Agenda Items

• The Parents Group is recruiting new members of the coordination team. Mrs. O’Gara has agreed to maintain the Parent Group website and Mrs. Morency has volunteered for one of the At Large member positions. The remaining open positions include:
  • Chair or co-chair
  • Parent Support Organizer
  • One At Large Member
    
    
• A formal Staff Appreciation Day will be held Friday, June 9 with breakfast beginning at 6:45. A signup sheet was passed around at the meeting but there are still a few items needed. Please email Pegi Deitz Shea (deitzshea@aol.com) if you would like to volunteer to set up or donate an item.
  
  
• The Parents Group is looking for parents to work the night of Grade 9 orientation in September. Volunteers would assist with parent signup.
  
  
• Mr. Levesque mentioned current position openings and the hiring status.
  
  • Teaching openings include housemaster (recommendation pending), technology education (recommendation pending), and band director.
    
  • The following positions have been filled: 2 math teachers, 1 business education teacher, 1 chemistry teacher, and 1 vocational-agricultural teacher.
    
  • The Board of Education is in the process of hiring an interim Superintendent of Schools and a search firm.
    
    
• Ms. Kim McTighe from Vernon Youth Services along with Colleen MacLean, Molly Lyons, and Diane LaVoie discussed the Peer Advocates program.
  • There are approximately 43 sophomores, juniors, and seniors serving as Peer Advocates. Each student had to complete an application and go through a screening and interviewing process in order to be accepted. In the summer, the students are trained in communication skills, helping skills, and team building. Students must maintain a ‘C’ average to continue in the program.
    
  • Throughout the year, the students work with individuals in our community from elementary students to the elderly. They provide tours to new students as well as work one-on-one with students in need.
    
  • Meetings are held once a month and often include guest speakers. The group brainstorms future activities. They are also trained in stress releasers and mediation.
    
  • Student leaders have the opportunity to attend leadership conferences.
    
  • Peer Mentoring is another aspect of the program. High school students are assigned an elementary student to mentor. This is not a mandatory assignment although most Peer Advocates are also mentors. The students provide one-on-one attention to students in need. This is a commitment on the part of the high school students because the younger students can get upset if their mentor does not show up.
    
  • Approximately 20 to 25 of the students are trained in Peer Mediation. A referral can be made by a housemaster. Students can also choose to go directly to a Peer Mediator.
    
  • Ms. McTighe is currently accepting applications for next year. The paperwork is available in the main office, house offices, and room 235.
    
    
• Mr. Levesque discussed additional topics related to school improvement
  
  • The budget vote is May 9. He encourages members of the community to vote.
    
  • On April 10, the Board of Education approved Breathalyzer and Drug-Sniffing Dog policies. He does not believe that there is a huge drug and alcohol problem in Vernon but that we are experiencing the same issues as surrounding towns. The breathalyzer will be used on all students as they enter dances and may be used at any RHS function. The dog will be brought in randomly. The dog can search ‘things’ but not people. Lockers, hallways, and cars will be the primary search areas.
    
  • In the continuing effort to improve the transition of 8th graders to 9th grade, the school piloted a program of 20 at-risk 8th graders who had the opportunity to spend a half day at RHS. The students had a tour of the school, sat in on a class, and ate lunch. The administration is considering revamping freshman orientation. An advisor / advisee program is also planned for next year. The Smaller Learning Community (SLC) will continue at the same size, for 9th graders but will include math.
    
  • An Attendance Committee is reviewing the current policy which is very unmanageable. Students face discipline action as well as academic action. Often students are suspended for poor attendance. The plan is to implement the new policy next year.
    
  • The administration is considering a special set of privileges that 10th and 11th grade students could earn as a reward for scholastic achievement. If you have any suggestions, feel free to email Mr. Levesque.
    
  • The School Improvement Committee is planning to pilot a senior project with some students next year. The success of the voluntary pilot would determine whether it becomes a mandatory program in future years. They are also working on Alternatives to Suspension. If any parent is interested in joining the committee next year, feel free to email Mr. Levesque.
    Announcements
    
  • The RHS Mission Revision committee is looking for additional parent representation at meetings as well as parent input. The committee will review and revise the current Mission Statement and Expectations for Student Learning. The purpose is to incorporate modifications in the process by NEASC as well as simplify the document. Please contact Maureen Donahue if you are interested ( donahue_mj@comcast.net ).
    
  • On Thursday, May 11 at 7PM there will be a ‘Parents Helping Parents’ support group meeting at Union Congregational Church Annex on Elm Street in Rockville. The program is sponsored by Alan Slobodian, Vernon Youth Services. The meeting will focus on upcoming problems with prom, graduation, and summer vacation, i.e., “partying”, safety, supervision, discipline, jobs, laziness and gaming addiction. Real teens will share their insights.
    
  • The Parent Group is looking for your input. What do you feel should be the primary and secondary goals of our organization? What topics would you like discussed at future meetings? Please email Pegi Deitz Shea (deitzshea@aol.com) with your thoughts.

Next Meeting
October 2, 2006 at 7:00PM in the RHS Library