YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION MAY 27, 1999 The Board Meeting - Public Session of the York Region District School Board was held in the Board Room of the Education Centre, Aurora at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, 1999 with Chair B. Crothers presiding and the following members present; Trustees Barker, Benn-Ireland, Cawston, Hunter, Lionti, Middleton, Nightingale, Plamondon and Shore. Also in attendance: Student Trustee Designate S. Shahjahan. Regrets: Trustees V. Hackson, G. Unitas and Student Trustee J. Franklin. On behalf of trustees and staff, the Board Chair extended a special and warm welcome to Trustee Hunter, who had been absent due to illness for a brief period. He also introduced and welcomed Vicki Bismilla who had recently accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools with the York Region District School Board. INVOCATION Trustee H. Shore delivered the Invocation. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (*)1. Moved by S. Plamondon, seconded by P. Hunter: That the agenda be approved as written. - Carried - BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 2 MAY 27, 1999 APPLAUSE! At this time, Director of Education B. Hogarth honoured the following for their outstanding achievements and contributions to education. The Circle of Life Sixty students at Thornhill Secondary School have been making quite a name for themselves this year. Known as the Circle of Friends, the group of Grade 9 to OAC students, volunteers its spare time daily to support Thornhill’s students with disabilities in their academic studies and to enhance their life in the community. The Circle of Friends have facilitated the developmentally disabled students involvement in school dances, gym classes, choir, art, vocal music and fashion shows. In return, students with disabilities have raised their peers’ awareness of social, emotional and academic issues. During April and May, Circle members shared their successful practices and personal stories at other boards and at Action Research Conferences throughout York Region and Waterloo. The students have hosted an Abilities Awareness Workshop for York Region students, are creating an informative video to assist schools in forming a Circle of Friends program, are developing a web page, and have designed a logo. Representing the Circle of Friends this evening are Rebecca Fishman, Talya Sokol, Julia Todkill, Colin Brasz, Fareed Champsi, Samantha Machtlinger, Kenny Freeman, Rahaleh Sarbizha, Stephanie Siegel, Marci Lugawicz, and Erica Herman. Also on hand to support these extraordinary students are Steve Bewcyzk, Principal of Thornhill Secondary School, Thornhill staff David Feinstein, Head of Special Education, teacher Lindy Zaretsky, Child and Youth Worker Glenn Hoben, and Educational Assistant Debbie DePinto, as well as Coordinator of Research and Evaluation Services Doug Hamilton, CEC - West Student Services Coordinator Carole Cullen, and Principal on Assignment Linda Balaishis. The Board thanks you one and all for your valuable contributions, your vision, and your ability to influence other students and teachers by your humanitarian efforts. Volunteer Fever Continues The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario is thrilled to have Aurora Senior Public School teacher Phil Horsman as its coordinator of the Jump Rope for Heart program in York Region schools. For the past 15 years, Phil has successfully overseen various programs and activities that have generated over $4 million in donations. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 3 MAY 27, 1999 Heart and Stroke Foundation Area Manager Nicky Rauzon-Wright says, "Phil has definitely raised the benchmark for all volunteers. He sets a wonderful example and I would be so fortunate to have him continue with us for another 15 years." Thank you Phil. We applaud your commitment and, without hesitation, we can say that your heart is in the right place. Supporting Phil this evening are Aurora Senior Public School Principal and Vice-Principal Diane Fassel and Jean Beard along with Heart and Stroke Foundation Area Manager Nicky Rauzon-Wright, who also has something to present to Phil. A Cultural Celebration Markham District High School Grade 12 student Charlene Schafer was recently awarded the prestigious 1999 DaimlerChrysler Award of Excellence. The program, sponsored by DaimlerChrysler and the Goethe-Institut, was conceived to foster mutual understanding and friendship between young people in North America and Germany and to promote a greater interest in the German language and culture. More than 200,000 students from the United States and Canada took part in this year’s competition. Charlene has been selected as one of five Canadian students and 45 American students who will participate in a