Site Council

1. Call to Order
2. Principal and Dean Report
   1. Safety and Security Update (Sara Jo)
   2. Cultural Competency Update (Sara Jo)
   3. Discipline Update (Chelsea)
   4. Staffing and Space Update (Sara Jo)
3. Staff Report
4. PTA Report
5. Parent Report
6. District Report
7. New Business?
   1. Day of Kindness – June 1^st?
8. Adjourn

1. Call to Order

Attendees: Sara Jo, Chelsea, Celia, Catherine, Alyssa, Amy, Jessica, Sara, Kendra, and Mike

2. Principal and Dean Report
   1. Safety and Security Update (Sara Jo)
      1. Vestibule Remodel
         • Front atrium slated for remodel this summer.
           • Will require all people to go directly into office first, through a glass-walled door. (similar to what is at Beaver Lake Middle)
           • Will mean changes for comet club & summer school.
           • Key cards for all staff members.
           • Portable doors will be locked at all times.
           • Kids in portables will get a key card in order to enter building for the bathrooms.

1. Automatic Arming Button
   • Used for immediate lock-down.
   • This will also lock & close the interior doors to corridors.

• SAY Something – If you see something/someone, SAY Something. Call the office/police.

1. Practice Drills
   • Chelsea & Sara Jo reported on this. Boss instructed them to INFORM the school community about the drill before it happens… = but this did not work well, as kids were nervous.

(Safety & Security - Practice Drills continued…)

• Instead, Chelsea & Sara Jo came to conclusion that it is better to have drills be a surprise, in order to be effective.

1. Comet Club Security
   • This is a weak link in our security.
   • Gates must remain open because of drop-offs & pick-ups.
2. Other Security
   • We rent our other spaces out for after-school activities – chess club, basketball, etc. This may include people who are not part of (or aware of) our school security system.

1. Cultural Competency Update (Sara Jo)
   1. “We will love and support every child through hard times”
      • Through social media, people have shared misinformation.
      • Things improving our cultural competency:
        • Grant – received books to share with staff on cultural competency.
        • Guest Speaker – re: ‘Kids and Race: Changing the Narrative’ = was a great learning & growth opportunity. (Sara Jo gave a copy of this handout to all site council members).

1. RACE
   • Don’t shy away from questions. Use these as a learning opportunity.
   • Engage in the conversation. (It is easier for kids, adults need to consciously make an effort to ask the questions).
   • 35 languages spoken in our community
   • Make sure our community is Welcome to EVERYONE.
   • Our PARA Staff is now more reflective of our diverse community.

• Impact vs. Intent
  • Intent because we care about our community

1. Discipline & Student Support Update (Chelsea)
   1. STUDENT HANDBOOK
      • Drafted with purpose every single year.
      • Chelsea & Sara Jo work on this a lot, making changes throughout the year.
      • Very specific
   2. Referrals (blue sheets for behavior)
      • Way for adults to let the office know what is happening.
        • Used to follow up on:
          1. Language
          2. Racism

• Physical behavior

• Parents will get a phone call.
• Chelsea tries to call the family of the victim too.
• Blue sheets are input into the system for PBSES.

(Discipline & Student Support Continued…)

• Referral DATA:
  • Kindergarten usually has the most referrals.
  • Overall referrals are about the same as last year.
• Support for Students
  • LRC1 program.
  • VOICE Mentors – a community member meets with student once a week.
  • PARAs have taken extra interest in some students.
  • Whole class-wide lessons. (i.e. Teaching how to play soccer kindly)
  • Conferencing sessions with Mykela.
  • Check-in, Check-out.
  • Behavior Charts
  • Office Prize Drawer
  • Help with finding better/diff. routes for walking to school.
  • Parent communication.
  • Socio-economic needs.

1. Behavior Log
   • Sara Jo & Chelsea maintain a confidential, detailed behavior Excel spreadsheet.
   • Helps them notice trends.
   • Helps with teaching power points – Mr. Mokin.
   • PBSES Team for planning.
2. Improvements with Kindergarten Behavior
   • At the beginning of the year, Sara Jo tells the K teachers info to help with Kindergarten behaviors:
     • They are learning how to play together.
     • May be coming from much smaller preschools, or no preschool.
     • Huge field for recess can be a lot for beginning Kindergarteners.
   • From Sept to now (March) = Huge improvement in behaviors seen from Kindergarten.

