Meeting called to order by co-chair at 7:08PM
1.
Motion made by Mrs. Anthony
2.
Seconded by Lisa Willard
Minutes Review
1.
Motion to accept the minutes Lisa Willard
2.
Motion seconded by Tammy Ward
Board of Education Update (Melissa Blondet)
Highlights from the 1/13/14 Meeting:

Our Superintendent of Schools presented the 2014-2015 budget. If you do not have a copy and would like to obtain one please go onto the school website.

The Board approved the second phase of the high school lighting project. The first phase was an upgrade to indoor lighting. The second will focus on outdoor lightning. The costs for these projects are paid out of the savings from electrical upgrades. Both phases were approved back in the fall.

Board was happy to receive the Griswold High School Media Center Newsletter.

The Middle School PTO presented a gift to the Middle School Ski Club to help with costs.

The Board approved the policy and regulations on School Activity Funds.

The Policy subcommittee was given approval to go to the Board of Finance and Board of
Selectman to allow non-profit, in-town groups to use the school and facilities without cost.

A nice write up was in Southern Alumni Magazine about our very own Erin Palonen, acknowledging her recent “Teacher of the Year” award and honoring her being named one of the top five teachers in the US on “Live with Kelly and Mike”.

Stuart Norman, the Board’s Vice-President, commented on how he appreciated Ray Churchill’s enthusiasm when speaking at the Business Association dinner. He is a great ambassador from the Griswold Public Schools
Highlights from the 1/27/14 Meeting:

Employee of the month was recognized, our very own amazing Terry Cholewa!

Board received the GHS January Newsletter and the first edition of the GHS Paw Print
Newspaper for January 2014.

Looking for Volunteer of the Year nominations- deadline for nominations will be February 14 th .

Student Council President Elijah Perry and fellow student council members were present to report on their recent Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) state leadership conference that they attended in the fall. They shared a brief Power Point presentation and gave some details about their experiences from the trip.


The Board honored the Griswold High School CAPT Scholars-they received highest scores in ALL sections. (Heather Bolland, Cassidy Goodson, Elijah Perry, Jennifer Sturgeon, and Heidi
Willard).They were presented with a framed letter from the Commissioner of Education.

Five students from GMS/GHS were recognized by the Board for organizing a blanket and coat drive before Christmas, in order to help the homeless in our community.

2014/15 Budget overviews were given to the Board by Mr. Bordeau for GES, Ms. Raynor for
GMS, Dr. Frizzell for GHS, Mrs. Palonen for Special Education, Mrs. Rourke for Curriculum, and
Mrs. Curioso for Technology.

A draft was given out to the Board of next years’ school calendar for a first reading-that will also be emailed to parents to get feedback.

Superintendent and Business Manager (Holly McCalla) updated Board on status of the 2013/14 budget.

Roof Project moving ahead-ED049 was filed January 21 st with the state.
Highlights from the 2/24/2014 Meeting:

Please consider sending in a nomination for the Instructional Assistant of the Year-the application can be found on Griswold’s website.

The GHS Program of Studies has been printed and students have signed up for next year’s courses. This will also be given out to all 8 th graders and our tuition towns. You can find the booklet on the website as well.

We honored our own lovely Pamela Schlender, whom works in the front office, with the
Employee of the Month award.

The Board honored twenty-four GMS CMT student scholars with certificates of achievement.

Five GMS students who won the Verizon App Challenge were recognized. These students were awarded “Best in State” for the 2014 challenge.

A brief presentation was given by two staff members from Southeastern Regional Action Council
(SERAC) regarding the results of the recent Griswold youth survey done with grades 7-12. The results serve the use of helping to develop appropriate prevention and intervention strategies.

An adjustment was made to school year calendar. In order to have last day of school on Friday,
June 20 th , we will have a regular day of school on March 31 st , instead of teachers having a PD day.

The Board will finalize and approve a budget percentage at the March 10 th meeting so that the school budget can be sent onto the town by March 15 th .
GHS Student representative, Elijah Perry, reported:
 Griswold Student Council collected 55 pairs of jeans with their Teens for Jeans initiative.
 Student Council will host the March Madness Dance on March 14 th in the high school gym and cafeteria.
 The National Honor Society ran a blood drive to benefit the Red Cross on February 26 th .
 TRI-M will be hosting a pizza fundraiser. Those interested can purchase pizza by the slice, provided by local establishments, then judge on which slice tastes the best. The establishment with the most votes will receive a trophy.

Superintendent of Schools (Paul Smith)

Bicentennial Fever –a year long celebration starting this summer for the Town of Griswold. GPS will also participate. Events will consist of parades, fireworks, concerts etc.

