Ross Cooper, supervisor of instructional practice for the Salisbury Township School District, provided a professional development update to the curriculum and technology committee Sept. 26.

Cooper started with a review of the summer academy which included 37 sessions including book studies, technology, writing, curricular and non-curricular. The sessions were well attended.

Salisbury was well represented at the Bucks Lehigh EduSummit, a two day professional learning experience coordinated by educators in the Bucks County Intermediate Unit and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Catasauqua School District, Palisades School District, Quakertown Community School District, Salisbury Township School District and Southern Lehigh School District. Focus areas included educational technology, 21st century learning, PA Core and social media and Salisbury staff presenters were well received.

Looking ahead at professional development, Cooper said at the elementary level, concentration will be placed on close reading, writing workshops, Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assess System, hands- on science curriculum and rethinking grading practices.

At the middle school level, a concentration will be placed on personal learning networks, Makerspace implementation, rethinking grading practices, alternate approaches to assessment, science, technology, engineering, arts and math, mental health inquiry based learning, global connections, math and reading comprehension.

At the high school level, a concentration will be placed on personal learning networks, initiative/work ethic/motivation, social awareness, individual and collaborative thinking, critical thinking, ethics, morals, manners, respect, honesty, adaptability and authentic assessment, acceptance of diverse people, viewpoints, compassion, tolerance, leadership, influence – all of which, Cooper said relate to the profile of a graduate’s skills and disposition.

Cooper said the district staff will also undergo active shooter ALICE training: A - Alert, L - Lockdown, I - Inform, C - Counter and E - Evacuate.

Special education compliance and suicide awareness training is also planned.

Board member Carol Klinger said she was glad to see professional development plans consistent for grades kindergarten through 12.

“We take a lot of pride in getting all of our stockholders together,” Cooper said.

In the summer programs update, Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss said the summer library program continued with all district librarians participating. The summer library program was open to all district families and was well attended.

Harry S Truman Elementary School held a summer camp at Salisbury High School with 27 students participating for two weeks. Summer camp was provided to at-risk students who were given an opportuity to prepare for the upcoming school year. Each student received a free book from Barnes and Noble as part of the reading program. Students had breakfast on three of the days of camp and an ice cream party on the last day of camp. All HST students were at the school for the two week period.

A STEM camp was held for Salisbury Middle School students July 27 and 28 as part of a grant received from the Salisbury Education Foundation.

Also at the middle school was a one week summer reading camp for which eight students attended. The camp was made available through a Title I grant.

In the Teaching and Learning 2020 update, Ziegenfuss said a draft “profile of a graduate” has been developed. A group of teachers, administrators, board members, students, parents and community members were invited to participate in the development of the profile.

Ziegenfuss said work focused on answering the question, “What knowledge, skills and dispositions do we want Salisbury graduates to have in order to be successful citizens and workers in a shifting economy?”

The draft profile can be viewed by visiting www.salisburysd.us and following the link to the profile of a graduate.

Cooper also discussed digital citizenship which will be implemented this year for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Five lessons per grade level will be presented each year by the media specialists. More information can be found on the blog post on the district website.

Lessons will include responsbility, private and personal information, the power of words and other topics. Cooper said the district will continue to build and refine the program.

Board President Frank Frankenfield said this is a great program. “It is important to teach our students the words and skills.”

Ziegenfuss also said there are tools for parents to use on the district website as well.

In other business, an overnight trip was approved for students to attend the Pennsylvania School Boards Association trip in Hershey Oct. 13 and 14.

The next curriculum and technology meeting will be held 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, 4500 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville.