Law+and+Government+All-Stars

Welcome to the Law & Government Allstars. We encourage everyone in our learning community to stop in and view our site for the latest information regarding our students’ progress, enrichment opportunities, and school- based activities.

//**__10/27/11__**//

As per our //Weekly s//upervisors will be joining selected Teacher Teams today to discuss the team’s 20 selected students. Teams will be contacted today prior to the visit. The following questions will be used to shape the conversation:

1. How did your team decide upon the 20 selected students? 732 – 6 students 807 – 9 students 808 – 7 students

We chose the students based on scores in Aris. Most of them were in the high 1s/ 2 range in their state exams for both ELA and Math. Students who are currently struggling based on their current grades.

2. What data was used to select the 20 students?

Aris data (state exam scores) as well as current data.

3. Is there a common academic need among the 20 students? Please be as specific as possible.

They are all struggling with reading comprehension(find word meaning in context) and vocabulary as well as word problems and integers n math. 4. How are the selected students similar/different in demographics? All students from 732 have IEPS. Some are ELLs, some are former ELLs and students who have no issue their.

5. Does the team have a hypothesis on what may be causing the academic need? Lack of love. Love esteem. They need further support, practice and motivation.

6. What are the team’s next steps? Recommend extended day as much as possible. Extrinsic rewards for academic improvement.

11/11/11 -

Parent Welcome Letter

Welcome to the start of the 2011-2012 school year. My name is Judith Council, and I am your child’s Literacy teacher here at Robert A. Van Wyck Middle School 217. I look forward to meeting and working closely with you to ensure that your child receives the most supportive and beneficial instruction possible. I know that you are an interested and concerned parent. Therefore, you should be aware that our school delivers Literacy

lessons in six major areas. Lessons in reading, writing, listening and speaking, comprehension and technology are conducted throughout the week to further enable your child to remain a life long learner.

Additionally, students will be required to complete daily homework assignments and projects. As part of our school’s reading program, students will be assigned approximately 30 chapter books during the school year.

Your child will read many of the assigned books at home during their twenty minutes of independent

reading time five days a week. Please monitor and support your child’s weekly progress by signing his/her annotated reading log every Thursday. Signed logs will be collected every Friday and will be included in his/her ELA portfolio. Further details regarding Independent Reading Student Guidelines are provided in the class resources section of your child’s class page on our school’s Echalk website.- www.28q217.nycdoe.org. Click under Class Pages (on the left hand side) and then click on ELA, and then Literacy 732, 807, or 808. Working together in this endeavor will encourage your child to take responsibility for his/her education.

Our school allows every student the opportunity to use laptops in class. We are very fortunate to have a number of online resources to help your child in the area of technology. The Literacy Department uses an online reading program called Teen Biz or Achieve3000. Please review your child's Classroom Resource page in reference to Teen Biz Procedures for Classroom and at Home Usage. Students will be required to work on Teen Biz online reading and writing homework several days a week for the remainder of the academic school year. Every effort will be made to make accommodations for any child that has difficulty accessing online materials outside of the school building. Please send a note with your child stating that he or she is unable to access Teen Biz at home or at the New York Public Library, and I will set up a conference with you to work out an alternative method of assisting him/her.

Well- prepared, highly motivated students are better equipped to have a rewarding academic year. A school supply list was sent out to parents at the beginning of the school year. In addition, their Literacy supply list is also posted on my class page of our school Echalk website- www.28q217.nycdoe.org.

Students are encouraged to attend our school’s Extended Day Program. Earlier this year, Mr. Burns and our assistant principals sent out a letter informing both parents and students of the importance of attending the program. Their letter was written to inform parents that the Extended Day Program at Robert A. Van Wyck M.S. 217 provides an opportunity for students to receive further support, tutoring and homework help in Mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA), Social Studies and Science. Additionally, students are able to participate in activities that will establish test readiness in advance of the standardized testing that all students will take this year. Student to teacher ratios during the Extended Day Program do not exceed 10: 1, ensuring that students receive individualized attention.

It is my hope that I will at some point meet with all of my students’ parents. Our school holds Parent Teacher Conferences a number of times during the school year. Notices are sent home with students. Furthermore, announcements on our school web page are posted beforehand to notify parents of those conferences. In the event that you would like to make a visit during a different time, please feel free to call the school and leave a message indicating your availability and a contact number. All school contact information is included at the top of this page. Finally, if you prefer, contact me via email at jcounci@schools.nyc.gov. I am generally free to meet with parents daily from 11:30-12:00. My classroom location is on the second floor in room 202.

Your child is part of the Law and Government House. The house assistant principal is Mr. E. Bolan. Your child’s dean is Mr. Bernardin and your child’s guidance counselor is Ms. Vardanov. In addition to Literacy, your child has a dedicated team of specialized content teachers that cover Social Studies (Ms. Mancino), Science (Mr. Mindlin and Mr. Jackson), Math (Ms. Reis), Foreign Language (Ms. Salinas), Talent (selected teachers), and Health (selected teachers from the Physical Education Department). Class 732 has additional specialized teachers to support student growth. Ms. Avery (Math), Ms. Hines (Literacy), Mr. Gibbons (Science) and Ms. D. Williams (Social Studies) partner with the above mentioned content teachers in

Class 732s instruction.

