Meeting+31+-+Sept+'15

** Friday, September 25th, 2015 (7:20 am – 7:50 am) ** ** H103 – BioHaz Meeting Room **
 * Science Department Meeting **

Sept 28 – last day to drop AP/Honors Mike – Switzerland, visited Einstein’s house, super collider, etc. Oct 12 – faculty in-service, first part is VIRTUS training, 2nd part – science dept. teachers are presenting to the department. Oct 16 – professional dev. Plans due to Fawzia – include last year’s plans and update on progress for each item. For this year’s plans – meeting with Rick feedback helping to form the plans. Once Fawzia has them – between Oct 19-23rd meetings with Fawzia to discuss during free periods.
 * 1) I. Important Dates
 * 2) a. September 28th – last day to for AP and Honors drops by teacher or petition by student with four signatures (counselor, parents and 2 teachers involved)
 * 3) b. September 29th – Happy Birthday Mike
 * 4) c. October 12th – Faculty Inservice
 * 5) d. October 14th – Happy Birthday Gerry and Testing Day
 * 6) e. October 16th – Professional Development Plans Due


 * 1) II. Shared Calendar
 * 2) a. Department meetings and BioHaz hosting schedule (Thank you Kimberly)
 * 3) b. Next Department Meeting – Thursday, October 28th (Thank you Paul) – Thursday morning


 * 1) III. Professional Development Plans (Due Friday, October 16)
 * 2) a. Last year’s plans were emailed
 * 3) b. Include this year’s plans and update on last year’s plans with completed/in-progress/not completed
 * 4) c. Meetings with Rick
 * 5) d. October 19th to 23rd will schedule short meeting to discuss plans (via email)

PLC’s – 2 meetings in computer lab – tech info. The next two are mini inservices – Oct. 19th second and third meetings begin.
 * 1) IV. PLC’s
 * 2) a. Second meeting mini inservice
 * 3) b. No meetings week of October 12th
 * 4) c. October 19th second and third meetings

Lance emailed Fawzia – he wants to make videos on each department and what goes on during the school year.
 * 1) V. Technology Department
 * 2) a. Lance wants to make videos highlighting cool projects/tech implementation (will contact active teachers)

i. Time for Student Reflection ii. Pacing
 * 1) VI. Discussion (Updates/Department Goals)
 * 2) a. 70 minute periods
 * 1) b. “Homeruns”
 * 2) c. Science Practices (future discussion – vertical alignment)
 * a) 70 minute schedule ** – updates – time for student reflection? How is the pacing? More time for student reflection – Robb – first unit had to cut out some info, looking forward what can be pulled out to be made shorter – Paul – able to have them connect a bit better the different types of learning in the course. – Joining things up in the class a bit more. Kim/Fawzia – block schedule nice for the AP courses and the labs. On pace with planning – going faster – something to gauge as the year goes on – effect on students. Stress level of students? After a couple more weeks – inquire how the stress level is for the students. Eddie – talked to a few students – multiple days to do a homework assignment – only that free if you are on task.

Exam pacing? – Only using the 50-55 minutes – how to use the rest of class? Review discussion before – study process – work after? Exam beginning of the class – end with hook for the next chapter that we are going to start. Start next unit/lab prep – finished some exam review before hand or working after the exam.


 * b) Homeruns – ** Anything interesting happening in the classroom? With Flex time – Chemistry club Seniors what they have learned in Psychology vs. Biology course – making the connections. That Physics is the foundation for all sciences – nice to hear that type of discussion among the students. Jim – student reflection and thinking through the inquiry methods. Making frequent connections between experience in chemistry and what they are seeing in Biology.


 * c) Science Practices – ** first 8 from NGSS, last 7 from AP Science Practices. Look over the science practices for future discussion for vertical alignment and how we are doing with the practices in the fresh/soph courses in preparation for AP courses.