18 Sep 2011

The text below is a summary of Dr. Starr's Listen and Learn event put together by a member of the Curriculum Committee. She did such a nice job, that I asked for her permission to share it with you all. (Northwest HS)

I attended the "Listen and Learn" last night. Starr gave a brief introduction and then took questions from the audience orally. Helpers wrote questions on large pieces of paper so they were recorded. The event was also videorecorded and audio recorded. Parents were bringing concerns to Starr's attention. Both the "listen" and the "learn" referred to Dr. Starr. He did not really give out a lot of substantive information. It was more of an information gathering exercise to see what the community's concerns were. He did not attempt to provide answers to any of the concerns, they were just noted for him to be aware of. He stated that after he had held all of these "Listen and Learn" events, he would hold community forums in the new year to address specific issues like special education, gifted education and Race to Nowhere concerns.

• He stated that he felt that No Child Left Behind was a useless law, and that he believed it would be revisited and changed before the deadline, and the failure to meet test score issues would be moot.
• He stated that Montgomery County public schools were the "the first school district in the country to get to the moon," and that his job was to "get the district to Mars."
• He is a big proponent of differentiation by the teacher within the classroom, and not grouping by ability. (He's concerned about what message that sends to the students who would be wondering why certain kids would go to different teachers for math, for example.)
• His three main concerns were:
  • transparency - he wants to create more of it regarding how decisions are made.
  • Initiatives - he wants to analyze if there are too many, choose which ones to keep and then focus on how to ensure accountability and follow-through
  • Variability - how to deal with it among schools and teachers to make sure all students have access to a high quality education.
• He said he wants to cut down on adversarial and confrontational communication by sharing information and making decisions that are best for the students but also reasonable with the budget and other constraints.
• He mentioned that he has been asked to cut $25 million from the capital projects budget at a time when the school system has 147,000 students and is increasing by 3,000 students per year.
• Starr mentioned that he would be looking into quality of school lunches
• Starr said he can be followed on Twitter at MCPSsuper
• Below are concerns that parents raised:
  • SAT score variability by HS
  • AYP - schools with high ESOL or special ed need more support - Starr responded to this by promoting more professional development for teachers
  • Raises for teachers needed
  • Poolesville cluster reassigned community superintendent - Starr responded that this was just to even out numbers among superintendents
  • School system confrontational with parents about special needs students
  • Germantown elementary rebuilt? More schools needed to house students
  • Children attending proper schools based on address - Starr dismissed this concern, said that people check this routinely
  • Safe, drug and bully-free schools
  • Overcrowding at NW HS at lunch
  • Magnet schools taking the "cream of the crop" from local schools, thus affecting test scores - Starr responded that he supports magnet schools and gifted programs, believes in choice; however, he estimates that only 3-5% of student population is truly "gifted" and would require such services. Rest of MCPS' 39% gifted students are just "really smart" and can be taught in their home school.
  • SRO program - Starr supports if support from police department and it is clear that principal of school has authority over SRO in how to handle incidents
  • Concern that Curriculum 2.0 would be too challenging for students already struggling - Starr described 2.0 as just integrating the teaching of the subjects and including more technology
  • How can school assist students with transition to adult life - Star talked about teaching social and emotional competence
  • Too much middle school acceleration in math and languages affecting college applications
  • HS course offerings not meeting the needs of students who have been accelerated in MS
  • Math content too broad - Starr said they would be narrowing content and focusing on specific skills - said he realized Math would be a big issue and he is going to look at the workgroup report, consult parents and experts in the field and then make a final decision on Math that would be permanent. Starr said he thought all academic skills should be taught through the lenses of science and history. "because that's where you really learn how to think. You can learn all the skills from the other subjects through study of science and history."
  • Budget and staffing concerns - Starr said that it is up to the parents to let the county know how much they value education. He said he would be an advocate, but that he has to work with the budget he is given. As constituents, parents should let elected officials know they want more money for schools.

18 Sep 2011

Interested in learning what the PTA does? Attend Free Leadership Training!

Don't miss the PTA Leadership Skills 2011 on Saturday, September 24 at Walter Johnson HS cafeteria, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda 20814. The day is filled with information shared by our very talented MCCPTA leaders, beginning at 8:30am for coffee and light breakfast, lunch will be provided, and sessions end at 2:30pm. There is no charge, and the event is open to PTA members in Montgomery County. Plan to come for the entire day, or just a portion. Please be sure to sign up today at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/leadership29

Sessions include training and discussion for Officers, Delegates, Cultural Arts, Reflections, Capital Improvement Program, Advocacy, Membership, Communications, Budgeting, Easy Money, and Volunteer, Family, Student and Teacher Involvement, as well as Effective Meetings and our Lunch and Learn, where each participant gets to share experiences with other PTAs as well as with our experienced specialists on a wide variety of subjects. Vice Presidents, committee chairs, aspiring PTA leaders and interested PTA members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

Go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/leadership29 for more complete information and session schedule, and to sign up today! PLEASE sign up for any sessions in which you may be interested. Please include your name and email address, along with your PTA and position, if any, in the comments section.

Advance sign up means you can pick up your pre-printed name badge and skip the registration process on 9/24. Sign up even if you are not sure, no obligation, and you can always change your session or your plans. There is even a general signup designated as "Leadership Skills" if you want to be on the list, even if you might just want to join in for the Lunch and Learn.

Who can come? Any interested PTA member. Any PTA officer, MCCPTA Board member, committee chair, interested PTA volunteers. Come and learn while you meet our MCCPTA officers, MCCPTA Past President Jane de Winter, MCCPTA Board and PTA members from across the County.

Please help be sure this is being widely shared in your school community now and contact me with any questions at sjwassoc@att.net See you on Saturday, September 24 between 8:30am and 2pm at WJ HS.

14 Sep 2011

Description:

On October 4, from 6:45-7:45 p.m. we will be offering a Home Alone seminar to children ages 8-11 (third through fifth grade). The class will be led by a staff member from Montgomery General Hospital. This class will help prepare children to spend brief periods of time alone. The Home Alone class will provide skills to help them be safe when there is no adult supervision including answering the door, telephone, calling 911, and other helpful tools. Students will keep a printed book with information.

Details:

Only 20 students will be able to attend this seminar. The cost for each child is $17 for PTA members and $22 for non-PTA members. This program will take place while the PTA meeting is going on. A parent/guardian must remain at the PTA meeting at all times. This is a significant savings for our Gibbs ES families, the normal price when taken at Montgomery General is $35 per child. Please contact Jennifer Sengbusch for further information. If there is significant interest we may be able to offer this class again in November.

Registration process:

1. Sign up using the Sign Up Genius link which will be emailed to everyone on JBF Tuesday, September 14 at 5:00. (one space per child; this registration is private only you and the administrator will be able to see the names)
   If registering more than one student please put their names in the comments section.
2. Please print and complete this registration form.
3. Send payment (cash or checks made payable to Gibbs ES PTA) with completed form back to school no later than September 20.
4. If payment and form is not received by September 20, you will not be considered registered.

Thank you in advance!

Attachment: Home Alone Registration