1. Staffing and Space Update (Sara Jo)
   1. NEW PRINCIPAL
      • From Los Angeles.
      • Previously working in the district office there.
      • So excited to be back in school working with the kids!
      • May General PTA Mtg: hopefully the new principal will be able to attend.
      • Comments about new principal (Chelsea):
        • She is a really good fit!
        • There was a very diverse interview group from Challenger, teachers/staff & parents. Everyone was very impressed with the new principal & her communication skills.
        • Nobody will be Sara Jo though. We will miss her. J

(Staffing – NEW Principal Continued…)

• Student Placements for 2018-2019:
  • Sara Jo will do as much hiring as she can until June 30^th.
  • Sara Jo will do placement for 1^st-5^th
  • New principal will do K because enrollment changes up until August.
  • New principal will do specialist schedules.

1. CHANGES in Staffing for next year
   • K = 8 classrooms (stays the SAME) ~ 20 students per
   • 1^st grade = 5 classrooms (1 added)
   • 2^nd grade = 5 classrooms (1 added)
   • 3^rd grade = 5 classrooms (1 added)
   • 4^th grade = 5 classrooms (1 added)
   • 5^th grade = 3 classrooms (MINUS 1 classroom)

• Adding 0.5 ELL Teacher
• Adding Full-time Counselor (Mykela will now be a 1.0 full-time counselor!)
• Adding 1.0 Student support coach.
• Potentially adding more secretarial hours for data entry.

• Space Update
  • Adding a Portable – may be added by the far 3^rd grade portables, not sure.

3. Staff Report
   1. Classified Staff (Celia) – nothing to report
   2. K (Alyssa) – Steam field trip to the Art Museum
   3. 1^st (Alyssa) – Planning their Zoo Field Trip
   4. 2^nd (Sara)
      • done with Hi-Cap testing
      • CogAT
      • Social Studies = Communities
      • Writing = Opinion writing
   5. 3^rd (Sara)
      • Abby Yahna is out on maternity leave = New sub is Kelly Mollet.
      • Native American unit
      • Social Emotional lessons are really making a difference in classroom.
   6. 4^th (Sara)
      • Field Trip to State Capitol.
      • “This is Me” – students wrote & shared, with an idea to find commonalities between each other & compassion.
   7. 5^th (Sara)
      • Fossils to Go
      • They have selected 19 Skyline Counselors for 5^th grade camp.
      • Thanks to the PTA for Fundraising.

(Staff Report Continued…)

1. Comet Club
   • Spring Break = Space Exploration
   • Summer = Time Travel (Pre-history, going into the Future)
2. PTA Report
   1. General Meeting – was well-attended & informative!
   2. Reminder about Facebook Groups – BE positive and do not share information of any student EVER!
   3. KILN – will be repaired. We received the funding.
   4. Golden Acorn Awards – took place on Friday.

1. VOLUNTEERS Needed – members who are on PTA = please talk to people and ask them to volunteer for next year!

5. Parent Report
   1. Bandanas were reported worn.
   2. QT about Comet Club Summer Camp – can children who are NOT enrolled in Comet Club during the school year, register for Comet Club’s Summer Camp? = YES

6. District Report

7. New Business
   1. Day of Kindness – June 1^st? -- We did not get to discuss at this meeting.

8. Adjourn

1. Call to Order
2. Principal Report
   1. LAP Report (Beth Manias)
   2. SIP (Sara Jo)
   3. Recess before Lunch and Lunch Times (Spring)
3. Staff Report
4. PTA Report
5. Parent Report
6. District Report
7. New Business?
8. Adjourn

Attendees: Everyone attending except Susan Kelly. (Sara Henson reported on 4^th-5^th grade for her).

