June 2010 - Castor Valley Elementary School Council

1. Welcome, Attendance List, Guest SpeakersCOUNCIL MEETING MINUTESfor June 21, 2010Attendance list: Ann Arden, Marg Clunie, Jen Danby McDonald, Monika Ferenczy (guest speaker), MarkFisher (guest speaker), Gisèle Gratton (teacher), Francine Hopley, Luisa Kuca, Tracy Lager, CharlyneMcGillivary, Claudia Maté, Christine Mercier, Rebecca Parke, Marnie Patterson (Principal), Susanna Penning,Laurel Perry-Haplie, Laurie Rail, Natasha Robb Burrows, Tania Salvi, Lauriel Wills, Heather WilsonRegrets: Julie McDonald, Kim SheldrickRecognitions: Christine Mercier, Francine Hopley, Emese GeoffrionCharlyne McGillivray Entertainment Books- 100% risk free – do not pay for lost/damaged books; no upfront costs- every book sells for $35 and schools can make up to $17.50 per book (if sell 500 books) – this gives about$8500 in profit- 2 week fundraiser – one book per child (3rd week wrap-up)- prize program for students (one book sold = one prize)- Entertainment Books offers: marketing, posters, speaker at assemblyMonika Ferenczy, Canadian Parents for French– Ottawa Chapter www.cpfchapters.ca/ottawa www.cpfont.on.ca– „Promoting opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use French‟– contact: mferenczy@cpfont.on.ca– offer resources for parents (human and material resources and information)– Programs offered include French story time grants (e.g. 10 sessions - $2500 donated to local library chapter toacquire French language resources)– Can provide resources for: Family Literacy night for French resources and show what is available in Frenchmagazines; Peer literacy program guide (reading buddies for grade 7/8 paired with primary level)– Videos for parent information nights (why would I want my child to be bilingual), videos for librarians toencourage boys literacy; help coordinating French book fairs; information on exchanges available on provincialwebsite; can help facilitate French programs for parents who would like to learn (can apply for a one-time grantto pay for the teacher)– AMO kits available (associate member kits) – multimedia, storykits (circulate for 6-8 weeks and thenexchanged)– Grants available for performances and cultural events– National office in Ottawa (collaborate with Council of Ministers, Canadian Immersion Association); 33chapters in Ontario– Research materials available– summer camps available (information on local chapter website)– needs survey for parents on chapter website (do not need to be a member to participate in survey); CVESCwould like to encourage parents to participate in homework needs survey (perhaps provide a link on thewebsite)– School Council needs to be an Associate Member to apply for grants– School Council fee ($60); family membership ($25) – two voting membersMark Fisher, School Board Trustee candidate for zone 7- Candidate in this fall‟s trustee election (election date is October 25)- Has served as the trustee for Zone 3 (Barrhaven, Knoxdale, Merivale) replacing Trustee Getty- Lives in South Keyes area and has a son entering JK (and two younger children)- Concerns: equitable access to specialized programs, improving bussing services

- Campaign website: electmarkfisher.ca ; zone 3 website: markfisher.org2. Quorum, Membership, Constitutional AmendmentsQuorum achieved3. Approval of Agenda & Approval of May MinutesMotion to approve agenda: Christine seconded by LaurelMotion to approve minutes: Francine seconded by Laurie Rail4. Appointment of Nominating Committee (Principal, Co-Chairs + 1 additional parent required) – HeatherHeather makes a motion to appoint Jen Danby McDonald to the Nominating Committee. Motion approved.Distribution of CVESC self-nomination forms, on website, bulletin board and copies in foyer5. Principal‟s, Teaching & Support Staff ReportsPrincipal‟s Report – Staffing UpdateGoodbyesDee Shankar: Barrhaven Public School - JKKerry Green: Greely Public School - JK (full day learning)Tanya Larabie: Rideau Valley Middle School - Gr. 6 Middle ImmersionColette Brooks: Hilson Avenue PS - Gr. 6 Congregated Gifted ImmersionAngie Bickmore: Longfields-Davidson Heights High School - Gr. 7Carol Ann Stewart: Metcalfe Public School - Gr. 5 and musicWelcome (new staff)Mathieu Martineau - 2/3 EFIJennifer Cunning - 4 EFIAdjoua Kouassi - 5 EFITaylor Chibuk - 5 & 2/3 ETFI (Long Term Occasional)Nicolas Boudreau - 6 EFIKatherine Ryan - 6 ETFITracey Heard - 7 & 8 ARTS, 7, 8 & 2/3 ETFITentative School OrganizationJK am - Deborah TomlinsonJK am - Wendy AndersonJK pm - Wendy Anderson1 - Denise Labelle1 - Heidi Good1 - Genevieve Beaupre3 - Gisele Gratton / Deborah Tomlinson3 - Michelle Govenlock / Tracey HeardSK am - Alison VigneaultSK pm - Alison VigneaultSK am - Carol AllardSK pm - Carol Allard2 - Carrie Merriam / Jen Wiebe2 - Jo-Ann LaCharity / Jen Wiebe2 - Shanna Piquette / Jen Wiebe2 - Tina Rolland / Jen Wiebe2/3 - Mathieu Martineau / Taylor Chibuk4 - Jennifer Cunning / Heather Bell4 - Heather Bell / Jennifer Cunning

3/4 - Kelly McKenna / DeborahTomlinson5 - Jane Reeb / Andrew Thorp5 - Andrew Thorp / Jane Reeb5 - Adjoua Kouassi / Taylor Chibuk7 - Jeanne Lalonde-Blais / Mike Speer7/8 - Mike Speer / Alain Lalonde7 LFI - Kim Holmes /Tracey Heard6 - Samantha Dowdall / NicolasBoudreau6 - Nicolas Boudreau / SamanthaDowdall6 - James Smith / Katherine Ryan8 - Chris Mott / Mark Mitchell8 - Grassau / Chris Mott8 LFI - Mark Mitchell / Tracey HeardSchool Admin Team:Deborah Davidson (LST)Diane Abboud (0.5 VP/0.5 Instruction)Marnie Patterson (Principal)We will be up to 9 portables (from 7) for next yearCelebrations7B & Mrs. Bickmore - National Award and letter of recognition from Lyall Thomson our Director of EducationFree the Children - Goal of raising funds for building a school in Kenya achieved!Pop tabs cashed in at metal recycler and another wheelchair for March of Dimes ($700)FYIME to WE - 15 total (staff and children) chosen to attend the ME TO WE Conference Sept. 29 - 30th inToronto. (Craig & Marc Kielburger). More info to come. Changed – tickets now for bilingual Me to We Dayscheduled for Montreal on Friday, Nov. 12 (PD Day)Message from Marnie: THANK YOU to all of you for being such a wonderful group of parents to workalongside. Your support of our staff and your dedication to ALL of our children is commendable.Teaching Staff Report– no reportSupport Staff ReportJEFF, Chief Custodian– “anticipating” additional cleaning hours for the new school year…let‟s hope!COREEN, Library Technician– library inventory completeSANDY & GAIL, Office Staff- Meet the Teacher is scheduled for Wed. Sept. 15th Details to come in Sept. Changed to Thurs. Sept. 16 from 5to 7 to enable volunteer firefighters from Metcalfe or Greely to assist with BBQ- Sandy & Gail extend best wishes for families to have a safe, happy summer. ”Thank you for all you do for us.You are such a great group!”

- June newsletter will be posted to the school website tomorrow6. Treasurer‟s Report – Susanna PenningUpdate on Ad Hoc ExpendituresYear End Financial Report (to be distributed at meeting)Preliminary School Council Budget for 2010/11 (attached)INCOMEBusiness DirectoryDance-A-ThonFood ProgramFun NightInterest IncMacMillansMilkMovie NightMTC BBQPRO GrantPTHSA Account ClosureSchool Ready SuppliesUsed Book Sale & Trade ShowXmas Craft DayXmas Shopping DayTOTAL INCOMEEXPENSESUncategorizedAd HocAdmin FundBank ChargesClass Resource FundEnvironmentMiscTOTAL EXPENSES250.006,718.415,851.105,586.061.864,235.503,032.171,500.26-237.180.002,558.69609.002,564.00292.98960.78-----------33,923.630.0015,078.65985.24228.333,650.00421.74378.9820,742.94OVERALL TOTAL 13,180.69INCOME:- Food: we budgeted $5300- Milk: we budgeted $3800- Fun Night: Basket draw $2007.25, Bake sale $374, pre-order $3241.96, ticket sales that night $2077 lessexpenses of $2114.15 (food, prizes). We are expecting $3000 from Scotiabank which would mean total profit of$8586.06!- Movie Night: net profit when including subscription of $891.40 paid last year is $618.86EXPENSES:- Ad hoc: $34571 was requested, $15897 was approved. Only item left is Pizza party approx $165 so underbudget

- Admin fund: OCASC $35, Webmaster $100, Copying costs $269.46, Bus driver gifts $210, Y/E appreciation$153.82, teacher luncheon $216.96- Bank charges: includes monthly charges, NSF‟s, cheque ordersCASH POSITION:- Balance as at June 21st is $14016.56- We have some small cheques yet to write (display board, pizza party) and are expecting the $3000 from Scotiain July….will leave us at $16751 approxWe need to take into consideration our operating costs for next year:$500 - photocopy costs$220 - bus driver gifts$200 - staff recognition custodian, 2 office staff, 2 admin staff, teacher rep on Council, Library tech$250 - staff appreciation lunch (dish rentals and flowers)$400 - student recognition (library helpers, green team, Kelso‟s Pals and Ambassadors)$250 - bank charges$ 35 - OCASC membership$180 - liability insurance$100 - webmaster honorarium$1000 - school council reserve fund$500 - dance-a-thon prizes$4000 - Classroom resource fundFor a total of $7635** Playground Consumables, Gardens, Music, Phys Ed/DPA, $500 Library (French books), $150 request forcurling for grade 3 & 4‟sSusanna put forth a motion to approve expenditure of $60 for CVESC to become a member of Canadian Parentsfor French. Seconded by Lauriel. Motion carried.Susanna put forth a motion to approve the allocation of $7500 toward the primary play structure replacementproject in order to apply for matching grants from the OCDSB and the City of Ottawa. Seconded by Jen.Motion carried.Heather put forth a motion to approve the allocation of $1000 toward Rideauwood drug and alcohol preventioneducation and counselling . Seconded by Lisa. Motion carried.Susanna made a motion to add Tracy Lager as a signing officer for the Royal Bank school council account inMetcalfe (and if necessary to remove Kim‟s name if a maximum number of signing officers set by the bank)seconded by Heather.7. Volunteer Coordinator‟s Report – Luisa KucaUpdate on # families without email access & # families still missing from email distribution list withapproximately 16 families requiring hard copies and 21 families for whom we have had no response to ourrequests for their email address.Labels for hard copies of last newsletter provided to Heather.Gail has revamped Student Information Form along with Heather to consent to releasing contact information toSchool Council.

We will send survey again in fall (as last year) to recruit more volunteers.8. Class Rep Coordinator‟s Report - Jen Danby McDonaldClass rep recruitment for next year – many parents are willing to continue and several other parents haveindicated interestSchool Council t-shirts (Marg & Jen) – Council members buy their own T-shirts for events (suggestion –include School Council Logo on front; School Council Volunteer on back)Another suggestion – current school council logo may need to be considered as a logo (functionality) as amountof lettering poses problems9. Character Development Recognition Update – Jen Danby McDonaldMeeting last week including school staff and council members. Suggestions: monthly assemblies along withmore attention to character ed; allow teachers flexibility in how to run the “box”; keep it simple (perhaps notkeep track); perhaps different approaches between JK/SK and Grade 7/8.Discussion – should this program aim to ensure ALL children are recognized (several parents brought up issueswith lowered self esteem for children not recognized)? Or should we recognize only extraordinary situations?10. Communication‟s Coordinator Report – Crystal KirkpatrickFinal Eager Beaver e-newsletter deadline & target distribution date – end of June11. Website Coordinator‟s Report – Francine HopleyFrancine demonstrated updated website including: Wish List and Volunteer tabs, update to Resources forParents „virtual bookshelf‟12. Playground Improvement Project Update - Natasha Robb-BurrowsSome concerns expressed about the number of fundraisers – MacMillans, chocolates, Entertainment books;especially in the fall when milk and lunch money is due.Consensus that we will move forward with the Entertainment book and postpone the chocolate fundraiser.Heather put forth a motion to have Creative Playground paint the pavement in several areas around the school(e.g. 4 squares, frames, basketball court in Junior-Intermediate yard, letters in Kindergarten yard). Total cost notto exceed $1500. We will allocate $178 from the current environment account to this painting project. Secondedby Luisa. Motion carried.Several grants are being pursued (e.g. Trillium Foundation, Saputo).13. OCASC Report – Heather Wilson - www.ocasc.caPRO grant presentation to OCDSB principals at board-wide school operations meeting – „story database‟ &September workshop pilotfirst OCASC meeting in September 16 @ 7 pm @ Fisher Park on Holland14. Community Liaison Officer Report – Kim Sheldrick

no report15. Fundraising/Activities ReportsLabel Fundraiser - Tracy - extended to July 11 and update on funds raised to dateSales Summary by MonthPeriod Orders Items Sales Commission2010-June2010-May2010-April2010-March2010-January2009-November251737511222619CAD 63.00CAD 246.00CAD 34.00CAD 370.00CAD 71.00CAD 278.45CAD 8.40CAD 36.90CAD 5.10CAD 65.50CAD 12.50CAD 51.24-------------$179.64Boo Boo Kits – Heather- Perhaps sell these at Family Fun Night- Cost is $3.00 and $1.50 come back to the school16. Co-Chair‟s report & School Council DebriefTeacher luncheon contact Michele Piironen mychef@rogers.com – a few more items in each category stillrequiredSchool Supply Kits - Best Tools for Schools ($4, letter, online ordering, Aug. 22 deadline)PRO grant submitted, notified in September, childcare organization helpZone 7 budget meeting with Trustee and CFO for OCDSB (CVESC only school council in attendance)Workshop on new Ministry of Education School Food and Beverage Policy 2010 compliance by September 1,2011Council Presence – thank you to Tracy and her husband for creating the mobile booth, Jen working on the foyerbulletin board signage, SC t-shirts to come in the fallTerry Fox National School Run Day Thurs. Sept. 30 (possible conflict with Metcalfe Fair grade 3 field trip)Free the Children Project – Me to We Day Thurs. Sept. 30Pop Tabs Project – $700 for second wheelchair achievedMeet the Teacher Wed. Sept. 15 – general consensus that the BBQ was successful last yearWhat worked? What did not work? What can we do differently? (Brainstorming/Reflection)Heather Wilson worked very hard on our behalf – fantastic leadershipMany people make for less work – we want to encourage more parents to participateTechnology improving accessibility to information (newsletter, email lists, class reps, website)Survey at the beginning of the year was successful in identifying volunteersVisibility - council table at different school events; Heather visible within the schoolHaving reports ready at the meetings (in the agenda)Being on time (mostly)Guest speakers at meetingsFood/coffee at meetingsOverlap in experience – balance of experienced parents who know how many of the events are run and new

parents with new ideas; supportive past membersDetailed minutesOpen communication in meetings – positive meetingsTeamwork and cooperation17. New Businessnone18. Adjournment + First School Council Meeting Thursday, September 9 @ 7 pm in libraryAnn made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Susanna. Meeting at adjourned at 10:35 pm.