School Improvement Council (SIC)
SIC is a broad-based community advisory group comprised of parents, teachers, and community members established in every school. This advisory group works with the principal to cultivate a positive school environment supporting student success.
Meeting Schedule
- August 26, 2024
- September 30, 2024
- October 28, 2024
- November 18, 2024
- December 16, 2024
- January 27, 2025
- February 24, 2025
- March 31, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- May 19, 2025
All meetings are at 3:00 p.m.
SIC Nominating Form
SIC Nominating Form
SICs are focused on school improvement. SIC members participate in writing the school improvement plan by sharing their knowledge about student, family, and community needs and suggesting ideas for effective change. Under South Carolina’s new Read to Succeed law, SICs also advise their school on plans to improve student reading levels.
SICs carry out many different kinds of activities that help schools meet their improvement goals. For example, SICs may decide to work together with their schools on:
• Using new and effective ways to get more parents involved in their school and student learning.
• Bringing in volunteers, funds, goods and services, or other needed resources from the community to the school.
SICs also write an annual Report to the Parents about their school's progress and assist the principal with the narrative for the SC School Report Card.
SIC elections must be held by October 15th each year. Some schools hold elections at the beginning of the school year; others hold elections in late spring for the coming school year.
To nominate yourself or someone else, fill out the nomination form.
FDES will be accepting nominations through Oct. 8th. Nomination forms are in the front office. Voting ballots will be sent home Oct. 9th . Voting will close October 15th.
Although you must be a member to vote on SIC matters, SIC meetings are open to all interested persons in the community. SICs also rely on volunteers from all parts of the community to carry out their activities.
SIC Meeting Agendas & Minutes
- August 26, 2024
- September 30, 2024
- October 28, 2024
- November 18, 2024
- December 16, 2024
- January 27, 2025
- February 24, 2025
- March 31, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- May 19, 2025
August 26, 2024
Agenda
School Improvement Council
Fort Dorchester Elementary
Monday, August 26, 2024
3:00 p.m.
1. Introduction – Members and Guests
2. Review By-Laws
3. Committee Assignments
Parental Involvement –
Discussion: Parent recruitment
Mystery Reader Monday
Door Dads Program
Academic Achievement-
Reading :
Discussion: Book Vending Machine
Little Gators Storytime
Math:
Discussion: Math Tutors (Peer and/or Patriot Partner)
Community Service-
Ronald McDonald House
4. Announcements/Additional Comments
5. Review assignments and agenda for next meeting
6. Adjourn
Next Meeting: September 30, 2024 @ 3:00
Minutes
School Improvement Council
Fort Dorchester Elementary
Monday, August 26, 2024
3:00 p.m.
- Introduction: Members and Guests
- Review By-Laws: will review more next meeting
- Committee Assignments
- Parental Involvement Discussion
- Parent recruitment: will put request to parents and then vote
- Mystery Reader Monday: run the same as last year; flyer going out; great success last year-hoping for even more this year
- Door Dads Program: going to hold off on this right now and focus on The Beacons program
- Academic Achievement Reading Discussion
- Book Vending Machine: going to ask PTA for mini grant for books and can use Title I and Library funds; starting off small with giving out books and will assess-teachers will submit 2 names each month; 4 names will be drawn each month; tokens for books will also go in PBIS store at the end of each quarter
- Little Gators Storytime with Lori Hamilton: will begin September 16
- Academic Achievement Math Discussion
- Math tutors (Peer and/or Patriot Partners): waiting to hear about Patriot Partners’ status/schedule; after 1st Quarter, Susan Kephart will analyze math data and work on getting 5th graders to help tutor 2nd graders
- Community Service Discuss
- Ronald McDonald House: Meals that Heal-will look at dates and discuss at next meeting
- Parental Involvement Discussion
- Announcements/Additional Comments
- Fundraising ideas for celebratory rock for student recognition
- Review assignments and agenda for next meeting
- Adjourn
**Next meeting: September 30, 2024 @ 3:00
September 30, 2024
Agenda
Monday, September 30 at 3:00 PM
1. Introduction: Members and Guests
2. SIC Election Process: Review nomination forms
3. Committee Assignments:
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Parent Involvement Discussion:
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Parent Recruitment
-
Mystery Reader Monday
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-
Academic Achievement Discussion:
-
Reading:
-
Book Vending Machine
-
Little Gators Storytime
-
-
Math:
-
Math Tutors (Patriot Partners)
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-
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Community Service:
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Ronald McDonald House
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Possibly Dec. 7
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4. Upcoming October SIC Events:
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10/3: Patriot Partners
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10/7: 4K, K, 1 Mystery Readers
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10/17: Patriot Partners
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10/21: 2nd and 3rd Mystery Readers and Little Gator Storytime
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10/28: 4th and 5th Mystery Readers
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10/31: Patriot Partners
5. Announcements and Additional Comments
6. Review assignments and agenda for next meeting
7. Adjourn
*Next Meeting: October 28 at 3:00 PM
Minutes
Monday, September 30 at 3:00 PM
1. Introduction: Members and Guests
2. SIC Election Process: Review nomination forms-information on website and will be in the Gator Gazette; will also advertise at MLL night
3. Committee Assignments:
-
Parent Involvement Discussion:
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Parent Recruitment: S. Kephart will discuss at MLL night
-
Mystery Reader Monday: going well in lower grades; upper grades not full
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Academic Achievement Discussion:
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Reading:
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Book Vending Machine-guidelines were sent out; everyone that's nominated will get a certificate; select students will get token for the vending machine
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Little Gators Storytime-first one went well (12 parents, 13 children); will do a new registration form each time
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Math:
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Math Tutors-some of our Patriot Partners are paired with math teachers and are helping students during this time
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Community Service:
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Ronald McDonald House
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Possibly Dec. 7: S. Kephart will contact RMH to discuss time due to Charleston Christmas Parade being the same day
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4. Upcoming October SIC Events:
- **some 4th and 3rd grade classes are Book Buddies with lower grades
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10/3: Patriot Partners
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10/7: 4K, K, 1 Mystery Readers
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10/17: Patriot Partners
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10/21: 2nd and 3rd Mystery Readers and Little Gator Storytime
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10/28: 4th and 5th Mystery Readers
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10/31: Patriot Partners
5. Announcements and Additional Comments
6. Review assignments and agenda for next meeting
7. Adjourn
*Next Meeting: October 28 at 3:00 PM
October 28, 2024
Agenda
SIC Agenda
Monday, October 28
- Introduction-Members and Guests
- SIC Election Process-vote for new members
- Committee Assignments:
-
Parental Involvement:
-
Parent recruitment
-
Mystery Reader Mondays
-
-
Academic Achievement:
-
Reading: FDES Reading Plan
-
Math: Math Tutors (Patriot Partners)
-
-
Community Service:
-
Ronald McDonald House
-
Book Drive for schools/families effected by Hurricane Helene
-
4. Upcoming SIC events for November:
5. Announcements/Additional Comments
6. Reviews assignments and agenda for next meeting
7. Adjourn
Next Meeting: November 18 at 3:00
Minutes
SIC Agenda
Monday, October 28
1. Introduction-Members and Guests
2. SIC Election Process-vote for new members
- voted for 2 parent members-L. Wilson and Y. Semenetz
3. Committee Assignments:
-
Parental Involvement:
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Parent recruitment
-
Mystery Reader Mondays: need to push out because sign-ups have been sparse
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-
Academic Achievement:
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Reading: FDES Reading Plan
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Goals: LTRS and 3rd Grade Reading-this year all NOT MET students on SC Ready will be up for retention; Reading Plan gets put into School Renewal Plan
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Math: Math Tutors (Patriot Partners)-working really well with Festa, Veloso, and Kelien's groups
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Community Service:
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Ronald McDonald House: looking at dates still
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Book Drive for schools/families effected by Hurricane Helene: Wilson and Wyant will work on setting this up for a PTA family night
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4. Upcoming SIC events for November:
5. Announcements/Additional Comments
6. Reviews assignments and agenda for next meeting
7. Adjourn
Next Meeting: November 18 at 3:00
November 18, 2024
Agenda
SIC Agenda
Monday, November 18
- Introduction-Members and Guests
- SIC Election Process-vote for new members
- Committee Assignments:
-
Parental Involvement:
-
Parent recruitment
-
Mystery Reader Mondays
-
-
Academic Achievement:
-
Reading: Beanstack
-
Math: Focus Five-Growth
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-
Community Service:
-
Little Gators Club
-
Book Drive for schools/families effected by Hurricane Helene
-
4. Announcements/Additional Comments
5. Reviews assignments and agenda for next meeting
6. Adjourn
Next Meeting: December 16 at 3:00
Minutes
SIC Minutes
Monday, November 18
- Introduction-Members and Guests
- SIC Election Process-welcome new members
- Committee Assignments:
-
Parental Involvement:
-
Parent recruitment:
-
focus on involvement with SIC
-
suggestions: informative/recruitment flyer to explain SIC, PTA will share on Facebook and before PTA events
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Mystery Reader Mondays
- S. Kephart sent out another mystery reader flyer on Parent Square
- participation from parents has been low across all grade levels
- send home paper flyer after winter break
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-
Academic Achievement:
-
Reading: Beanstack
- Wyant explained Beanstack program
- online reading log where students can earn badges; lessons have been conducted to explain to students and teachers; parent info will go home
- Wyant explained Beanstack program
-
Math: Focus Five-Growth
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teachers have chosen 5 that didn't make the expected growth to really focus on their growth this year-strategies include exact path, pulling students for small group/individual
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this includes students who are above average in some classes
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-
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Community Service:
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Little Gators Storytime
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attendance was high for the first meeting, but very low the next two meetings
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get info to other Family Involvement members in the area (JPES)
-
will ask about possibly different days/times
-
-
Book Drive for schools/families effected by Hurricane Helene
- Mrs. Wilson discussed project with Lowe's about getting the books up to NC; waiting on final word after letter was sent
- backup plans: Goodwill, Salvation Army, Red Cross
- end book drive December 13; box/pallet will be outside gym
- sort books December 16 during SIC meeting time; possible book pick up December 17
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Next Meeting: December 16 at 3:00