Date: Tuesday May 13th, 2008
Place: Hall-Dale High School Cafeteria
Time: Student Choice Period

Agenda

1.0 CALL MEETING TO ORDER
1.1 Roll Call by Secretary

2.0 READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2.1 Approval of Minutes From Our Last Meeting

3.0 OLD BUSINESS
3.1 No Old Business

4.0 NEW BUSINESS
4.1 A Quick Word From Andy

4.2 Standards Recommendation (Pages 2 and 3)
4.3 Election For Student School Board Representative
-Election being held on friday during HR.
4.4 Schedule (Page 5)
-Officer’s meeting proposed thursday?
-committee meeting next monday
-next wednesday, reg. business
-No senate friday, music.
4.5 Mission Statement
4.6 Officers Meeting

5.0 REPORTS FROM OFFICERS
5.1 May School Board Representative Report (Page 4) (Dylan)
5.2 Community Forum on SBG (Dylan, Andy, Mr. MacDougall)

6.0 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
6.1 Student Relations (Kristi)
6.2 Principals Advisory Committee (Hillary, Andy, Mr. MacDougall)
6.4 Ad Hoc Committee (Wade)
-read sheet that will be given to HDLT. suggested gradient system as a replacement for high-achieving students, with the elimination of top 10. talked about the distinctios between suma cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum ladue.
Much discussion on the policie sof 2.5, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3,75, as to whether they are necessary or not. We discussed whether we should average them, Was accepted b vote to give to HDLT.

7.0 OTHER BUSINESS
7.1 Agenda Items For Next Meeting

8.0 ADJOURNMENT
8.1 Requires Motion, Second, and Vote

5/5/08
Student Senate Report on Standards Based
The Hall-Dale Student Senate has several concerns surrounding the proposed implementation of the Standards Based Grading System. Of primary concern are the absence of class rank and recognition of high-achieving students. Under the proposed system everyone must Meet the Standard; this leaves only two academic distinctions with which to distinguish between hundreds of students. Therefore, Hall-Dale Student Senate has created a system of recognition to distinguish exceptional students at graduation. These distinctions, which may be awarded more than one student, serve as incentives for students to achieve higher than the required Meeting of the Standard. Hall-Dale Student Senate believes that these criteria and distinctions should be made well-known and universally understood at the commencement of a students’ high school career so that students may choose to identify and pursue such goals.

The recommendation assumes the following:
1.Traditional marking periods (ex. trimesters) will be maintained
2.Student achievement will be measured on a report card similar to the provided sample
3.The 1-4 system will be a gradient system of 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, and 4. The Committee strongly recommends that these eight numbers are used as opposed to the proposed four. The Hall-Dale Student Senate understands the objection to averaging. The added decimal standards need not have their own specific criteria and are recommended as a means of further distinguishing between students for the benefit of colleges, teachers, parents, and students. For example, a student might not fit cleanly into those criteria defined under a 3 or 4; this is an instance where the 3.25, 3.5, or 3.75 come into play. A 3.25, 3.5, or 3.75 recognizes a student for achieving higher than the minimum 3 but not quite exceeding the standard and achieving a 4.

The system of recognition will consist of the following honors and respective criteria:
*The term “all standards” refers to every standard on every report card. If the trimester system is maintained, then “all standards” refers to each standard of the twelve report cards.
1.Summa Cum Laude- This is to be the highest academic honor. Unlike valedictorian, not every class will graduate students summa cum laude. This honor is reserved for exceptional students who have fulfilled the demanding criteria that follows:
1.The student has achieved a 4 on 100 percent of all standards*
2.A 3.5 or 3.75 is equivalent to a 4 in an AP or Honors Class for the purpose of this distinction
2.Magna Cum Laude- This honor is reserved for those students who have not met the criteria of summa cum laude and have met the following criteria:
1.The student has achieved a 4 on 80 percent of all standards
3.Cum Laude- This honor is reserved for students who have not met the criteria for summa cum laude or magna cum laude and have met the following criteria:
1.The student has achieved a 4 on 60 percent of all standards

