Catholic School Parent Council s1

ST. CLEMENT CATHOLIC SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL MINUTES Date: December 15, 2015 Location: School Library Time: 7:00 – 8:47 pm

IN ATTENDANCE

Cheryl Migus-Smart, Katie Piccininni, Julianne Ross, Natalie Young, Lisa Lippa, Jenn Casuccio, Patricia Waters-Cotter, Daniela Bottoni, Sandra Moreira, Edward Siddeley, Terri Marra, Yakup Tecimer, Liz Murphy, Sandy O’Riordan Stacey Besko

OPENING PRAYER (Mrs. Waters-Cotter)

Recitation of opening prayer, “Believe in Angels”

ADDITION OF OTHER BUSINESS & APPROVAL OF DECEMBER’S AGENDA

Approval of December’s Agenda – Julianne Ross and Yakup Tecimer No other business added.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER MEETING

November minutes approved by Julianne Ross and Sandra Moreira

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT (Mrs. Waters-Cotter)

EQAO Results

EQAO results were listed in the last newsletter (as a percentage of students at a level 3 or higher): Grade 3 Results – reading 92%; writing 98%; math 96% Grade 6 Results – reading 100%; writing 100%; math 94% Our scores are highest in the city. As a way to set the bar higher and to continue to advance our students, the school will focus on achieving level 4 results (currently all results are based on level 3).

Parents should have received results for any child(ren) that completed the test last year. Our school’s SLIP Team (as discussed in previous meetings) has been established and includes teachers that have oversight on students in Grades 3 & 6. The Team will be implementing strategies to promote improvement among the students in these grades.

Information regarding special support that has been identified for a student may be included in a child’s assessment. An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) may be created as needed.

of 8 Parents are welcome to address any student-specific questions with their respective teachers. Teachers are familiar with the test requirements and results.

Me to We The student ambassadors of Me to We have done a lot of amazing work. At our last CSPC meeting, Me to We representatives presented to showcase the many initiatives they have completed to date. The most recent goals include the following: Stockings for Souls – An Emergency Room Doctor from Trillium Hospital came to speak to the students and outlined the need for socks. Some patients arrive at the emergency department with no socks. Socks provide warmth for both feet and hands. The Me to We ambassadors saw this as an opportunity and set a goal to collect 1000 pairs of socks. They came up with a plan and also an award system for students that contributed to this goal. They have collected approximately 850 pairs of socks to date. St. Vincent de Paul – During the Christmas season, each classroom sponsored a family in need, for a total of 17 families. Donations were made by the students of each class. The St. Vincent de Paul representatives were moved by the volume of donations.

Teacher Update Mrs. Wilson is returning to Grade 8 in January. Ms. Buffet returned on December 15th. Ms. Hayden (our part-time music teacher) will be leaving (a full-time position has openned at another school) and the principal will be looking for a replacement. Q: Why is the music teacher an LTO? A: We have a permanent music teacher who has been on medical leave for the last two years. Therefore we can only replace this position as an LTO. Ms. Dionne is now on parental leave and Mr. Falico will be covering her class until June. Ms. Spinelli will be with the school until June 2016.

Xmas Concerts Thank you to the Parent Council for decorating the MPSJ auditorium for the Christmas concert and to Stacey Besko for video recording the concert. A link to the recording will be sent out to parents. Stacey also took pictures at both concerts and some of the pictures are posted on the bulletin board just outside the office.

Building Addition We now know that the Ministry’s funding grant included the opening of a daycare within our school. This is a full-time early learning daycare and it is not optional. The full-time daycare will be separate from the PLASP before and after school programs, and therefore PLASP will still be available.

The architects and designers have asked to meet in January to discuss the building addition. Our Superintendent and a representative from the Board that will manage the daycare aspect will be in attendance. This team will be looking at different scenarios to accommodate the daycare and the need for additional parking. The daycare will require 10 additional parking spots. The principal has raised the parking issue and the limitations of the current parking lot. The Board has also raised the possibility of taking land from our current track in the yard. The Principal has informed them that we resist this idea.

Post-addition, class sizes and teacher head count will stay the same, as class sizes are regulated by the Ministry. The intention of the building addition is to remove all the portables, provide a new gym for the school and ensure proper facilities for the ELP. Currently, we do not have the requisite facilities. The ELP classrooms were not retrofitted appropriately when all-day kindergarten was introduced to the school. Additionally we do not have a designated yard for the ELP classes. A separate yard would allow for JKs and SKs to be dropped off and picked up with separate teacher oversight of this area. This has caused a lot of congestion in the yard as parents stay in the school

of 8 yard until 9:00 am when the bell rings. This has also meant that the ELP classes have been utilizing the gym during lunch, which limits activities for the rest of the student body during this time.

