Northern Secondary School Parent Council Meeting
March 8, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library
Prepared by: Tanya Goldberg, Secretary
Agenda Item / Decision/Action Taken / Person ResponsibleWelcome & Introductions / · Approximately 19 parents attended. Quorum was established. Following a vacancy, Herminia Garcia has become our newest Parent member. Cynthia Hamlin, President of the NSSF and a Northern alumna, has volunteered to attend meetings. / Bettina
Approval of Minutes / · Draft minutes of January 26, 2016 were approved with a couple of minor changes. / Moved by:
Jamshid
2nd by: Herminia
CARRIED
Conflicts of Interest / · None declared.
VP’s Report / · Labour action is ongoing.
· Junior dance was cancelled because of low numbers.
· Grade 10 literacy test is March 31. Those students with accommodations should have been contacted by now; if not, speak to Mr. MacIntosh. / Robert MacIntosh, VP
Teacher’s Report / · Thanks to SC for recent teachers’ lunch which was very well attended and received. / Jenn Marr (teacher covering for Lori Moulton)
Student’s Report / · Gave feedback in follow up to query at last meeting “how can parents reduce student stress?”. Suggested school bring back early closings. Also that teachers use common Cloud based timetable to coordinate assignment and evaluation dates.
· Applications for Buddies for next year are available outside room 102. Suggested parents encourage kids to apply for extracurriculars next year esp. executive positions. / Rachel Gonsalves
Volunteer Committee / · Updating website and linking to NSS. Using Wordpress for main site with menus and links. Hope to link to all things related to Council including minutes, agendas, etc. Will create generic login to solicit feedback before going live.
· Mr. MacIntosh said okay to use school logo on site but all site content needs to adhere to TDSB protocols and suggested Cmtee speak with Mr. Felsen for further info.
· Bettina and Karim are going to preview new TDSB parent portal on Thursday.
· Cmtee needs sign for table and sashes for volunteers. Adam stated that Budget Committee has approved $500.
· Next Cmtee meeting is end of March. / Karim and Elizabeth
Caring & Safe Schools Committee / · School has had 2 lock downs and 3 fire drills so far. Mandated to have 3 more fire drills. Explained difference between full lock down (internal threat) and hold & secure (external threat) where doors are locked & manned but activities within school continue as usual.
· Will repair and extend anti-graffiti coatings in washrooms over March Break.
· Cell phones are required to be off and out of sight during class per TDSB policy. SRO reports that 2 to 3 cell phones are stolen at school each week. A suggestion was made to involve Smartrisk in communicating message to students about cell phone safety. Also publicize through agenda, school policies and website. Rachel volunteered to ask the students the best way to communicate with them and report back to Council. / Jamshid and Mr. MacIntosh
NEMO
(environment club) / · School could improve on efforts to be more respectful of environment if greater awareness and connection to how one’s actions impact one’s environment. Requested help from parents with promoting awareness and culture esp. modelling through behaviour. Asked Council to stop using one use water bottles. Discussion about providing all students with a reusable water bottle possibly through SAC store or with agenda in Fall. School has sufficient water bottle refilling stations. Discussion about getting quote for bulk pricing with assistance of Lorraine in school office.
· Motion was made to be conscious of sustainability at School Council events. / Iva Kinclova (teacher and staff advisor for NEMO)
Moved by: Bettina
2nd by: Scott
CARRIED
Gifted Advisory Committee / · Cmtee has been occupied with course selection issues and, in particular, decision to do away with dual coding meaning AP courses no longer count towards Gifted certificate. Not sure who responsible for this decision (school? TDSB? Province?) or why.
· Motion was made to support GAC in investigating the issue of these changes (AP courses no longer counted as Gifted) and give GAC authority to act as voice of School Council while being mindful of how this change also affects non-gifted students.
· GAC also proceeding with survey again.
/ Peggy
Moved by: Peggy
2nd by: Scott
CARRIED
Learning Disabilities / · Cmtee hosted course selection and long term planning info evening, with good turnout. Thanks to Irene and Catherine who presented. Hope to make an annual event.
· Still intending to do survey. Will coordinate with other Cmtees. / Bev
Breakfast Club / · Going well but would like more communication with parents. / Barb
Mental Health Committee / · Met with WellNSS to discuss sharing Resources Guide with students. Not clear how to disseminate. Students have linked Guide to WellNSS website.
· Further efforts to communicate to students are necessary.
· Suggestion made to put Guide in student agenda or at least info about where to find it. / Tanya
Survey / · Results of teacher survey show a positive response to parental involvement in the classroom and as support. Also they love the Lunch and Learns.
· Now preparing parent survey to canvass, among other things, barriers to student achievement.
· All responses are anonymous.
Budget Committee / · Treasurer’s Report was circulated and discussed.
· Motion to seek approval to increase funding for new curtains from $1000 to $1225.
· Suggestion to increase funding for SmartRisk/WellNSS leadership retreat from $1500 to $2500. Decision on this delayed to allow someone from group to attend next meeting to speak to it.
· Policies and Procedures are being revised and will be presented for approval at next meeting. / Adam
Moved by: Peggy
2nd by: Bob
CARRIED
Communications Flows / · Need to coordinate communications with committees and administration. Will have one parent and one school contact for each event.
· Discussion about what should be shared before meetings and with whom. Sue made motion (see below for copy) for greater documentary disclosure asking that all parents receive same documentary info from Council at same time and suggested documents be attached to Principal’s email announcing meeting. If insufficient time, then present to all parents at meeting and not before. Discussion about barriers to parents attending meetings.
· Discussion about potential danger of circulating draft minutes if have error but we already post drafts on school website. All parents are members of Council and should have access to minutes. Suggestion to put warning on draft minutes that potentially subject to change.
· Some concerns expressed about ability to send out documents so far in advance of meetings.
· Request to attach all documents circulated before or at meetings to minutes. Can note any changes in minutes. Sue expressed concern that Council is not currently attaching all documents to minutes.
· Motion made to adopt 1(a) of documentary disclosure motion and defer the rest of the motion to the next meeting. / Bettina
Moved by: Sue
2nd by: Bettina CARRIED (with one opposed)
Advocacy / · Scott is involved with Fix Our Schools. Discussion about whether his role as Co-Chair of Council makes it inappropriate for him to advocate as parent for this cause. No concerns raised. Support voiced. Mr. MacIntosh requested he give school a heads up if media involved as a courtesy.
· Suggestion made to form Cmtee at School Council to advocate further on this issue.
NSSF / · Thank a Teacher campaign is going well but need more funds for scholarships and awards at commencement. Thanks to all those who have already given. Very positive reception from teachers. A challenge proposed that every parent at school thank at least one teacher: http://nssf.ca/
· Next NSSF meeting is March 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Heritage Room. / Cynthia
Other Business / · OUAC site has been dropping non TDSB courses from its list owing to software glitch. Requested School Council write a letter asking them to fix this. See attached draft. Deferred to next meeting owing to lack of time.
· Upcoming TDSB conference “Parents as Partners” on April 16. For info, see below.
/ Dianne
Adjournment / · Meeting was adjourned. Next regular meeting is April 26, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. in the library / Moved by: Scott
2nd by: Tanya
CARRIED
For any questions, please contact School Council at .
For Follow Up:
· Rachel volunteered to ask the students the best way to communicate with them (re cell phone safety) and report back to Council.
· Bettina and Karim to ask Ron Felsen for TDSB regulations and policies on website communication as referred to by Robert MacIntosh.
· Tanya to follow up re suggestion to reference Mental Health Resources Guide in student agenda.
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