SAC

Ferrisview Elementary School Advisory Council (SAC)

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, February 21st, 2024

4:00 pm 

Attendance: 

Janet Briggs (Principal)

Monique Buffett (Teacher)

Kirt Winter - Chair (Parent/Community Member)

Melissa Deane (Parent/Community Member)

Heidi Higgins (regrets)

Janet Wilkie (regrets)

Call to Order - 4:03pm

Principal’s Report - General Update:

• Welcome and thank you to all attending members of the SAC.

• Literacy Support Update

• SAC expenditures/financial report

School Success Plan (SSP) Update:

• Literacy - As of September, staff identified writing skills as the area of concern.

P - 3 teachers received Responsive Literacy resources early in September

Grades 4 - 5 teachers received English Language Arts Outcomes and a Writing Continuum Checklist

Janet Briggs suggested the use of resources to employ a teacher for 25% of the day to provide small group instruction in writing, targeting our grade 3 demographic. Grade 3 teachers will determine the target groups as well as the writing goals. All members were in agreement to use funds for this purpose.

A teacher has been employed for 25% of each day to provide a boost program for students who require some support to meet grade level expectations. 

This teacher has identified the following skills as areas of concern;

1. Writing Stamina

2. Conventions

3. Transition Words and phrases

• Strategies

1. Throughout the sessions, students focused on pre-writing activities to improve and increase details

2. Students produced formal pieces of writing 

3. Students used writing Rubrics and Checklists

• Update: The literacy support was successful and students have developed skills to increase writing stamina, conventions and transitions. Students are working with the CBVRCE School Wide Writing Plan/Writing Continuum as well as the Provincial Assessment Writing Rubric. These tools provide guidelines to promote student awareness and independence throughout the writing process.

• Follow-up: Due to the success of this support, a second session with a new group of students has been recommended. The School Advisory Council agreed to and supported this recommendation.

Agenda:

1. Standing Agenda Items

• Mathematics Small Group Support/Intervention Program - A  recommendation to provide small group support for students was put forth. This would require employing a teacher for a percentage of each week to provide these supports. The percentage will be determined by current scheduling of students. All SAC members were in favor.

• SAC Expenditures/Financial report - Funds have been used to support the writing intervention program as well as to cover costs of the holiday lunch which was offered to the entire student body. SAC has approved the release of funds to begin sessions of Literacy and Mathematics Intervention. 

• Student Support Grant - Funds are used to cover costs of field trips, school sports and skating trips. 

• Parent Feedback - A few parents expressed concerns regarding students eating in winter outwear during lunchtime. This concern was addressed with the parents of the SAC and they did not consider this an issue. The SAC parents voiced their approval of the practice to ensure students receive the maximum outdoor playtime possible. 

2. Additions to Agenda 

• Outdoor Classroom Repair -  the outdoor classroom sustained some damage due to snow removal. Janet Briggs will submit a report to SAP to request the repairs.

• Skating -  It was suggested that the school reach out to the local highschool hockey teams to help support and instruct students during the skating sessions. This would benefit both student bodies and promote community involvement. Janet Briggs will contact the Principal of Memorial High School with this suggestion for the 2024/25 school year. 

3. Concerns or Questions - none at this time

4. Future Meeting Date - May 8th, 2024 - Ferrisview Elementary

Meeting Adjourned:

•   4:43 pm

Ferrisview Elementary School Advisory Council (SAC)

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, November  8th, 2023

4:00 pm 

Attendance: 

Janet Briggs (Principal)

Monique Buffett (Teacher)

Kirt Winter - Chair (Parent/Community Member)

Melissa Deane (Parent/Community Member)

Call to Order - 4:01pm

Principal’s Report - General Update:

• Welcome and thank you to all attending members of the SAC.

• Provincial Assessment results have been received and analyzed.

School Success Plan (SSP) Update:

• Literacy - As of September, staff identified writing skills as the area of concern.

P - 3 teachers received Responsive Literacy resources early in September

Grades 4 - 5 teachers received English Language Arts Outcomes and a Writing Continuum Checklist

Janet Briggs suggested the use of resources to employ a teacher for 25% of the day to provide small group instruction in writing, targeting our grade 3 demographic. Grade 3 teachers will determine the target groups as well as the writing goals. All members were in agreement to use funds for this purpose.

• Update - A teacher has been employed for 25% of each day to provide a boost program for students who require some support to meet grade level expectations. 

This teacher has identified the following skills as areas of concern;

1. Writing Stamina

2. Conventions

3. Transition Words and phrases

• Strategies

1. Throughout the sessions, students will focus on pre-writing activities to improve and increase details

2. Students will produce formal pieces of writing 

3. Students will use writing Rubrics and Checklists

Review of Provincial Assessment Results:

Literacy - Reading and Writing results indicate an increase in both areas. Writing remains an area of focus for the current group of grade fours. 

Mathematics - Math assessment results indicate a significant increase in overall achievement. 

Reflection: During the November staff meeting, teachers were asked to reflect on practices that helped promote achievement and student scores. The following strategies and resources were all considered essential to the students’ growth and success:

• Small group instruction

• Google Literacy and Math Classrooms

• Boost groups with students close to grade level expectations

• Structured, designated times for instruction 

• Referring students to program planning

• Integrating technology to increase student engagement

• Using curriculum documents such as Year at a Glance for Math and Responsive Literacy for ELA, diagnostic math assessments, pre and post testing

Agenda:

1. Additions to Agenda - none added

2. Standing Agenda Items

• SAC Survey -  Completed as a Group with SAC members 

PD requested as a result of the current school demographic - Cultural Awareness Professional Development for staff to help transition newcomers successfully.

