Backpack Presentation PTA Meeting 2/6/19
Background Concern of backpacks ● and the excessive weight raised by multiple stakeholders Ed Panel- 2015 ○ Student Advisory- 2017 ○ Administration and ○ Teachers
Theory of Action & Rationale The removal of backpacks as students travel from class to class will ● provide a healthier and safer environment. Why? Research Based... Kidshealth.org ● NBC News ● 2010 University of California Study ● Time ● Education Week ●
The Plan For 2018-19... Students can bring backpacks to and from school, but may not use them to move from class to class ● If a student brings a backpack to school, they will drop off the backpack in their locker before 1st period ● Students may use a string bag to move from class to class. This could include the following items: ● Lunch ○ Personal products ○ Calculator ○ Book ○ Teachers worked on streamlining supplies- trapper keepers and folders ● Teachers and admin will work with students to organize themselves and learn to use lockers more frequently ● Parents can utilize the school supply list to purchase ● Students and parents can tour the building during the week of Aug 27th (we will send specific times) to help ● get acclimated
Communication PTA Meeting- December 2017 ● 5th Grade Parent Orientation- February 2018 ● Student Visits- March 2018 ● Backpack FAQ’s - August 2018 ● Backpack Video- August 2018 ● Monthly updates at PTA meetings ●
Preparation and Implementation Building-wide Shifts Refining of supply lists ● Increase of chromebooks ● Scheduled teachers to reduce travel distance for students- August ● For students... Additional time to tour building, learn locker combo in August ● Grade level assemblies- September ● Additional homerooms built into 1st and 2nd quarter ● Schedule template ● Falcon Foundations for 6th Grade- tour, locker challenge, schedule ● template
Results Decrease in hallway incidents ● Decrease in classroom incidents ● Reduction of weight on students’ backs ● Increase in locker use ● Increase in space for flexible classroom seating ● Consistency with supplies ● Increased focus on organizational skills ●
Reflection Parent/Student concerns End of day- traveling from different wings ● Trapper keepers and string bags becoming the new bookbag ● Quality of supplies ordered through school ● Students losing items ● Loose items- water bottle, independent reading book, instrument ● No more binders- issues with organization ● Use of lockers ●
Next Steps... Continue to gather data from teachers, parents, students, and ● administrators Develop plan for 2019-20 school year ● Continue to “lighten the load” ○ Increase Chromebooks ■ Reduce supplies for exploratory classes ■ Explore options other than trapper keeper/zipper binder ■ Continue to provide support to students ○ Locker use ■ Organizational skills ■
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