January 2, 2013 at 7:00 PM - Regular Board template

Rationale:  David Martin - Teacher - BCHS
Victims of Newtown, Connecticut

Rationale:  Updates on school safety and security

Rationale:  Ericka Coleman - NEMS - Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator

Rationale:  Kevin Shaw - WW- Technology Leader

Rationale:  This is the first reading.  After this presentation, calendars will be provided to BAPS, BFT, AFSCME 818, AFSCME 2267, AFSCME 3551 and the PTO Presidents for input.

Rationale:  On June 26, 2013, Mrs. Andrea Rajotte, Mrs. Paula Cruz and students at Bristol Eastern High School will be expanding their classroom by embarking on a nine day, educational adventure on an EF Tour to Costa Rica.  Costa Rica is a pioneer in eco-tourism.  It is a treasure trove for the nature-lover with a multitude of well preserved tropical rainforests, unparalleled wildlife, natural hot springs, active volcanoes and a spectacular range of flora and fauna in six ecological zones. The students are going to take an interdisciplinary approach, integrating biological diversity with Spanish language and culture. Also, we will visit a local school in Monteverde and plant a tree. In addition to gaining greater cultural sensitivity, global citizenship, environmentalism and an international perspective on their studies, students return home feeling more confident and independent—qualities that stay with them throughout their academic, professional and personal lives.  We will be touring with EF educational Tour; an accredited company with 40 years of experience.

Rationale:  On April 11, 2014, Mrs. Andrea Rajotte, Mrs. Paula Cruz and students will be expanding their classroom by embarking on an eight day, educational adventure on an EF Tour to Spain.  Rather than just reading about La Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, Parque Guell and the Prado, they are going to experience these historical treasures first hand.  The tour will start in Barcelona which is the proud capital of Catalonia, a region with its own distinct voice and culture. All over the city the students will discover the amazingly unique architectural style of Antoni Gaudí. In Madrid, they will experience more of Spain’s artistic side, from the hand-clapping and emotive singing of the flamenco to the priceless masterpieces on the walls of the Prado Museum. The students are going to take their understanding of world history and cultures to a new level.  In addition to gaining greater cultural sensitivity and an international perspective on their studies, students return home feeling more confident and independent—qualities that stay with them throughout their academic, professional and personal lives.  We will be touring with EF educational Tour; an accredited company with 40 years of experience.

Rationale:  Each year the high schools alternate the revision of the POS.  Course offerings, descriptions and college requirement information is updated.  This year BCHS will present the changes. 

Rationale:  There is a need to revise the policy to add a provision about determination of credits required for graduation for students transferring into a Bristol high school from another school district as a senior, who have completed all the credit requirements for the junior year at their previous high school.  The revision to the policy allows the principal to make the final determination about the number of credits to be earned in the senior year in order for such a student to graduate from a Bristol high school.

Rationale: 

• AMDM was developed by the Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin
• Designed to challenge students to
  • develop critical skills
  • investigate, do research, & collaborate with others
  • present solutions to problems in applied situations
  • model real world scenarios with mathematics
  • be knowledgeable decision makers and mathematical thinkers
• This course is an alternative to pre-calculus intended for college bound students
• AMDM was approved as a pilot by the Curriculum Planning Council
• Teachers attended 1 week of training in summer of 2011 – Sarah Maestre, Alicia Redline and Kara Jones
• AMDM was piloted in 2011-12 with success

The document submitted here is based on work by the Curriculum Writing Team that included Sarah Maestre, Alicia Redline and Marlene Lovanio. 

The costs include training fees for the teachers($7500), stipends for committee work ($500) and instructional resources ($2500) needed for the implementation of this curriculum.  These have already been purchased and not a future budget concern.

Rationale: 

The middle school mathematics curriculum for Grades 6-8 was last revised in 2006.  Since this time, the following has influenced the curriculum:

• Since 2010, the Connecticut State Department of Education has released new standards for mathematics, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Connecticut.  Assessments are being developed for the 2014-2015 school year.  The new curriculum is aligned with the Common Core State Standards.
• The curriculum was written to follow the format and guidelines recently set by Bristol for developing new curriculum to guide the teaching and learning process.
• The middle school program has shifted such the acceleration of students in mathematics begins in 7^th grade.  We have also shifted the method in which we accelerate students to one of compacting the curriculum from grades 7 – 9 into grades 7-8 instead of skipping grade levels.

The document submitted here is based on work by the Grade 7-8 Curriculum Committees which included Beth Lafferty, David Lucina, Jennifer Michalek, Susan Sirois, Gina Rivera, Sara Lupa, and Marlene Lovanio. 

Costs include stipends for committee work ($500) and additional instructional resources ($3500) needed for the implementation of this curriculum.

Rationale:  1.  Student Expulsions