Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

G. W. CARVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Educational Excellence School Advisory Council
Ingrid Robledo, Chairperson

E.E.S.A.C. MEETING March 7, 2017

Council members in attendance:
Ingrid Robledo (chairperson)
Shelley Stroleny
Shelton Rivers
Annette Daniels
Guillermo Garcia
Richard Hudson
Maria Alvarado
Maria Toledo
Rafael Lopez
Ivannia Van Arman
Julian Castro
Carson Middlesworth

Council members absent:
Cheli Fernández
Vilma Gonzalez
Jenny Murphy
Shirelle Jackson
Sinclair Cerber
Ana Arguello
Margie Aragon
Aya Hamza
J. Hiram Williams
Tom Kernan
Melissa Nobles

Guests
Maria de los Angeles-Fernandez

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Stroleny called the meeting to order at 8:20 a.m. The minutes from February 7, 2017, were reviewed and approved.

SIP Review: The EESAC is the sole body responsible for the approval and implementation of the School Improvement Plan (SIP). Mr. Rivers discussed last month’s meeting at the transportation office. Transportation zones had been set up by elementary schools. Our new transportation boundary will be between 826, 836, S.W. 104 Street, and Key Biscayne. The prior zone will still apply to students currently at Carver and incoming sixth-graders. The new zones will capture more students. In addition, the PTSA will need to elect new EESAC representatives to next year’s EESAC as three parents on the current roster have eighth-graders and may have to be replaced

Principal’s Message: Mrs. Stroleny began by discussing recent events. The Spanish Talent Show organized by Mrs. Noa, performed to a full house. Author Patricia McCormick visited with all seventh and eighth-graders for two days and was introduced by students for each presentation. At Alumni Day for G.W. Carver Senior High School, former students addressed our students, and our students performed. FSA Writing assessments, coordinated by Ms. Castillo, took place for all students. Mr. Hudson said students responded positively, saying they felt they had been well prepared. Friends of Carver was very well attended by faculty and parents; funds will be used for technology. The Principal's Honor Roll Luncheon was attended by 148 students (152 earned principal’s honor roll) at Sports Grill. Carver will be honored as a 2017 Magnet School of America School of Distinction; Mrs. Basso will attend the presentation to receive the award. Isabel Yip is the Central Region nominee for the 2017 Youth Hall of Fame honor. Mrs. Small coordinated her entry. Paulina Almada and Natasha Saravina received the Judges Award at the Miami-Dade Fair and Exposition. Their teachers are Ms. Vo and Mrs. Tannen. Aya Hamza and Louis Lafontisee were honored as Best Delegates for General Assembly at the 2017 Model United Nations. They are students of Mrs. Carlson-Yellen. The MathCounts team, sponsored by Mrs. Fernandez, took fourth place as a team and Mike Zou earned second place in the individual competition. Mike is advancing to state level on March 24. On March 9, German students will take the DSD1 Exam. The SIPA Gala is on March 11. On March 16, author Kwame Alexander will visit with sixth-grade students. March 16 also is early release and a Family Night fundraiser at Sports Grill. March 17 is the Deadline for National Junior Honor Society applications for new candidates and the PTSA St. Patrick's Day fundraiser. GIPA Gala is March 18. Mrs. Gomez’s students will submit their La Cuidad Ideal projects on March 20. The musical “Peter Pan Junior,” organized by Mrs. Harmon, is on March 21. The Elective Walk for incoming IE students is on March 23. The third grading period ends March 23. Fairchild Tropical Botanical Lab is on March 29. Spring Recess runs April 10-14. On April 17, students begin FSA/EOC assessments. Our next EESAC meeting is on May 2. The A.P. Spanish Language and Culture exam is on May 2. A tutoring program before and after school with a focus on tested benchmarks for reading, math, science and civics begins March 13.

Open Forum: Mrs. Daniels gave athletics news. The track and field season ended with boys’ and girls’ junior varsity teams having outstanding seasons. Darren McQueen was the County’s Outstanding JV boys’ athlete and Melissa Requeny outstanding JV girl. The girls’ flag football team is in first round of playoffs. Basketball season is beginning. Dr. Garcia said five students from the District Science Fair advanced to Broadcom, and 26 teams submitted to e-Cyber Mission competition. He said students are growing orchids in classroom for the Million Orchid planting program. Mr. Lopez said students are awaiting acceptance letters from the magnet high schools and he commented on the iPrep Academy. Mrs. Stroleny commented that this is a great chance to for student to build their resumes.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 8:50 a.m.