Faculty meeting

Announcements!

Ms. Branch reminded seventh graders to hold on to eligibility lists.
Check spring festival schedule. Make changes and give them to Michele.
Ms. Gonnella reminded and encouraged all to attend festival Saturday.
Eighth grade trip paperwork forthcoming.

Ms. Gonnella reminded folks to sign stull evals.
Book fair is going on. Please sign up English teachers!
Help is needed for supervision. Please be visible on the yard to help keep our campus safe.
Ms. Berman expressed gratitude for support of the Washington family.
Ms. Dawson announced the Emerson mile over the next few days. Please come out and support our athletes!

Ms. Gonnella brought out attention to the Performance Meter and she wants us to keep this in mind as we plan for next year.

Jeremy Bollinger, the new PTSA president, introduced himself and let us know they are here to support us.

Fred then passed out materials for a discussion about uniforms. He went over the revised uniform policy and procedures. We then discussed uniforms at length.

I became too frustrated to continue taking notes.

Mr. Oakes made a few UTLA announcements regarding the proposed contract. There was some discussion about this tentative agreement.

Kathy clarified what she's signed us up for in terms of test-based evaluations.

That is all.

Schedule Reflection

We are reflecting on our current schedule, what we like, what works and what we would like to change. First we did silent, written reflection, then elbow partners, then a tea party. I need to mingle and hear what others think. A tea party is a way to get lots of different opinions.

Folks are sharing their ideas on our current schedule. I can not do lots of detail because I am on an iPAD. I will get the notes up here if I can.

Straw poll
4day no block 14
4day block 1
2day block 17
Perhaps we need more discussion on block. Discussion and clarification. Another straw poll.
Old 11
4day 20

Can we use this poll to move forward and work from this base of a 2 day block? Discussion about X, intervention, ET.
Things to think about for next meeting
ET on block days 10 min. Add minutesnto block and x
MTF shorten ET to 8 minutes plus 5 to each class period. 1st period has ET
Intervention in ET. X period pure fun or gone and minutes to block.
Keep ET as is. AR great.
Clarify X period purpose
ET and X same kids and same time.
Have ET be your kids from other periods.
Keep heterogenous ETs, not your regular kids.
X period keep 6th from 7and 8.

Have a week to think about this.

Professioanl Development May 17th

Whew. Too much last minute goings on. So we're starting with a few announcements.
Kathy G:

• Mr. Morrison is now teaching math for the rest of the semester.  
• Departments need to give Kathy the name of their new chairs.
• Kathy would like a waiver to hold off on the master schedule since we don't yet know @ RIFs and class sizes. There are issues with SIS. You can't change the master like you used to be able to. Deadline for master is June 1st. Kathy says she can give us something on paper. Now there are many small discussions about the schedule next year. Think about it. We'll talk next week.

Diego: Isn't here. Michele gave a quick word about him.

Kathy G: Some stories about testing. Lots of classes have perfect attendance. Kids for make ups will be called to the library. Thank you everyone.

Garry: Annual Hazardous Communication presentation
Special sign in for this specific training. You know the drill. Eeeeew, we also get a worksheet to go along with the PowerPoint. So we're learning what makes a substance a hazardous material. There are loads of rules for how these materials are used and stored. This is an annual training.

So here's what you need to know for the vocabulary test

• corrosive - goes through the test tiube and burns your hand
• flammable - can burn baby burn. btw...why do those trucks say inflammable? Means the same? i wish we had time for that question.
• explosives - blow up
• pressure - think of David Bowe and Freddy Mercury
• toxicity - think of bad mushrooms, or as Heather says, poisonusness

Garry is going over how these substances can get into you and what amount (dose) will hurt you. This important information is all on the MSDS (Material Data Safety Sheet). It tells you about the material and all about the properties and how to treat. Now Garry is telling us about a "friend" who used to do bad things with chemicals.

If there is a chemical spill, we have to "run" and get out of there, our first priority is the safety of our students.  Who you gonna call? No, not "Ghostbusters" like our entire staff said, but instead call OEHS. And tell our chemical safety person.

Garry went over safety gear. Now we're taking a QUIZ on the MDSS. I'm answering with TPR (holding up fingers)

Labels - like the ones we see on trucks and on the walls. Labels need to have certain information. If it doesn't have a label, don't just open it up.

You've wondered about the 4 color diamond labels, right? From the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association).
Blue: Health hazard
Red: Flammability
Yellow: Reactivity Hazard
White: other Hazard info. Kyle totally knows this stuff. There is a 0-4 scale to tell you how dangerous things are.

