Staff meeting 4. February 2016
Present: AKE, MPU, TLA, NHO, NMI, NDI, BCO, MDJ, BMI, JMI, MST, SPL, GTO, MBJ,
MVU, JPE, YLA
Excused: NST, NVU
Absent: RJO
Minutes:
1. Mocks – KS4/5 results will be sent to parents. Teachers will prepare ‘Revision plans’ and
give them to students by Friday 12.
KS3 mock results will not be sent formally to parents. Teachers will give information about
the results to students (and to me). The results will be issued by Tuesday 9 February.
2. Wall displays: There was nonconformity of opinions about the wall displays in Secondary
High school (Yvonne-s opinion was that topics / form of presentation of work done with
KS4/5 students is not adequate / boring for wall displays). It was finally decided that all
teachers will send (to MPU) their opinions and suggestions on: the type / content / source
of wall displays, who will be engaged in providing / creating them, etc.
Please send your ideas during the next week and I am positive that with joined effort we will
reach a pleasing solution.
3. Homework assignments in Secondary Middle school: There was considerable
nonconformity of opinions about homework assignments in Secondary Middle school.
Discussion was initiated by Yvonne’s comment that students feel stressed when they have
to practice for the test in one subject, as well as to complete the homework for another
subject (or subjects) for the same day, if the hw was assigned for the following day. Neil’s
opinion was that hw should be assigned 7 days in advance in order to be completed.
Stefan, explained that in maths it is not possible to move to the next topic without
understanding/ covering the previous topic and that a week’s period for hw would disable
teaching / learning process, (which is my opinion too). He also pointed out that teachers
always accept student’s excuse if it is plausible. I expressed my opinion that if students
don’t acquire the habit of regularly completing hw at middle school level, there is a very
small probability that they will start to do it in high school.
It was concluded (or at least I understood it that way) that: situations with tests and multiple hw-s
on the same day are rare; lengths of time for assigned hw as well as rhythm of its assignment
varies from subject to subject as well as the year group. Teachers are the ones to asses when and
how they should give hw in order to promote students’ learning in the best possible way.
4. Teachers teaching Nebraska students will send info on their work on regular bases,
particularly if there are reasons for concern.
5. Completion of American History 1 projects and tests is late and rate of work should be
significantly increased if we want to avoid problems with both Am History 1 and 2.
Marina Pujevic
5. February 2016
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