Applewood Heights School Council Meeting

APPLEWOOD HEIGHTS SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, March 21, 2016

PRESENT:

Parent Attendees: Patty Bartlett (Chair), Melanie Gibson (Secretary), Shyma Sunderaswara (Vice-chair), Diana Vienneau

Staff Members: Marcel Giraldi (Principal), Colleen Crane (Teacher)

Student Member (2015/16): Michael Pham

Guest: Sue Lawton, PDSB Trustee

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: Patty welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 7:07pm.

REVIEW OF MINUTES: Minutes from January 21, 2016. Motion to accept by Shyma Sunderaswara, Seconded by Marcel Giraldi. Minutes approved.

STUDENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL UPDATE: Michael Pham – Public Relations Officer

SAC Events

March Spirit Week  Featured Egg Hunt, Lip Sync, Minute to Win it, Family Feud and Dress Up Days

Semi-Formal Event  Held on Friday February 19th 6-11pm at Oasis Banquet Hall (Lakeshore and Dixie Road)  Over 200 attendees  Overall, successful event with collaboration from school police, staff, students, and the other visiting school, St. Martin

Executive Elections  To be held the last week of April

GUEST SPEAKER: SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE: Sue Lawton

Sue expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to attend School Council meeting and advised she has been a trustee for the last 6 years, and represented 24 schools, 3 of which are high schools - from north of Dundas Street up to Eglinton and from Etobicoke Creek to Cawthra (families in Wards 3 & 4). There are 11 other trustees across Peel that are elected.

She noted the outside improvements to the school property, the signage on the fence at the corner of Bloor & Tomken. The electronic signs are waiting on permit approval from the City.

Sue reviewed her role to represent families and schools with demographic information pertinent to Applewood Heights and its’ programming. It is a busy school, with lots of programs offered.

Sue indicated that there is an opportunity this year for parents’ input regarding the budget priorities and info will be forwarded to Marcel for circulation.

1 Marcel thanked Sue for her attendance, and stated she is a great trustee, always accessible and provides good support to staff.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT: Marcel Giraldi

Thank You

 Appreciation was expressed for the well organized Teacher Appreciation Breakfast put on by the School Council on February 3rd. It is felt that no where else are staff treated to such a delights!

Applewood Heights Celebrations

 Honour Roll Results for Semester One  Regional Sports Program  Semi-Formal, February 19  Sears Drama Festival Plays, Feb. 24-25  Police/Student Basketball Game, March 11

Applewood Heights Update

 Enrollment Projections and Staffing Update for Sept. 2016 With enrollment over 1,000 students, 2 additional teachers would be added in Sept.

 Approval of Code of Conduct Review, 2016–2017 This was voted and approved as is.

 Activity Fees Increase, 2016-2017 This was voted and accepted as a $5 increase from $45 to $50

Looking Forward

March 31 OSSLT (Literacy Test)

Apr 7 Principal’s Reception

Apr 11 Provincially-directed Professional Learning Day

Apr 12 Early Release Day @ 11:00 am

Apr 13 Spring Music Showcase @ 7:00 pm

Apr 19 Mid-Term Report Cards Issued

My Career, My Future

Apr 22 Talent Show

May 13 Professional Activity Day

Teacher Appreciation Review/Feedback

Melanie Gibson thanked all parent volunteers for participating in such a successful event. 2 Planning has already started for next year’s breakfast with good input from volunteers.

Chair’s Report

Patty Bartlett advised that she had reached out to all speakers and was receiving confirmations. She indicated that she would circulate a floor plan next week to parent volunteers as well as tasks that required assistance.

Melissa Yen, was the staff contact and would co-ordinate the Apple Leaders for set up and involvement. Patty intended to publicize the event via flyers to other schools that the principal could pass on.

Speakers would start to arrive at 6pm on the Tuesday, April 19th with the event starting at 7pm.

PRO Grant Submission would have to be finalized before the next meeting. A wrap up meeting would be held with parent volunteers, following My Career/My Future to discuss whether this event would be continued next year using this grant, or if other ideas would be pursued.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Marcel advised that STOPR cannot support a later school start time as this would negatively affect other schools if bussing schedules were revised.

It was agreed that next year’s School Council Meeting schedule would continue on Monday evenings at 7pm.

The meeting was concluded at 8:55pm.

School Council Meeting Dates:

 5 Meetings – Remaining Date is

o Monday, May 16, 2016

Minutes Prepared by Melanie Gibson, School Council Secretary