Tuesday, January 11, 2011

December 14th Minutes


Glen Cairn Parent Council December 14th, 2010 Minutes
Attendance: Julie Drapeau, Brian Herron, Scott Blythe, Pat Furlong, Amy DiRienzo, Paul Warner, Deb Hickey, Mike Hickey, Amy DiRienzo, Andrea Hoyt
Regrets: Gwen Allingham, Tanja Campbell,
Call to order.
Minutes of November 9th, 2010 meeting passed.
Guest Mr Blauer introduced, to discuss Sporty Kids program
  • The programme develops fundamental movement skills in a co-operative not competitive environment.
  • It would be during the nutrition and activity break, 35-40 minutes, once a week.
  • 8 weeks cost $82.50 per student, includes t-shirt to be worn in class.
  • Mr Blauer’s contact believes the programme qualifies for the Ontario Activity Credit.
  • The fees are paid directly to Sporty Kids, no money or administration activity for the school.
  • The teachers are accredited in Physical Education.
  • Grades 1-6 are invited and grouped by ability, not age.
  • Asking Parent Council to subsidize a limited number of students for the introductory term.
  • At Alta Vista, the programme began with just 10 students, in later terms, up to 100 students enrolled.
  • Andrea asked how we control enrolment and therefore how much we are willing to subsidize. R. According to contact, interest in the Sporty Kids is low at the beginning. By capping the first enrolment opportunity, we can control how many students join. The recommendation to begin is a cap of 20 students.
  • We cannot force children to enrol, so there is no sense in agreeing to subsidize the entire school, and that would also overwhelm the teachers providing the service.
  • In past years, the skipping programme out of Ottawa U was successful and enjoyed by many students.
  • Agreed that an initial offering to 20 students, not 20 families, with a subsidy of $20 per enrolled student would be acceptable; or up to 22 if a family is enrolled, for a maximum subsidy of $440.00 Passed unanimously.
  • This is to be an introductory offer, not necessarily ongoing funding. If there is enough interest, we can revisit this in the new year and determine how much we are able to cover in the next session.

Reports
Principal
  • ARC moving forward, next meeting for South Kanata on Jan 5th, 2011. All interested members of the community being invited to attend. A community member will be joining Pat, representing Glen Cairn Public school. All aspects of school planning except closures will be discussed-programmes, boundaries, portables, etc.
  • Levelled literacy intervention for Grades 1-3 will begin in the new year. It’s a 16-18 week, half hour/week programme to increase literacy, 3-4 children at a time. It was offered to all schools at a cost GCPS was willing to pay and had no bearing on our EQAO scores.
  • Student Council is running a food drive with a goal of 500 items.
  • Mrs. Fawcett has had to begin her maternity leave earlier than planned, Mrs Dean is replacing her.
  • Hand bell choir to perform at upcoming School Board meeting, CTV and Citizen have both been contacted.
  • Intermediate dance on Friday, PJ day on Friday.
  • Finances to be audited again this year-every third year.

Treasurer

  • Financial statements presented.
  • Approved numbers of speakers have been purchased for less than approved amount. Will be purchasing more speakers for new media carts with remainder of funds.
  • Items approved in previous meetings (ie Tchoukball) did not include shipping and handling charges. As this is an increase in passed funding, it needs approval before we can pay for the full amount. Teachers are not currently including taxes and purchase costs in their estimates, and we then have to go back and pass new amount, creating delays in re-imbursements. Pat to ask staff to include all fees in the future.
  • Deb has a call in for a discount on purchase of Quikbooks. This purchase will be made from account, not Parent Involvement fund, per Michele Giroux’s email to Cathy Curry November 9th, 2010, as we have general funds that we can use for this purchase. We can transfer the license to new treasurers each year with a phone call provided Parent Council holds the licence and not an individual.
  • Deb and Chris have conflicting schedules and have not been able to meet to discuss handover.
  • Music Stands: Price shopping yielded no better prices at Dominics. Bill for music stands came in, 8 stands for approved amount, with an outstanding amount for the conductor’s stand. Are we willing to fund two more stands and the conductor’s stand, raising the amount of the outstanding P.O. to $575.00? Passed.
  • Outstanding P.O. from 2009-2010 for chalkboard and markers handed in, needs to be approved for another 35$. Passed.
  • Mrs MacOdrum’s list from last month was passed around, only more whisper phones and reading highlight strips added in. List total of $450.00 approved
    • Very cool math game
    • DPA CD
    • Classroom scissors
    • Reading highlight strips
    • Word family tiles
    • Social Studies resources
    • Whisper phones
  • We have begun using last year’s funds-no longer using funds we have raised just this year
  • Hawberry Farms raised $449.40
  • Parent’s of the 5 pizza orders whose cheques were returned have been notified. Replacement cheques for $30 and $60 respectively requested.
  • Deb to try and get appointment with bank manager to address concerns with returned cheques and other bank fees, on-line banking.
  • PizzaPizza showed up on interview day in error. No charges made to us.
  • John Young charges $2 a slice and 75c for milk vs GCPS at $1.75 and 60c. Put pizza on next agenda. Amy and Tracy to cost out other firms and hopefully ask for samples on meeting night

OCASC
  • Mike attended November 18th meeting. Most of the evening was spent discussing OCDSB concerns. Minutes of the meeting here.

Old Business

Raffle of gift items/silent auction
  • Unsure if we are able to hold a raffle as there may be lottery rules/numbers to which we would need to comply. Pat to verify.
  • Pat raised the possibility of having this fundraiser in time for Valentine’s Day. That’s a great idea, as we would have time to display the items in the display case, publicize it in the school newsletters and blog, etc. Pat will discuss the items at the seasonal concert. End dates discussed were the Friday the 11th, Monday the 14th and Friday the 18th. If we can have a draw, it would be the 14th, as a silent auction, then the 11th to the 18th.

New Business

People 4 Education Survey
  • Completed. Discussed parent council’s major roles. One of the surprising things to us was council’s role in the school improvement plan. It is apparently something with which we should be involved. When the next opportunity arises, Pat will share it with us so we can be a part of the process.

Parent Involvement Funds
  • To be used for encouraging parental involvement.
  • Moved to ask Pat to submit receipts for her cookies that she buys for council meetings. Passed. No P.O. necessary.
  • Not using any for purchasing gift cards for volunteers at the seasonal concert, but will use some for the end of year picnic.

Literacy Week activities
  • Julie asked what kind of activities the school has planned to promote literacy day. Nothing as yet. Discussed the possibility of having a free book swap, where the children bring in books to a certain day then they get to choose a new to them book. Julie is able to work with Pat to get this going.

Mr Sedaka, the head custodian, is on leave with a rather serious concussion and may not return in January. At present, all the custodial staff are new to their positions.

Path from school to Oriole Avenue, past public pool is the city’s responsibility and maintained to city standards, not OCDSB’s.

Meeting adjourned 8:30 pm

Next meeting, January 11th, 7pm