Academic Program Committee Meeting

Today the Academic Program Committee met for their weekly meeting from 12:30-1:45pm). On the agenda were updates on the Middle Years IB Program (Kate Dominique), Saturday U (Gary Enrico), and NCLB (Jennifer Lopez).

IB/MYP- Class of 2009 enrollment for the IB Diploma program is currently 6 for Full Diploma (all IB courses) and 36 for Certificate (1 or more IB courses). Class of 2010 is currently 16 for Full Diploma and 60 for Certificate. Attrition is an issue historically with the Diploma program and efforts are underway (study hall, informal discussions with IB teachers, increased communication concerning expectations and preparation) to retain an increasing percentage of students in both the Diploma and the Certificate programs. For MYP, the personal projects are advancing and a list of all projects is currently being compiled. There is a fundraiser underway for a Personal Project Retreat (sale on a cookbook which was featured on Cablevision News on 11/19) headed by IB teachers in Hoboken High School. Finally, a discussion was begun on efforts to bring more emphasis on inquiry based pedagogy into practice and ways to clearly articulate Essential Questions.

Saturday U- Course descriptions were discussed for both the Academic track and Enrichment track. Also, discussion of a start date in early January and running approximately 16 weeks is being considered. Discussion was also made on expanding the grade levels for participation in the program although no final decision was research and will be a topic for the next meeting of the group.

NCLB- Preliminary discussions were undertaken on what might happen to NCLB under the incoming administration and the role/funding levels for Reading First. Some discussion on Read 180 was made as well as the the progress made by LitLife in early grade professional development in writing.

Special Academic Programs Committee

On Wednesday, a meeting of the Special Academics Program Committee was held at the Board of Education office. The purpose of this group is to coordinate and communicate the multiple curricula efforts currently underway within the district. The Committee was formed by Dr. Petrosino and will meet weekly. Attending the meeting were Ms. Hillebrand (John Hopkins Expansion), Ms. Dominique (International Baccalaurate Program- Middle Years Program), Ms. Lopez (LitLife, Read 180, Reading First, NCLB), Ms. Kamarsky (Supervisor: English and History), Mr. McKenzie (Supervisor: Mathematics and Science) and Mr. Enrico (Saturday U Program). A quick summary of the meeting:

John Hopkins Expansion Program- Currently students are being identified and prepared for the extrance exam which will be given in mid November. There are also efforts underway for recruitment of teachers for site specific expansion at Calabro and Wallace.

Middle Years Program- Work is underway is assisting students with their "personal projects". In the final year of the programme, each student completes a personal project, a significant piece of work that is the product of the student’s own initiative and creativity. Each project must reflect a personal understanding of the areas of interaction. Students apply the skills acquired through one of these areas as well as approaches to learning.
Students are expected to choose their project, which can take many forms, and take the process through to completion under the supervision of a teacher in the school. This involves: planning , research a high degree of personal reflection. The personal project is assessed by teachers against a set of IB assessment criteria.

LitLife, Read 180, Reading First, NCLB- Professional development is underway for LitLife throughout the district. Training has also been development and is underway for Read 180. Each of these programs were instituted last academic year.

English and History- Monthly meetings are underway in the high school coordinating vertical alignment of the curriculum and this past week as special "State/Presidential Election" was held in Hoboken High School.

Mathematics and Science- Coordination of efforts with Liberty Science Center for professinal development in the High School is being coordinated as well as visits to the elementary schools to coordinate the 8th-9th grade transition.

Saturday U- Posting have been made for positions and an expansion of offerings are well underway. This coming year we will introduce Computer Animation, Geography and a special Cultural program which will include visits to New York City (this program will be enrichment and will be done during the week *not* on Saturday).