Wissahickon High School

Parent – Teacher Council Meeting

January 17, 2008

Meeting called to order by Co-Presidents Kathy Bastian and Melissa Selverian at 9:15 a.m. in the upper cafeteria with 35 people in attendance.

Linda Secuoler, Director of Curriculum and Instruction presented a district wide curriculum update, covering the following subjects:

World Languages – Curriculum evaluation deferred for one year to allow for better technology integration.

Fine Arts – Elementary students will each have one piece of art represented in the district’s art show.

Social Studies – They have identified a “global citizenship” theme for use in grades K-12. Goals are to integrate technology into the classroom and “go deep” into particular content areas in each grade.

Physical Education and Health – State standards are being met, but they are addressing scheduling concerns. They also will discuss whether student athletes can satisfy Phys. Ed. requirements through team participation, as is done in the Abington School District.

English – Their mantra is “Learn to read and write (during primary school) and read and write to learn (in high school)”. The curriculum has undergone major changes this year: the core books students read have changed, vocabulary is integrated into the curriculum and is not taught separately, and spelling and grammar are approached differently, to meet the needs of today’s student. The revamped Theme Reader Program now has student themes read by two theme readers, looked at in peer editing and read and given a grade by the student’s teacher. Students write fewer themes and more emphasis is placed on editing rough drafts.

Mathematics – During the last few years, there has been a district-wide overhaul of the math curriculum. In the high school "applied level" courses were dropped and other courses, including more pre-calculus, were added.  All students will have algebra in or before ninth grade.

Science – Labs have been added to academic classes, and PSSAs will be implemented in science for the first time this year.

Ms. Secouler responded to many questions during and after the meeting, especially about the English and Math curriculums.

Mr. Hayes, Principal, touched on a variety of topics, including:

*Dual Enrollment, where students take courses at Montgomery Community College, funded by state grants and our school board, and can earn high school credit.

*Sapphire is running, but fewer than 800 families of the high school's more than 1500 students have used it. Any questions or problems in registering for Sapphire should be directed towards Ms. Incorvia's office. A suggestion to re-announce that it is here was well received. Teachers have been adding information without incident.

*In the next ten days ten more classrooms will be receiving 30 MacBook laptops each, to create additional 1:1 classrooms. In the works is another proposal to secure a grant to acquire additional funding for 350 more MacBooks for next year. Additionally, more SmartBoards are being sought for the high school.

*The Program of Studies Presentation on January 17th for parents to discuss next year’s course selection for their students.

Michele Minnick, from Shady Grove Home and School Association, invited WHS PTC members to participate in their 5th grade class fundraiser, where they will donate 20% – 25% of their profits to a scholarship in memory of Ebony Dorsey.  They are selling flannel pants for $20 until January 25th and order forms are available in the WHS office, and online at the Shady Grove website.

Karen Dyer, from WEOF, invited parents to attend the WEOF's only fundraiser, "Night in Napa" held at Cedarbrook Country Club on Sunday, March 2nd, from 5 - 7. There will be great food, California wines, three live and 25 silent auctions and a whole lot of fun.  WEOF funds support the schools, so supporting WEOF benefits our students directly.

PTC Co-Presidents’ Comments

*Student Directories were sent home with students.  Additional copies can be purchased for $1

*The newsletter is online now and being mailed this week.

*The PTC would love for someone to step up to help organize a fundraiser at a local restaurant.  They have the restaurant, they have people to help, they just need that one person to put it all together!.  For a little effort the PTC will benefit in a huge way, which in turn helps benefit our children directly.

*The National Honor Society hopes to be inducting selected students in February.

*The PTC sent flowers to Ebony Dorsey's funeral, and will support efforts to raise money for the scholarship fund set up in her honor.

*Spirit Balls are available.

*Staff Spirit "Winter Warm-up" is on January 23, and committee members will have coffee, tea or cocoa and home-baked goods ready for staff members.

Meeting adjourned 10:30 a.m.

Next Meeting on February 14, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.

Tracey Burgoyne, Secretary