LISD Academic Advocates

1. Call to Order and Pledge. The meeting was called to order at 7:14. At that time the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

2. Minutes. The minutes were read from the November 28, 2005 meeting. Elizabeth Frey moved to accept the minutes. Ray Cowperthwaite seconded the motion.

3. Treasurer's report. There was no treasurer's report.

4. Committee report. There has been no word from ONE OAK Foundation on a donation this year. Applications are being accepted for scholarships. April 24, 2006 will be our last meeting for the school year. The scholarships will be presented at that time.

5. Speakers. Ulrike Puryear and Karen Van Eaton, both from Grisham Middle School, spoke to us on the International Baccalaureate Elementary and Middle Years Program being started in RRISD. This program is for students from the age of 11 to 16. It teaches that learning and evaluating information is as important as learning facts.
The curriculum integrates the Areas of Interaction (Approaches to Learning, Community and Service, Health and Social Education, Environment and Homo Faber) with the 8 standard subject areas in order to develop an appreciation for the interrelatedness of the subject areas, technology, other cultures, and the world around us. The 8 subject areas include: Language A (the student's best language, usually the school's language of instruction); Language B (a modern foreign language learned at school); Humanities (history and geography); Sciences (biology, chemistry, physics); Mathematics (course including the five branches of mathematics: numbers, algebra, geometry and trigonometry, probability and statistics, and discrete mathematics); Arts (visual arts and performing arts); Physical Education (course, including health and fitness, individual and team sports); and Technology (computer and design technology). More information is available on the school's website as well as at the International Baccalaureate website and theTexas IB site The program is being implemented year by year for the entire student body (the entire sixth grade was involved in 2004-2005; sixth and seventh graders were involved in 2005-2006 and all three grades will be included next year.) Teachers in all areas are receiving specialized training in IB methods and approaches to be able to integrate their subject matter, the TEKS requirements and the IB perspective in their classrooms.
Round Rock hopes to achieve well-rounded students. Students are held accountable to established criteria and test scores are showing improvements. Students are better prepared for pre AP/AP and IB curriculum at Westwood High School.

6. Announcements. The next meeting will be February 27, 2006.

7. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn Hosier
Secretary