F. P. Walshe School Council

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 @ F. P. Walshe P.D. Room

Attendance: Derek O’Connor, Bill Forster, Cathie Harris, Lori Hodges, Martha Ratcliffe, Michelle MacMillan, Petula Hofer, Carlin Van Driesten

  • Approval of Agenda  Derek O’Connor
  • Approval of Minutes (June 2013)  Petula Hofer
  • Business Arising from the Minutes
  • school council by-law review
  • Cathie will send by-laws out to members to be viewed & discussed at next meeting
  • By-laws can be accessed through lrsd.ab.ca website: click “Parent” puzzle piece link
  • fundraising/sports council and school council
  • QUESTION Might school council be too integrated? Is there a need to make each group completely separate?
  • RESPONSE  Member of fundraising committee may be asked to “report” to school council, but council has no influence in the decision-making process of the fundraising committee. However, the annual general meeting has included both groups as the number of parents attending has been low.
  • Correspondence
  • Parent Technology Conference  WCCHS in Claresholm @ Sat. Nov. 23, 2013
  • Issue for discussion: digital citizenship
  • $20/person – registration not available online
  • Will be advertised on Walshe website
  • New Business
  • report of regional school council meeting
  • A Speak Out conference overview was presented.
  • Presentation was made on how to improve participation in and effectiveness of school councils
  • Members are encourage to look at workshops available as listed on ASCA website
  • tri-school council meeting re January 2013 should be planned & hosted by W. A. Day - Cathie will contact the administration of W. A. Day to assure they are aware
  • extra-curricular transportation policy – school division & F. P. Walshe
  • Admin Procedure 544 (handout from Bill Forster)
  • Main talking points: #12 – Wherever possible & practical Walshe is advocating the use of school busses for transportation
  • Provisions for parents have been made for parents to release LRSD from any liability if parents or students drive, however no student is authorized to drive other students
  • Provisions need to be renewed at the start of each new extra-curricular “season” i.e. volleyball vs. basketball
  • Case-by-case basis is available for parents driving students other than their own children
  • The school and divisional policies will be reviewed.
  • Reports
  • Student Council
  • Carlin Van Driesten (co-president) presented overview of how student council works: weekly meetings, planning monthly assemblies
  • Activities have/will consist of: Haunted House, costume parade, sucker days, theme dress-up days
  • Current planning is focused on possibly having a December dance for all grades (Dec. 13??) & on organizing “Shark Week” activities
  • Difficulty in incorporating younger juniors (i.e. grade 7s) while still maintaining organization to be able to achieve the intended goals
  • QUESTION Was skeleton box found re Lori Hodges? Skeleton was broken.
  • RESPONSE  Carlin will discuss issue with Chris Schalk
  • QUESTION How does assembly schedule affect VC courses?
  • RESPONSE  VC courses will not happen until next semester; the issue will be addressed at that time.
  • QUESTIONWhy do you think there is a sudden interest from the grade 7s to join student council?
  • RESPONSE  An invitation was made at the first assembly for anyone who wanted to join; participation increased significantly at the next meeting
  • Principal
  • Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013  Band will perform their official school concert during the Rotary Carol Festival
  • Annual Education Results Report (AERR) due at the end of the week – suggestion to table discussion until next meeting
  • Budget finalized as of October 30, 2013 with “healthy” surplus with average CEU = 38/student
  • budgeting at an average of 35 seems to be a “safe” method
  • majority of Crossroads students are block funded
  • current enrollment at Crossroads = 47
  • QUESTION  Are any Filipino students directly affected by the recent storm in the Philippines?
  • RESPONSE  Not that we know of, but the staff is on “stand-by” regarding looking for signs of student need re counseling
  • Fundraising/Sports Council
  • Sports Council is now a sub-committee of the Fundraising Council
  • By-laws were signed today to amalgamate the two groups
  • Committee will meet with the focus of how to keep coaches “on budget” with their expenditures
  • Discussions are also focused on maintenance of the school’s rugby field & track re spring work order priorities (with TSN/Kraft Celebration Tour funds)
  • Teacher Representative
  • Parent-Teacher Interviews: much busier on Thursday with the drop-in format in the gym (about 60% busier than Tuesday’s scheduled appointment format)
  • Scholarship presentation may have also encourage more parents to wait until Thursday to attend
  • Trustee
  • New trustees were sworn in today; 2 from Granum & 1 from Crowsnest Pass
  • ASBA fall general meeting in Edmonton on this following weekend
  • Other Questions??
  • Next School Council Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013 @ 7:00 p.m.
  • Adjournment

Walshe School Council Meeting

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 @ F. P. Walshe P.D. Room

  • Approval of Agenda  Petula
  • Approval of Minutes re Oct. 2012 including sports council & fundraising members  Martha
  • Business Arising from Minutes:
  • Report on Divisional Dance:
  • 40-50 kids from around division attended
  • volleyball kids were late
  • no behavioral issues reported
  • Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews:
  • no increase in numbers
  • Combining sports council and fundraising??
  • sports council not an official entity
  • fundraising would need to revise by laws\motion passed to pursue combining with fundraising
  • Correspondence:
  • Cheque from school division
  • grade 12 awards  $50 for -1 student & $50 for -2 student
  • criteria = highest marks in English, Social, and 1 other 30-level core course (Math or Science) & students who have not received another award
  • Bookmark
  • informational  mychildslearning.alberta.ca
  • Reports:
  • Fundraising  casino happened
  • Next School Council Meeting:
  • Tuesday, January 8, 2013 @ 7:00 p.m. (motion instead of December 11  Petula & Derek)