QVPS SCHOOL COUNCIL
November 8, 2017
6:33 – Welcome from Debbie King (Co-chair)
· Debbie welcomed everyone to the School Council meeting and provided an overview of tonight’s agenda
· Debbie introduced some of tonight’s presenters and the parents in attendance introduced themselves.
· A great turnout with approximately 30 people in attendance.
6:40 – Saamia Hasan (Co-chair)– video presentation
· Excellent video presentation set to music setting forth the goals of the Parent Council.
· The vision for the new school year: strong voices for equality and student success
· Parents want to engage and be heard
· A call for volunteers and greater involvement of the community
o Parent classroom representatives
o Fundraising
o People with particular skills or passions
· Please come out and volunteer – we need your help!!
6:45 – Jennifer Morin, Public Health Liaison
· (1) Point of contact with Toronto Public Health
o Jennifer Morin is a nurse and your first point of contact
o Additionally, there is a health connection line that can answer your questions
· (2) Resource for health-related events i.e. mental health, sexual health
· (3) The goal is to engage the students; meet with senior students to see what works and what can be done better
o Raised idea of committees, interest has been shown with respect to mental health – parents are welcome to participate as well
· (4) Workshops
o Stress-related workshops
o At home alone program
o Teens and pre-teens
o Contact Jennifer Morin if there is interest in these or other workshops
o Ideally want somewhere between 8-20 parents for a workshop, but there is some flexibility
· Debbie has Jennifer Morin’s number and e-mail and will forward it out
· The flyer was photocopied and distributed
7:02 – Principal’s Update
Principal – Madelaine Allan
· Big day today!
o Students have been going off to Toronto Island school overnight today
o Grade 8s went on a tour of the Distillery District
o The ESL students went to Royal Winter Fair
· Progress reports will be coming next Tuesday and parent-teacher interviews to follow
· Parents are encouraged to come to meet with their children’s teachers
· Interpreters are available for free for those who need one
· We have connected with “Another Story” who will be providing books for the Book Fair
· Principal Allan went through the Principal’s Report:
o We have delegates visiting from Belgium to see how we are integrating technology and education. Luckily, they will be here for our Grade 8 Robotics event!
o Our Grade 5s and 6s are going to the Island School and are having an excellent time. The Principal wanted to make sure everyone knows that there is financial assistance for those who need.
o Field construction is moving forward as planned and hopefully by the end of November we will have the artificial turf completed – we are on track!!
Vice-Principal – Sudeep Sanyal
· If you are going to volunteer on a regular basis – please get a police check done so you will be able to do so. They are available in the office (and some were handed out tonight). The school will cover the cost of the check. Also, if you have already had a check in the past, please attend the office annually to ‘update’ your status.
· If you are interested in volunteering on a regular basis, please let us know and we will put you on a ‘roster’ of potential volunteers for upcoming activities. Thank you!
· EQAO – we are going to be focusing on math and have identified some needs in our students.
o Critical thinking
o Multi-step problems
o We have received $10,400 to work with our staff and put together new programs and teacher development to help our students with their math skills
§ There was further discussion with respect to details with respect to these new initiatives, and an interest in why and how funds received are allocated (in this case and others). In this case, the use of the funds will include a math coach who will be coming in to help develop the teachers’ programs. This strategy was developed over a number of meetings in consultation with the teachers and test data.
§ Only 20% of the funds received can be used on physical resources.
BREAK – 7:37-7:45
Principal’s Update (cont’d)
Vice-Principal – Susanne Borselli
· School cash online! A new program we are using and if you register you can pay for field trips etc. online. The school is hopeful this will be a convenient way to pay and minimize the cash at school.
· 47 ESL newcomer students enjoyed the mentorship program which started today and we will have two full-time mentors all day on Mondays and Wednesdays!
Principal – Madelaine Allan – The School Budget
· A yellow form with amounts for the school budget were passed out.
· The shaded areas at the top are fixed.
· Principal Allan went through the budget and explained some of the expenses (front). The total preliminary school budget is $150,329.
· The school also saved money last year to buy a new stove this year for $16,000.
· Principal Allan also went through the (back) of the Budget Planning form and there are some potential sources of revenues through grants e.g. $5,000 was secured last year for bussing for skating. Potential total budget with additional funds is $186,426.
· Anyone with ideas for grants or experience with applying for grants is encouraged to help out!
· Additionally, QVP is still considered a priority neighbourhood and we do receive donations and assistance from our community partners and can offer space for activities and programs to take place in the school.
· Question re Regent Park music program returning to the school. Apparently there was insufficient commitment this year for the program to come to our school, although it does appear to be something in which parents are interested. Saamia would like to improve communication channels with the parents for this and other programs.
· Question re funds promised by superintendent last year and impact of losing model school status. How do we keep the same quality of curriculum without the same funding e.g. school trips? Note re trips, for the most part the teachers are allowed to choose which field trips they will go on rather than grade-wide trips. There was some fear from the parents that the loss of model school funding will result in loss of field trips.
Parent Council’s Update
Fundraising Presentation – Alyson Colón – Grants
· Fundraising Ask – when signing up for things like school lunch or snacks there will be an option to donate extra money to help students in need
· Cookie Dough Fundraiser
Fundraising Presentation – Christine Phillips – Events and Fundraising
· Many ideas for fundraising events:
o Hoop a Thon – practice free throws and get sponsored for baskets. Raptors tickets generously donated as a prize.
o Popcorn Thursdays – raising money through popcorn has been very popular
o All you can eat spaghetti – using our new stove
o Spring Carnival – incorporate 2018 Olympics or make mini-Olympics
o Rummage, Bake, Art & Craft Sale – sell tables to sell your wares?
o Children’s Art Show – children create art
o Plant Sale – like the cookie dough fundraiser
o Battle of the Bands – after the talent/variety show
o Recipe book – put together in a book to sell
o Zumba night – Zumba-thon
o Branded clothing – hoodies and shirts
o Event add-ons – wacky things for the principal/vice-principals to do i.e. dye their hair
· Christine is reaching out to community partners for donations.
· Please let us know what you like and if you would be willing to help! Thank you!!
8:47 – Concluding Remarks – Debbie King
· Discussed possibility of 9:30 a.m. meetings – does not work for most people.
· Thanks to everyone for coming out and please stay engaged and involved!