There may be an opportunity to involve Yvan Baker, our MPP, in the community discussions regarding the requirement for and/or the scope of the daycare. Currently the plan includes 39 daycare spaces. There is still uncertainty among the parents about the need for a daycare of this size at the school.

ACTION: Building Committee – We need additional support from parents regarding the building plans. Parents need to have an informed opinion regarding the building addition. Please follow-up with any CSPC executive member if you wish to become part of this committee. Q: Does the Board need to match the number of parking spots with teacher headcount? A (Mrs. Waters-Cotter): This is not required as the Board has identified some positions as not requiring a parking spot.

Security Fence The Principal obtained a quote for fencing and a gate for both the side (at the stairs on Forestview) and back area (towards Conifer) of the yard. This is to prevent students from running outside the yard during school hours, especially to chase after balls that may roll out of the school yard. The side area is problematic for students running out of the yard however the back area is also problematic due to the minimal vantage point for teachers. It is difficult to maintain oversight due to the obstructed sight lines caused by the portables.

The cost of the fence and gates for both the side and the back of the yard would be $3900. The current CSPC budget for the gate/fence is $1500.

The CSPC has funds that have been put aside for future initiatives that can be re-allocated for the fence/gates. We also made more profit from our QSP fundraiser than previous years and with the upcoming swim meet, there is an opportunity to make more funds.

Motion to reallocate $2500 to purchase security fence/gates: Motion Passed. The parents voted to re-allocate funds so that the Principal can move forward with the fencing/gates for the yard.

The original CSPC budget for the security fencing/gates was $1500. CSPC agreed to take $500 from the budget allocation for musical instruments and $2000 from the budget for post-addition miscellaneous purchases. Musical instruments – reduce the budget by $500 (originally was $3000, however a piano has been donated by a parent and so we no longer need to purchase one). Post-Addition Misc purchases – reduce the budget by $2000 ($3000 remaining for any purchases required after the Addition has been completed).

Total of $4000 will now be allocated for the fencing and gates.

We will consider how the gates should be used (e.g. locked during school hours, or keeping them unlocked but closed) at a future meeting.

Front Play Area In follow-up to our November meeting, a quote for asphalt for the front area was obtained. The current quote is for $20,000 – $25,000. This is way more than we would be able to spend. We will need to table this item to a later date due to the cost, but also due to the uncertainty about the future use of the area, given the undetermined plans for the full time daycare to be included with the new addition.

of 8 Shirley Sederavicius from TCDSB Capital Developments came back out to assess the area regarding the original request for woodchips to be laid. She indicated that she would follow-up on this issue, as well as the issue of the dead tree that has been in the yard half cut down for six months. ACTION: Katie to follow-up with Shirley to get an update on the status of the woodchips and the dead tree.

TREASURER’S REPORT (Lisa Lippa)

Financial Report – Financial Statement as of November 30, 2015

Revenue FFF – All money has now been collected; total net revenue for the event: $6426.99 Pizza Lunch – November has a negative value to cover the costs of the two pizza lunches. The funds for this initiative will increase once another order in January is collected. Acorn Cards – $20 came in, in November; total net revenue for this fundraiser: $222.28 Cupcake Raffle – Total net revenue was $196 Board Funding Grants – This amount is to cover the Pro Grant from last year – Kyle Dine and a nutritionist came to speak in 2014, so funds received in November were funds to cover these speakers. Swim meet - $1000 was received in November from the school that hosted the event in 2015. The rule is that the host of the current year needs to provide the school hosting the event in the following year with $1000 to help support the initial costs associated with the swim meet. Subway – November Revenue – $188.75

Expenses In Class Workshops - $339.00 – 2 dance classes were held in November Literacy Subsidy - $325.72 – Starfall; Reading Rainbow; Media Literacy were purchased Bus Transportation Events - $875.59 – to cover the cost of the buses to the 3 cross-country meets Student Council Subsidy - $200 – paid out in November Office Petty Cash - $183.06 – toner for the school photocopier Photocopier Paper - $750.54 – colour paper for CSPC Classroom Equipment - $1058.30 – Calculators and adaptors for Ms. Ferreira’s Grade 7 & 8 classes as allocated at our budget meeting In School Performances - $734.50 – Presentations on Cyber Bullying Grade 5 Mass Books - $256.96 – for church program Sunday Family Witness Mass - $91.34 Bank Charges/Cheques - $5.00

Total Funds: The total reconciled bank balance is $16,811.32

Lisa approached the bank to review the the bank charges incurred to date, as they seem to be quite high. The bank reviewed the charges associated with the account. For each cheque to be deposited we are charged 22¢. With the number of cheques that we receive, this gets expensive.

