The meeting began at 6:30PM with opening introductions by Dr. Pontrello, Mrs. Schiavone, and Mr. Murray. We welcomed back previous attendees as well as new parents and community members. 

The objective for this meeting was reviewed: brainstorm positive and creative actionable steps that could be taken in 5 different major areas. Each topic was listed on a wall poster around the room. Participants were given a specific color paper and assigned a different group. Participants were then given 10 minutes to brainstorm on their assigned topic. Then they were allowed to go to a different topic of interest to them and given an additional 10 minutes to brainstorm. Finally, we asked participants to go to their preferred topic of interest and develop 1-2 actionable steps. They were asked to define who would be responsible for the steps, and in what timeframe they should occur. Please reference the areas and actionable steps listed below.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM.

Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, same time and place. Childcare will be provided.

Recognition - recognizing the good things(character, awards, behavior, academic):

• Parents could nominate a teacher or staff member for recognition
• News Channel
• Quality Student Award - academic, clubs, citizenship, host a banquet, newspaper photo, essay, nominated by faculty, similar to what is done at the HS level.

Communication - Modes of sharing information:

• School to Home, Smore is working well, Portal Communication
• Home to School?
• Bully Box Idea - goes along with reporting bullying, discrete, safe.
• Suggestion Box - compliments, ensures the good is being seen too.
• Put both boxes in a neutral location
• Surveys to get feedback
• Best communication methods: texting, Remind, Facebook
• Worst: Website is NOT user-friendly on a phone.

Action Step: Bully and Suggestion boxes, done by staff, monitored by admin and staff.
Action Step: Aide calls home to let parents know of low grades, or good reasons, gives teachers and admin a break, increase communication between home and school.

Parent Support - Parent to parent support & connection:

• Family Nights with stations for parents, tips and tricks/ideas. Examples: social media issues, parent portal.
• Parent advocate
• FB page that is EB specific

Mentoring - Connect students:

• Student Mentors
• Training for Mentors
• Morning Affirmations
• Student Advocates
• Parent Advocates
• Community Member Mentors
• G.R.E.A.T. Program
• Community Greeters

Action Step: Student and community mentors, use honor society and PIG community service hour requirements, flex time. Both this year and next year.
Action Step: Parent Advocates, for next year? 

School Culture - Safe, Respectful, Responsible, Kind: anti-bullying, intimidation and social media issues:

• Coping/Social skills training (whole school)
• Posting what each expectation looks like in different areas of the school (words & pictures)
• Assemblies explaining these expectations
• Reinforcing positive behavior when seen
• Teach conflict resolution and accountability
• Each day is a “new chance” to be better
• Consequences

Action Step: Role-Play how to act in different areas of student life, including school. Do this at the next Code of Conduct Meeting.
Action Step: Questionnaire to parents to help school know what parents are dealing with, ie what is allowed at home, increased home/school communication.

Attendees: Mark Sanders, Shawn Murray, Camielle Pontrello, Julie Schiavone, Erika Powell, Kesha Johnnson-Smith, Charlene McClain, Deanna Lute, Lisa Mayers, Kaitlin Walker.

6:35 Introduction by M. Sanders, Dr. Pontrello, J. Schiavone, S. Murray

Objectives for tonight:

• Active participation in a brainstorming activity to share ideas, thoughts, opinions as they relate
  to EBIS.
• Begin to establish trust between parents/home and school.
• Provide a meaningful experience tonight for those in attendance.

6:45: People move into a small group to begin brainstorming activities.

Short-Term Items of Interest: These are items that could be addressed throughout the
remainder of the current school year.

1. Information provided to parents showing/explaining what programs currently exist - academic, after school, the Y, etc.
2. Teachers communicate the little things they notice about their children. When this has happened, parents have found it helpful.
3. Social-emotional staff to do regular check-ins with classes.
4. An anonymous box or method for students to communicate through (bully box or app).
5. Safe place to communicate (technology related).
6. Multiple methods of communicating with parents - Facebook, other social media.
7. Giving the students making the right choices attention and creating an environment where bad behavior is not accepted.
8. Students not accepting bad behavior.
9. High School / Upperclassmen involvement.
10. Breakfasts with role models (male & female separately).
11. Resource guide for students to use for services available students have access to (i.e. medical,counseling, etc).
12. No fun
13. Breakfast
14. Communication
15. Lunch time
16. Good kids getting punished as a group.
17. An agenda is available for parents to know what is expected of students.
18. Treat students as 10-11 year olds and not as middle schoolers.
19. GroupMe & WhatsApp
20. More clubs

Long-Term Items of Interest: These are items that could be addressed beyond the current
school year.

1. BFNC
2. Flag Football
3. Trust
4. Parent Liaison to call and answer any questions in the evening (scholastic, behavior issues,homework help, grades).
5. Teacher mentor program - link a student to a teacher in the building.
6. Parent Support
7. More extracurricular activities
8. High School / Upperclassmen involvement
9. Mentorship
10. Multi-layer mentoring program (repetitive)
11. A program that helps students learn about themselves/learn about who they are.

Joe Taylor to speak

Closure: M. Sanders & S. Murray

Long Term objective explained- this School & Community Partnership wants to create an
experience that EBIS families feel has been a very positive one while their child has attended EBIS. A feeling of growth, pride, and enjoyment.

Target Date for next Meeting: Tuesday March 8 (Subject to change). We will inform
parents via the EBIS Parent Newsletter & mass text.