three-week, all-expense paid study tour of Germany and Washington, D.C. Charlene will attend lectures and cultural events, visit famous landmarks and institutions, and spend a week with a host family. Charlene, who plans to go to the University of Toronto to study International Relations, noted in her essay that she is very interested in the way countries relate to each other. She sees this experience as an opportunity to broaden her perspectives, enhance her language capabilities, understand the significance and implications of Germany’s historical events, make new friends and gain a knowledge of her ancestry. The Board would like to congratulate you Charlene, and wishes Viel Gl ck (Good Luck) on your exciting journey. Here this evening, along with Charlene, is Markham District High School Principal David Freeman. Academic Excellence Honoured Recognition of Vaughan Secondary School OAC student Husam Abdel-Qadir has been rescheduled to the June Board meeting. Husam is currently in Kingston as Ontario’s only representative at the International Science Olympiad. Good luck Husam. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 4 MAY 27, 1999 Inventing Her Future Tamanna Koovarjee, an OAC student at Unionville High School, recently claimed first place at the Royal Shad Entrepreneurship National Video Competition. The Shad Valley Program supports and encourages students who are interested in careers in engineering and technology. Students were asked to produce a video highlighting a product of their choice, which was then evaluated at the national level. Tamanna’s video entry demonstrated a movie theatre food tray that would fit into a theatre seat and allow the moviegoer more seating room and easier accessibility to their treats. Videos were graded on creativity, presentation of the product and idea, promotional and technical aspects, and editing. Tamanna’s video was successful on all counts. And, she not only won the competition, she was the first student at Unionville to use the school’s new computer editing suite. Congratulations, Tamanna. Joining Tamanna this evening is student advisor Dale Andrews and Unionville High School Vice-Principal Marg Clarke. Thornlea Team C’est NumØro Un Congratulations to Anthony Collins, Christina Marshall and Audrey Ngo, members of the Thornlea Secondary School French Team for placing first, second, and fifth respectively at the 26th Annual University of Waterloo French Contest. Each of the students underwent oral interviews, written dictation, grammar exams and reading comprehension assignments. University of Waterloo coordinators noted that they have never seen such incredible results achieved by students from the same school. To top it off, this is the first year that York Region schools have ever entered the contest. For claiming first place, Anthony will receive a two-week, all expense paid trip to France. Christina was rewarded with $500 and Audrey received $100. Modern Languages teacher and coordinator Sharon Brown says, "the students’ outstanding and exceptional performance is demonstrative of their outstanding and exceptional personalities." Et mais oui, we certainly agree, Sharon. Thornhill Secondary School Principal Helen Fox, and teachers Vivelinda Ribau and Sharon Brown join Anthony, Christina and Audrey this evening. Creative Coordinator Congratulated On May 6th, K - OAC Mathematics Consultant Jan Scully was presented with the Ontario Association of Mathematics Educators Don Attridge Award. This award is presented annually to recognize an exceptional and creative secondary school mathematics teacher who enhances the teaching of mathematics in Ontario. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 5 MAY 27, 1999 The award’s namesake, Don Attridge, was a former math teacher and consultant with the York Region District School Board, and therefore, bringing the award home to York Region makes Jan’s accomplishment even more significant. During the course of her career, Jan has taught Grades 3 - OAC in four different boards of education. When she joined York Region, Jan quickly became the Head of Mathematics at Newmarket High School and then went on as head to open Markville Secondary School. At Markville, Jan successfully initiated destreaming six years before the government’s mandate. The focus at Markville was to enjoy math, which naturally brought success, as the school became one of the top secondary school mathematics departments in Ontario within four short years. In addition to her in-school contributions, Jan has also been an Ontario Association for Math Educators counsellor for over 12 years, a National Counsellor for Teachers in Mathematics representative, a facilitator of Honours Specialist courses at faculties of education for upcoming math department heads, an associate teacher for students from Universities