March 31 st – will be a school day. Previously a professional development day but due to the number of snow days this will now be a school day.
Project Safe Grad (Melissa Biggins, Tammy Ward)

Flyers highlighting upcoming fundraiser events will be available throughout the schools

Lots of fun events planned including some of the highlights below; o Raffle for a $1000 Walmart gift card continues thru April 30 th – tickets are $20 o March 21 st – Bingo at Foxwoods – tickets are $15 o March 28 th – Comedy Night at VFW – tickets are $20/person o April 13 th - Breakfast and Bake Sale – VFW Griswold ; 8-11AM o May 1 st – Proejct Safe Grad Event Registration Deadline o May 10 th – Mother’s Day Extravaganza; GMS; 9-2PM o May 16 th – Annual Golf Tournament – River Ridge; 9AM
Calendar Update (Dr. Frizzell, Principal)
 Smarter Balance/CAPT (Science) Testing Dates (3/25-28/2014; 4/2-4/2014)

March 7 th – Hartford Athletic Career Seminar/Wolfpack game (XL Center) – 24 students are attending
 March 10 th – BOE Meeting GMS Library 7PM

March 14 th – March Madness Dance, GHS 7-10PM

March 17 th – St. Patrick’s Day; Tarzan tickets go on sale
 March 20 th – CT College Field Trip (Money Madness Seminar)
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March 24 th – BOE Meeting GMS Library 7PM
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March 26 th – GHS Spring Concert

March 31 st – School day no longer a Professional Development Day sue to snow days
Smarter Balance/ Common Core (Mr. Matthew Peel/ Mrs. Rourke)

Juniors will take the Smarter Balance; sophomores will take the CAPT Science test
 22 states will be participating in practice testing this year to provide baseline information and work thru testing processes in preparation for subsequent yrs of testing

Real testing will begin in 2015; grades 3-8, 11
 Computer based testing as well as in class tasks and performance testing (persuasive essay)

Currently the Smarter Balance testing focuses on English, Language Arts and Math hence the CAPT test for Science is a requirement

Connected to the Common Core

More information is available http://www.smarterbalanced.org/
 Video on Common Core available at http://commoncoreworks.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=239

Teacher Updates by Teacher Representative (Laureen Anthony)
1.
Mathematics (Academic Leader: James Wilson) o New Statistics class has been a big success this year. Provides an alternative option to
Pre-Calculus or Calculus. Would like to offer an AP level Stats class in a few years.
2.
Art (Instructors: Paula Pauley and Sarah Potpinka) o Twenty-two student artists will represent GHS at the Mystic Young at Art o Field trip on April 4 th to the show and Aquarium – cost is $23; interested students should see Mrs. Pauley o Website for more information: http://mysticartsorg.entry/young-at-art-4
3.
Health (Instructor: Konstantinow Efthimiou) o Mr. E’s classes are focusing on diet and nutrition. Project includes a brochure to persuade the schools administration for healthier food options in the cafeteria
4.
Social Studies (Academic Leader: Betsy Kowal) o Freshmen history classes are completing their Greek Hellenistic thinker projects. Many are building replicas of an Archimedes screw, catapult and other inventions from this time.
5.
Instrumental Music (Instructor: Mr. Kinsall) o Spring concert March 26 th at 7PM o GHS students (Nick Tedeschi, Erik Larson, Jazzlyn Gilliard, Ashley Dupuis, Kenneth
Weed) participated in the 3 rd annual UCONN 1 st Chair Invitational High School Band and Director Clinic
6.
Science (Academic Leader: Lori Hatajik) o Mr. Meislitzer’s AP Physics students finished their unit on sound waves. Students complete a long term project to build a working musical instrument of their choice.
7.
Family and Consumer Sciences (Academic Leader: Dolores Walsh) o Early Education students have been preparing the classroom for 9 preschool age children that attend the GHS Child Study Lab twice /week. The child lab provides high school students with an authentic early care and education experience while providing socialization for the young children. o Catherine Fargo instructed several Family and Consumer Science teachers, early childhood education students on Frist Aid and CPR.
8.
English (Academic Leader: Laureen Anthony) o Freshmen participated in the 11 th annual Law of Life Essay writing contest. Contest is sponsored on the National and State level. o The winning essays and their authors will be announced during a freshmen assembly on April 4 th in the GHS auditorium o Alicia Marsh is this year’s GHS finalist.
9.
Student Council (Advisors: Lori Hatajik and Terry Cholewa) o March Madness dance; March 14 th 7-10PPM GHS Auditorium
10.
Senior Class (Class Advisors: Nadine Keane and Kasey Hosmer) o Class of 2014 Spring Flower Fundraiser is going on now. Orders must be made by
March 21 st . Delivery is scheduled for April 9 th . Final opportunity for seniors to lower the cost for Prom tickets.
11.
Spring Musical News

o Tarzan tickets go on sale St Patty’s Day March 17 th for $11 o Tickets are available on line www.griswolddrama.com
o Show dates include April 23-26 at 7PM and a matinee performance at 1PM on
Saturday
12.
School Health Office (School Nurse: Jacquie Burzycki) o Current Physicals are required or students entering their junior year in the fall of
2014.
13.
Physical Education (Instructor: Melissa Moore) o Sgt. McGale from the CT Army National Guard visited GHS on Feb 26 th and led some fitness training prepping students for the Wolverine Fitness Challenge in May.
14.
Junior Class News ( Class Advisors: Katie Trudelle and Kimberlie Speight) o Goodbye wish Kisses can be purchased for seniors and will be on sale during lunches beginning April 7 th .
Raffle (All embroidered items donated by STM Embroidery)
1.
Green GHS hat – Superintendent Mr. Paul Smith
2.
Stadium Blanket – Lisa Willard; Mrs. Anthony
**Next meeting to be held Aril 2nd at 7PM
Close Meeting
1 st : Bridget Kinnie
2 nd : Mrs. Anthony
Minutes respectfully submitted by Deb Camacho