PRINCIPAL REPORT

1. LAP Report (Beth Manias) – She is a pt. 8 LAP Teacher, and gets to be here at Challenger 4 days a week.
   1. What is the difference between Title 1 and LAP?
      1. Title 1 is federally funded.
      2. LAP Program is modeled after Title 1.
      3. Some schools have both.

1. SIP Report (Sara Jo) – School Improvement Plan.
   1. MATH School Improvement Plan:
      1. This is the 2^nd year of a 3 year plan MATH SIP.
      2. Detailed info is posted on our school website – a 20-25 page document.
      3. Utilizing EUREKA Math, plus assessments & instructional teaching.
      4. Sara Jo will present this plan to the school board in February.
   2. RECESS before LUNCH:
      1. Research has shown benefits – kids get their energy out and are able to sit

better for lunch.

1. Challenges:
   1. Most schools only get 20 mins for lunch. Sara Jo confirmed with many other local elementary schools.
   2. Limited funding – to pay for supervision during recess.

(RECESS before LUNCH) Continued…

• Due to location of lunch rooms on school campus, it is hard to have a safe route for students to enter lunch room, coming directly from recess. Most of the schools did not continue with the ‘recess-before-lunch’ plan because of this.

1. Only schools whose lunch rooms opened directly onto the playground could continue with ‘Recess-before-Lunch’.
2. Current Timing For our Lunches
   4. This year we went from 3 lunch periods to 4.
   5. This year we shrunk the timing between lunches from 10 mins to 5 mins. Changed because 4 lunches with 10 min break = equals another 40 mins which could be used for an entire class’s gym period.
   6. Hard for Kitchen Staff to reset and clean-up in short period.

STAFF REPORT

1. COMET CLUB:
2. Challenger is the HOST for all of this year’s Comet Club vacation breaks. All the local schools send their children to Challenger.
3. Rotates to a different school each year – thereby limiting the efforts & burden of one school per year, and allocating resources best.
4. POSITIVES: Winter break was great!
   1. Wonderful to see all the kids come together from other schools.
   2. New Staff also changes the dynamic, with much more management-level employees. It has been a great process!
5. Winter Break = the largest day had 85 kids.
6. Mid-Winter Break = comet club will run 4 days.
7. Spring Break = comet club will run 5 days.
8. Summer Break = will CAP at 250 children.

1. CLASSIFIED STAFF (Celia Lindor):
   1. Everything is going well with the paras.

1. SPECIALISTS (Chelsea Dziedzic):
   1. Professional Development Session – Teachers each chose a session working in SEL Curriculum, GLAD, etc. It allowed the paras great time to communicate with each other.
   2. MLK Day (Chelsea & Sara Jo) –
      1. Went better this year with the new sound system.
      2. Completed 2 walk-throughs with the sound system people. Worked through some kinks.

1. KIND & 1^st GRADE (Alyssa):
   1. SCIENCE - Bringing back LIVE Insects to study!
   2. WRITING & READING – working on Non-fiction unit.

 

1. 2^nd & 3^rd GRADE (Sara):
   1. IOWA Basic Tests –
   2. SCIENCE – exciting Rocks & Minerals unit, which the kids love!
   3. MATH – “Karate Math” where kids earn “belts”.

1. 4^th GRADE (Sara):
   1. NATURE VISION Guest – taught about natural water filters in natural settings.

1. 5^th GRADE (Sara):
   1. CAMP Planning!
      1. Camp is May 9 – 11^th.
      2. Fundraising – THANK YOU to the strong parent community!
         1. Movie Night was well attended!
         2. Donation Trucks – for Value Village

• HOP Jack’s Dining Out Night – Jan 23^rd

1. Applications for SKYLINE HS Counselors
   1. Currently putting out the applications to select the camp counselors from Skyline HS
   2. Rigorous Application process – ASB Administrator has to approve. All applicants must have good grades, academic standing, referrals, etc.

• AMAZING Energy & Positivity – these high school counselors have such amazing energy & dedication to these campers.