• Community SAC Meeting  Reminder - Community members as well as all SACs within our Family of schools will have an opportunity to meet to discuss and to provide feedback/input into current matters. 

Location: Memorial High School

Date: December 5, 2023

Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm

• Activities:

Remembrance Day Ceremony - November 9th, 2023

Soccer - two teams participated in soccer this year. Students learned the value in teamwork and good sportsmanship. 

Basketball - there will be two teams again this year. Both coaches are returning to support our teams.

Youth in Motion - Grade four students will have the opportunity to participate in this free event.

Swim to Survive - Grade three students will have several swimming sessions at the local pool. The students will participate in life saving skills around water.

Skating - All students from Primary to Five will take part in three skating sessions scheduled between January and February.

Holiday Concert - The two dates are set for December 7th (3PJ - 5) and December 12th (Primary - 2/3LR)

• Concerns or Questions - none at this time

• Future Meeting Dates:

December 5th, 2023 - MHS Community Meeting

February 21st, 2024 - Ferrisview

May 8th, 2024 - Ferrisview

New Business:

• To promote writing skills and community involvement, grade three students will be writing letters to the guest home during the holiday season.

Meeting Adjourned:

•   4:44 pm

Ferrisview Elementary School Advisory Council (SAC)

Meeting Minutes

Thursday, September 27th, 2023

4:00 pm 

Attendance: 

Janet Briggs (Principal)

Monique Buffett (Teacher)

Janet Wilkie (Teacher Assistant/Community Member)

Heidi Higgins (Parent/Community Member)

Kirt Winter - Chair (Parent/Community Member)

Melissa Deane (Parent/Community Member)

Call to Order - 4:02pm

Principal’s Report - General Update:

• Welcome and thank you to all returning members of the SAC.

• All members in attendance

School Success Plan (SSP):

• Review of the school improvement goals:

  • Well-being - Students are being encouraged to self-regulate as well as to resolve small issues and conflicts independently.  A visual of “The Problem Solving Wheel” is present in all areas for students to reference and to decide on an alternative resolution or plan of action. The wheel provides several options for students to resolve problems independently.

Guidance Counselor will provide Tier One support by working in classrooms to teach Zones of Regulation. This program helps students identify how they are feeling as well as develop skills to regulate their emotions. 

• Literacy - Staff identified writing skills as the area of concern.

 P - 3 teachers received Responsive Literacy resources early in September

Grades 4 - 5 teachers received English Language Arts Outcomes

Janet Briggs suggested the use of resources to employ a teacher for 25% of the day to provide small group instruction in writing, targeting our grade 3 demographic. Grade 3 teachers will determine the target groups as well as the writing goals. All members were in agreement to use funds for this purpose.

• Mathematics - Mary Lou Andrea is meeting with schools and staff to promote a Physically Active Framework/ASK  for math instruction. The goal is to provide students with opportunities to move while learning.

Agenda:

1. Additions to Agenda - none added

2. Standing Agenda Items

• Community SAC Meeting - Community members as well as all SACs within our Family of schools will have an opportunity to meet to discuss and to provide feedback/input into current matters. 

Location: Memorial High School

Date: December 5, 2023

Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm

.

• School Pictures - The Photographer will be at Ferrisview on Friday, November 3rd, 2023. All dates and important information will be provided through electronic newsletters and made available on the Ferrisview website.

• Orange Shirt Day - Orange t-shirts have been purchased for all students at Ferrisview and will be distributed Friday, September 29th. During our assembly, students will acknowledge Mi’kma’ki, the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people.

Teacher directed instruction about Truth and Reconciliation is taking place in the classrooms.

An alert will be sent out to remind parents that t-shirts are available at the school for this day

•  Concerns or Questions - none at this time

• Future Meeting Dates:

November 8th, 2023 - Ferrisview

December 5th, 2023 - MHS Community Meeting

February 21st, 2024 - Ferrisview

May 8th, 2024 - Ferrisview

New Business:

• Janet Briggs is waiting to receive the Grade 3 assessment results.

Meeting Adjourned:

•   4:33 pm

2023-2024 SAC Ferrisview

Chair - Kirt Winter (Parent)

Heidi Higgins - (Parent)

Melissa Deane (Parent)

Janet Briggs (Administrator)

Monique Buffett (Teacher)

Janet Wilkie (Teacher Assistant)

Meeting Minutes - School Advisory Council

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022

In attendance (virtual):

Janet Briggs

Neeta Kumar-Britten

Lyndsey Perry

Monique Buffett

Heidi Higgins

Kirt Winter

Melissa Deane

Technical Difficulties:

Holly MacMillan

Diana Scott

Agenda 

Introductions

Photographer

Concert and Volunteers

Breakfast Volunteers

NS Assessment Results

SAC Funded Intervention - Spring 2022

SSP Goals

Attendance

Future Meeting Dates

—------------------------------

Photographer  - Staying with Life Touch

Concert and Volunteers

Dates set for December 14. 15, volunteers to be set in place

Breakfast Volunteers - Putting out the call

NS Assessment Results - String Math - majority of students at or above grade level

Reading - majority of students at grade level

Writing - challenges in this area

SAC-Funded Interventions  - Approved by SAC for Writing and Math Work in early 2023;  Targeted interventions in math and writing.

SSP Goals - Wellness, Math, ELA

Attendance - We monitor daily attendance for the school population.  Data is kept.

Future Meeting Dates:

Jan 18, 2023 4PM

May 17, 2023 4PM