The Agnes Irwin School Parents’ Council 

Lower School Parent Coffee 

Wednesday, September 15th, 2022 • 8:15 a.m. 

The purpose of the Agnes Irwin Parents’ Council 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’ Council  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 – Elizabeth Elizardi – Director of Lower School

• Described her “Why” for teaching this age group: Lower school is the only division where a child  doubles in age when they are with us. An Incredible amount of development happens in a short  time.  

• Lower School runs on a 5-day rotating schedule – the new schedule was created to be a  meaningful schedule based on the development needs of the Lower School girls. It prioritizes  academic blocks. 

Lower School Overview

Teacher’s College Summer Institute - Patty Hicke 4^th Grade Teacher 

• All faculty participated in the Columbia Teacher’s College Summer Institute. • Now implementing Lucy Calkins methodology at each grade level, which prepares students for  lifelong reading and writing. 

• Program has sigh expectations but achievable goals.  

• The program is broken up into mini lessons providing a lot of time for practice - girls are reading  all the time.  

• There is a very clear instructional arc - units are 5-6 weeks long. 

• The program also helps with note taking in nonfiction. 

Math Investigations – Anna Tobia – 3^rd Grade Teacher 

• Every grade in the Lower School now uses the Math Investigations curriculum. It stresses  computational fluency, deep conceptual understanding (ex. what does it mean to multiply), and  flexibility. 

• There is not just one way to solve a problem. Girls are asked to defend, reason and explain their  thinking. Being relational and having conversations is how girls learn the best. 

• The program presents fewer problems per concept, as it asks girls to investigate the problems in  several different ways, so instead of a math homework sheet with 25 problems you may see  only four.  

• Utilizes technology through Dream Box, which allows for individualized learning and  independent work. 

Melanie Slezak -Lower School Dean & Kindergarten Teacher 

• This is Melanie’s 36^th year with AIS. She has a deep historical understanding of the AIS  community. 

• As Dean she is support for all Lower School colleagues and acts as a conduit to Elizabeth • She was part of the team that created the Leadership toolkit  

• Dean role is different than in Middle and Upper School. It is less about disciplinary action and  more about wellness and promotion

Science Education - Julie Haines – Lower School Science Teacher 

• Highlights of the science curriculum in the lower school 

• Kindergarten – 5 senses and 4 seasons.  

o Project: Invention Convention 

• 1^st grade – Animals, earth materials and the science of skin color. 

o Project: Fish Prints – with real fish 

• 2^nd Grade- Weather, simple machines and plants. Explore creeks and get their rain boots, o Project: Weather Reports 

• 3^rd Grade: - Space, electrical circuits and life cycle.  

o Project: Working solar ovens, melt Hershey kisses 

• 4^th Grade - Changing earth, ecosystems.  

o Project: Starburst lab and dissecting owl pellets 

• She sees each class 2x in a 5 day cycle 

• Will send science videos home to spark conversation at home about what they are learning in  science  

• IWonder lab - collaborates with STEAM 

DEIB Coordinator & Lower School Counselor – Kim Beamon 

• The DEIB program in the Lower School is developmental and intersectional. It will progress as  they move on to Middle and Upper School.  

• One aspect of the program is to empower each faculty member to be able to handle issues that  arise. We want to encourage children to ask questions about things they are curious about  without unintentionally hurting someone’s feelings. 

• Monthly professional development opportunities for staff and faculty. 

Coordinator of Student Support & Learning Specialist – Gen Marvin 

• Student Support focuses on both emotional and academic learning. 

• Assessments are occurring now – once they are complete, the Student Support team will put  together plans and see if extra interventions would be beneficial for individual students. • Parents should feel free to reach out directly if there is a concern with your daughter. 

Supporting Agnes Irwin

Allison Hough, Associate Director of Development 

o Development is more than just raising money – includes a parent's relations program (way to  get involved and volunteer). 

o Annual fund – way to financially support the school 

o 9/29 there will be an EITC (earned income tax credit) breakfast at 672. Different than giving to  annual fund, EITC may have tax benefits – attend the breakfast to learn more. 

AIS Parents’ Council and Events

Nissa O’Mara – Parents’ Council President 

• Parents’ Council is run by a 11 member Executive Committee 

• As a parent you are automatically a member of Parents’ Council 

• Parents’ Council oversees the Class Parents and New Parent Liaison program. They run and  oversee the RenAISsance used uniform shop 

• One Parents’ Council meeting a month

o In September and January these meetings are Divisional coffees 

o All meetings will be live-streamed and posted online afterwards 

• Parents’ council section on AIS-ON has info about meetings and upcoming events • Parent Volunteer Survey – please fill out to give school feedback 

Ann Thorkelson- Parents' Council Events Coordinator 

Band, Bubbles and Beer – September 24 4:30-6:30 

o Lower School Field 

o Babysitting available for ages 4+, reservations required 

o Listen to music, sip some Prosecco or beer and enjoy some delicious food from the  common good pizza truck! 

• Agnes Irwin Cup Golf Outing – October 12^th

o Sunnybrook Golf Club 

o 1:00 Shotgun start 

o 5:00-7:00 cocktails ceremony and dinner. May attend even if not playing golf • Spirit Fair – November 4^th

• Owlidays – November 16^th

o Cocktail Party and shopping event at Valley Forge Flowers 

• Spirit Week -November 7^th-11^th

o AIS/EA Day – November 11^th at EA 

o New spirit gear from lululemon and other venodrs will be available for purchase this  year 

Jody Seibert – Lower School Coordinator 

Class Breakouts – Facilitated by the Class Parents

• Pre-K : Virginia Kirwan 

• K: Carrie Santoro 

• 1^st Grade: Larry Waddell and Claudia Vega 

• 2^nd Grade: Lauren Kreckel 

• 3^rd Grade: Dawn Cunningham 

• 4^th Grade: Sarah MacColl & Manisha Varma