How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 20th Century - Guilderland ...

GUILDERLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING
NAME OF COMMITTEE: Foreign Language Early Start Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 15, 2004
MEMBERS PRESENT: Nancy Andress, Cathy Beadnell, Martha Beck, Karen Covert-Jones, Amy
Daley, Debbie Drumm, Barbara Fraterrigo, Martha Kemp, Lynn Luffman,
Al Martino, Wendy Meola, Jennifer Politano, Stephanie Sakmar, Karen
Shields, Dianne Walshhampton, Mary K. Weeks
CHAIR:
Nancy Andress and Al Martino
RECORDER:
Dianne Walshhampton
ITEMS DISCUSSED BY TOPIC:
1. Nancy Andress welcomed the group. Introductions were made.
2. Visitations were discussed by teams. Reports were distributed.
A. Bronxville
Traditional foreign language program - Spanish Grades 1-5. Started grades 1-3. 1.8 teachers
for grades 1-5, about 600 students.
B. Edgemont
Grades 1-3 Spanish. 2 X 30. Support regular content as well as teach Spanish proficiency.
C. Howe
Traditional foreign language program. K-2 Spanish 20 minutes. 3-5 French 22 minutes.
D. Albany Montessori Magnet
Start PreK - K French through grade 6. Connected to classroom curriculum.
3. Steps
The committee all agreed to go forward with developing a plan to present to the Board of Education
at the January 18, 2005 School Board Meeting.
A. All agreed on presenting Spanish as the language.
B. The plan is to connect teaching of language to curriculum.
C. One possible plan for K-5. K-1 once a week. 2-5 two times per week.
D. Classroom teachers and foreign language teacher support each other in the foreign language
class session. Foreign language teacher prepares lesson and classroom teacher co-teaches.
E. Schedule in collaboration time with grade level at grade level meetings.
We will organize presentation to staff in December. Get staff input about amount of time and
coordination with foreign language teacher.
A parent survey will be sent out. Wendy Meola will coordinate.
NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, January 6, 2005, Guilderland Elementary Staff Room at
4:30 p.m.
AGENDA:
1. Welcome, introductions
2. Parent Survey Results
3. Plan - Reactions, Revisions
4. Board of Education Report
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