Ecole River Heights School

Parent Advisory Council

Minutes from the March 1, 2017meeting

In attendance:Dawn Clarke, Rhonda Hart-Moroz, Milli Khan, Jennipher Alexander, Joelle Remillard, Laura Hilland, Russell Antymis

Regrets: Stacy Huard, Pam Gordon, Chantelle Deslauriers, Angela Recio, Marla Wilson

Call to order @7 pm

Approval of the Agenda

Joelle made the motion, seconded by Milli, that the agenda be approved. Motion carried.

Minutes from the January 2017 meeting

Joelle made the motion, seconded by Milli, that the January 2017 minutes be approved. Motion carried.

Executive reports

Chair

  • PAC congratulates everyone involved in the musical Fame Jr. for a job well done.
  • Dawn asked why options are changing next year. Russell answered that the changes are a way of ERHS promoting life-long learning and moving towards becoming an IB school. This led to a brief discussion about IB. Middle years IB is different than the high school diploma IB program which requires an entrance exam. All ERHS students will be considered part of the IB program.
  • Dawn asked that people consider what role they could play in PAC next year. Rhonda (treasurer) and Angela (secretary) are moving on in the fall.

Treasurer

  • PAC will raise money this year for an item on the Staff Wish List, funds to send one or two students to summer school and the Scholarship Fund.
  • September bank account: $739.47
  • October bank account: $734.47 (minus monthly admin fee)
  • November bank account: $859.50 deposit from October Pizza Lunch minus $475.05 expenses from Pizza Lunch. Total profit from October Pizza Lunch was $384.45. November deposit as of November 23, 2016 - $1,118.92.
  • December bank account: $491.24 deposit from December Pizza Lunch. PAC’s total balance is $1,601.16 as of the end of December 2016.
  • January bank account: PAC’s total balance as of January 31 is $1,598.66 (last month’s balance minus the $2.50 monthly maintenance fee).

Special Events

  • The next Pizza Lunch will be March 3. Four Grade 8 Leadership students are needed to help parent volunteers with the lunch.
  • Orders are down from 130 for December’s Pizza Lunch to 105 in March. Possible reasons are: students leaving the school during the noon hour because of the nicer weather; students anticipating that extra slices will be available for sale the day of; and/or that the canteen also offers pizza for sale on a regular basis.
  • Dates for future fundraisers: Pizza Lunch on April 13 and a Booster Juice Lunch on May 5.
  • PAC has changed the date of Staff Appreciation Day. It will now be on Friday, April 28. Dawn will draft an email inviting all parents to participate.
  • Staff very much appreciated Laura’s suggestion that PAC provide food for staff during Parent/Teacher conferences in the spring. PAC has decided to hold off on implementing this until next year.

South District Advisory Council

  • No report at this time.

French Immersion Advisory Council

  • No report at this time.

Report from Administration

  • A link to the draft budget 2017/2018 is available at if anyone is interested or has any input.
  • Staff Appreciation Day is now April 28.
  • New teacher Ms. C. Galli has taken over for Ms. Ledo who is on maternity leave.
  • Musical – Fame Jr. was a huge success.
  • The Open House on Feb. 13 was well attended.
  • Science Fair – was extremely successful with volunteer judges of diverse professional backgrounds and ages.
  • Grade 7 English Camp – 91 students joined staff at Camp Cedarwood in February. A good time was had by all.
  • Report cards go home March 22.
  • Grade 8 immunizations will take place April 27.
  • Provincial assessments will take place in the following areas:

-Grade 7 Number Sense and Number Skills (English and French Immersion)

-Grade 7 Student Engagement (English and French Immersion)

-Grade 8 Reading Comprehension and Expository Writing (English)

-Grade 8 Reading Comprehension and Expository Writing in English (French Immersion)

-Grade 8 Reading Comprehension and Expository Writing in French (French Immersion)

New Business

  • The school has purchased two signs that will be put in the staff parking lot reminding parents not to use the staff parking lot for student drop off/pick up. Using the staff parking lot for student drop off/pick up has created a nuisance and safety concern for staff, students and the area residents who share the back lane with the school.

Old Business

Scholarship Fund – Milli, who isthe PAC rep on this issue, met with Russell and former PAC chair Rod Miller to discuss the Scholarship Fund.

  • So far, the fund has $3,000 due to contributions from PAC and ERHS. The goal is to build the fund to $30,000 so that it can generate $2,000 in scholarships every year and be self-sustaining.
  • Admin has compiled a list of potential donors including alumni.
  • Rod has given Milli the information PAC needs to move forward on this issue including a draft letter to be sent out to potential donors.
  • The goal is for PAC to give out two scholarships to ERHS students starting this year.

Next meeting

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 7 pm (likely the final meeting of the year)

Important dates

March 3 - Pizza Lunch

April 13 – Pizza Lunch

April 28 – Staff Appreciation

May 5 - Booster Juice

Adjournment @ 8:20pm