Parent Council Meeting Minutes - November 26, 2014

Valleyfield Parent Council Meeting Minutes – November 26, 2014

Minutes of previous meeting approved by MDM, Second by David

Principal’s Report

·         Student leaders will be conducting food drive.

·         Tree to be placed in foyer – asking for donation of mittens.

·         Family of Schools Meeting – requested to have mittens donated.

·         Pizza & Samosa lunches are going well.

·         Ambassadors also helping.

·         Thanks to staff coaches.

·         Mileage club and cross country have finished.

·         Basketball – Gr 5 girls placed 2^nd in tournament. Gr. 6 girls play next week.

·         Touch football team did very well – placed 2^nd.

·         Trips – Etobicoke Field Study Centre ,Metro Zoo

·         End of year trip – hoping to have a sleepover opportunity – tentatively booked for June – will include Gr 5 & Gr 6.  Will have info night.

·         Also bringing enrichment into the school – Re-think what you drink & heart healthy session.

·         Garden guardians have planted spring bulbs in kindergarten play yard.  Still have additional bulbs for front garden.  Need volunteers to plant the front.  Jacquelyn to send email to volunteers to see who might be interested.

·         Playground is close to completion.  Waiting for paving to be done – in queue to have it happen.

·         Outdoor classroom has been constructed with stools and blackboard.

·         Order placed for tri-coloured hoop and tetherball.  MDM going to ask for new pole to be put in for tri-hoop.

·         Painting has been done over the last 3 weeks.  Almost all of the rooms have now been done.

·         New snack program coordinator began Nov. 26.

·         Started newcomers club – for children who have lived in Canada less than 5 years.  Children age matched with kids born in Canada – work as leaders and mentors – language based activities.

·         Encouraging litter-less lunch focus – Ambassadors to have stickers – catching kids doing good things.

·         Lots of professional development going on – focus on math & science.

·         Will continue to give out birthday bookmarks.

·         Looking into ordering Valleyfield clothing.  MDM needs contact information for a supplier.

·         Developed and handed out staff handbook.

·         Primary character assembly today.  Junior assembly to take place tomorrow (Nov 27).  Students see their acknowledgement on bulletin board.  Draw at assembly for basket (provided from anonymous donor).

·         Talent show – 1:00 pm on Friday, November 28, 2014.

·         Allergy/athsma and anaphylaxis information being updated.

·         Halloween parade was a success.

·         PD day December 5, 2014.

·         Very positive and productive learning environment.  Positive feedback from parents to MDM at parent/teacher night.

1.    Treasurer/Budget Update

·         We now have signing authority for Parent Council account – Nadine/Michelle/Venessa have signing authority.  Only need 2 signatures.

·         Cheques have been ordered.

·         Account – currently have $3238.  Account fee $9.75/month.

·         Have spent $1,114 on pizza lunches

·         Have provided $150 deposit on dance-a-thon

·         Have lined drawers and got bins for snacks – invested $215 – under budget.

·         There is a request to fund the Blue Spruce program (reading program) – all Canadian literature - $500 ask.  Books get to stay in library – motion passed.

2.    Classroom Parent Representative/Update

·         MDM to ask teachers who they are currently working him

3.    Lunch Program/Volunteering Update

·         To offer pepperoni and cheese pizza, as well as samosas

·         To try Pizza Depot as an option for pizza lunch

·         Adding pancakes & mac & cheese

·         Lunches currently go up to January 9, 2015.  Looking for volunteers for remainder of lunches.

·         Looking for someone to take over the lunch program for 2015/2016.

·         Need some more volunteers – need safe food handling to help with snack program.

4.    Fundraising Information

·         Dance-a-thon – Friday, February 6, 2014

5.    Parent Engagement/Meet and Greet/Update

6.    PIAC Update

7.    Model School for Inner City/Workshop Update

·         Safe food handling workshop available 9-3 – December 12 at Flemington (Refreshments/Lunch provided)

·         CPR and First Aid at Melody Village (Refreshments/Lunch provided)

·         December 8 – Community Leadership Training – The Elms (Childcare & Refreshments Provided)

·         December 9 – First Aid/CPR – Humber Summit MS (Refreshments/Lunch provided)

·         December 10 – Start Your Own Business – Kingsview Village (Refreshments provided)

·         December 11 – Employment Skills – Greenholme or Second Street

8.    Teacher Information

·         PD Day December 5

·         Teachers are very happy

9.    Q&A

·         Metro has a $1000 Green Apple Grant to be put toward anything to do with food/health – Deadline in February 2015 – Nadine to approach Sara about application.

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Next meeting – Wednesday, January 21, 2015 – 6:00