School Community Council, Novembr 2023
Present: Stacey Kratz, Rebecca Martin, Steve Brown, RJ Graham, John Olson, Eric Murdock, Ari Tavo, Greg Leavitt, Debora Johnson, Jessica Dalton, Jenny Olson, Stacey Timmerman
Steve Brown made a motion to approve the minutes with a minor amendment regarding attendance; Jessica Dalton seconded. The motion passed with a unanimous vote of those present.
Equity steering committee update
Ari Tavo reported that school administrators are still waiting to see and review Hillcrest’s CAYCI results, but they haven’t yet arrived. That is relevant to the equity steering committee because much of our work and future plans were to be based on these results.
Greg Leavitt said that administrators plan to have some information on the survey results next month. At the end of the day, we are going to get some survey results, and then we’ll decide how much further we want to go after that.
State testing data
Greg Leavitt reported on Hillcrest’s early data. He noted that the state no longer “grades” schools by assigning them a letter grade, but they still gather the indicators to show where schools are at, what they should feel good about, and where their areas for improvement may lie.
He noted that Hillcrest’s English scores are above the state average and a just a few points below the Canyons district average, which is a great position for a school with our socioeconomic demographics. He noted that math scores seemed to all change in the same direction statewide; perhaps the state changed the “cut” score, or another data-gathering factor came into play. In science we saw some dips similar to our language arts data. Mr. Leavitt said he celebrates Hillcrest’s growth from year to year, particularly in the lowest 25% of students based on academic scores. He said the state is giving Hillcrest an “exemplary” score on growth.
Overall, he said, while there are some dips, they are in line with things happening across the board at other schools statewide, and we remain very close to state and district averages in core subjects. He said an area of particular emphasis in the next year will be learning by our students who are ELL (English language learners), because after many years of great success with those learners, we saw a dip in their performance this year. Administrators and teachers will be looking hard at what we can do to get those learners on an upward trajectory again.
“We accept the good news, work on the bad news, and try to do our best,” Leavitt said.
The SCC also discussed a dip in Hillcrest’s college readiness score in the area of students passing AP year-end tests; Leavitt, counselor Eric Murdock, and IB coordinator John Olson reported that we have just as many students taking AP classes, although other students may be migrating to Hillcrest’s increased number of concurrent enrollment courses. Murdock said AP continues to receive strong enrollment at Hillcrest, which is positive considering the concurrent and other learning options students now have.
Stacey Timmerman asked whether parents could view Hillcrest’s results, and Greg Leavitt said the results are public information and that like to the state office of education website and the district website will be provided on the school website. That link is here:
- Utah State Office of Education data gateway (has data by high school and can be selected for different subjects and student demographics, as well as comparing various high schools):https://datagateway.schools.utah.gov/Assessment/UtahAspirePlus?action=Index
Recruitment
The SCC had a brief conversation about recruitment of new members. Stacey Timmerman asked if members can join mid-year, and Greg Leavitt said he thought so, but that he would check to be sure in case it came up sometime.
Steve Brown noted that the SCC has several members who are time-limited because their youngest children will graduate from high school this year. He said it would be good to put feelers out for new members, especially members who will diversify the board.
Stacey Kratz volunteered to write up a short script for coaches to read to parents at meetings for various Hillcrest teams, a practice several SCC members recommended and said they’d seen work well at other schools. Members also discussed having an SCC table, possibly in conjunction with the PTSA, at Husky Fair on Jan. 31.
R.J. Graham asked if the SCC had a mission statement and said having one that explains the board’s mission might help people understand they are qualified to serve.
Digital citizenship
Jenny Olson reported that some seniors missed out on our last digital citizenship instruction because it was the same day as several activities related to Utah College Application Week, including an assembly. She said they will consider that when scheduling digital citizenship activities for next fall. Otherwise, she said that teachers who reported back had a positive view of how the lesson went.
Coat drive/Hillcrest Free Market
Administrators reported that the school had been conducting a coat drive to supply the Hillcrest Free Market. Stacey Timmerman asked if the SCC could help in any way. Ari Tavo said that student body officers are raising money for the market through the winter fundraiser, and SCC members could talk about the fundraiser and support it in other ways. She said there is a very high need right now because a lot of students are coming in to the Road Home family shelter located within Hillcrest boundaries, as well as a number of new immigrants enrolling. She said the market served more than 200 students this past quarter and that parents and students seem more connected to the market this year and are using it more.
Ari Tavo added that the school has seen a lot of donations to the market through the school’s Amazon wish list, and that, with every donation, the market’s manager writes a personal card to the donor. She added that the manager also got a $5,000 grant for the pantry and that her work is really paying off in donor interest and community participation. Jessica Dalton suggested that SCC members could help by taking on some of those card-writing duties.
Stacey Timmerman suggested we get an SCC card printed with all of our signatures, and mail it to donors. She said big efforts like that made by the Hillcrest LDS seminary, which donated dozens of coats following a coat drive, should be recognized as much as possible to encourage other donors and build our community.
PTSA update
Before the update started, Stacey Timmerman wanted to formally recognize PTSA President and SCC member Rebecca Martin as the winner of Canyon School District’s Apex award for Volunteer of the Year. She said that the SCC wanted Ms. Martin to know how appreciated and respected her work has been.
Rebecca Martin reported that the PTSA student club wants to do a food drive for the Free Market and that club advisor Brooke Christensen will be reaching out to administrators. She added that the PTSA student club meets on the second Thursday of every month and that their work is good for service hours for any students who might need them for IB requirements or other classes and organizations.
She added that they will plan to have parents man the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior donation boxes for the food drive; other SCC members noted that the school might have receptacles for the drive that can’t be tampered with because items can’t be easily removed from them. Ari Tavo said she would find out where those are in the school and if they are available for the drive.
There is a spirit night at Habit Burger on Tuesday, Nov. 14; you have to show the flyer for the event on your phone, and that flyer will be sent out to PTA members.
The PTSA has awarded two more teacher grants: to Ms. Lian Fang for a Chinese New Year celebration with Chinese-language students; and to Ms. Cassie Hill for classroom reading materials.
The PTSA is planning on once again hosting Grad Night this school year. We just booked Dimple Dell recreation center and will need many volunteers to make the night a success.
Motion to adjourn: R.J. Graham made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Steve Brown; the motion passed with a unanimous vote of those present.
Next meeting: December 13, 2023
