Character Matters in our School and Community
November 6, 2024, from 6:30 - 8:00pm
Attendance
Staff Members
George Vellathottam (principal)
Marisa Weinburg (vice-principal)
M. Boulet
Voting Members (2024/2025)
J. Strong (Co-Chair), S. Persaud (Co-Chair), R. Hirsimaki (Treasurer), J. Ley (Secretary), E. Gooderham, D. Amigo, L. James, J. Miller, L. Mokund, I. Rapoport, J. King
Members At Large (in attendance)
C. Hartnoll
Absent
D. Manning (regrets sent), L. McLeod (regrets sent), D. Pereira (regrets sent), K. Bourgeois (regrets sent), J. Cairns, J. Steinman,
Agenda Items and Notes
Welcome - Jen & Shiromy
- Land Acknowledgement/video acknowledging the passing of Murray Sinclair and his legacy (George)
- Sharing a description and the intents of the Parent Council (Shiromy)
- Meeting Norms (Shiromy)
- Start each meeting at 6:30pm and end no later than 8:00pm
- Do not name individual staff, parents or students
- Encourage positive conversations
- Create an informal atmosphere
- Sharing of the Agenda (Shiromy)
Minutes and Financial Report - Jenn and Rameza
September Meeting Minutes (Jenn)
Meeting minutes were circulated for review and approval electronically on October 23rd
MOTION to approve Minutes to be made by Laura and seconded by Inna
Financial Report (Rameza)
September financial report was circulated on October 23rd electronically and approved
Closing balance was $3713.98
November financial report was shared an reviewed at the meeting
Expenses that were approved electronically:
Chef’s Program $450
Division funds $2000
Balance as of meeting is approximately $1500
MOTION to approve November Financial Report made by Inna and seconded by Laura
Staff Report: Melissa, George and Marisa
Late September/October Events at the School
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and orange shirt day
- Terry Fox Run
- Personal device letter was sent home
- Bollywood dance workshop
- Area cross country running
- Intermediates had an assembly on progressive discipline
- picture day
- badminton drop-in started
- GSA started
- PA Day on October 21st
- Visitors from Texas
- Kindergarten had Take Me Outside day
- Grades 5s and 6s had a trip to Tahir Hall
- Intermediate soccer team tournament
- Significant faith days (Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, Diwali)
- Grade 8s visited high school
- Fall pumpkin contest
- Hot lunches started
- Fire drill
- Intermediate-sports pass program (relates to behaviour and being on a sports team)
- Intermediate volleyball started
- Community donations for classes has been amazing
Upcoming
- Math professional development
- Remembrance Day and assembly
- Spoken Word workshop with intermediates
- Family/teacher interviews/student led conferences
- Book fair
- Dental screening (select grades)
- Progress reports to go home
- Picture retakes
- Library and staff room repainted
Update on Safe Schools, Inclusivity & Engagement Activities: George
- Introduction to CRRP (Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy)
- Article provided and time given to read individually about CRRP and what it means for the school, and to allow for a shared understanding for all
- provided hand-out outlining school’s Identity Affirming Learning Environments at Stonehaven ES
- Superintendent visit tomorrow for School Improvement Plan (SIP) review
- work is not new, around for a long time, three tenants: socio-cultural consciousness, cultural competence, increasing achievement (academic success)
- to be followed up with specific examples from Stonehaven
- discussion about the literature and opportunity for council members to share and ask questions
Council Updates: Jen & Shiromy
- subcommittees are up and running
- each subcommittee has a lead(s)
- monthly touch point meeting with leads and co-chairs
- each lead will provide an update
Sub-Committee Updates - Leads
Volunteer Committee (update provided by Jen Strong, leads absent from meeting)
- call out for volunteers through newsletter
- continue to build a database of volunteers
- volunteers needed for book fair Thursday evening
Fundraising (J. Ley and J. Miller)
- Jenn shared about Spirit Wear vendor Varsity Canada, will move ahead with this vendor for spirit wear sale in late January/early February, will not run as a fundraiser this time
- Interest in doing a water bottle stickers, Jibbitz for CROCs fundraiser in March, but vendors are not board approved. Jill and Rameza to get prices from two vendors to send to George for board approval
- Mabel’s labels-ongoing
- Suggested Ideas (one now (cookie dough), two in the New Year (Maple syrup, big box of cards and potentially water bottle labels and Jibbitz)
- Maple syrup (kids design label)-60% kickback
- Terracotta cookie dough (40% profit-do that one now, web based)
- Big box of cards ($35/box-$11.00 profit/per box)-through school cash online, run in 2025
- Ongoing division/grade donations (Melissa to provide update of what is needed)
- Fresh from the Farm-sold 40 boxes, delivery date November 25th, volunteers needed to distribute
- Fundraising ideas to be sent to George to be vetted
Engagement Committee
- Yearbook
- Movie night(s)
- Spring dance
- Above three have been approved
- Winter market
- Spring fair
- Lunar New Year
Food Committee (L. James)
- snack program expansion, meeting on Friday to discuss logistics/specifics
- milk program-Dairy Farmers of Ontario-no vendor in this area
- Sheldon creek delivery on Tuesday (white, chocolate, flavour of month $2.35/carton 330mL), need a milk fridge (rebate of up to $800 for fridge), Inna in the process of contacting other vendors, George to take the idea of milk program to staff for feedback, if a go, would start by running one day a week
Grade 8 Graduation Update (J. King)
- four subcommittees running: fundraising, dinner/dance. Spirit wear, trip
- looking for grade 8 parent volunteers
- June 25-ceremony at Newmarket Theatre, reception at Old Town Hall
Communications (J. Miller)
- social media intake form has been created as a forum to submit material for approval to be posted
- newsletter from school council (fundraising, events, volunteers)-monthly at the beginning of each month
Meeting Adjourned (J. Strong)