1. PTA REPORT (Catherine):
   1. Nominating Committee – currently seeking 3 people to serve on the Nominating Committee.
   2. SPELLING BEE –
      1. 1^st Round of spelling selection is completed.
      2. Prajakta – is seeking someone with experience running large events.
   3. PTA Membership –
      1. Challenger WON a Bronze-level award for improvement in membership totals

from the prior year.

1. This year we will not be publishing a Directory.

1. PARENTS:
   1. FENCE Improvement – Amy Senior stated a huge thank-you to everyone involved in making the back fence wider! Especially to Sara Jo.
   2. SCHOOL DAYS OFF (Kendra) –
      1. Some classes are missing out on specialists (gym, music, library) due to recurring days of school off.
      2. Kendra tallied the days off:
         1. 8 Mondays
         2. 7 Fridays

• 6 Thursdays

1. 4 Wednesdays
2. 3 Tuesdays

3. NAMING SCHOOL HALLWAYS (Kendra) –
   1. Suggestion to name the Hallways, such as ‘Rainbow Hall’ for the Kindergarten

Wing. This would make it easier for parents & people new-to-the-school to

find where to go.

4. UMRELLAS at Recess (Kendra) –
   1. Discussion of whether to allow this?
      1. Many umbrellas are found discarded at recess and not used.
      2. Celia mentioned the reality is – that many kids do not actually use the umbrellas. It may be more the ‘idea’ of having one, but not utilized.

• Many parents do not like the idea of having them at recess.

1. Can cause a slipping hazard in the hallways.

1. DISTRICT REPORT – Levy information was passed out. Everyone, please VOTE.

1. NEW BUSINESS? – No site council meeting in February.

1. Call to Order
2. Principal Report
   1. Cultural Competency
   2. SEL Parent Supports (follow-up)
   3. Safety and Security Updates (Chelsea)
3. Staff Report
4. PTA Report
5. Parent Report
6. District Report
7. New Business?
8. Adjourn

Meeting Minutes:

1. Call to Order

Attendees: Mike, Jessica, Kendra, Celia, Sara, Chelsea, Alyssa, Susan, Catherine, Amy, & Sara Jo.

*REQUIRED SITE COUNCIL TRAINING:Everyone, please complete the site council training that was sent through email from Sara Jo.

2. Principal Report
   1. Cultural Competency
      1. Dr. Holland’s Course Training – a 2-day training attended by Sara Jo on ‘Diversity, Equity & Inclusion’
      2. Classified Staff will receive their 1^st training in Dec.

• GOALS:
  1. Practice and have courageous conversations.
  2. As a parent/adult, we should stop & have these conversations with children (i.e. homelessness).
     1. Experience Discomfort
     2. Take Risks
     3. Stay Engaged
     4. Listen for Understanding
     5. Speak your truth (even if your voice shakes)
     6. Expect & Accept Non-Closure. (This is a journey, do not expect results).
  3. Stages – Talking About Race
     1. Awareness – how this matters
     2. Knowledge – intent vs. impact
     3. Skills
     4. Action/Advocacy
  4. Small Discussion at Site Council: what is 1 fear you may have when talking about race?
     1. Worry about offending someone
     2. Making mistakes
     3. Learning how to communicate with neighbors/other cultures.
     4. Addressing awareness, empathy, and skills regarding children understanding disabilities.

1. SEL Parent Supports
   1. Chelsea presented on Physical Safety & Behavioral/Emotional Support for students at the PTA General Meeting.
   2. Posted info on website, including details for parents regarding what we do during fire drills, etc.
2. Safety and Security Updates
   1. NEW keycard entry system will be installed at some point in the near future.
   2. This will allow for better security because staff members and parents will need to buzz in and out of the school.

• It will involve a remodel of our atrium, like that of Beaver Lake Middle or Mayfield.

1. We are continuing to practice safety this year in order.

Question: How do we share safety & security info to everyone?

1. Best option: Include info in teacher newsletters.
2. Add to Comet Club email list.

• Per Sara Jo, yes, it is okay to post info on Facebook sites.

Much agreement in that we should ‘Encourage people to always ask questions!’

