On Tuesday, January 16 th , 2007 the Murch MDT held an Open Forum for Murch parents. A number of issues were discussed during the forum.   These issues are summarized below.   They include issues that were discussed at the forum as well as several issues that were sent to the MDT via email and through the HSA folder.

 

Ms. Albert-Garvey explained that, at the start of the current school year, there were new science standards for all grades. Teachers are moving to implement these new standards but are at a huge disadvantage because there are no new science textbooks or materials to match the new standards.  

Several parents at the Open Forum discussed their desire to see science instruction at Murch revamped for grades K-4.   They also questioned whether 5 th and 6 th grade science instruction was enough, even with the increased instructional time for science in those grades.   One parent would like to see a science resource teacher added.   This person would work directly with classroom teachers in developing units of study, lessons and activities

 

    There was discussion of how foreign language instruction should be structured at Murch .   The foreign language after school program, started in the fall, had about 120 students; instruction in Spanish, French and Italian was available.   In addition, Murch continued a Chinese language instructional program that was started last spring.  

At the time of the Open Forum, enrollment for the spring after school language program was down and a number of questions about the program remained unanswered:   who was to administer the program; how many different language instruction courses would be offered and; what fee structure made sense?

Many parents would like to bring foreign language back into the regular school day.   Ms. Albert Garvey explained why it has become so difficult to find foreign language teachers who meet DCPS certification requirements.   Even if Murch were able to find a fully qualified foreign language instructor, parents and teachers raised concern that the “ FLES ” concept of foreign language instruction (45 minutes a week) does not provide enough sustained instruction for children to really learn a foreign language.   Those at the forum discussed possible alternatives; one possible way around DCPS certification requirements might be for the HSA to hire the language teacher.

 

The MDT was also asked about the new technology staff person.   Ms. Albert-Garvey explained that Ms. Rose Smith had joined our staff in January and that she had been able to get computers up and running and on-line in all classrooms. At the time of the Open Forum, Ms. Smith was about to go on maternity leave and return at the start of the Fourth Advisory.  

One parent wanted to know whether there would be keyboarding instruction offered by the new technology staff person.   A discussion followed about keyboarding instruction, the use of alpha-smart machines in the classroom or during Library Resource and whether keyboarding might be offered as an after school enrichment program?

 

 The last issued discussed at the Open Forum was DCPS ’s intention to move all sixth graders to middle schools within the next few years.   It is still unclear when such a move might occur for Murch ’s sixth grade; scheduled renovations at Deal will control that decision.   In particular the group discussed how to address the upper-grade exodus to the private schools and how the opening of several middle school charter schools in upper Northwest could affect 5 th and 6 th grade enrollment at Murch .  

It was noted that Janney and Lafayette send much larger cohorts of students to Deal than does Murch . Several suggestions aimed at educating Murch parents and students about Deal and Wilson were made by parents at the Forum.   First, parents thought an evening session about Deal just for 5 th grade students and parents would be beneficial since parents start thinking about middle school options long before 6 th grade.   Another suggestion was to provide opportunities for 5 th and 6 th grade students and parents to meet Murch alums who have gone to Deal and Wilson and can talk up the schools.

As part of this discussion, there was concern raised about how moving the 6 th grade to Deal would impact Murch resources.   Some were concerned that the fiscal impact of such a move would go beyond the loss of 6 th grade teachers because fewer students would result in less revenue from DCPS .

   One issue that had come to the Forum via email concerned the amount of time that teachers were spending out of the classroom in staff development this year.   The author of the email would like to see the number of hours teachers spend outside the classroom in professional development reduced.  

 

  Those at the Forum agreed that the suggestions and discussions from the evening would be compiled and available for all Murch parents to review.