Mr.Cole, as principal of Hammond elementary has put together a group of individuals from our community to be key communicators. These volunteers are parents of children in different grade levels, parents of children at the middle and high school, and people living in our neighborhood. Key communicators will attend district meetings to obtain information and provide feedback. On January 24th this group met for the first time to share what we hear, the need to communicate, and a round table discussion to share knowledge.
Mr. Cole discussed the various programs available at Hammond, Bobcat club which is an extended day program for struggling students, based on academics. The club meets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Currently have 33 students and 6-7 teachers participate. Another program is ELL/English Learning. Program where children who have English as their second language, are pulled out from regular classes, half hour each day to become more proficient in English. This is for K-5. 4th/5th grade rotation was started as a pilot project last year and is quite successful. The students go to a home room for about 45 minutes for roll call and instruction, and rotate out by subject to each teacher. This pilot project appears to make the students more middle school ready. They improve on organizational skills and learn different expectations from different teachers. Read about program is an after school program for the lower level readers. Allows the students to use the computers for reading using an interactive program. State testing is no longer done through TESSA. Currently the state testing will be done through OAKS/Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Outdoor school is where the 4th graders get a wonderful experience of an overnight trip with their class and basically have school outdoors. Math night and literature night are both great educational nights involving math and reading and is a great way for students and their families to have a night at the school with fun and learning. Hammond has a TAG program for talented and gifted children. Sarah Whitney is the school's TAG coordinator. Children are tested and once identified as a TAG student, the teacher, parent and TAG coordinator work together on a plan for the child. PTC is Hammond's Parent Teacher Club. PTC meets once a month, 2nd Thursday. They meet to discuss which fundraiser to go with and how funds will be spent. Hammond also has parent Spanish family support. And the most recent addition to Hammond's programs is the Key communicators.
Testing was discussed as students in grades 3-5 will be tested within the next three weeks. It was discussed at great lengths the importance of passing these state tests. Mr. Cole will provide the key communicators with copies from last years test results. Mr. Cole went over all areas of the testing, including grades as well as student behavior and attendance is also included in this test.
Hammond is a Title 1 school. To qualify for Title I status the school must be over 50% free and reduced lunch, Hammond is at 53%.
Hammond's current goals include technology. We currently have three smart boards. The current box top contest includes a smart board from PTC to the class that brings in the most box tops.
Hammond has a new website. http://www.hammondelementary.typepad.com. The website administrator is 4th grade teacher, Mr. Jason Weaver.
Bond - Mr. Cole shared a PowerPoint presentation. In response to the need to upgrade many buildings and relieve overcrowding in some parts of the district, the School Board is considering placing a bond measure on the November 2008 ballot.
Feb. 6th will be a school summit meeting at South Salem High school at 6:00 p.m. everyone is invited to attend (parents, volunteers, school staff and community members). Meet Superintendent Sandy Husk, share your thoughts on education, and learn about the plan to increase educational excellence of our school programs
Feb. 11th district presentation at McKay High School, 6:00 p.m.
Open Discussion - the above items were reviewed once again, open for questions and answers. Also brought up for discussion was the recent lockdown. It was suggested that perhaps the key communicators would be involved in assisting during a lockdown, perhaps stationed at each entrance. Hammond with its overcrowding will be having a portable unit installed this year for students use fall 2008. Lockdown was discussed, that students in portables will be locked down in their own unit. Students at recess will be under the supervision of the play ground attendees. Hammond staff will discuss and perhaps conduct lockdown drills.
Submitted by Kelly Tran
