Backpack Presentation PTA Meeting 2/6/19 Background Concern of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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