3. Staff Reports
   1. K – 1^st: Assessments upcoming. Getting ready for report cards. Science to Build visited. They had a successful field trip.
   2. 2^nd – 3^rd: Science unit = organisms. Beginning narrative writing.
   3. 4^th – 5^th: They are piloting different programs, which is nice to come together with the team. 

Social Studies = looking at different perspectives (i.e. slavery). This fits with cultural competency. 

5^th Grade Fundraising = Camp in May!

1. Certificated Specialists: One day each month, all the specialists are collaborating. Working on challenging students.
2. Comet Club: Focusing on planning for the holiday break. 

Thanksgiving - *Tribal Elders are coming in to talk about their cultural traditions

Potlatch – give away/gift-giving in December

Winter Break – a ‘4 Seasons’ theme. 4 full days

Mid-Winter Break – ‘Going to Maui’ theme

SEL – Comet Club is really focusing on Social Emotional Learning.

1. Classified Staff: EA’s have monthly training.

Safety Standards – they are extremely well prepared on these.

4. PTA Report
   1. General meeting was held on Tues Nov 14^th.
   2. Funding
      1. All new programs require FULL general membership approval. PTA is creating a new process to inform people – how do they bring a new program to Challenger, including detailed procedures & forms.
      2. 5^th Grade Fundraising – working with Lynch Creek Farms. And, the Karate West Funds will also be routed to 5^th Grade Fundraising.
   3. Reflections – was amazing!
   4. BINGO Night – Friday

5. Parents Report
   1. GATE through to Beaver Lake Middle School – Parents are asking if we can widen the opening to make it easier for strollers, bikes, and people to walk through. Sara Jo will check into this, as she has tried in the past, and there is a rule about egress.

6. New Business
   1. Sound System: The entire sound system for the gym & MPR, is currently slated to be upgraded over winter break. (May take longer...)
   2. Kelly is moving into the new secretarial position, which Shannon is vacating. Everyone is very excited about Kelly taking on this role.
   3. Kelly will start Nov. 20^th.
   4. Shannon’s last day is Nov. 22^nd.
   5. The vacant secretarial position will open up to any current district secretaries first.

7. ADJOURN

In attendance: Sara Jo Pietraszewski, Celia Lindor, Jessica Nangalia, Sara Henson, Alyssa Crandall, Amy Senior, Susan Kelly

1. Call to Order

• Introductions
• Site Council Roster for ’17-’18 was shared with contact information and stake-holder representative groups
• Jessica volunteered to take minutes at future meetings
• Still need one intermediate parent rep. – if anyone knows someone that would be interested, please have them contact Sara Jo for the self-nomination form.

2. Principal Report

• Site Council Training – required every year
• Overview of our work this year: Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum (Second Step), Math Eureka Year 2, Safety and Security, Cultural Competency, and Culture of Kindness. 

3. Staff Reports were shared. Paras need more umbrellas and those will be ordered by the school office. 
4. PTA Report - none
5. Parent Report – look into expectations for students lining up in the morning – what is safe, appropriate, and also allows them to be able to move, interact, and talk to friends in line-up? Sara Jo and Chelsea are going to look into this. Also, concerns that for some grades and students they are not eating all of their lunches. Follow-up communication to K families especially needed about this. Thinking ahead about how to share more SEL resources with families. There will be a parent information night in January with the school counselor. 
6. District Report – Sara Jo shared about the Feb. levy.
7. New Business – none
8. Adjourned at 8:55am

Upcoming Site Council Meetings:

• November 16
• January 18
• March 22
• May 17

1. Call to Order
   • In Attendance: , Amy Senior, Kendra Campbell, Wendee Mathiesen, Alyssa Crandall, Sara Henson, Chelsea Dziedzic, and Sara Jo
     Absent: Heather Wolter, Yvette Artman, Susan Kelly, Libby Kell

2. Principal Report

• Staffing and Space Updates- portables: we are having 3 additional classrooms, we need a new portable. 4^th grade will be out in portable next year. Staffing: Lots of updates- more shifting for teachers than teachers leaving. Interviewing for additional kinder section.
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum K-5 at CH – ISD did agree and voted to adopt SEL curriculum for 2017/2018 year.
• June Overview and Field Day Updates: hoping to have some outdoor lunches coming up, field day coming up with a new format.
• City of Sammamish Traffic Engineers – Arrival/Dismissal Report (Chelsea): update from city of Sammamish. Two engineers came out to review our drop-off procedures. Recommended we advertise Klahanie Park parking lot as a good place to park and walk kids to school. Still looking to paint back lot with color to mark ok drop area. Will have 14 guards next year for arrival/dismissal which is a record.
• New Site Council Members for Next Year (change to schedules 8am to 9am on Thursday mornings)
  • See roster of openings (2 parent openings)
  • Application

3. Staff Report: 4/5^th- successful 5^th grade camp, getting ready for promotion, 2^nd/3^rd – wrapping up units, smarter balance went well, in the middle of pioneer unit. K/1- Kinder headed to field trip, and picnic. 1^st grade starting habitat project and zoo field trip coming up. Classified staff- running low on playground equipment. Comet club sang at Mariner game last Saturday, up on website. Wendee- pre-registration is finished and will start with 132 (without Grand Ridge Kinder). Only 80 kids in the summer- only Challenger kids this year. New Co-Director coming, Kathy Davis from Sunny Hills. Sonja is moving to Grand Ridge. Getting a new assistant on 6/1.
4. PTA Report – last PTA meeting last Tuesday. PTA gifted 11K for new computers. Met with Kathryn and Libby, attended PTSA council meeting.
5. Parent Report: Questions about key cards to get into school, no update yet.

• District Report:

6. SBA Testing Update (Chelsea) different testing this year, 1 on and 1 off. Was easier to schedule make-ups. 5^th graders took MSP science. Have 1 person to do a make-up, then done

• Eureka Reflections from Stakeholders – send feedback on the math program to Mrs. P.

7. New Business - none
8. Adjourn

1. Call to Order
   1. In Attendance: Yvette Artman, Amy Senior, Kendra Campbell, Heather Wolter, Wendee Mathiesen, Alyssa Crandall, Sara Henson, Susan Kelly, Chelsea Dziedzic, and Sara Jo
      Absent: Libby Kell
2. Principal Report

• Survey Feedback and Next Steps continued…next steps: Parking and drop-off, communication streamlining, new family orientation. Idea for pick-up/drop-off, paint a 3-4 car color pad where kids are allowed in or out of car and a ‘marked’ waiting area for kids waiting for pick-up. Possibly make exit out of school in the AM a right turn only for 5-10 minutes to help with grid lock.
• Sound System Update: approved for new sound system. Possibly over Spring Break, with upgrade to break off front and back of gym.
• Snow Day Info. – Grounds and Parking Lot, Student Arrivals: Custodians shoveled for 8 hours Mon and Tues of snow days. Maybe if this happens in future we could see if there are volunteers to assist- via Klahanie families FB.
• Cultural Competency: review on Dr. Caprice Collins seminar for teachers during workday last month. Video shown made by and about students expressed feelings of racism. Discussed how to start at elementary age to identify and address issues of race and integration/acceptance.
• Staffing Updates and teacher shortage: We are getting a new portable, to be placed behind Comet Club portable. Another grade level may need to be placed at portables. Dawn with ELL will be staying full-time next year. If you know of anyone enrolling, please ask them to do so ASAP so we have accurate numbers for next year. One concern as we go into hiring season is finding great candidates for our school. Prospective teachers seem to be leaving education for various reasons. We are also in a sub-shortage. Chelsea updated us on the new shed next to covered area. Need to review expectations on returning equipment and taking care of it. Games that are not allowed at recess: dodgeball, snowball fights, play fighting, tackle football.

• School Improvement Plan – on website.

