SUMMARY/MINUTES OF THE PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Present: Wendy Bukvic, Stacy Beaumont, Toni Marlow, Saley Bechard, Christine Thrush, Melissa Goyette-Gow, Heather Bell, Beth Loch, Kimberlee McNally-Stone, Erin McLaughlin, Amanda Curtis

Approval of June Minutes: Christine Thrush motioned to pass June minutes Seconded by Heather Bell

Council Election: Chair: Wendy Bukvic Treasurer: Heather Bell Secretary: Saley Bechard Fundraising Lead: Melissa Goyette-Gow PIC Rep: Christine Thrush Fun Day: Thoughts about having a “sub committee” just for fun day. Parents that have expressed interest through the survey last year will be contacted to discuss how they would like to be involved in fun day. Members at large: Amanda Curtis, Erin McLaughlin, Stacy Beaumont, Beth Loch, Kimberlee McNally-Stone

Principal’s Report: There are 230 students at Park School an increase from 226 last year. Park welcomes new staff this year! Please welcome Paige Bremaud, Nadine Balkind (planning time teacher), Jacqueline Napier (LRT), Cody Harrison (Head Custodian) Terry Fox Run, Open House and cross country meet will be postponed until a later date. We’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead! Park has been a Gold level Eco School for two years and hoping to become a Platinum school! Technology Infusion Process information is coming in November to find out when Park is slotted for funding to get our new computer lab up and running! Video surveillance in schools: Two years ago the board outfitted the exterior doors to the school with cameras. The purpose of the cameras is for capturing vandalism and strangers entering the school. There is a new health curriculum that will be introduced to the students this year. This is the first time it’s been revised in 17 years. The biggest change is the focus on student well-being and mental health. The goal is that students need to see that their family dynamics are represented within the curriculum. Teachers will be trained ASAP and parents will be receiving letters from the school a few weeks before sensitive topics are discussed in the school. hdsb.ca website has a webcast explaining the new curriculum and many of the myths surrounding it, so parents are encouraged to visit the website.

Treasurer’s Report: School year beginning bank balance: $29,701.85 There is a surplus of $11,528.43 which is still pending how it will be spent, as well as whether it has to be spent this school year. Field trip funds will be held onto until ETFO negotiations have been settled and an agreement has been reached.

Fundraising Plan for 2015-16: The letter that was created about parent council and how parents can get involved is to be distributed to all parents in the school, not just those that attended the welcome coffee. Parents can get involved in many ways that can fit their schedule. Wendy to work with Sandi Bussman to have this emailed. Big Box of cards: Possibility to pass out the first big box of cards at the pending open house to gauge interest and then the parents that aren’t interested can opt out of the fundraiser at this time. To be discussed more in depth at next meeting. Dance a thon: Possibility around Halloween but pending based on ETFO negotiations. Another Dance a thon in the spring. QSP Magazines: Discussion that the code for renewing QSP magazines be listed in the panda express with the link added so parents can order if they would like. Attempt to run the full QSP campaign in the spring. Not running Toonie Tuesdays and Spa Sisters fundraisers this year. Toni to follow up on legalities on whether an auction/sale of baskets could be held online to offset the amount of work required to assemble baskets around Fun Day. Kimberlee is available to coordinate this in January/February using Storage Wars or “Tell and Sell”. Thought is to start with 30 baskets and center around Valentine’s Day, with donations going towards Park. The idea is not to visit the same businesses for the online auction as the Fun Day auction. We would need to be clear on what the funds will be going towards and can be discussed at future meetings.

Fun Day: There was a lot of discussion about the silent auction. Thought is to have silent auction baskets just from the classrooms on fun day and not solicit donations from the community and to scale back this year. Online auction if legalities allow would be from community donations to be run in January and February in time for Valentine’s Day. Fun Day survey conducted last June had 32 respondents. 10 people said they would like to be a part of a fun day committee. Wendy will look to contact those that have volunteered for this and discuss roles for fun day. Discussion about sourcing out food instead of using Park School’s resources for that aspect of Fun Day. Bake sale would still be run as well as inflatables. Perhaps introduce games/activities for older children as something new this year! Fun Day set for Friday May 27, 2016.

Remaining Funds and Allocation: Heather and Wendy to talk to SandI and Jen Hall to find out if the funds need to be allocated this year. Possibility of using some of the funds to source out food for fun day or additional games/activities for older children. Suggestions for the remaining funds include: Sign for front of school Recess bins consisting of skipping ropes, indoor games, balls etc Outdoor learning area including rocks or benches School Club allotment of funds (uniforms, buses to events, tents, volleyball) Another water bottle filling station in the library Winter activities inside to keep the kids active (e.g. dance, drumfit) 2

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Possibility of hosting a BBQ at pending open house Projector camera for gymnasium

Additional Items: Santa Claus Parade set for November 21 with the theme “Miracle on Guelph Street”. Truck is all set for the parade and Rick Bettencourt is willing to drive the float. Stacy will lend us her generator. November 7 is the deadline for entering a float in the parade. Discuss details next meeting. In the meantime discuss details with Rick to find out what we have and what we need to do in order to participate in the parade. Pro Grant: Park received a pro grant but unaware of exact funds. To be discussed next meeting. Changing Council meeting days: some discussion around changing our Tuesday meetings to Mondays. Some council members have existing commitments on Mondays. We will keep our meeting on a Tuesday for October and then revisit the discussion at that meeting.

Minutes recorded by Saley Bechard Next Meeting Date – Tuesday October 6, 2015 at 6:30pm at Park Public School

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