Transition Team Meeting Minutes

March 3, 2010 

(6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Attendees: Father Francis, Patricia Deleu, Dr. Jeanne Gradone, Michael St. Pierre, Carol Budisak, Michael Holland, Camille Leggett, Tan Miller, John Walsh, and Robert Zebick (Jen Qvotrup, school parent was unable to attend)

Father Francis opened the meeting with a prayer.

Dr. Gradone is currently principal of MCHS. She has 32 years experience in Catholic education in the Paterson Diocese, and has been at MCHS for the last five years.

John Walsh and Tan Miller ( SVS Parents) also introduced themselves.

To address the vast array of Transition issues and questions, the team will maintain a Query log. The goal is to address and answer all questions forwarded to Transition Team (TT). The Query Log will be posted on the website.

While there are many issues/questions to be addressed with the new model, the TT agreed that we needed to clarify the roles and activities of the team.

Pat Deleu outlined the topics that the Diocese Schools office initially thought to be part of the ‘In scope/Out of scope’ activities for team.

Mike St. Pierre indicated that Dr. Gradone will be heading a Gr 6-8 specific Sub team of parents.

Dr. Gradone explained the value of Professional Learning Communities for teachers and students, the importance of close articulation among teachers, the need for seamless curriculum, a new model to enhance working with each other. She suggested the use of moodle, a free online course management system that among other features offers tutorials and allows elementary school students, for example, to benefit from a creative writing course at the high school level.

Items Discussed:

Scope of Transition Team

In Scope:

• • General input/Opinion as deemed appropriate by school leadership, Diocese Schools Office and School(s) leadership. (ie. Parent opinions on use of Technology, Extra Curricular activities, uniforms, facilities, Spiritual Development etc.)
  • Parental Governance: Home and School Association
  • Fundraising Activities
  • Physical Plant/Facility Enhancements
  • Assisting with Student Handbook

Decisions:

Home and School Association (HSA)

• Issue initially discussed at prior meeting: The team determined that a single Home and School Association would continue.

Fundraising

• Money raised by parents at St. Virgil Campus will remain at St. Virgil campus

Out of Scope

• Administrative
  • Decisions will be responsibility /handled by School leadership Father Francis and Diocese.
    • (ie. Registrations, Tuition, policy ie., discipline)
  • MCJS students  will be overseen by a Dean of Students ( title is in development ) at St. Virgil Campus - who will oversee them on site
• Curriculum
  • Mandated by the [state and] diocese.
  • School leadership and faculty can/will enhance this.
  • Textbook selections will be the responsibility of the school leaders and faculty.
  • Teaching Strategies and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), additional professional development  through School leadership and supported by Diocese Schools office
  • Stressed the importance of technology for the entire school
• Use of Technology
  • School Leadership and Faculty will be responsible for enabling curriculum through use of technology.
• Extracurricular Activities – MCHS has its own buses and drivers which will allow for students to attend activities at the high school
• Spiritual development of the students – instilling the importance of strong values and morals, academically, emotionally and physically
• Creating and maintaining a  safe environment
• Uniform Policy

Re-Registration

Re-registration materials will be available shortly and the MCHS Tuition Manager will be on site to assist parents with registration for the MCJS. This on-site assistance is how the registration process is conducted at MCHS and parents find it very helpful.

Class of 2011

Michael addressed the concern of parents relating to eighth grade traditions and confirmed that there were no plans to discontinue them.

Extracurricular Activities

Michael noted that many additional opportunities will be made available to the Junior School student. For September 2010, there are 4 target areas that are planned to be made available for the MCJS students:

• Peer Ministry & Extra curriculars
• Enhanced use of technology
• Enhanced Math
• Enhanced Science

Communication with Faculty

Faculty input will be solicited from MCHS, Diocese and School leadership

Technology Survey for SVS Faculty

Michael and Matt Alpaugh will prepare a technology survey with about five questions to issue to SVS faculty. The responses will be collected via surveymonkey.com. Note: A letter and survey was distributed on Thursday, March 4. 

Marketing Update

• Carol met with Matt Alpaugh and Tim Potter via a recent conference call
• Open Houses are planned for April.
• New promotional materials will be available shortly and will be integrated into existing events such as the Gift Auction, St. Patrick’s Day Parade
• Grocery store [audio/visual advertisement] will be updated to include news about the new model
• Continue efforts to host a parish feeder breakfast
• Advertise School in Long Travel’s Newsletter

Michael Holland informed the team that a school advertisement can be published in his travel agency’s (Long Travel) newsletter that is issued two to three times a year. The next distribution is planned for May.

Sports Program

SVS Athletic Director, John McNamara joined the meeting to describe the SVS sports program and informed the group that he has been in contact with and hopes to meet shortly with the MCHS athletic director.

Father Francis closed the meeting with a prayer.

The meeting adjourned shortly after 8 p.m. 

Next Steps

Registration:

Father Francis and Mike St. Pierre to provide registration materials for families asap. MCHS tuition Manager will be coming to St. Virgil Campus to register families in person when materials are finalized.  

Review of School Facility

Pat asked Robert with his engineering expertise to perform a check of the facility and provide a list of repairs and maintenance to address at the next scheduled meeting.

Handbook

The team agreed to discuss the handbook analysis at the next meeting when Jen Qvotrup will be able to attend. [Father Francis noted that the handbook will need to address instances where interactions occur between members of the two student bodies.]

Curriculum Sub-Committee

Michael asked Dr. Gradone to chair this sub-committee, invite parent volunteers to join this committee and to plan to meet shortly. Dr. Gradone accepted to lead this committee and asked that she would like six or eight members. There are parents who have reached out to volunteer with children in MCHS and in or entering MCJS and their names will be provided to Dr. Gradone. .

Next Meeting, Thursday, March 18

• Robert will report on his review of the facility
• Jen will present the parent/student handbook analysis
• Pat will report on follow-up items after meeting with John Eriksen
• Team will determine meeting dates for April