Minutes
of School Council Meeting
Tuesday,
March 10, 2009
7:00pm
to 8:40 pm
Present:
Karen Steinke
Karen Rushforth
Karen Stringer
Karen Walker Hogan
Susan Grafhan
Anthony Burgess
Michelle Burgess
Paul Thomson
Deb Renton
Jackie Gaulton
Alison Paradine
Sheila Slattery-Ford
Regrets:
Terri-Ann Lassman
Danielle Andreychuk
Lynda Kaufmanis
Jill Randall
Leyland Brown
Sarah Smith
“A caring group of parents and teachers
dedicated to enhancing our children’s educational development and well
being. Le=
ading by
example to demonstrate the value of volunteering in our school and communit=
y. Sharing time, =
ideas
and financial support in a manner that benefits the overall student
population.”
1.
Welcome & Introduction of Guest
Sheila Slattery-Ford, Halto=
n
Our Kids,
Mary Dilly sends her regrets
2.
Approved
3.
Pancake Day
Karen Walker Hogan said it went well with more stations this year and reliable power source.
Paul Thomson s= aid the students loved it. Perhaps we could have a reference card for future set-ups. The organization was great, the smell was great and pancakes were = left in the freezer for kids who are hungry.
Deb presented = thank you cards from the kids. In particular, a new student said they were gettin= g to love this school. Pancake Day showed spirit, it was a highlight of the year particularly in sharing a meal together.
Karen Stringer= wants us to make sure for next year, that we make it special for the JK/SK A kids. The volunteers were a bit frazzled.
4.
Today was wear= green day. The children were asked to bring a toonie = and sign a shamrock for Halton Food For Thought. $3= 37.50 was raised for Halton Food For Thought.<= /p>
Capital Renewal (Board)
$2,300 for insul= ated blinds for Ms. Sylvester’s Room. This would be to keep the classroom cool.
$7,000 to replace the library carpet=
$5,000 Lighting Upgrades
$5,000 Curbs at the bus area. Curren= tly they are rounded but need to be squarer to facilitate snow removal.<= /p>
I.T.
$8,000 for four transmitters to be wireless OR we could look at a hub on the laptop cart but then they would be tied to the cart.
There is a possibility that the Board might pay for wireless next year.
Shelley Wigle IT
Person for
3 desktops for kindergarten rooms
1 kindergarten room networked=
Additional $100/year for each room o= ver our quota
Speakers
2 laptops with streaming video cart = (note that the Board won’t purchase anymore DVD’s)
Mrs. Wiggle can’t use the lapt= op because it isn’t compatible with the older machines.
Future Plans:
$8,000 wireless
$1,200 cart
$800 laptop
Smart Board (some schools are using = these)
Discussion: Karen Rushforth asked = how the Grade 6’s doing with technology. Deb says that the 6’s are doing amazing things with technology and the school can borrow from the Board. Mr. Thomson said the “The Right to Produce” for the Grade 5 & 6’s is in one area but the other machines in the school are Microsoft Windows.
Deb said that if this is okay, it is the best bang for our buc= k.
Karen Stringer asked if the Grade 6’s can have laptops a= nd their computers go to the JK’s. Discussion regarding this and wireless might be best to wait until next year. Anthony suggested waiting until next year. Deb said fundraising this year has to be spent this year. Karen Stringer said we should go with what Mrs. Wiggle suggests. This was the consen= sus from the group
Does every classroom have 2 computers? Mr. Thomson said that t= he kindergarten classroom is lacking due to the age of construction of the building. Central just finished going wireless so there is a strong point to be made for fund= ing. Prices are coming down. We need a plan and a time frame. There is a minimum that the Board will maintain. We need a certain minimum because it’s operated remotely. As far as donations, monitors are okay but we can’t accept computers.
Deb said the Superintendant noted that we might include a than= k you for donations/food, i.e. thank you for supporting pizza day because it supp= orts student learning. Reminder of where the money is going.
Introduction of Sheila Flattery by Mr. Thomson
5.
Children practiced their dance moves today. It’s close M= arch Break.
Wants to bring awareness of encouraging sharing report cards w= ith the kids, and for parents to remember where children are developmentally, despite that they are being marked. The comments reflect the strengths, per= haps not the report marks. Let’s validate the learning the kids have done. Deb’s door is always open. Remember that it is the letter mark that is the standard and our child is developing at their own p= ace. Please give some thought on how to share this with your kids at home. Deb s= aid that learning skills on a Report Card is a place where you can have a discussion but self-esteem in the classroom is the most important.
Question: what about one or two kids who are possibly disrupti= ve? Deb said there might be a need to find an alternative because one student can’t disrupt another’s learning. Tribes: Respect is coming nex= t. There are goals set out for the staff. Differentiation understanding is a m= ust. Mr. Thomson will make himself available.
