School Council Meeting

Council Update (M. Cruickshank)

Spirit Wear - ends Sun. Nov. 26th

Movie Night - next Thursday Nov. 30th. Polar Express. Need 5 volunteers

Sing-a-Long - Tues. Dec. 19th at 6:30

• Held inside this year

• Raffle for gingerbread houses

• Celia to organize gingerbread raffle

• Need volunteers to sell tickets

Primary Arts Night Thurs. Dec. 14th

• Discussed possibly doing a toy drive, food drive or Mitten tree for this event

• Perhaps gift card donation to the Redwood Women’s Shelter

• Alana suggested unwrapped toys may be better for kids to bring, makes them feel more a part of it. “The Giving Tree” is more flexible than other options

  • Where is the Christmas tree stored?

Ward 7 Update (K. Ball)

Meeting on Tues. Nov. 21st at King George Junior PS

Robin Pilkey invited reps to talk about their issues

• Katherine suggested at the meeting that we at Garden would like to know more about math programs.

• Also mentioned nutrition as a point of concern

SRO - School Resource Officers.

• These are police officers who were assigned to high schools to provide security and connect the the community

• A motion went before the board to re-examine this practice and was voted down because survey findings are that the practice has become racialized.

• Officers are not trained to deal with students of different backgrounds, their presence doesn’t provide value. The role could be filled by social workers, etc.

Equity Task Force

• Ongoing review of special programs within the TDSB

• 5,000 people have written in response to equity and the various programs.     

  • A report is to be put together with the results

Executive Compensation

• Superintendents’ salaries have been frozen since 2001, now in process of reviewing with a proposed increase.

Boundary Reviews

• Not school boundary changes but ward changes, means trustees will be responsible for more schools.

• Q: Will this result in catchment changes?

• A: No, just ward boundaries.

Continuing Education

• Ministry of Education provides funding to TDSB for parent education courses/workshops.

  • Programs for things like the Red Cross Home Alone program. 12 subjects are being offered. (Parenting Strategies, Academic Achievement, etc.)

  • Can contact the Program Manager, Belkis Romaro.

  • Funding at $3 per parent is provided.

Q: What was the Equity Task Force discussion about?

A: The change in model schools/art schools, etc. Robin feels we’ll be keeping the programs but changing the access to them, to make it more equitable. Destreaming of high schools is set to happen.

Next Ward 7 Meeting - Jan. 30, 2018. Decided to host it at Garden.

 

Treasurer’s Report (W. Hammond)

Bank balance        $25,631.00

Garden Variety    $1,800.00

Movie Night        $373.00

Pizza Lunch        $1,841.00 (Sept./Oct.)

Requests For Funding

• Mrs. Schulz requested money for a learning carpet. $418.00

MOTION: Approve funding. (M. Cruickshank) Seconded. (W. Hammond)

• STEM materials request from Ms. Cox. Full cost $1,200.00

  • Council can fund some of this (Already gave $750.00 for the STEM carts previously)

• Marlies Game. All the $ from this event to be donated by council? Charge everybody $5 to participate and council to cover the rest? Madeleine suggested that we pay for it.

 

MOTION: Approve funding (M. Cruickshank) Seconded. (K. Ball)

 

• Strings request from A. Hardy. Request for new bows, and cello cases. Cost will be $968.00

  • Council pay half and school pay half

  • Wendy noted we have $500 in the budget for instrument repair

MOTION: Approve funding for strings. (M. Cruickshank) Seconded (W. Hammond)

Principal’s Report (A. Hardy)

 

Construction

• Going to remove water fountains

• Accessibility for special needs students causing ongoing issues. Door buttons installed at wrong height

  • Alana has been assured will be finished by end of Nov. (Doors, fountains, railing height)

Strings

• New teacher has started for the Grade 5s and 6s. Push for the 6s to join

Primary Arts Night

• Held on Dec. 14th. Art display. No choir performance, one song to be performed by one class. Focus on Lion King musical instead - held on Feb. 1st at Fern.

• Book Fair by Another Story to be held on the night.

• Junior Arts Night to be later in year

Caring and Safe Schools Committee

• Kat Armstrong is the parent rep.

• Equity at school. Focus on gender equity

• Carrie Cox, Brian McClure, Linda Umezawa are teacher members.

• No student rep as of yet

Pedestrian Pilot Project (TDSB)

• Conducting safety audit on our walks to school

• Mr. McClure wants to do it as part of the eco-club

Bike Racks

• New racks to be installed at school in spring​

Safe Spaces

• Not a specific classroom as such

• Michelle Bell and Kelly Cochrane are supporting students in need. (Integrating into games every am and pm recess)

Dancing at Recess

• DJ CC continuing with this program

Library Helpers

• Quiet help in the library for students

Quiet Recess/Quiet Lunch

• Quiet games for students to play

• Had to rethink quiet lunch. If they are loud/don’t follow rules they are asked to leave

Sensory Room

• Cocoon has just been set up

Staff Connections

• Each member of staff is going to pick a student to forge a connection with

PALS

• Decided to let this program go, but grade 6s are to lead spontaneous games

Reflection Room

• Blue form to go home to be filled out. Behaviour at school has improved

SIPSA (School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and Well-Being)

• Can provide strategies for students at risk for reading

• Hold a night in January for Kindy parents to walk them through how to read a book with their kids

• Daycare and teachers staff to come together more

 

Q: Is there a robotics meet on Dec. 9th?

A: Yes, four teachers are doing the robotics club. It is mostly Grade 4s

Some discussion about the robotics club. After Christmas the club will open up for more members.