March 27, 2012

Attendance:

David Morrison, Natasha Roach, Kim Schryburt-Brown, Rowan Widdison, Angela Young, Deb Morand, Donna Davie, Tina Rogers, Janet Brown, Erica Ingleby, Steven Ingleby, Valerie Brown

Regrets: Vicki Price (get well soon!)

Previous Minutes:

Motioned by Tina, seconded by Rowan.

Action from previous meeting:

-Thank you’s sent by Mr. Morrison and Julia Lafrenier

-Ms. Davie followed up on cheques for EMCP, which will be written this week.

Budget Priorities:

-Discussion on list circulated – iPad stands, noise reduction earphones, library tables and sun shelter added to list. Need to follow due process on planting trees or assembling sun shelter, previous attempt with Rick Tucker designing a structure not being accepted by board.

-SMART boards – currently have 3, total of 10 classrooms, so this would be a 3.5 year commitment. Motion to buy 1 SMART board.

-Balls purchased a few years ago are now worn out. Soccer net – it is our year to buy the soccer net, this is a partnership with the local soccer association. Outdoor basketball nets would be nice. Motion to purchase air pump ($40), outdoor soccer net ($200), 20 soccer balls ($30-60). Mr. Morrison buying basketball nets out of hotdog money.

-iPad cords are for projecting from iPad to a larger screen. Motion to spend $180.

-iPads – now sharing between multiple students, great learning occurring. Motion to buy 5 iPads.

-iPad stand and noise cancelling headphones. Motion to buy 1 iPad stand and 4 noise cancelling headphones.

-Air jet printer – Not doing much printing from iPads right now because of connectivity issues with current printers. Rowan checked out options, $69-200 range. One to try would be useful, then determine if more are needed. Motion to spend no more than $200.

-Year end trips – Classes are leery of how much is being charged for class trips. In the past council has donated $100/class (with $100 for both kindergarten classes), kindergartens are all going on a B day. Motion to pass as presented.

-Grade 8 graduation – Council has donated $400 in the past, there are 16 graduates this year. Ceremony is here, dance is at Chimo. Mr. Morrison to deliver his message virtually J Motion to pass as presented.

-If money left at end of year, consider buying basketballs, new school sports jerseys, tables for library.

ACTION: Determine if play yard can support shade tree (minimum 3ft) and if so how to we get authorization to plant said trees. Put money aside from playground fund towards shade trees and sun shelter.

Treasurer’s Report:

$10 913.91 in fundraising account at present. This is outside the food for thought.

Discussion on allocations from last year not being spent, difficulty determining what exactly has and has not been spent. Mr. Morrison is certain we spent the sports and educational programs budgets. Difficult to use percentage allocations when revenue is uncertain and thus follow through is hard to monitor.

Teacher’s Report:

1. Math inquiry focus continues throughout the school. Teachers are interested in how students learn math through problem based learning. Valerie states this is helping her see different ways of viewing a problem.

2. Ms Madaire would like to plan a National Denim Day (May 15) which is a fundraiser for breast cancer research.

3. The kindergarten classes will be traveling to the museum of nature on April 17 for a dinosaur workshop. Both A and B days will be attending.

4. Ms Madaire and Mrs Hamilton’s classes recently travelled to the National Gallery of Canada.

5. A cheque will go out this week for $310 for EMCP enrichment trip this week, the trip is in May. School council is subsidizing $55 for two students.

6. Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Hamilton request a date for the Spring Fling (if occurring) so that they can organize the Books and Baskets fundraiser to coincide. (May 17) Discussion on holding Scholastic book fair, agreed not to do this.

Principal’s Report:

Ms Davie, Mrs Blanchard and Ms Purdy have been working on a program called Web Based Teaching Tool, we are evaluating the use of math interventions and how they help students who are considered “at risk”.

Tomorrow we will be working with iPads and a program called “Show Me” that directs children to explain their thinking while working.

Intermediate girls’ basketball team travelling to Glen Tay on March 29

Full school audit taking place April 4.

In school staff process should begin in the next two weeks. Our projected numbers look very similar to our numbers from last year. No large changes are anticipated.

Superintendant Victoria Hemming will be visiting our school April 5.

Welcome to Kindergarten is May 3

Books and Baskets planned for May 17. Volunteers needed to help sort books. Discussion on postponing the spaghetti dinner, motion passed.

Jump rope for heart May 18.

EQAO will be last week of May and first week of June for Grade 3 and 6 students.

Graduation is June 22.

Code of Conduct:

We are the safe schools team J School agenda distributed for information, there are 6 pages of code of conduct. Lots of information, parents asked to review bullying and progressive discipline (concept of considering all mitigating factors before final decision on discipline is made).

Mr. Morrison would like more refined ideas of dress code. Discussion on definition of bullying, this is not clear to the general population. Giving examples of what is and is not bullying. Discussion on how to communicate code of conduct best to parents…sign off on a sheet? Include in agenda? Concept of “Zero Tolerance” is no longer the case, and is not in line with past communication to parents.

ACTION: Council members to review code of conduct and provide suggestions for improvement. Send feedback to Mr. Morrison.

Fundraising Report:

Movie night was successful, $100 profit, kids had a good time.

New Business:

Deferred.

Date of Next Meeting: April 24, 2012 Plan books and baskets at that meeting. Rowan attending by Skype.

The motion reading, I motion that both kindergarten class be given $100 to help subsidize their school trip which will bring our grand total for class trip to $1100. (for 11 class) (the kindergarten class trip is before next council meeting I believe)
I will need someone to second the motion and everyone to send wether they accept or not.

Seconded by Kim

Accepted by Vicki, Tina, Rowan, Debbie, Kim