Ski Trip for the Grades 4, 5 & 6’s was amazing. The =
kids
loved it. The kids stuck with it and took it on as a challenge.
6.
$24,207.94 in the Bank Account. January Reconciliation complete.
Discussion:
Karen Stringer said the Maps have been ordered. There is money= for Snack and Literacy. We spent $400 on DARE last year. Can we spend the same again? Ap= proved to move forward with Dare donation.
There is also Teacher Appreciation (drinks, gifts, party renta= ls, most of the food was donated, the flowers and ca= ke was donated).
Grade 6 Grad. Last year $580/60 students. Sue said we have more stud= ents this year and much was donated last year. Sue and Michelle organized last y= ear on a very tight budget. It is a low key event and successful. It’s not just for the kids but for the families too. The lemonade fountain is a tradition. To increase the budget to $800.00 is agreed to by Sue and Michel= le. That might go up slightly. Sue noted that traditionally the Grade 5 parents plan for the Grade 6 graduation.
Fun Day and Jump Rope for Heart are coming up in the spring. F= un Day organizers need $2,000 upfront.
Other expenses include the babysitting and Crossing Guard gift= and we need $500 for the Meet and Greet for the beginning of next year. =
Therefore we have enough money in the account to cover the abo= ve, provided we raise $2,000 at the Fun Fair. We should have $2,600 for the sta= rt of next year.
Karen Stringer said we usually give the teachers $50.00 at the= start of the year (approx $800 total). It was decided to give all the teachers, including French and Music $50.00. Deb will let Karen Stringer know how muc= h.
7.
Teacher Apprec= iation Day will be April 9th. It’s an opportunity for parents who aren’t here during the day to show their appreciation. There was a th= ought that there could be a car wash but it should be about the parents expressing their appreciation for the teachers.
Discussion: After the review of the expenses related to the pa= rty rentals, it was discussed that we should purchase the cutlery. Ask Terri-Ann Lassman about purchasing dishes, cutlery and glassware at IKEA. Other functions we would possibly use the dishes would be the Meet and Greet and Volunteer Day= . It was pointed out that we have to wash and store the dishes and was decided t= hat an industrial strength washing machine is expensive. It was decided that we will start with purchasing 50 place settings, including cutlery plates and mugs/cups and saucers and keep it the same as last year.
8.
Constitution Recommendation Review
Discussion: The timing of the first Council Meeting. Should th= e last meeting be in September? Anthony suggested that the first Council meeting should be in September so you can get started right away. Karen Rushforth agreed. Anthony said that any planning for = a b.b.q. in September should be planned before the year= ends.
Karen Stringer said Jackie Oxley will review the Recommendatio= ns. Karen Rushforth explained that some of the recommendations list= ed expand on what we already have .
Karen Hogan says Council should be more involved in school dec= isions and to be part of the discussion and the decision making process, not only fundraising. Karen Hogan sugg= ested that Council should be included in staff run initiatives so to have all the= information (Charity: Home of Hope). Karen Rushforth said t= hat Council could be more involved in the school effectiveness plan. There is Parent, Council and Staff initiated fundraising. Karen Stringer said we sho= uld agree on how we spend our fundraising dollars and decide if we are reaching= out to other communities. Suggested we streamline fundraising and make ourselves available to fund other initiatives (such as the current initiatives that a= re funded by popcorn sales and cookie sales). Deb said that this fundraising h= as been a well run, positive experience for the students and that the children don’t want to ask for the money from council. Staff doesn’t run= any fundraising. Deb has an open door policy.
Anthony said it is $300 per student to attend Brock. Mr. Thoms= on said that when issues come up we need to address them and be proactive with communication (Halton Learning Foundation re. <= span class=3DGramE>Brock). The opportunity is there now for various initi= atives to come to council for funds.
9.
Safety at
School Board d=
id a
count and based on the number of cars, it doesn’t generate enough of a
concern for the Board to do anything with the parking lot. Avoid parking on=
the
south side of Townsend, use the side streets for parking, walk to school,
safety. Persons on the Safety Committee: Deb Renton, Rick Craven, Halton Region, City of
10.
New Business
Green-school t= ote is postponed for another meeting.
11.
Halton K=
ids Aldershot Hub is housed at
Soccer funding is available, camp funding, Facebook Grades 6, 7, 8 day presentation with a parent presentation in the evening. = The last presentation was March 4, at Holy Rosary. The cost of the Facebook presentation is $500. Food and Clothing serv= ices are also available.
Karen Rushforth can put a link on the
12.
New Business
Green-school t= ote is postponed for another meeting.
Julie Thomson = needs feedback by the Friday regarding the Snack Program. Karen Walker Hogan said this is important since the snack program needs restructuring.