THE YORK REGION BOARD OF EDUCATION BOARD MEETING - PUBLIC SESSION JUNE 20, 1994 The Board Meeting - Public Session of The York Region Board of Education was held in the Board Room of The Education Centre, Aurora at 8:10 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 1994 with Chair B. Crothers presiding and the following members present; Trustees Barker, Bennett, Bowes, Caine, Dunlop, French, Hackson, Hogg, Irish, Jonsson, Kadis, Krever, Nightingale, Pengelly, Sinclair, Stevenson, Wakeling and Wallace. Regrets: Trustee D. Middleton. Also in attendance: French Language Advisory Committee Vice-Chair Y. Bourbonnais. EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY The Board Chair announced with regret the passing of Trustee D. Middleton’s wife, Shirley. He extended the Board’s deepest sympathy to Trustee Middleton and his family. INVOCATION Trustee H. Sinclair opened the meeting with the Invocation. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 1. Moved by S. Kadis, seconded by J. Jonsson: That the agenda be approved with the deletion of recommendation #8 from the Chairs’ Committee Minutes of June 13, 1994. - Carried - STUDENT AND STAFF RECOGNITIONS The East Gwillimbury Historical Society (Clare Eves, President) The Director of Education stated that the East Gwillimbury Historical Society brings the pioneer aspect of the curriculum alive for students at Holland Landing, Park Avenue, Sharon and Queensville Public Schools. In the pioneer learning centres brought to their doorsteps, the students have an opportunity to touch history, which then becomes relevant to them. He said the society also responds to the learning needs of the older students. Society members are currently working on the history of the Holland River in preparation for a presentation to the Intermediate students. These local, active neighbours and friends are all volunteers who provide our students with an important link to the past. The Director recognized their contributions through Clare Eves, President of the Society. Karan Gardiner, Policy and Program Coordinator for Human Resources, The Town of Markham Through her dedication to helping students make the transition to the work world, Karan Gardiner has contributed significantly to the quality of education in York Region. The Director told trustees that, not only has Karan acted as a cooperative education liaison between the Town and all Markham area schools, but she has also made numerous classroom presentations on employee relations, resume writing, and interview skills. Board Minutes - Public Session Page 2 June 20, 1994 In addition, she promotes education and partnership to Town employees. Recently, her efforts on behalf of the Town of Markham led to the inauguration of a partnership with Unionville High School. Karan’s belief in the mutual benefits of partnerships articulates her efforts to ensure a valuable, meaningful and relevant education for all students, teachers, staff, business and the community. Vic Priestly, Local Entrepreneur Trustees were introduced to Vic Priestly, a man who believes in the importance of quality education and backs up his belief with both his support and his time. He has offered his knowledge and support to a variety of programs at Aurora High School. In the classroom, he shares his expertise and experience with business classes. He also provides additional support beyond the classroom, offering the use of his property for field trips and his equipment for special projects. Vic’s advice to students - be the best at what you do, set a goal and work hard to achieve it - has helped students realize that dreams combined with hard work can come true. The Rotary Club of Newmarket (Gord Cockburn, President) The Board recognized Gord Cockburn, President of the Newmarket Rotary Club. The Rotary Club of Newmarket has demonstrated its commitment to the youth of Newmarket through a variety of initiatives: . presenting scholarships to high school students in Newmarket; . sponsoring and arranging international exchanges; . coordinating the Interact Club for all Newmarket residents 14-18 years of age to encourage community service and to help devote students’ leadership skills; . providing financial assistance when needed; . organizing school career fairs; . providing guest speakers for classrooms. Through these efforts and others, the Rotary Club of Newmarket continues to demonstrate its commitment to education. York Central Hospital (Ken Tremblay, President and CEO) The Director indicated that York Central Hospital has been a cooperative education placement for York Region secondary students for more than 10 years. Over the past decade, the hospital has offered excellent training in areas such as pharmacy, obstetrics, physiotherapy, nursing, rehabilitation and emergency. Through this effort, students have had the opportunity to explore possible careers in health care. Recently, he said, York Central Hospital formed a formal partnership with Alexander Mackenzie High School. Through this partnership, six initiatives are currently unfolding, from job shadowing to assistance with rush jobs and from special project counselling to computer instruction for hospital personnel. The York Region Board of