AND there is another labeling system. Yes, there is! HMIS Hazardous Material identification System.
If you want the powerpoint, Garry can give you the phone number.

Now we're off to our grade level meetings. End of the year is very busy. I'm staying in the library for 8th grade. I wish today was a bit more interesting for all you readers. I'll try to find a good pic for chemical safety.

8th grade meeting:
1. The PTSA wants some teachers to go on the Knotts trip. Let them know.
2. Discussion with Lily on the lead about 8th grade awards night. Concerns about spreading the awards around and NOT giving out a million awards and diluting. Some parents as well had concerns.
Give out the certificates in ET but announce 3 year perfect attendance and 4.0. The rest for department awards. Michele will find the top 3 8th grade word counts. Discussion that we don't need 6 awards for every department. Noriko mentioned that last year was very short and quick.
3. UCLA booked on June 10th. Free June 9th. Music concert on the 9th. Talking about what to do. Michele asked why we need a field day? Lots of reasons given. Lots of talking. Looks like June 8th at UCLA. Based on 15 week grades. Heather will create the coverage schedule. Noriko will do the trip slips and get the swimming details, chaperones.
4. C and D are at Uni working on culmination.

Reviewing to do lists for all of us and schedules as early as possible please. My head is swimming with all these end of the semester goings on.

Story time.
Michele

Testing Day #1 PD

So, last week, we neglected to do the blog! Oh no! We spent that meeting being trained in how to test our students. Kathy Garner gave every ET teacher a packet with testing materials and we watched the CST prep movie.

Today we finished our first day of testing! Whooo hooo! Ice cream is inhibiting Noriko's ability to blog, so I am helping out for a few minutes.  We are clarifying what to do in the future when the students don't complete the CST in the allotted testing period and new procedures will be implemented tomorrow.  Kathy is imploring us to go to Pershing Square on Friday and take part in the state-wide action.  Teachers Unite! Oakes jumps in with some union related business (not on the agenda) that leads to comments (also not on the agenda).  Michele looks annoyed that she isn't yet talking, even though she is on the agenda.

Noriko's back. Still listening to union stuff for Friday's action. Cecily's fired up! Okay... so get out to Pershing Square Friday or else and there are other actions planned. Parents are heading there too so get there. Five minutes... still clarifying the action Friday. This is an AFL/CIO combined effort.

Michele let us know where we are headed today. We are starting in departments and then heading into grade level meetings. Michele also went over the PD for the rest of the week and really, the rest of the year. With that she sent us off to our department chair.

We are now meeting as a department, so you are only going to get the science perspective, but I am sure you will get a taste of what all these meetings are about.  First up - textbooks - we have ordered a few more textbooks and we will get the same two consumables (Interactive Reader and CST prep book).  Deciding on who will do what next year - chair, chemical safety, science fair, nutrition network.  Supplies - Robin is handling it.  This year we have very generous parents, so maybe throw up a couple Donor's Choose projects and get some special stuff you need. Robin is unanimously elected as department chair again (Yeah!!!!), Brian will do chemical safety, need a science fair point person to make rubrics, register the school and the students, have written instructions for projects.  There is a question about why we persist in doing the county science fair.  There is some discussion about whether we should go back to the old science fair project system, or keep this year's system with some tweaking and clarification. Garry Joseph will be the science fair point person.  There are still some things that need to be worked out, but we can meet more as a department and also build in more collaboration with other content teachers. Robin, Laura and I will meet to decide who gets the eighth grade science awards.  There is a lot of discussion about what should or shouldn't be allowed as a science fair project.  The students should have an opportunity to do the school science fair for low stakes before the county science fair. Brain and Heather and Robin will somehow work out nutrition network between us.

And now for something completely different.  We are meeting as eighth grade.  Robin is giving us the packet that includes the dates for eighth grade activities.  Parents will donate water, orange wedges and cookies for the runners for the mile run.  Lily, Laura and David Weiss are doing awards.  Forms will be distributed at the grade level PD next Tuesday.  Parents want to get snacks for teachers and kids who play in softball game.  Robin is looking for volunteers for the 8th grade dance, handing out yearbooks, chaperone, etc.  Now Robin wants volunteers to go as chaperones to Knott's Berry Farm on the PTSA trip.  All students may go, not just eligible students.  Noriko says that if we want UCLA, have to go on June 10.  Consensus on date.  Noriko will book UCLA, Heather will make a coverage schedule for students who stay behind, Noriko will talk to Dogtown Dogs, parents will be asked to donate supplemental food.  David Oakes and Carolyn are on top of culmination.  Heather will make a schedule for coverage of students and classes during culmination practice. Miss Mona and Ms. Branch will coordinate on flowers (daisies in pots, carnations to give out).  Lily is bringing up the appeals committee.  Who is on the committee and when will they meet?  Sorry, I am leaving a lot of stuff out so that I can write it on my paper.

