Castlemore Public School

School Council Minutes School Council Meeting November 2,2011 @ 6:30PM Location: Room 103

School Council Present:

Preet Shahi, Chair

OP Brar, Co - chair

Harpreet Jassal, Secretary

Manoj Sharma, Member

Pat Lewis, Principal

Sean Finn, Teacher

Ravi Puthanpurayil, Member

Also Present:Dennis Sanvido-Vice Principal, Sejal Shah,Sikander Chahal, Sandip Prashar, Nirmal Sethi, Raji Tapia, Yashoda Persaud, Yogeshwar Persaud and Rajwinder Singh

  1. Approval of Agenda

The chair called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone present. With the approval of the school council, the agenda was approved.

  1. Minutes of the last meeting, held on October 5th were approved.

3.Principal’s updates:

4.

  1. Pat Lewis provided information as follows:

about:

Parent literacy nights (updates)

-New High school for the community : Bram East School # 3 will open for school year 2012-13. Current Grade 9 students from Chinguacousy Secondary School will also have the option of attending Bram East. Principal Kathy Sempler has been assigned to the school.

-After school Program F.O.C.U.S. update: The program has 30 students for 1st session. Parents are asking for more regular session(s). There will be 2 certified teachers. The program will also benefit high school students looking to complete community hours. The option for part week will also remain available.

-Grade 7 and 8 numeracy and literacymath tutoring program is also available during morning and afternoons.

-Council meetings and school events are not to be organized on any of the religious holidays.

Pat Lewis provided some updates from previous council meeting about the need of educating parent community. The school staff is organizing a literacy based evening for families during the month of November.

-November 2nd, 2011- Scholastic Book Fair

-November 9th, 2011- Primary Literacy Night

-November 16th, 2011- Family Reading Night

-November 23rd, 2011- Junior Literacy Night

November 2nd, 2011- Scholastic Book Fair

November 9th, 2011- Primary Literacy Night

November 16th, 2011- Family Reading Night

November 23rd, 2011- Junior Literacy Night

School has organized math focus tutoring program for grade 7 and 8 students. It has 3 mornings and 2 afternoon sessions for students at present.

  1. Parent Consultation on selection of your school administrators

Pat Lewis and Dennis Sanvido invited parents to share their thoughts about effective leadership at school. Parents brainstormed a list of qualities for an effective administrator. Some of the most important brainstormed qualities are listed ahead:

-Problem solver

-Shared leadership

-Understands diversity

-Resourceful, approachable, friendly, team player

-Encourages timely and effective communication between school and parent community

-Passionate for his/her job, innovative

-Contributes to the culture of high expectations

-Build strong teachers

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6.Updates from Parent Reaching Out Funding for School Council and fundraising.

Pat Lewis informed the parents that we have $5have $ 500/-available for organizing family nights for the parent community.

School council and parents brainstormed a list of possible fundraising ideas and parent nights to encourage family involvement.

-Family fitness night

-Family movie night

-Parenting information sessions for parents

-Book Swap

-Cultural nights

-Dedicate a book program for building library

resources

Harpreet Jassal will get more information and speak to the librarian about Dedicate a bbook Program. OP Brar will be OP Brar will be looking into Private organizations for parent nights and fundraising. The council will be making a decision about final fundraising program for school and information nights for parents. Dates and times will be decided in future council meetings.

  1. Updates on nomination forms submitted by parents

During our last meeting some parents volunteered to follow up with nomination forms. They shared their response with council and parents who attended the meeting. Everyone felt the need to encourage parent involvement at school.

  1. Question Period

Parents raised a question about frequent and timely communication between teachers and parents about student progress. Parents are interested in timely descriptive feedback from teachers about their child’s strengths and needs. Pat Lewis, , Sean Finn and, Dennis Sanvido suggested timely use of phone calls and agendas.

Next Meeting will be held on December 7th, 2011 @ 6:30 in the School Library.