The curriculum and technology committee meeting was held March 21 at Western Salisbury Elementary School where school board members were treated to learning demonstrations by students.

Board members and administrators learned about Socratic Seminar, project based learning, morning announcements and Discovery Education Board Builder.

Following the presentations, Harry S Truman Elementary School Principal Zachary Brem presented information on the Kellyn Foundation, in Tatamy.

According to its website, “The Kellyn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to develop, support, facilitate and implement programs that encourage family and community physical and emotional wellness. We focus on healthy lifestyles with positive outcomes that can be sustained and taught to future generations, while helping to reduce the individual, family, community and national chronic disease burden.”

“Many students have never had a garden,” Brem said. “This ties into the Leader in Me program as far as wellness and the programs in place with St. Luke’s University Network.”

Brem said students in third grade would begin learning about healthy food, raised flower beds would be built and placed and healthy food would be grown. Students would then pick the food and create a salad.

With board approval, Brem would like to see the flower beds created in late fall during the next school year and begin the planting in early spring 2017.

WSE, HST and Salisbury Middle school principals provided assessments updates to the board.

WSE Principal Grace Hartman provided an update on persuasive writing being done by students in kindergarten and third grade.

Three examples were shown of kindergarten students who wrote letters to Hartman attempting to persuade her to name a fish Lily, provide water fountains in each classroom and allow a student to bring a stuffed animal to school. Hartman said these letters showed the students articulating reason.

The third grade students were asked to write letters on why their favorite cookie was the best and to convince their friends to agree. Cookie choices were sugar, chocolate chip heaven, Reese’s cookies and cookie bars.

At HST, Brem showed a video made by students explaining the importance of the leadership binders which contain a personal mission statement, a list of goals for the week, progress tracking, a celebration of strengths and victories and documentation regarding student led conferences.

“Students are taking a leadership role using data on how well they will perform on the PSSA,” Brem said.

At SMS, Principal Ken Parliman said the after school program will provide support in reading and math for the next two weeks Monday through Thursday. Approximately 50 students are signed up to attend and buses are being provided. Students will use the PSSA prep book.

Parliman said his staff reached out to the community for donations to provide incentives for the kids including movie tickets, hockey pucks and other items.

“I am thankful for the staff willing to commit to this,” Parliman said. This program will be funded through Title 1 to pay the teachers.

HST runs a similar program which is also funded through Title 1.

Assistant Principal Brian Muschlitz provided a presentation on the student assistance program in the district which is a school-based program assisting in the identification of issues and stressors that are barriers to a student’s ability to maximize his or her potential.

The SAP program provides early identification, prevention, intervention, and support groups to address students’ needs. The primary goal of this program is to provide each student with a safe, alcohol and drug-free environment in which to develop academically, socially, emotionally and behaviorally.

The SAP team at Salisbury High School consists of school administrators, guidance counselors, teachers, school nurse, school resource officer, a behavior interventionist and support staff. A support liaison from the Center for Humanistic Change is also involved.

The SAP process begins with an initial referral made by any person concerned with a student’s safety and welfare. Students who are facing academic regression, emotional duress, behavioral challenges, social conflict, substance abuse, and/or attendance issues are all considered appropriate referrals to the SAP program.

Once a referral is initiated, SAP team members collect and analyze valuable data from multiple sources to develop an accurate plan in addressing the student’s need(s) to see if there is enough evidence to proceed. The referred student’s parent and/or guardian is an integral part of the SAP process; consequently, it is imperative for the school and parent/guardian have open and regular communication about the student. The parents must agree to participate in SAP; if they say no, the assistance ends.

SAP is required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under section 1547 of the Pennsylvania School Code, enacted as Act 211.

Currently 12 elementary school staff have been trained and certified at no cost to the district through a grant. Teams have met to establish and organize procedures.

SHS students have completed a public service announcement video about SAP on the school district website.

Muschlitz said the SAP goals for 2016-2017 include a community presentation at SHS about current trends in substance abuse.

At SHS, there have been 16 cases this year; 10 are closed and six are active.

At SMS, there have been 14 cases this year; six are active and eight are closed.

The next curriculum and technology meeting will be held 7 p.m April 25 at Salisbury Middle School.