May 7, 2008
Dylan Sirois
School Board Representative
To all Students,
During these last few months, and weeks of School things are really heating up, and everybody is very busy. The School Board has been working on the consolidation, and next year we will actually have two school boards operating at the same time. This six month overlap is to easy communities and schools, and contracts into the new RSU Board. Along with Consolidation, the School Board will also be making a formal vote on the topic of Standards Based Grading, in Junes meeting. Junes School Board Meeting will take place on June 11, 2008 at 5:30pm in the High School Library for any who wish to see the results.
During the meeting of May 7, 2008 the School Board approved a Scientific trip to Costa Rica, this trip will take place April of 2009. This will be an 11 day trip and will be a great opportunity for all students in a science class to explore a new habitat. For more information talk to Mrs. Cieslinski.
In the May Wellness committee meeting the Breakfast survey that many students took was discussed and the committee will soon work on a plan to help students eat breakfast more regularly.
The Results:
Do You Eat Breakfast?
49% - Yes
38% - Sometimes
7% - Only on weekends
6% - Never
Also during the meeting a Student Fitness Facility was discussed. Currently the committee is working to find grant money, and the Simmons fund to aid in the construction of a Weight Room/ Fitness Facility.
Soon the Student Senate will be working towards gathering student opinion over the Standards Based Grading System. So far the trend of thought is moving towards a Phasing it in plan, this would mean students currently in high school would not be greatly affected. However, it is still very important that all students give their input. Student input is essential to creating such a revolutionary system. The hope of this system is to allow students to learn at their own pace, fast of slow, but all students will be required to meet the same amount of standards. This means if a student can meet or exceed every Algebra standard, he or she can progress to Geometry or Algebra II. The way in which this can happen has not been decided upon, but discussions will continue to make this the most perfect system it can be.

Respectfully Submitted,
Student School Board Rep. Dylan Sirois
Upcoming Student Senate Dates:

Thursday May 15th: Officers Meeting

Monday May 19th: Committee Meeting

Wednesday May 21st: Regular Business Meeting

Friday May 23rd: NO SENATE DUE TO MUSIC TRIP

Wednesday May 28th: To Be Decided

To all Students,
During these last few months, and weeks of School things are really heating up, and everybody is very busy. The School Board has been working on the consolidation, and next year we will actually have two school boards operating at the same time. This six month overlap is to easy communities and schools, and contracts into the new RSU Board. Along with Consolidation, the School Board will also be making a formal vote on the topic of Standards Based Grading, in Junes meeting. Junes School Board Meeting will take place on June 11, 2008 at 5:30pm in the High School Library for any who wish to see the results.
During the meeting of May 7, 2008 the School Board approved a Scientific trip to Costa Rica, this trip will take place April of 2009. This will be an 11 day trip and will be a great opportunity for all students in a science class to explore a new habitat. For more information talk to Mrs. Cieslinski.
In the May Wellness committee meeting the Breakfast survey that many students took was discussed and the committee will soon work on a plan to help students eat breakfast more regularly.
The Results:

Do You Eat Breakfast?
49% - Yes
38% - Sometimes
7% - Only on weekends
6% - Never
Also during the meeting a Student Fitness Facility was discussed. Currently the committee is working to find grant money, and the Simmons fund to aid in the construction of a Weight Room/ Fitness Facility.
Soon the Student Senate will be working towards gathering student opinion over the Standards Based Grading System. So far the trend of thought is moving towards a Phasing it in plan, this would mean students currently in high school would not be greatly affected. However, it is still very important that all students give their input. Student input is essential to creating such a revolutionary system. The hope of this system is to allow students to learn at their own pace, fast of slow, but all students will be required to meet the same amount of standards. This means if a student can meet or exceed every Algebra standard, he or she can progress to Geometry or Algebra II. The way in which this can happen has not been decided upon, but discussions will continue to make this the most perfect system it can be.

Respectfully Submitted,
Student School Board Rep. Dylan Sirois

Student School Baord Reports: