Forest Glen School Council Meeting January 19, 2015 6: 30 – 8: 30 Library

Forest Glen School Council Meeting

January 19, 2015

6:30 – 8:30

Library

Agenda

Snacks: Charlene & Alison

6:30 Welcome & Introductions

Gill, Jenny, Colleen, Erin, Marsha, Andy. Mark, Laura, Michelle, Arlene, Carlos, Kim K., Lynn, Ursula

6:35 Teacher Report

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  No teacher present
  

6:45 WRAPSC report – Sherry, Carlos, Kim K

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  Last Tuesday
  
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  Change in format, 8 questions and divided into groups (one per question)
  
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  Love of reading application due Feb 13^th for Chapters grant
  
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  Revisions of the parent handbook started
  
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  Student Voice – application for students who go to speak to Minister of Education
  
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  Discussion about Bell times and bussing
  
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  New Mental Health Committee at board (2 parent reps), Safe and Caring Schools, calendar committee
  
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  Annual conference at Bluevale held on Saturday, April 18^th for parent info (key note speaker and chose your own seminar). More information coming out in Feb
  
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  8 questions
  
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    Engaging parents in teacher conferences/interviews – focus on solutions
    
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    Overcoming language and culture barriers (orientation days, building connections)
    
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    Staying connected at the secondary level (class dojo, email, websites, expectations and course outlines, twitter, parent nights, google apps, planners, contact info for guidance and spec ed, how do you address concerns, always communicate with teacher first, board website has protocol if you have a concern, common and consistent way to contact teacher, etc)
    
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    Using tech to increase communication – respecting those options
    
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    Doing a survey for communication, using schoolday, having widgets to click on the website
    
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    Report cards and EQAO – parents appreciated when next steps were included. Often the wording has to be careful. Some wanted comparisons to where there child should be. News should not be a surprise (issues addressed earlier than report card). EQAO has sample tests online.
    
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    Transition from grade 6-7 and grade 8-9. Share info with parents in different ways. Printing on different size, texture, colour may stand out more. Use food to attract parents. Explain about choices in courses.
    
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    How parents can be better informed about curriculum and what is going on in the classroom. Board folks thought that parents go to ministry website. Curriculum.org could be a site, go to school council.
    
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    How to reach parents not touched my parent council. How to use fundraising money.
    
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    “How to read a report card” night
    
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    Take a peak folder – see what your kids are working on and then it goes back to school
    

6:47 Fundraising Report

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  Read-a-thon planning
  
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    Committee of seven
    
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    February 23-March 6^th
    
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    Kick off assembly on the Monday morning
    
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    Theme is: Reading Takes You Places
    
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      Narrative can make you travel in your mind, Non-Fiction can being about global issues, literacy can help your future
      
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    Promotions- requests for pictures of kids reading. Will be put on bulletin that says, “Picture me reading…”
    
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    Classroom door decoration day – pick a theme in class (where reading takes them). Doors judged (those kids get two extra tickets for prizes)
    
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    Kids earn tickets for reaching their reading goals - go towards prizes (donated or purchased)
    
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    Personal reading goals – number of books, minutes, or chapters (depending on age/level)
    
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    Flat rate option as well
    
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    Information is on envelop for pledging as well as a calendar of events for those weeks
    
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    Book swap (Tammy-Jo H will do that one)
    
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    Dress up as your favourite book character
    
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    Guest readers? At the assembly or in classes? Police officer? Celebrity?
    
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    Reading over the week but could there be a literacy ‘day’ with some word games (boggle, scrabble, scattegories, etc…) to ahev fun with words
    
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    Fundraise for anything specific? Can we put that down to possible donors? Greening Committee? Technology – chrome books or iPads? Home reading program? Can we split the resources for multiple things?
    
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    Donation of prizes sent to school.
    
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    Rewarded on money or reading goals? Or both?
    
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    Tax receipts as well
    
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  QSP – final statement reg paper orders 199, online 236, group profit $5018.96
  

7:10 Treasurer’s report

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  Swim to survive was received to fun last year’s class
  
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  QSP revenue has gone in
  
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  Cathy Williams got a grant from ETFO for $200 for student food – in our account
  
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  Tree cost has come out
  
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  Apple and cheese for school ahs come out
  
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  Send –em off smiling has come out
  
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  Prizes for QSP is out
  
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  Supplies for drumming came out
  
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  Balance: $7367.88
  

7:00 Principal’s Report: Mark Drummond, Andy Beddoe

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  Thank you from the junior division for the drumming workshop
  
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    Mark showed off the drum
    
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    We are getting a free performance called Spirit Horse about Aboriginal issues
    
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  Upcoming events
  
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    Basketball season started today – short season because of the shortage of refs
    
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    This Friday is western day
    
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    Feb 2 and 4, gym - signing up for rocks and rings - indoor curling for every grade
    
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    Jan 27 grade 8 trip meeting (June 16-18) going to Niagara Falls and Toronto
    
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    Feb 14 red and pink day
    
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    Feb 20 – reports go home
    
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    Air band competition - before March Break
    
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    Feb 10-12 (snow shoes here and teachers sign up)
    
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    Ms. Williams planning snow carnival
    
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    Kodaly practicing – performance in May
    
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  Other
  
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    School calendar for next year? Late September start? Will be coming from the board in spring
    
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    Interviews after report cards: will be communicated when reports are sent home. Most likely teachers will set up times on their own. Can we encourage parents to at least know that they can contact their child’s teachers.
    

7:25 Business

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  Grants update – Swim to Survive, subcommittee progress
  
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    Haven’t heard back yet
    
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  Movie night plans - Thurs, Jan 29
  
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    Donation at the door for resource centre (canned goods), LEGO movie
    
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  Family Math night – update
  
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    Erin and Colleen met with Sharon (The math night lady)
    
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    $500 for the night with all resources supplied
    
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    Talked about a fall date – end of September
    
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    She also does a parent part with Ed Enns from the board to talk about how math is taught now, or she can come in and talk about things you can do with your kids
    
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    Should we join with other schools? Cost would go up. It is a big event, it might be easier to do on our own. What about just Grandview, as they are our feeder school?
    
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    Yes we are including Grandview – they can perhaps pay the extra fee ($100). Check in with Kim K as they may be running it on their own.
    
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    Yes, we are in favour
    
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    Date: October 1^st (Thursday of our first council meeting)
    
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    Ed Enns and perhaps teacher night could be Wednesday the 20^th?
    
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  Greening committee update
  
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    Working with Evergreen – granting opportunity and planning help
    
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    They have a plan outlined – we looked at it
    
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    Getting feedback and input from kids and teachers
    
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    Phase one $12,500 – plants, rocks, trees
    
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    Impact with shade and seating
    
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    Applying for grants – we have to show commitment from school as well
    
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    As we move forward we need to decide where we put our money
    
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    Some sort of measure/visual/thermometer to help demonstrate how we are progressing
    
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    We need to look at locations to see where we should place things…where is traffic happening now
    
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    Pool plans? No news yet.
    
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    Phase two: $8,000
    
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    Many grants are already in the works for applications, if we commit it may help our cause
    
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      TD greening initiative? For plants?
      
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    Fundraising for greening? Trying to come up with ideas that fit with the theme. Bingemans gift cards?
    
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      How do we inform parents of the plan? Display in office? Pamphlet? Inform them of health benefits for children.
      
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      How do we approach bigger corporations?
      
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    Mrs. Holan collecting ideas from staff
    
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    If we put a bigger picture plan together, it may be easier to sustain momentum.
    
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  Book Fair – date for next yr Nov 19 – 26?
  
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    Date staying the same
    
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  Yearbook update
  
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    Mark answered a lot of questions prior to meeting
    
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    Going with Life touch
    
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    Goal is to not make money
    
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    Should we order more so people can order after they see it?
    
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    Cover; competition for artists in grade 7/8?
    
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    We enter images into the program they give us
    
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    Can there be a student group (needs teacher support) that could help? Meet in the evening?
    
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    Ready for September so the whole year included.
    
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    44 pages to include clubs, etc..
    
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    About $20
    
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  PRO Grant Parent Night – begin planning process
  
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    Meeting on Thursday night with three schools
    
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    April 16^th – we are the host schools
    
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    Chairs need to be ordered pronto
    
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  Other
  

8:21 Items for the February meeting

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  Snacks: Robin, Lynn, Laura
  

8:22 Adjournment

Next Meeting Date: February 23, 6:30 pm, FG Library