AMETHYST SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGMINUTES
November 22nd, 2017
Present:Rebecca CoberSherry HellemsHeidi Veeke
Jennifer SchroterSherri CrowleyNicole Duncan
Vania DoucetteJustin SherwoodPaul Cook, LDA
Karyn BruneelJan SmyeJennifer Ladd
- Welcome and Introductions – Rebecca Cober
-Everyone in attendance introduced themselves
- Fundraising Update – Rebecca Cober
-Spirit Wear Orders forms will be going home on Friday
-Regal fundraising Campaign raised $280
-Value Village Campaign raised approximately $270
-2018 Calendar orders raised $180; Calendars will be delivered in early/mid December
- Residence Update – Jan Smye
-Residential Standards review will be done on Wed. Nov. 29 – Group will consist of a student, Mrs. Smye, Mrs. Bruneel, 2 parents, and ResidenceTeam Leader; a report will be submitted to superintendent
-Staff took part in Defensive Driving class and BMS (Behavioural Management System) Recertification on the PD day
-Two Fanshawe College co-op students from their Child and Youth Worker program will be starting in January
-In the process of hiring on-call supplies
-Social Worker interviews have been done
-SLCs went really well – thank you to everyone for their efforts
-Social Skillstraining – looking at LD awareness, healthy relationships, bullying
-Student well-being – some of the kids are taking part in the fitness centre activities, Rock N’ Roll Club, art, and swim team
-Halloween dance and aquatic Olympics
- Dorm Updates
-District 8 News Reported by: Alex, Nathan, Cole, Kurtis D, Fred and Ethan Z
-Interviews were done, discussing the Halloween Party (Bowen), Mindfulness at Amethyst (Maddison), the Aquatic Olympics (Cam) and Dorm Dinners (Abby)
-Breaking News: We Scare Hunger program was a huge success! Items were dropped off at the Food Bank and 400lbs were collected! Thank you everyone for your donations!
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- LDA(Learning Disability Association)Presentation – Paul Cook,
-Mr. Cook is the Executive Director of the London Branch and is a former teacher and Principal with the Thames Valley DSB
-LDAO is celebrating 50 years this year
London Chapter:
-Service London and surrounding area
-1-1 Tutor/mentor volunteer program
-French first language available
-Parent support group meetings once a week
-Math programs
-1 – 1 support/advocacy for families for support with schools
-10 week Reading programs – blended reading approach using Lexia
-Assistive Technology Programs for child and parents together
-Post-Secondary navigation support
-Summer Camps
-Parent Advocacy Workshops
-Programs available to students with LD and ADHD
-Small group instruction
-Learning Disability Symposium for parents, educators and community agencies – Apr. 7, 2018. Save the date!
-Ldao.ca – Ontario site
-Ldathome.ca
-You can visit the site for resources, events and to find a satellite office near you
- Principal’s Report – Karyn Bruneel
-This was Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week; to show support, students and staff were asked to wear something pink on Wed. Sam Goving will be doing a presentation on empathy and cyberbullying on Friday
-Mrs. Bruneel and Ms. Gingerich and Mr. Goving did a presentation for Federal Schools on Grit and Growth Mindset; Four of our students presented as well; participants commented that they found the students’ presentation extremely impactful
-Elementary Volleyball tournament will be on December 5th
-Assessment Tours for new applicants have been taking place
-Parent Transition to High School InformationNight – November 29; Bonnie Grace presenting 5:30-6:30pm. Gr 7 parents are welcome too
-Course recommendations will be sent home on Friday for students registering ata high school for Sept.
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-Students have been taking part in Tech Challenges that Sam Goving has been running
-Blue Microphones have been ordered for student podcasts
-Remembrance Day celebration was extremely well done and included a presentation by Platoon Warrant Officer Gregory Arsenault - 31st Service Battalion
-Secondary Off-Campus Lunches will be starting next week– students must have parent permission and off campus privileges in residence; if they lose their off campus privilege in residence, they will lose their off campus lunch privilege and vice versa; there will be a sign out/in sheet in the office
-School Improvement Plan – math problem solving strategies; have ordered a new math program – Net Math – connected to Ontario curriculum expectations; used Reflex Math last year
- Other
-1st PDSC (Provincial and Demonstration Schools Committee) Meeting will be held on December 11 in Milton; Consists of Chair/Co-chairs from all the Provincial and Demonstrations schools, managers, residential managers and Superintendent
Next meeting: January 24, 2018