ACTION: We would like to encourage parents to submit cash as payment and only provide a cheque for amounts over $25. CSPC will send an email to the community regarding this and recommend that parents consolidate cheques for siblings.

CO-CHAIRS’ REPORT (Jenn Casuccio & Katie Piccininni)

Music Room A parent has donated a piano to the school, so we do not need to buy one for the music room.

Class Reps All classes should have heard from their Class Rep by now. We have a complete distribution list for each class and it seems to be running very efficiently this year. Thank you to our Parent Rep

of 8 Inés Colucci for her help and to our school secretary Michelle Borg who put together the distribution lists.

Gingerbread Workshop There has been a slight change to this fundraiser. We are holding a raffle for a gingerbread house rather than holding a Gingerbread Workshop. Last year, the event was held on a weekend, however the previous parent could not run the event this year. Gail (Appiah) and Jenn (Casuccio) originally committed to run the event, but due to the QSP shift into November, it was too difficult to coordinate the Gingerbread workshop in time for early December. In addition, the vendor for the gingerbread houses closes (for orders) at the beginning of December. As an alternative option, we have proceeded with a raffle. The raffle is scheduled to occur on December 16, 2015.

QSP In gross revenue, we made significantly more than last year. Our net profit numbers will be forthcoming once all expenses have been paid out. Based on the positive response, we will likely continue to begin QSP in November instead of September.

Xmas Concerts On behalf of the parents, we would like to say a big “THANK YOU” to all the teachers who worked so hard with the students to deliver such great concerts! The concerts were amazing, very well run and enjoyable.

Committees List of sub-committees An email will be sent out in the new year, to request volunteers to participate in the various committees we have as part of our Parent Council. Jenn & Katie have a list of the committees along with a description for each one in case parents have questions regarding the committees and/or may be interested in joining.

Spiritual Committee This committee works in collaboration with the church to provide information about Catholicism and spirituality to parents. The committee is always looking for new members.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Fundraising  Skating Night – Cheryl Migus-Smart is leading this event. The event will take place at the West Mall skating rink (outdoors). The event will run for 2 hours as a family skate with hot chocolate being served. A date will be communicated in the near future, but this event will likely occur in January 2016. The city permit is still pending, however Mrs. Waters-Cotter will follow-up.

 Movie Night – Planning for this event is currently underway and is being co- ordinated by Ed Siddeley. The students have already been voting on their top movie choice. Grade 7s have been assisting with the student voting. There is a leader board set up in the hall to tally the votes. There will be one movie played in the library and the other movie will be run in the gym. Donations for the snack bar will be picked up in the new year. There is still a need for volunteers for the snack bar. Currently, there have been 2 volunteers identified.

of 8  Metro Grant – Cheryl Migus-Smart (not present) – We have been awarded the $1000 grant to hold a food/nutrition event; Cheryl has submitted her ideas in the application and will present details regarding this initiative at a future meeting.

Building Committee  Addition/Daycare – (see notes above) Q: How many square metres will this daycare take? A: There are supposed to be 3 separate rooms for the daycare and 39 spots allocated. We don’t have the current plan, however we are hoping to get additional information during the January meeting with the Board (see earlier). Q: Will it be a single floor? A: We believe so, however we are not sure until the Board comes in January to confirm. The Board was suppose to come prior to January, however due to the misunderstanding between the Ministry and the Board in regards to the daycare, the meeting has been postponed to January. Q: Who will be running the daycare? A: The Board will be collecting bids from a variety of companies. The daycare may be run through PLASP (as they also provide these services), however as far as we know, Terry Tan has also be contacted. The final decision is TBD.

STAFF REPORT (Julianne Ross)

Sports Basketball – The Seniors will be starting soon Junior Soccer - The team member selection is almost complete and the final team will be announced before the holidays

Clubs Craft club – Ms. Campea and Ms. DiTomaso have been running the craft club. The next scheduled days will be tailored for Grade 1-3 students. Chess Master - Will be starting soon W5H – Will be starting for intermediates

PARISH NEWS (Katie Piccininni)

Please see the parish news that was distributed with the Meeting Agenda.