Education’s partnership with York Central Hospital has provided an exemplary model for partnerships throughout the region. Board Minutes - Public Session Page 3 June 20, 1994 Toronto Sun "Teacher of the Year" Trustees learned that Buttonville Public School teacher Jean Sena’s philosophy is to be your best. Jean models her philosophy, as attested to in her nomination for the Toronto Sun Teacher of the Year Award by student Mackenzie Sutherland, six and one-half years old. Mackenzie described Jean as "wonderful...terrific...the best." Sheri Sutherland, Mackenzie’s mother, noted that Jean creates "magic in her classroom...I wish I had had a teacher like her." The Director stated that the Board is also proud of five of its teachers who were finalists in the annual contest: 1. Yvonne Dufault, Doncrest Public School; 2. Sue Flinders-Adams, Glen Cedar Public School; 3. Bill Guy, Morning Glory Public School; 4. Claude Picard, Royal Orchard Public School; 5. Penny Sedore, Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School. First in Physics Joanna Karczmarek, an OAC student at Vaughan Secondary School and one of the 16 students selected for the Celebrating Student Success awareness project, has scored another first. Joanna is the first Canadian woman chosen for the International Physics Olympiad. She and four other Canadian students won places in the July event in China by competing against Canada’s best and brightest in a week of exams. First in Math Thornlea Secondary School student Traiq Muinuddin has won a gold medal in the national Cayley Math Contest for Grade 10 students. More than 20,000 students from across Canada participated in this challenging contest, which is sponsored by the Canadian Mathematics Competition at the University of Waterloo. This feat, however, is not Tariq’s first such achievement. In Grade 9, he shared first place in the North American Atlantic-Pacific Math Contest and was on the national winning team of the Pascal Contest. In Grade 8, he was first in the National Mathematics League competition. First in Fitness The Director announced that E.J. Sand Public School has been awarded the prestigious Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation/Fitness Canada Recognition Award for providing a high quality physical education program. This award is presented annually to a select number of schools in Canada. Studies indicate that students who are engaged in a regular physical education program are healthier, happier, demonstrate improved fitness, develop active living skills, display positive behaviours and attitudes towards school, self and others, and experience enhanced academic achievement. Board Minutes - Public Session Page 4 June 20, 1994 First in Curling York Region’s young women curlers - two of our current students and two of our recent graduates - are Number One. In April these young women, represented Canada, beating the American rink 10-7 in a dramatic finish at the Junior Women’s World Curling Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Junior Women’s World Curling Champions are: 1. Skip Kim Gellard, a graduate of Markham District High School, who also won the championship’s All-Star Skip Award; 2. Lead Sandy Graham, a Markville Secondary School student; 3. Second Lisa Savage, a Markham District High School student; 4. Third Corie Beveridge, a Markham District High School graduate. Another First in Curling Four Markville Secondary School students scored a first for Markville - an Ontario Federation of School Athletics’ Association title in curling. Coached by Lou Goodwin, the foursome - Skip Julie Anderson, Vice Christy Anderson, Second Alexa Figgess, and Lead Kristin Turco - defeated White Pines of Sault Ste. Marie to capture the OFSAA Girls’ Curling Championships. First in Student Politics Trustees learned that Michael Rubinoff, a Grade 12 student at Thornlea Secondary School, has been elected Premier of the Ontario Secondary School Students’ Association, the largest student organization in Canada. President of the Thornlea Student Council, Michael has been working actively on behalf of his fellow students at Thornlea and throughout York Region. He was a recipient of the Board’s Excellence in Education Award in 1993. PRESENTATION TO DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION At this time two students from Doncrest Public School, Sharon Shih and Joyce Fong, presented the Director of Education with a poster and poem based on the theme "Together We’re Better". The poem focused on the interaction of the teacher, school, parent and home in the development of every child. Teacher Y. Dufault thanked the Director for his recent visit to Doncrest Public School. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. Moved by D. Caine, seconded by V. Hackson: That the Board Minutes (Public Session) of May 30, 1994 be approved as written. - Carried - Board Minutes - Public Session Page 5 June 20, 1994 ROUTINE REPORTS 3. Moved by B. Hogg, seconded by P. Bennett: That the Board adopt the following routine reports (*) in accordance with Board Procedure. CHAIRS’ COMMITTEE MINUTES, MEETING #6, JUNE 13, 1994 1) Construction Projects Review That the Board receive the staff report Construction Projects Review.