Test Taking Faculty Meeting

The meeting is with everyone in the library and hopefully will be quick enough to allow time for phone calls.  We were given a list of emergency preparedness steps to do in our box, just an FYI.  We were also given a laminated sheet of what to do in various emergencies to post in our room.  Alex has been selected to be a principal at a small District 7 high school and he will be leaving after testing.  We will have an interim (retired) AP for the remainder of the year and someone next year, depending on displacements and seniority and whatnot.  Take a test taking strategies poster on your way out.

Kathy Garner is leading a discussion of test-taking strategies.  She has pulled some old video tapes and has added a BrainPop video and some YouTube videos to her website (since Michele isn't here to put them under teacher resources.  I guess that this is a taste of what next year will be like), that you can (should) show to your ET.  YouTube requires you to enter your SSO username and password to show the video.  Some are made by teachers and some by kids.  Kathy Gonnella says that if you don't have a cart in your ET or don't know how to use technology, see Kathy Garner, but every ET should see at least a few videos.  Apparently Michele will put them on the website tomorrow when she gets back.

Alex has asked us to have small group discussions about what we are doing in our ET to reinforce good test taking strategies.  I mentioned that I told the kids not to eat any fat or sugar before testing which Robin restated as reinforcing healthy eating.

On a side note, there were two agendas for this meeting, both provided only minutes before the meeting started, a pink one which I think is from the PD committee and which we are disregarding and a blue one which I believe is from administration, which is the one we are using.

Back to the all mighty test.  We are sharing with the whole group.  Sharon says choose the "best" answer.  Students often think two answers are right, but reinforce that only one is the best. Steve says make sure that you understand what the question is asking for. Other people shared stuff, but I stopped listening.  I started wondering about free books, because it was my understanding that we had set aside money for the free books this year, but no one has done anything about this and what's up with the money for the books.

This year's testing schedule is very different from last year. Apparently we are having practice testing on 5/9, minimum days 5/10-5/13 with one testing session per day and some classes, and testing on 5/16 and 5/17 with all classes meeting those days (I think).  The schedule will be provided tomorrow as it was just run by SBMC last night.  Several faculty members are expressing that they are frustrated to find out that the schedule is so different from last year and we are only now finding out.  Kathy says that we were told several weeks ago, but again faculty members expressed that while it may have been mentioned, nothing was concrete and we were not given specifics.  There is a high level of frustration that things like schedules are not communicated adequately or in a timely fashion.

Short Break

Faculty meeting begins.  An announcement that the father of two students died suddenly last night and to cut those kids a break.  Faculty members suggest a collection for burial expenses and a sign up for food delivery.  Wednesday, 5/4 the principals' meeting will be here so the yard will be used for parking.  We have a new complex manager who will be here on Friday because they may be drilling on the South field on Friday to do testing for the new gym building.  Camp Emerson will be Aug 30-Sept. 1 with Howdy Day on Sept. 1 from 1:30-3:00.  The PIGG day will be either August 29th or September 5th depending on furlough days.  Start thinking about eighth graders who may want to do speeches at culmination.  X period starts this week.  Give out program cards in ET, collect them in X and turn them in to the Student Services office.  Make sure that every kid in your room is supposed to be there.  Sheila is sharing an article from the LA Times about improving test scores of African-American students by having them read articles about overcoming adversity.  Also students who are directly taught about how learning occurs and that people are not born smart or dumb makes a difference.

Now we are having our Spring Recertification of district policies. Don't discriminate.  Report child abuse.  Don't be alone with kids. (Time out for an anecdote about a teacher who was recently removed from Palms for "baking cookies for a kid". ) Be vigilant about bullying and cyber-bullying. (Side conversation about "burn pages".) Be vigilant about hate crimes - take them seriously. Be safe, don't do stupid things to put yourself at risk.

