Meeting #2– October 15, 2013

Castlebridge Public School 2013/14 Meeting Minutes

In attendance:

Parent Members: Megan Peart, Scott Cloute, Kathryn Porter, Kerry Hrinco, Debbie Nilsen, Stephanie Boylan , Anita Sood, Helen Ren

Guests: Sasha Deluca, LigiaBotea, Janet Twyne, Ruth Lavery, IvieIdahosa

Community Representative:

Teacher Representative: Sabine Corras

Administration: Michelle Haddad (principal)and Marianna Tennant (vice-principal)

Regrets: Roberta Heino, Shelley Urlando, Andrea Ellis-Campbell*, Sean Huang, Cindy Lai*, Heather Bamford-Bruno*, Jennifer Wroblewski, Nancy McDowell, NayabQazi, PurnimaVerma,

Total Voting Members: 16 // Required for Quorum: 8 // Quorum Number in attendance: 9

  1. Welcome: Megan Peart, Council Chair, welcomed parents at 7:06 p.m. in the library. She reviewed requirements for being a voting member of council and passed around a sign-in sheet.
  2. Approval of Agenda & Past Minutes: The agenda and minutes was approved by Stephanieand seconded by Kerry.
  3. Castlebridge Outdoor Learning Garden -presentation by Mr. Markus and Ms. Basrai:

Staff on the Eco committee have drawn up a plan and been approved by the Board to plant an outdoor learning garden by the old baseball diamond. It will include trees and shrubs, rock seating, a vegetable garden and a sundial/butterfly garden. The garden will be a tie-in with current curriculum learning, such as habitats and lifecycles (butterflies) and healthy eating (vegetable garden). The hope is also for the community to take some ownership and be involved as volunteers with the garden. The plan is for the garden to be planted in the spring. The cost for the garden will be $10,000. The team has applied for grants through a partnership with Eco Source and through TD Bank and other local options. A letter will be sent home giving families the opportunity to contribute through legacy purchases. (A plaque will be displayed for families who contribute $500.) The school is also looking for community business sponsors. Eco Source has also offered to host community workshops in the garden. Mr. Markus and Ms. Basrai requested $1500 from the School Council to go towards the garden.

  1. The 2012-13 School Council Annual Report will be sent home in this week’s Friday folders.
  2. Principal’s Remarks:

•The staff expresses thanks for the World Teacher’s Day appreciation lunch.

•A Creative Arts letter will be going home on Friday requesting $11 per student to cover costs for hosting presentations by Dufflebag Theatre, Ray Kinsmore drumming, Tribal Vision and the John Fraser band.

•The Huddle Up committee is hosting a“Power of One” presentation with Soren Bennick for the students on Wed., Oct. 16

•On the Professional Learning day in October the staff reviewed EQAO data in the morning. This year there will be a focus on numeracy for critical pathways and staff training. Staff also discussed the school physical activity goal revolving around the 20 minute Daily Physical Activity time (DPA). It will be called Castlebridge Gets Active (CGA). Student leaders applied and were chosen to help lead the time in various classes. Finally the staff discussed the board’s Mental Health Awareness focus for this year.

•Teachers have initiated many student clubs this fall, such as a Ukulele Club, Sign Language Club, Garden Club, Eco Club and grade 5 Art Club. Mrs. Anemaet is taking several students from the Running Club to a cross country meet next week.

•Mrs. Tse and Mrs. Corras are organizing a Rising Stars reading program for grade 2 students. They are training parent volunteers to help run the program.

•Open House was a success.

•Progress Reports will go home on Nov. 1. A letter is going home next week asking parents to sign up for a time for parent-teacher interviews.

  1. Open House & BBQ:The evening was a success. Around 200 hotdogs/sausages were sold. Thanks to Jen W. for organizing everything with the vendor.
  2. World Teacher Day was a success. Thanks to all the parents who brought food and donated money for the teacher lunch.
  3. Treasurer’s Report (Kerry Hrinco): A financial statement was passed out showing inflows and outflows. Right now we have $6071.25 in available to spend in School Council funds.
  4. Program Support:

a) A field trip subsidy of $10 per student was approved via email.

b) $1500 for the Outdoor Learning Garden was approved.

c) $315 for Camp Konior scholarships was pre-allocated for this school year. (This is a yearly expense that the council approves to send two students to a weeklong summer camp. Mrs. Haddad helps choose the students, who are not in a financial position to afford camp otherwise.)

d) $1000 was pre-allocated for this year’s grade 5 graduation activities.

  1. Fundraising: (Debbie) Pizza sales are going well and are up a little from last year due to full day kindergarten students being able to participate this year. Information for the Acorn cards fundraiser went home. Mrs. Anemaet has offered to help with the Dancing with Dragons dance-a-thon; date to be determined. Menchie’s has offered to give 15% of sales to Castlebridge on a weekend of our choosing. Megan will also mention this to Ms. Basrai as an opportunity to help fund the Outdoor Learning Garden.
  2. Parent Engagement Update:A committee met with Megan to set dates/events to use the $1000 Parents Reaching Out Grant.

a) Mrs. Haddad will lead a one hour session focusing on numeracy on Nov. 19 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (before the next parent council meeting). *childcare and snacks provided

b) Technology/Bring Your Own Device session on February 27. *childcare and snacks provided

c) Multicultural Storyteller family night in April (date to be determined).

d) EQAO information session before the council meeting on January 21. *childcare and snacks provided

e) Coffee with the Principal on Nov. 22 & April 8 from 9:15-10:15 a.m. *children welcome; snacks provided

  1. New Business:none
  2. Q&A: none
  3. Preliminary Agenda for the November meeting: numeracy session at 6:30 p.m. with council meeting following
  4. Vice Principal and Principal Consultations: Each year the Peel Board asks school parent councils to give feedback about what we value in a principal and vice principal. Parents shared feedback that was sealed and will be sent to Pertia Bent, our superintendant.
  5. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.