Some more ways to stay connected with our school is to join the Parent Teachers Association. Your participation, energy, and valuable input will help our school to continue to be one of the strongest performing schools in New York City. Please make every effort to lend your support.

We are well into the start of the school’s second marking period. It is my hope that this letter will give you the information to better help your child succeed this year.

Collaboratively yours,

Law and Government Allstars

Robert A. Van Wyck Middle School 217

Parent-Teacher Conference Welcome Letter

Note: Welcome all visitors to the Law and Government All-stars home page. Our team has been very busy collaborating in order to assist our students with being successful this academic year. Team members have made a united effort to increase parent contact during the first and into the second marking periods. Team members have made a number of group conference calls to parents to inform them about their child's progress in reference to academic performance and conduct. Progress reports went out to parents to further inform them about their children's achievement thus far. Mr. Bernardin, the L&G dean, has continually been very helpful in supporting teachers by encouraging the parents of struggling students to attend our school's Parent Teacher Conferences on November 17, 2011. Our guidance counselor, Ms. Vardonov is hands on when it comes to providing support to students in vulnerable situations. She visits classrooms with students and parents to assist them in getting requested academic materials for children that are unable to attend school due to financial hardship, family crisis, etc for both short and extended-periods of time. Additionally, Our paraprofessionals, Ms. Forbes and Ms. Belkis, along with Mr. Jackson and Ms. Murphy-Fogg were instrumental in working with Ms. Vardonov, Ms. Filinceri, and Ms. A. Bryant to assist two of our students with obtaining much needed school clothes, gym clothes and school supplies due to financial hardship. We truly are striving to be responsive to the needs of the "whole child." Team members in Social Studies (Ms. Macino), Science (Mr. Mindlin and Mr. Jackson), Special Education ( Ms. Williams, Ms. Hines, and Mr. Gibbons), and Foreign Language (Ms. Salinas) usually have to attend different team meetings because of their multi-house classroom assignments. They have put in extra effort by meeting with their L & G All-stars Literacy, Math, and Special Education Case manager team members (Ms. Council, Ms. Reis, and Ms. Avery respectively) during their prep periods to support our shared students. Paraprofessionals Ms. Forbes and Ms. Belkis have been hard at work supporting students in their assigned ICT classrooms. Mr. Bolan's informative House Meetings and Ms. Askew's unfailing willingness to answer questions related to academic student needs and offering guidance about Special Eduction issues has proven invaluable. In preparation of our school's first Parent Teacher Conference of the year, the welcome letter below was sent to many of our students in Law and Government with the intention of creating a stronger parent-school community bond. We invite our website visitors to read a version of the letter that was sent out.

12/8/11

Law and Government All-Stars Team Meeting Location: Room 202 Time: 2:30-3:07

Facilitator: Ms. Council Recorder: Ms. Reis Topics Manager: Ms. Avery Time Manager: Ms. Sinche

Attendees: Ms. Reis, Ms. Council, Ms. Hines, Ms. Avery, Ms. Belkis, Ms. Forbes, Ms. Sinche, Mr. Mindlin and Mr. Fridman

Agenda Items Topics Discussed


 * 1) **Student Surveys**
 * Ms. Reis discussed student survey comments for Class 807.
 * Ms. Council discussed student survey comments for Class 732.


 * 1) **ARIS High Needs Targeted Students**
 * Strategy Charts- Team members agreed that using KWL charts have been a useful way to gather student data for students in classes 732, 807, and 808 across content areas.


 * Ms. Sinche (ESL Pull-Out Teacher) is aware that the group is using KWL with great success. She will try to employ that strategy when her group from class 732 reaches their academic goals. In the meantime, she has found great success with turn and talk and think aloud strategies.


 * 1) **Progress Reports**
 * Members of the team discussed the best ways to coordinate the sharing of student data to fill out progress reports as mentioned in the school’s latest published Weekly.
 * A printed progress report that was used by the time for the first marking period as mentioned as a possible document to be used for the second marking period.
 * 4. Student Updates- David Caldwell and Elio Diaz (Class 732)**


 * David Caldwell – Performance is declining in all subjects. The behavior modification plan that has been in place has not helped David. The classroom behavior conduct card has not been a successful strategy for David.
 * 1) David frequently reports to class late because he is in search of his conduct card that he cannot find it.
 * 2) David frequently requests to leave his scheduled classroom to search for his conduct card.
 * 3) In both instances, he has failed to produce or submit the conduct card to his teachers and parents in the past three weeks.
 * Elio Diaz- Ms. Belkis shared with the group that Elio’s mother informed her that Elio would be able to bring eyeglasses to school very soon.
 * Ms. Avery discussed the latest IEP recommendations for Elio Diaz and explored ways with the group for Elio to receive support from his teachers and Paraprofessional support.

