were approved.

Eileen Mullen read the report from the school committee. The minutes from the School Committee meeting will be available online after November 16^th. http://www.quincypublicschools.com/main_frame_pages/district.htm

It was agreed to invite Paul Phillips to the next meeting.

Barbara Isola will look into a parent’s query as to whether there is a limit of one school bus per class per year for class field trips.

The next meeting will be December 12^th at 7:00pm.

The meeting adjourned at 9:20pm.