September 23 meeting highlights

From the Principal:

Classroom allocation:

• Mrs. Black reviewed the classroom allocation models that were presented at Parent Council last spring (based on projected student enrolment numbers)

• Based on September attendance information, Mrs. Black was able to eliminate the need for one of the split grade 1 / 2 classes as well as eliminating all of the split grade French Immersion classes

  

EQAO results:

• Mrs. Black shared the results from last year’s EQAO testing (you may view the report here in PDF format)

• The significant improvement in test scores is the result of a combination of factors including:  all staff involved with EQAO testing worked as a team to prepare the students, staff attended professional development courses, increased parent engagement with the school, three pages worth of process improvement action items were implemented to assist with the preparation of the students for the test

• The children who scored poorly in last year’s Grade 3 EQAO testing have been identified to receive additional assistance in Grade 4 to bring them up to their peers. 

Magic at Valleyfield

• A professional magician will be coming to the school in October and November to teach magic to a group of randomly selected grade four and five students. 
• Volunteers are required to make this program happen
• Highschool students can receive community involvement hours by participating in this program
• If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering in this program, please contact the school

School Council elections:

Jacqueline Pendyk was unanimously voted in as Parent Council Chair.

  

Parent Resource Library

• Through last year’s Parent Reaching Out (PRO) grant we were able to get monies to put toward a selection of books intended for parents to use
• Examples of book titles available:  “Read Aloud Resource,”  “What Stories Does My Son Need?”,  “Everyone Feels Angry Sometimes” and “Homework Without Tears”

•  A complete list of the books available will be sent home and posted on the school website.

•  To borrow a book, send in a request with your child on their library day. The book will be checked out from the school library under your child’s name. To return the book, send it back with your child.

Our next PRO grant submission 

• information sessions / workshops for parents / kids

Lunch Program

• Historically, Parent Council has provided fun, hot, mostly healthy lunches on Fridays.
• We need volunteers to make this program happen.
• If you are interested, and available from 10am one Friday a month, please contact Jacqueline [jrpendyk at gmail dot com]

Volunteering In Our School

• A letter will go out to all of the parents and caregivers to see who is interested in volunteering in the school. We welcome all volunteers!

Fundraising:

• We will not be doing the QSP (magazine) fundraiser this year
• Parents have said that September is a bad month for fundraising (too many back-to-school expenses)
• Our first fundraiser will be targeted for November
• Ideas for fundraisers: popcorn, flowers ?
• A fundraising survey will go out to parents / caregivers (a number of ideas will be presented and parents / caregivers will vote on their favourites)

 Next meeting:  Tuesday October 19 [tentative]