12/15/11

Law and Government All-Stars Team Meeting Location: Room 202 Time: 2:30-3:07

Facilitator: Ms. Council Recorders: Ms. Reis and Ms. Council Time Manager: Ms. Hines

Attendees: Ms. Reis, Ms. Council, Ms. Hines, Ms. Vardanov, Ms. Belkis, Ms. Forbes, Ms. D. Williams, and Ms. Burgess

Agenda Items Topics Discussed


 * 1. Student Updates- David Caldwell, Elio Diaz (Class 732), and Marvin Perla (Class 808)**


 * David Caldwell – Performance is declining in all subjects. The behavior modification plan that has been in place has not helped David. The classroom behavior conduct card has not been a successful strategy for David.
 * 1) David frequently reports to class late because he is in search of his conduct card that he cannot find it.
 * 2) David frequently requests to leave his scheduled classroom to search for his conduct card.
 * 3) In both instances, he has failed to produce or submit the conduct card to his teachers and parents in the past three weeks.
 * 4) David was involved in two major incidents since last week’s team meeting. In both cases, David was violent towards his fellow students.
 * 5) Ms. Vardanov, Ms. Williams, and Ms. Hines explored options with the group to support David during this time.
 * 6) David Caldwell’s IEP indicates that he needs emotional support.
 * 7) One suggestion was that David could receive further support with a paraprofessional.
 * Elio Diaz-
 * 1) Elio Diaz has brought his glasses to school.
 * 2) Elio Diaz has demonstrated reluctance to wear his glasses, and fully participate in instructional lessons during Wilson and content area classes.
 * 3) Ms. Hines, Ms. Williams, and Ms. Belkis recommended that Elio receive “at risk” counseling to help him transition into an ICT setting from an ESL setting.
 * 4) Ms. Franco, our Bi-lingual guidance counselor, was mentioned as a possible support for Elio Diaz.


 * Marvin Perla- Class 808
 * 1) Marvin Perla is struggling in his content area classes.
 * 2) Marvin Perla’s Special Education paperwork is still being processed by the school psychologist.
 * 3) Ms. Askew had a conference with Ms. Council earlier in the week about Marvin Perla’s academic needs.
 * 4) Ms. Askew stated that she would approve Marvin Perla’s transfer to a self-contained ELA setting on an “at risk” basis until his evaluation is completed.
 * 5) Ms. Burgess stated that she would explore the possibility of placing him in the appropriate setting as soon as possible.

March 15, 2012

SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/teacher/Desktop/Thursday%20Meeting%20Agenda%203:8 3/8/2012

Law and Gov’t All Stars Team Meeting Location: Room 202 Time: 2:30 – 3:07

Facilitator: Ms. Council Recorders: Ms. Reis

Attendees: Ms. Reis, Ms. Council, Ms. Hines, Ms. Forbes, Ms. Avery

-Discussion of David Caldwell IEP and current placements. - Behavior problem with students in 732, Mamado/Gaoussou/Jamil/Alex -732 seating placements -Yougeshwar IEP (Placement) Avery does not think Yougeshwar should be ICT/SETTS. Hines agrees. Avery agrees. Team agrees in removing all special education services. -Jaishawn was in inhouse today, the team does not know the reason. Will inquire. He lives far away and is frequently absent. - Denzel Brenardin was suspended for hitting other students in the head. -Team is concerned about the length of superintendent’s suspension, students miss extensive class time. - Team discussed the school policy of student removal and suspension. Everything thing must be documented, and addressed by the whole team.

March 22, 2012

Law and Gov’t All Stars Team Meeting Location: Room 202 Time: 2:30 – 3:07

Facilitator: Ms. Council Recorders: Ms. Reis

Attendees: Ms. Reis, Ms. Council, Ms. Hines, Ms. Forbes, Ms. Avery

1. ELA Mock Assessment

April 19, 2012

Law and Gov't All Stars Team Meeting Location: 202 Time: 2:30 - 3:07

Attendees: Ms. Reis, Ms. Council, Ms. Avery, Ms. Hines, Ms. Forbes

1.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Law and Gov't All Stars Team Meeting Location: 202 Time: 2:30 - 3:07

Attendees: Ms. Reis, Ms. Hines, Ms. Avery, Ms. Council, Ms. Williams

1. Gaoussou Sympara - Class 732 2. Mamadou Coulibaly - Class 732 > update- Student has not changed. > > All classes responding well to support. > > Law and Gov't All Stars Team Meeting > Location: 202 > Time: 2:30 - 3:07
 * Called home to discuss his behavior is his classes. Lately he has been disrespectful, calling out, showing up to class late. He mother said she will speak with him.
 * Update- Behavior has remained the same.
 * Called home and spoke with father about his behavior and work in his classes. He has not been doing his work or handing in homework. He also calls out and talks during class. His father said that he will talk to Mamadou.April 26, 2012