RHS Parent Group Agenda Items

1) Agriculture Education (Vo-Ag) program report by senior Rebecca Palmer (president of FFA chapter). Vo-Ag, a year-round program, is so much more than just raising farm animals. Members learn economics, mechanics, home improvement, aquaculture,  biotechnology, vegetable and flower growth, as well as animal care. Here are other interesting facts you may not know about Vo-Ag:

• Students from Bolton, East Windsor, Ellington, Manchester, Somers, South Windsor, Stafford, Tolland, and Union are invited to attend the Vo-Ag program.  The student must complete an application, submit two letters of recommendation, write an essay, and be interviewed. Previous experience in agriculture is not required.
• Students in the program take the same core courses as other RHS students.  Agriculture education courses are their electives.  In addition, each must complete a major out-of-school project.  Each year the number of hours per week spent on the project increases.
• There are many opportunities for field trips and a variety of competitions.  In order to participate in these events students must be passing their courses. 
• The national convention was attended by 53,000 FFA members in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Approximately 25 students will be visiting farms in Scotland and England during the April vacation.
• As a result of their participation in the program, students gain leadership and public speaking skills.  In addition, they learn life skills including: personal finance, business finance, economics, and job search skills.
• Approximately one third of the students are on the honor roll each quarter.  Many are members of NHS and in the top 105 of their respective classes.  The junior with the highest class rank is in the program.  Although many students pursue careers or continued education in the agricultural field, many pursue other academic avenues.  For example, Rebecca will be pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.
• Rebecca commented on the high level of involvement of the Agriculture Education teachers in guiding the students and assisting with job placement.  The teachers work during the summer to supervise their students on the job experiences.

2) The Parents Group is recruiting new members of the coordination team.  Sandra O’Gara has agreed to maintain the Parent Group website and Ann Morency has volunteered to attend the monthly Superintendent’s meeting for PTO presidents of all Vernon schools. She will also be one of the At Large members.  The remaining open positions include:

• Chair or co-chair
• Parent Support Organizer
• One At Large Member

3) Mr. Levesque mentioned current school position openings and the hiring status.

• Teaching openings include chemistry, math, technology education, business education, and agricultural education.  There have been many qualified applicants.  The only position for which he is still looking for candidates is technology education.
• The only administrative opening is for a Housemaster to replace Eric Jackson who will be moving to Florida.  There were 30 applicants whose resumes are currently being reviewed.  The search committee includes two parents: Mrs. Ann Morencey and Mrs. Jennifer Brown.
• Parents are needed to interview the 2 to 3 final candidates who are selected for the Housemaster position.  The interviews will be on April 25, 26, and 27 at 8:30AM.  They will last 30 to 40 minutes.  Please contact Pegi Deitz Shea (Deitzshea@aol.com) or Maureen Donahue (Donahue_mj@comcast.net) if you are interested in participating. 

4)   Department Head Roundtable Discussions – parents had an opportunity to learn more about each of the following departments. 

English – Linda Cole

• The English curriculum is skill based.  Although they don’t need to keep every paper and assessment, students are instructed not to toss any of the ‘skill-based’ materials which are printed on card stock.  Their English teachers will expect them to have this information in their notebook at the start of each new school year.
• The following are suggestions for parents to help support their child in English instruction:
  • Ask your child: Please tell me the homework assignment in English and the due date
  • Encourage and support extra help
  • Ask your child when an assignment / test is not successful, how did you do the work?
  • Read aloud writing, but do not make corrections
  • Talk to your child about plagiarism
• Wednesday at 2PM is a school wide extra help session.  English teachers are also willing to meet most days at 2PM, during lunch, and during plan blocks.  Some will also schedule meetings at 7AM.

Social Studies – Stephen Bubloski

• The social studies curriculum is content based.
• Each member of the social studies department is involved in at least one extracurricular activity.
• The faculty members try to incorporate field trips in their courses.  The major trip involving the department is the bi-annual Italy trip.
• The teachers look for ways to improve and enhance their courses.  They stress depth of knowledge over breadth.
• He commented that for those students who perform poorly in middle school a mandatory skills course during the summer before high school might be beneficial.

Mathematics – Patricia White

• The math department offers many programs to help students achieve:
  • The Math Lab is staffed by a math teacher during each study hall.  9^th grade students who are failing their math course must attend math lab.  For all other students, math lab is one option for receiving assistance.
  • The Academic Learning Center offers peer tutoring.
  • Two weeks before the CAPT tests, the department offers after school CAPT review sessions.
  • The week before the first spring SAT test, the department offers after school SAT review.   This is especially important now that the SAT math test includes Algebra II topics.
  • The 9^th grade pre-CAPT tests have been scored.  Each teacher has seen the results of the tests.  The tests are being kept by the department so that 10^th grade math teachers can spot areas of weakness for their students next year.  If you are interested in your student’s score, you may email Mrs. White to ask for that information.
  • Suggestions invited for how to carry over the successful VCMS Math team activities to RHS.

Science – Ed Argenta

• Earth science is offered to freshman and biology is offered to sophomores.  During the junior and senior year there are many different courses available to students.
• He mentioned that AP Chemistry and AP Physics are usually taught on alternate years but due to limited enrollment, AP Physics was not offered this year.  If your son or daughter has a strong interest in science, you should talk to the guidance department about course availability and planning as well as alternative sites for taking courses, such as MCC.
• The Allied Health program is a two-year program for students who are interested in pursuing a non-physician career in the medical field, e.g. occupational therapist, nurse.  In addition to course work, there are many opportunities for job shadowing.  Students must apply at the end of their sophomore year.
• The Environmental Action Group is involved in many activities including Adopt a River and Earth Day.
• JETS is a combination science math engineering team which competes during the year.
• RHS has an articulated research program with the UConn dental program.

Announcements

• The Vo-Ag program has Easter lilies for sale, and will be selling flats of flowers in May.  Call the school for more information.

Next Meeting

May 1, 2006 at 7:00PM in the RHS Library