Meeting+33+-+Nov+'15

** Friday, November 20, 2015 (7:20am – 7:50am) ** ** H103 – BioHazard Meeting Room **
 * Science Department Meeting **


 * 1) I. Looking Ahead – Important Dates to Note
 * 2) a. Thanksgiving – 11/26 and 11/27
 * 3) b. Open House Preparation Meeting – 12/4 ( 7:30 am )
 * 4) c. Happy Birthday Gina 12/6
 * 5) d. Open House – Sun 12/13

Open House Prep Meeting - 12/4 - 7:30ish, meet to prep for Open House on 12/13
 * 1) II. BioHaz Mornings (Thank you Eddie…Andrew Next Month)

Past couple weeks Fawzia has been doing formal observations - post observations still in progress. It has been great seeing what has been done in the classroom and getting ideas. Grades - where we are compared to the school and to other departments and within your subgroup. Compare your percentages now, strive to give a common experience in the classroom and grades should be similar as well. Important to discuss in subgroups and people who have the same subject to ensure that grades are comparable.
 * 1) III. Formal Observations
 * 1) IV. Grades (Compare with school, department and other teachers teaching the same course)

Compare to other schools - would it be possible to see other Jesuit school grades and grade inflation - Gina - email to the Jesuit list serve - Andrey - ask other Assistant Principles for data. Next years budget's - proposals due on the 11th - if budget amount for this year is okay for next year - you do not need to do anything. If want increase - have to go through the process of requesting money. Due 12/11. Open House Assignments - big event, show off what we do - update slide show - email pictures to Fawzia to be incorporated into the slide show. Work on this soon so that the slides can be set up. Fawzia - coordinating the exploratorium. Exploratorium moved into H104 - and presentations in H101 and H100. Will meet again on D12/4 to talk details about rooms and cleaning. Meet again on 12/4 to discuss details. Robb - help updating Prezi, and new images and data. Mike Lew - will be coming back for the presentations. Moving back and forth in assignments is an option as well. *AP Bio students in Exploratorium to explain activities - good reliable students volunteers to explain demos. Maybe we can have a Kahoot in the exploratorium - set up with a TV with a couple students leading 5-6 kids in a Kahoot. Fawzia will send the draft of the science dept. brochure. Physics, and dry chemistry based demos and Probeware - safe solutions for the hands on. Gerry - Science Olympiad - science club participates in this - multiple events and competitions, about a dozen kids competing. Will science teachers be willing to give token extra credit to get students involved? If open to it, look out for an email from Gerry with more info. 5-6 kids in science club that are very proactive this year - they might approach you independently about extra credit. Will not be a department wide policy - case by case basis and freedom to choose. Regional, state wide and national - Science Olympiad on kids resume is a big deal, counselors and application evaluators like to see this. 15 students total can compete. Science dept handbook needs to be updated - will be electronic - will be sending different parts to different subgroups to update. Due date is January. Schedule feedback - google doc out there for any thoughts on the new schedule and feedback - Frank will be asking dept chairs for feedback NSTA - National Conference is in Nashville - it falls at the end of Spring Break - last couple days is the NSTA. Fawzia is thinking of going. If anyone else is interested let her know - there is money to go, so let Fawzia know soon if you would like to go. 2017 - National Conference NSTA will be in Los Angeles - submit proposals if interested. AP Conference in July will be in Los Angeles as well Updates from Frank - doing observations, but other PLC activities are unknown? Probably need to start getting together.
 * 1) V. Next years Budgets Proposals Due 12/11 (if same email Andrey or submit proposal for increased amounts)
 * 1) VI. Open House (refer to assignments) – Handouts (Fawzia) and Prezi (Fawzia and Robb) are being updated and new images are needed (pictures of students / lab facilities)
 * 1) VII. Science Olympiad – Gerry (Would any science teachers be willing to award some token extra credit to students who do well (definition TBD) in the Science Olympiad? What requirements/criteria/evidence should be tied to such extra credit?)
 * 1) VIII. Science Department Handbook (In process of updating electronic version)
 * 1) IX. Google Doc (New schedule feedback)
 * 1) X. NSTA Nashville National Conference (March 31 – April 2 2016) – Spring break is March 24th – April 3rd 2016
 * 1) XI. Submit Proposals for Los Angeles National Conference (March 30 – April 2, 2017)
 * 1) XII. Department Share
 * 2) a. PLC Updates
 * 3) b. Math/Science Alignment