Sacrament of Confirmation The Grade 7 students are eligible to apply for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Enrolment Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday January 10th, 2016 at the 9:30am Mass, and the first workshop titled “Anointed for Mission” Workshop will occur on Sunday January 24, 2015 beginning with the 9:30am Mass.

Sacrament of First Communion A parent meeting will be held on Monday January 11, 2016 at 7:00 pm at the church. The Enrolment Ceremony will occur on Sunday January 17, 2016 at the 9:30am Mass.

Xmas Masses Please see the Parish News and/or Bulletin for details

CORRESPONDENCE & OTHER BUSINESS

Review of School/Board’s Lice Policy

of 8 Lice at our school has become an ongoing issue that we cannot seem to resolve.

Q: What are the policies at the school/Board level and what can we do to solve this issue? A (Waters-Cotter): Lice is common in many schools and is an ongoing problem.

Per the Board’s policy, actions are at the principal’s discretion; however the general process has been occurring at the school:

Parents should call the school to notify the office that a student has lice;

The school will then send a letter out to parents in the class;

The school will fill out a Public Health Form and a Health worker is then sent out to the school to check students who are in that class  There is usually a 3-4 day delay from the time the Public Health Form is submitted to when the nurse comes to the school;

 The nurse does not check all the students in a given grade, but only the students in the particular class where a student with lice was identified. The nurse will also check any siblings of the identified student, however not all the students in the sibling’s class;

As an additional effort by the school, every parent is also being called when lice is identified;

Parents must ensure proper treatment for their child and must sign a form to indicate that treatment was administered;

However, it should be noted that the onus is on parents to ensure that their child(ren) is lice-free. The school relies on parents’ honesty in allowing the student back to school.

Currently, there is a plan to have the nurse return in January to check for lice in students that had it previously.

The following concerns regarding the current process were discussed:

 Currently there is no mandate to have a child picked up from school if they have been identified as having lice. There is a concern among parents that if an identified student is kept in the class that they can potentially spread the lice to other students.

 There needs to be sensitivities towards identified students so they do not feel embarrassed or singled out. We need to ensure that the stigma around lice is reduced, so that people can talk about it openly and ensure that the school is notified if a student has lice;

 The form letter is not being sent home consistently to parents and the form is often too technical. We need a document that lets parents know that there actually is lice in their child’s classroom and that they need to check their child(ren) for lice.

Parent Suggestions: 1) If a student who has been identified as having lice returns to school and continues to scratch their head, they should not be allowed to return to class. We should have a staff member (if possible) check heads before allowing students back into class; 2) A letter to all parents with students potentially exposed to lice should be sent home immediately; 3) Parents of affected students should sign off that their child has been properly treated; 4) As lice cannot be removed after one application, there should be checks for a period of about 2 weeks, from the time the student is re-admitted in place to make sure that there is no lice present;

of 8 5) For any student identified at school, they should be removed right away from their class until they are picked up by a parent, similar to what would be done if a child were to be sick at school; 6) Host a lice awareness evening for parents to attend and learn the facts and techniques to eradicate lice; 7) Create a fact sheet to be sent home to the parent community alerting them of the issue and to provide some quick tips on how to manage the issue, if their child were to contract lice Q: Does the nurse check hair at the front of the class? Could this not pose a situation where a child may be embarrassed if they are identified as having lice? A (Ross): The nurse will check the hair of students in the class within the classroom but the nurse will not indicate any findings to the students during the check.

8) While the nurse only checks the hair of students in the class where a student with lice has been identified, that student could be in contact with other children in their grade at recess or if they are involved in any clubs or school sports teams. Therefore the form letter should be sent out to the entire grade and any members of clubs/sports teams that the student participates in.

ACTION: Thank you to Ms. Ross for agreeing to check any students for lice upon re-admission prior to allowing them back into their classroom. She will continue to check the student for lice for a period of 2 weeks to confirm that the student has been fully eradicated of the lice. ACTION: The Executive Committee will work on an information notice for the entire school and will ensure that this communication is distributed prior to the end of the year.

For families that do not cooperate or cannot seem to eradicate the issue, support can be offered to the family. If the problem continues and potentially impacts the well-being of the school, then students may be suspended and referral to a social worker can be made.

ADJOURNMENT

CSPC wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Meeting adjourned at 8:47pm.

*See you at the next meeting on Tuesday, January 19, 2016*

* Please note that underlined text followed by a colon within the minutes (e.g. Q:) indicates a question, comment or answer from the floor (or from the person indicated). Follow-up items to be addressed at the To be addressed by: next meeting Update regarding skating fundraiser Cheryl Migus-Smart