3. Staff Report: Wendee: no updates- still in need of staffing. K-1- kinder wrapping up some units, starting new math module, beginning opinion writing, science to go lab this week. 1^st grade- working on writing reviews, concert coming up, working on habitat project, got a student teacher in Ms. Lavassar’s class. 2/3: 2^nd- Finishing up community section, has toy man here next week. 4/5: both working on writing, practicing continued summarizing details. May do a test prep unit. Both grades had science to go, and a unit of fossils. Had BizTown field trip, BLMS visit, report cards; been very busy. Moving up ceremony planned. SBA starts after Spring break.
4. PTA Report – Parent ed meeting before PTA report regarding kids and anxiety.
5. Parent Report – Kendra mentioned hearing from several parents of older kids about spelling not seeming like a priority. Sara Jo with have Nona put together a communication piece on how spelling is addressed and get to parents.
6. District Report – in need of reps for levy rep.
7. New Business: No
8. Adjourn -4:38

Cancel April Site Council Meeting- Canceled

May 23^rd – last Site Council Meeting of the year

1. Call to Order
   • In Attendance: Yvette Artman, Libby Kell, Amy Senior, Kendra Campbell, Heather Wolter, Wendee Mathiesen, Alyssa Crandall, Sara Henson, Susan Kelly, Chelsea Dziedzic, and Sara Jo Pietraszewski 
2. Principal Report: New floors over winter break in wings, rain off mats, kids bathrooms and gym and MPR and stage. Punchlist of items that will get corrected.

• Sound System: District sound system is coming to do assessment of our equipment and will hopefully get us a new system.
• January 30^th-Teacher work day: staff/district will be doing cultural competency training roll-out to staff. Help us meet needs of our multi-cultural school.
• STEM Night – April 4^th 6-8pm: Activities for Challenger families that attend. Families will come in to get an engineering task to complete. Brand new for the district. They need volunteers – more info on PTA website or can email Sara Jo.
• LAP Program Review: For kids that struggle with reading.

New books this year for K-1 – that they get to take home and keep. Students qualify through beginning of the year screening, kids that struggle with sounds, older kids through assessments and teacher feedback. Some kids grow out of the need for the program.

• Survey Data and Brainstorming
• School Improvement Plan (if time): Bumped to next meeting

3. Staff Report:
   • Chelsea: Mr. Mokin is happy with floors, MLK assembly was great but lots of glitches with sound and technology. E.A. has monthly meeting tomorrow will review emergency procedures, especially at recess or lunch.
   • Wendee: Comet club got new carpet. A hold on accepting new students. Challenger has 75 on waiting list.
   • Sara Henson: 3^rd grade started rocks ad minerals unit. Has a geologist coming. Also running coding class. 2^nd grade starts ITSB testing next week- for all 2^nd graders unless parents opt out. Social Studies community unit starting soon. Teachers will teach it themselves as opposed to having volunteers.
   • Susan Kelly: 5^th grade has life science unit- will be growing plants over a period of time. Science to go coming, nature vision is coming to 5^th grade- spins on taking care of water and preserving resources. Still working on math, math games. Biz Town and Jr Achievement paperwork submitted, FLASH program will begin soon.
   • Alyssa Crandall: 1^st is finishing module 2 – shapes. Starting measurements. Headed to SAM for 1^st field trip. Reading assessment next month. Post assessments in reading, writing and math soon. PEP (gifted program) just started up. Cindi Parson with district works with students that have qualified. 2 kids in 1^st grade qualified.

4. PTA Report: Libby: Voting for free popcorn Fridays to be permanent tonight, nominating committee for next year, heard mixed reviews on turnaround time for reimbursement, hoping to keep it to 2 weeks. Have $500 for music equipment.
5. Parent Report: Parents excited about coding club. Looking for voice mentors in the school. Large waitlist. 1 hour a week commitment. Can be tutoring or connecting time, depending on student needs. Yvette: Clothing drive this weekend.
6. District Report
7. New Business: Feedback from parent survey- more info for parents with kids with anxiety. 3/21 school counselor will come 30min prior to PTA meeting to talk about helping kids with anxiety. Continuing to see a transient pattern- lots of kids coming/going.
8. Adjourn: 438pm

1. Call to Order
   • In Attendance: Yvette Artman, Libby Kell, Amy Senior, Kendra Campbell, Heather Wolter, Wendee Mathiesen, Alyssa Crandall, Sara Henson, Susan Kelly, Chelsea Dziedzic, and Sara Jo Pietraszewski 
2. Principal Report:
   • High learning curve around Eureka math- we’re having a math session tonight with Nona Wright from 6 -7. Cover nuts and bolts and how to help at home. Teachers focus on math workshops and online tools (zearn) and how to use videos and other resources to help teach. Growing pains are typical. Chelsea took the lead on discrepancy teachers and parents are noticing in regards to tools for parents. On the Challenger home page on the right is a tab called Eureka web tools for families. It has a compilation of resources, including videos.

