Sam Livingston School Council (SLSC)

Meeting January 19th,2016, 6:30pm - Library

IN ATTENDANCE:

Chad N.,Michelle T., Mme. Susan Wright, Mme. Susan Westgate, Natasha R., Michelle S., Roxanne M., Kristine N., Sarah M., Sheila H., Stacey S.-S., Raina W., Audrey A.

  1. WELCOME & CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 6:35pm.

Minutes

  • One edit with a hanging sentence; a link to be added
  • Kristine moved to accept the revised Minutes. Sheila seconded. Carried.

Agenda

  • Rainamoved to accept the revised Agenda. Kristine seconded. Carried.
  1. REPORTS / FOCUS ITEMS

Report from Administration

Mme. Susan Wright, Principal and Mme. Susan Westgate, Assistant Principal

  • Six weeks on the job! Loving the school, the teachers, the students!
  • Super proud to have a new secretary, Lori Smith
  • Very impressed with the Planete des Alphas program
  • More teachers are being trained in this program
  • Focus on Grade 1, a little in Grade 2
  • Added focus on high needs in later grades where there may be gaps
  • If needs are identified these may be able to be addressed
  • LaboCreo (a.k.a. Learning Commons) update – Mme. Susan Westgate, Assistant Principal
  • Books and shelves are rearranged, more books on
  • Maker spaces in progress
  • Screen moved
  • More open space for kids movement
  • New grower station with fish eggs, some have hatched
  • Magnetic wall coming
  • This is the “Fifth Corner” of the classroom
  • Next professional development day will be focused on Design Learning – solving real problems, critical thinking, continual learning
  • Update on Book Purchases - $10,000 was given from School Council funds
  • $1400 has been spent for Grade 4s – 3 more sets of a popular series of books
  • $2,500 has been spent approximately with the
  • During Teacher’s Convention, Mme. Wright will work with all the teachers to select the books for their classrooms from the publishers there
  • There are sets of school books as well as sets of books used at/sent home
  • Mathletics
  • There are now usernames and passwords for all kids
  • A trainer has been in to the school to train all teachers on what you can do and how you can use it
  • Teachers will start using this as they can (i.e. after report cards!)
  • The tool should be able to be used on Ipad’s as well; there is an app, more info will be communicated
  • 2017-2018 Calendar for all system wide CBE breaks is out; there are some days off that will be added for Sam school days only

Enviro Lab

  • There is a committee working through this
  • There is a designer working on concepts
  • Friendship benches and some picnic tables
  • Some trees will be moved to the other side of the yard

COSC – Council of School Councils meeting update

  • Mental Health was the focus of the last meeting
  • Sheila will provide some additional information via a link
  • Asked us how we thought School Councils could help in schools
  • The importance of physed and recess and exercise is critical here
  1. OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS

Community Fair Update – Stacey S.-S.

  • April 8th– 10am – 2pm at the school
  • Stacey demonstrated the crafts that will be done: a flower pot complete with flower bulb and a pencil pot built out of recycled materials
  • CALL FOR MATERIALS: short stubby tin cans (i.e. Niblets, Pinneaple) are needed in high demand – drop off in the office please
  • CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
  • Theatre - Lead needed
  • EnviroLab / Green Calgary workshops - Lead needed
  • Auction – Raina W. and Michelle S. leading
  • Booths / Fair – Kristen L. leading
  • Some Food options:
  • AHS tells us that we can do Food trucks OR Homemade, not both
  • Consensus is to do food trucks
  • Roxanne M. will lead Food
  • More info will go to Facebook as needed
  • Need help with Adobe Indesign or Design work
  • Need help on marketing and promotion of the event

Proposed School Changes for next year – Mme. Wright

  • Sam Livingston is staying K – Grade 4 for French Immersion
  • Currently at 80% capacity (600 students is capacity)
  • Optimal
  • David Thompson will be Grade 5 – 9
  • Staff, resources, books will move with the program
  • Questions that have been raised:
  • What about Council purchased items at Fairview (e.g. skis)
  • Will bus stops be the same/same time?
  • CBE needs to hear from parents
  • Late French Immersion program will continue at David Thompson (Grade 7 – 8, integrate into continuing French Immersion for Grade 9)
  • Options typically will be blended with all streams, in English
  • Any questions about the transition should be raised via CBE Dialogue: see links on CBE website
  • There is a shared play ground with Acadia school, grades 5 & 6’s go at separate times
  • Grades 5 & 6’s aren’t able to join sports teams but the older kids do teach them about the sports and teams
  • Good band and sports program, adding an art program
  • Mme. Susan Wright will work closely with David Thompson to determine transition items including an orientation
  • Capacity is at 680 students
  1. CONCLUSION OF MEETING

Meeting Adjourned at 7:59pm.

/rw