The Agnes Irwin School Parents’ Association
Lower School Parent Coffee
Wednesday, January 18th, 2023 • 8:30 a.m.

The purpose of the Agnes Irwin Parents’ Association is to foster a positive spirit within the Agnes Irwin community,
and to provide financial support for education facilities, opportunities, and enrichment. The Agnes Irwin Parents’
Association communicates with the school’s administration to ensure that all activities and financial contributions
support the school’s mission and create the best possible environment for all Agnes Irwin students to grow and
thrive.

Welcome, Opening Remarks – Sally Keidel
Strategic Plan – came out in December. Sets the course for the school in the next 5 years. 4 pillars.

Personal well-being is a critical part to learning and being present. We are committed to that for our girls
education as well. We stress inclusivity, so that she is seen for who she is. Using leadership toolkit and a
strand throughout their years at AIS

Wishing Elizabeth well in her new role and congratulating Mel on stepping up in her transitional role as

Lower School Director
Lower School Overview – Elizabeth Elizardi
When was the last time you were so excited to do something that you ran somewhere. Running is always
happening at the lower school. The girls are so full of palpable energy
 First Semester celebrations
Welcomes new staff this year
Jen Marvin – coordinator of student support and learning
Robin sweating – 2 nd grade teacher
Mary Tyler Upshaw – Steam specialist – iwonder lab
Strongest enrollment in 4 years – 141 girls! Lower school is growing. Reflects our incredible
teachers and programming
Lower School welcomed 2 new K students mid-year
AIS-On transitioned to classroom bulletin boards to keep parents up to date and informed.
Portrait of a Graduate – launched this year. Worked strategically on what does it mean to be an
AIS graduate. Who do we aspire to be as educators as we work throughout the day. What
attributes that we hope the girls embody, leave the school with and bring out into the word.
Lower celebrated many fall events such as the Thanksgiving Balloon parade, winter concert and
all-school holiday assembly
Arcadia testing/assessment system - based on research to early intervention. Designed to
capture the nuances in reading so we are able to structure with learning support
Leadership Assemblies are held monthly. Parents are invited. CAG has been working to put on
assemblies. Latest was on resiliency.
ALICE - safety and security training. Student drill at the end of the month, in the home room
environment, safe space, developmentally appropriate way. Teachers will be practicing
barricading the doors. This drill will be done with being sensitive to the needs of the girls. Parents
will get advanced warning of drills and be provided with resources to have conversations with
your daughter
Talk around iwatches and girls feeling the need to have one during an emergency
Lower school policy is girls are not to wear iwatches during the school day

 Second semester preview
4th grade change makers
Notable women 4/26
K invention convention
Women in steam event in March
Makers fair – 3rd grade
Authors tea – 1st grade
Grand friends – 4/13
May Fair – 5/
Letter will go out to 4 th grade parents outlining all special dates for the rest of the year
Leadership transition (Elizabeth Elizardi & Mel Slezak) – Lower School Director
Mel and Elizabeth have been visiting classrooms and talking to the girls together about the
transition
Mel is still a kindergarten teacher until we trade chairs at the end of the year
Mel stated that to her “Teaching is a call and not a job.” I full embrace the school. She came to
AIS in 1987 to teach Kindergarten and has held many roles within the school, including 3 years on
the board. Feels well prepared for this role
Student assessment: MAP and Report Cards
Receiving first report card of the year by Friday. They are digital and located on AIS-ON
Please reach out to teachers with questions about report cards
March – progress conferences
Second report card at the end of the year
MAP Assessment – next week, 3 rd wave of MAP testing will be in April. Formal report for the year
that shows growth over time will be mailed to your home at the end of the year.
Testing for reading and math
For Kindergarten questions are auditory, they don’t need to read it. They do a practice
run so they understand the test before they take it.
Older grades – there is always an audio option if they need a passage read to them
It’s an adaptive test. If you are answering correctly the questions get harder, if you start
answering incorrectly the test will bring out more grade level appropriate questions
Will link NWEA resources to read more about MAP testing in the divisional letter this
week
Literacy in the lower school
New curriculum- teachers college reading and writing workshop program
Fundations – phonics based approach to word study
Lower school held it’s 5 th language arts retreat for teachers – goal is to develop common
understanding of literacy goals and concepts so there is continuity through all grades at the
lower school
Identify current needs of students. Look at student work and assessment.
Lots of debate in the current climate about what way is best to teach reading. AIS takes the
centrist approach of the best from both methodologies; the science of reading and the Lucy
Calvin’s reading and writing curriculum.

AIS Parents’ Council and Events
Nissa O’Mara – Parents’ Council President
Fall Events – set records for attendance and fundraising. Thank you for your support
Spring Events
Lower school staff appreciation lunch – list dates and chairs
Taking donations to cover cost of lunch – pc section of AIS-ON and looking for
volunteers for set up and break down.
 Lower School Book Fair – 2.10 & 2/11. Classes will visit book fair on Friday. Families are
invited to visit the fair before and after school on Friday and on Saturday
Looking for parent volunteers
Movie Night – 2019 Little women 7-9:15 rate PG. No charge just sign up ahead of time
3/7

Family Skating Night - 3/11 skate night – family event, bring siblings Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society

RaisE – 4/25 – planning meeting 2/9 6:30 @672
Nominations Process
Class parents, new parent liaisons, event chairs
Reach out to Nissa with questions
Encourage people to self nominate
Lower School Coordinator - Jody Seibert
 Remarks

Class Breakouts – Facilitated by Class Parents
Pre-K – Virginia Kirwan
Kindergarten – Carrie Santoro
1 st Grade – Larry Waddell
2 nd Grade – Lauren Kreckel
3 rd Grade – Dawn Cunningham
4 th Grade – Manisha Sethi and Sarah MacColl