• Reminder about Parent Math Training – tonight at 6-7pm will focus on Math Mindset and Overview of Eureka Curriculum
• Math Resources for Parents (old business follow-up from last time and resources now on Challenger website)
• School Improvement Plan and Data -School has a 3 year improvement plan to evaluate where to put focus (reading, writing or math). The past 3 years has been focused on reading. The staff this year has decided to shift to math for the next 3 years. The decisions are based on reports, and scores on smarter balance. The emphasis will be on problem solving with 90% of students are proficient on smarter balance test scores. Will hopefully give staff data on whether the new math program is having an impact on students. Hope and expectation is that the progress maintained while focusing on reading for the past 3 years will be maintained.
• WA Kids updates from questions last time: SJ met with new coordinator for WA Kids. Data regarding kindergarteners will be shared at parent/teacher conferences.
• Parent Survey Data and next steps – tabled until next meeting due to time.

3. Staff Report: Sara Henson: 3^rd graded finished up their life cycle visit- red cross came out to talk about preparation for natural disaster. 2^nd grade- starting poetry and science. Talking about math components on report cards. Chelsea: Veterans Day assembly was great. Mary the librarian set up 2 assemblies through King County library. Susan Kelly: A couple of new teachers in 4^th and 5^th- it’s good opportunity to go over materials. Kids love science. Alyssa Crandall: not much from kindergarten, done with WA kids, working on report cards, 1^st grade field trip to botanical gardens. Wendee: Comet club is busy – 160 students. Expects numbers to go up in AM next year due to time change. Trying to be consistent with playground rules.
4. PTA Report: Working on grant applications. PTA meeting tonight.
5. Parent Report: Lots of great parent feedback about running club and Veterans’ assembly. Maybe coordinate Veterans’ Day assembly with Beaver Lake because a lot of parents attend both.
6. District Report

• Bell times: Might be a struggle for many parents and teachers. May need more before and after school care. YMCA may be an option but there are transportation issues to work out. Question whether or not Grand Ridge and Challenger can switch start times (Challenger supposed to be 9:10- can they be 8:55).

7. New Business? – Time to end
8. Adjourn – 4:30pm

In attendance: Libby Kell, Amy Senior, Kendra Campbell, Heather Wolter, Wendee Mathiesen, Alyssa Crandall, Sara Henson, Susan Kelly, Chelsea Dziedzic, and Sara Jo Pietraszewski

1. Call to Order

• Introductions
• Site Council Roster for ’16-’17 was provided

2. Principal Report

• Site Council Training – required every year
• Overview of our work this year including new staff, mentoring work for new staff, “Find It” activity around a culture of specific, positive, and meaningful feedback, mathematical mindset preview for parent training on November 15^th, and the idea of grit for students and staff at Challenger. In addition, an update on some of the other professional work that is taking place at our school.

3. Staff Reports

• K/1: CogAT Testing for Highly Capable for K, WaKIDS assessment information for the K is new this year, 1^st grade is going on a field trip to the UW Botanical Gardens soon and also progressing along with Eureka.
• 2/3: Second grade discussed possible ways to support parents with the new math curriculum and they are going to work on it.
• 4/5: Math update as well!

4. PTA Report:
5. Color Run was a big success and has gotten a lot of positive feedback so far. They are still waiting on final numbers. 
6. Parent Report – question about side gate by the 300 wing and when that gate should be locked. It should be locked except for during arrival and dismissal. It is unlocked at night, but locked while students are in school. If you see that it isn’t locked, please let the office know immediately. 
7. District Report - none
8. No New Business
9. Adjourn