Now a UTLA update - there is a proposed one hour job action and a protest on Pershing Square on Friday May 13th.  There is some dissent about whether or not we should go forward with it.  We are being asked to sign a pledge to do the one hour job action and to commit to attending the rally (separate sign ups). There is a question about whether or not we should do the testing in light of the proposed cuts.  Cecily says, per UTLA lawyer, you must administer the test or you will likely lose your job.  We are working on fixing testing at the state level, but that fight is not for this week.  We are joining together, statewide for actions during the week of testing, including the one hour action.  There is a movement in the state and the union to move toward a strike, but we aren't there yet, though it is on the table.  We need to stop being reactive and start DOING things and this is our start.  Noriko suggests that there may be some riffed teachers willing to not give the test and test the union contract.  Cecily says she will talk that over with her people.  Remind those teachers you know at other schools to show up and walk out for the job action.  Only 27 people signed during the meeting.

Professional Development 4-15

Thank goodness taxes aren't due today! We are trying to get through this quickly so that Spring Break can BEGIN!  Heather needs caffeine.  Really.

We all had to scramble to get Mr. Deasy's letter out during period six.  Maybe we can voice our concerns about the schizo behavior of the budgetary divas.

Zimmer's great ideas about school deconstruction have been approved. That should take 18 months to gain approval.  He thinks it will be done in 2014.  We think that this should be the Alicia Lindheim Memorial Gymnasium.  And the Terry Cowart Building.

Need to power off all computers and unplug them.  Lock all valuables up or take them home with you.  Take attendance before you leave.  Also lock up all windows and doors.  Read "The Huge Sway of a Teen's Pal" and pair-share your reactions and thoughts.

District wants to take $114 mil from our benefits hold back as well as $60 mil from worker's comp. AND offer us 12 more furlough days for 2011-2012.

Megan is giving CBTL gift cards for turning in surveys - Jacobson, Perez, Barbeau.  She has also given us the CCCI template to use with SDAIE.

Professional Development Grade Levels - 8th

Michele Levin here...

8th grade teachers are trickling in as we get ready to start our PD session. Wow, we have some late tricklers..more like drops.

We've been given the list of of students who are currently ineligible for culmination. There will be a student ET and a parent informational meeting on April 28th (5:30 pm) to discuss the requirements. We need clarification on the ET meeting - all kids or just those who are ineligible. (Kathy says all kids) We're talking a bit more about culmination requirements. Kathy would like 8th grade teachers to come to the parent meeting on the 28th. Anyone, anyone? Ferris?

Culmination. Hoping the veterans will give some advice to the new folks for planning. Oakes suggests those involved in the planning do it in a small group. Setting rehearsal times for June 21st pers 5 and 6, and June 22nd ET to lunch. Culmination is the 23rd at 5:00 pm @ Uni. Speeches will be taken care of. Mr. Oakes reminded everyone @ parking.

 10 week activity ideas? Free dress day this Friday - Done! Leadership is working on some fun lunch activities and Spirit Week. What for our 8th graders? Like the idea of a pre-culmination reward donuts. So we'll do specail seating on the 28th, then those eligible will leave for donuts.

Dance -  I heard Noriko mention something @ being scarred for life. Kids need to get their yearbooks during the dance.

Diane is taking over while I leave for a meeting to see if our 9 year old file server will reboot after 280 days. Guess what, it did! POE is the best computer in the world.

. AND...Panorama pics will be distributed on Friday during ET.  Ping pong tournament? Softball game June 17 @ lunch. Awards Ceremony - auditorium - June 4th from 5-6 pm.  Student designed program cover?  Pick up elsewhere? Not lobby...

I'm back. Field Day - where do we want to have it? Idea is for the beach on the public bus. We'll have to look into the details. UCLA has a park. Noriko will look into us going there, special for 8th grade.

The parents are looking into the 8th grade trip.

Sarah is trying to weasel out of the dance. I can't imagine why. People aren't listening very well at this point. We're talking more about culmination requirements and the parent meeting. Lisa and Sarah will present. Lots more talking. Boy, we're not adhering to our norms today. I blame myself since I brought a tub of candy for everyone. Sorry.

I think we really need an 8th grade meeting where we sort of chat and break bread. LAUSD is a bit stressful at this time.

1. Culmination Requirements
2. 10 Week activity
3. Dance - June 17th 4-7 pm
4. Softball Game - June 17th lunch
5. Awards - June 4th 5-6 pm
6. Field Day - June 20th
7. End of Year Parent Trip

Done with 8th grade activities discussion.

ET teachers are getting the LETTER requesting parents to come to parent conference night. This is the same night as the culmination meeting. Folks are filling out the letters and discussing how their students are doing in their classes. Boy, we really need time to talk about our kids in a casual environment IMHO.