Redstone Parent Council – December 2, 2017
Attending
Wendy Thompson(Principal)Doug Inglis (Teacher Rep)
Maria Konstantopoulos (Co-Chair)
Kavitha Sachchi (Co-Secretary)
Vivian Murray-Black (Treasurer)
Juan Jaime Barreto
Caroline Dawn / Bahar Jalili
Varinder Bhabra
Yvette Nazarian
Cassandra MacDonald
Call to order at 7:05pm
Wendyread the Land acknowledgement and played a video regarding Truth and Reconciliation
There was a motion to accept the Minutes from the November 6 meeting.
Moved: Juan
Teacher Report – Caroline Dawn and Doug Inglis
Here are recent and upcoming academic, social, and extra-curricular school events:
School Wide…
- Character Matters and Grandfather Teachings assembly – the intermediate classes are hosting our first character assembly of the term on Tues. Dec. 5/ 17 at 1:50 (per. 7); recipients of the character awards from September to November (courage, empathy and responsibility) will be acknowledged. There will be a video screening, a visual arts presentation, and a musical performance by our intermediate students. Also, Kristina Deluca of the Terry Fox Foundation will join us to bring greetings and thanks from the foundation for our support and to present a ceremonial oversized cheque, showing the $1273.35 we raised.
- Redstone Book Swap - Our Eco Team, The Earth Keepers, is hosting Redstone's second Book Swap! Students have been bringing in used books and receiving tickets for their donations. During lunch hours in the week of December 11-15, students can browse and redeem their tickets for books. All remaining books will be donated to the Children's Book Bank, which provides free books for children in low-income neighbourhoods.
- Math at Home - Teachers are working on ways to continue the learning of math at home and to increase parent engagement. Kindergartens will be making home bags with activities and manipulatives, as well as Grade 1 students, who will bring home materials to support their learning in the monthly calendar. Other divisions have discussed and are using math journals, tweets with activities, home connections, or problems of the week.
- Annual Holiday Food Drive – beginning this week, our Healthy School Team will be coordinating our annual food drive in support of the Richmond Hill Community Food bank. Students, families and staff will be encouraged to bring in donations of non-perishable food items such as canned meat/vegetables and baby formula for the food bank, which supports families and individuals in need in our community.
- Global News visit - On Wed. Dec. 13, Anthony Farnell from Global News will be visiting grades 4 to 8 in the gym for a 45-minute presentation at 11:15 am. He will bring Storm, the weather dog along. There will also be a camera present to record the visit. The segment will air in that evening broadcast on Global News at 5:30 and 6.
- Holiday Sing-along – on Thursday December 21, classes will get together in the gym during period 4 (11:10) and sing along to songs of various cultural celebrations including Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. There may be a surprise guest or two to perform…
Primary (K – 3)
- ‘Jillian Jiggs’ play – Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre – on Wed. Nov. 29, kindergarten students traveled to the RHCPA to watch a theatrical version of the picture book Jillian Jiggs.
Junior (4 – 6)
- Junior Co-ed Volleyball – Ms. Cancelli and Ms. Cheung are currently holding tryouts for gr 4 – 6 girls and boys for the junior volleyball team.
- Educamp – as reported last month, Mr. Grey coordinated our first Educamp for junior students on Nov. 17, at which students received hands-on learning in various technology-based activities including coding, robotics, making i-Movies, and designing objects for a 3-D printer. Teams of grade 7 students, with the support of some parent volunteers, planned and taught the sessions. Feedback from the participants and staff was very positive, and we look forward to revisiting this initiative for our primary students.
- Recreational skating trip – on Tues. Dec. 19, junior students and their teachers will walk to the Tom Graham Arena for a recreational skate. Students will be required to wear a CSA-approved helmet while on the ice, and for those who don’t own skates, Redstone does have a collection of used skates but can always use more. Parent volunteers are welcome!
Intermediate (7 – 8)
- Intermediate Volleyball – The Intermediate Boys Volleyball Team placed fourth at the Area Tournament held at Richmond Rose, under the tutelage of Mr. Barwin and Mr. Horowitz. The Intermediate Girls’ team, guided by Ms. Cancelli and Mr. Mangaloglu, also had a strong showing at the areas. All of our athletes showed great effort, teamwork, and sportspersonship!
- Intermediate Basketball – tryouts begin this week for our senior boys and girls’ basketball teams, under the direction of Mr. Stoddart and Mr. Fleming.respectively.
- Recreational skating trip – as above, for intermediate classes, on Wed. Dec. 20.
- ‘Outcasts’ play at Richmond Green – intermediate classes walk to Richmond Green S.S. on Mon. Dec. 4 to watch a performance of the dramatic play Outcasts.
Administrator’s Report – Wendy Thompson
Cost Sharing
Wendy requested council funds to purchase technology (42 chrome books, 10 iPadand 1 document camera) which amounts to $6243.49
Vote from Council: All in favor and approved by Yvette
Lice
Condition with lice is continuously identified in school. Recently the regulations around lice has changed to state that if a child has nits, they can stay in school but if it is live lice, they have to go home. Process is that when a child is identified with lice, teachers sometimesidentify students or parents call the office, at times classes are checked and letters with lice information are sent home to parents. Ongoing checks at school include check for any other infestation, clean the classroom, carpets to ensure it is clean and that it does not spread.
Lice squad is an organization that can come and do lice checks. Frequent instances of lice prompted actions to get a quotation regarding checks. Cost is 400 per two staff for two hours; require having two or three adult volunteers just for k to grade 3. A parent from the council identified the over the counter medication Nyda product which helped eliminate lice with just one treatment.
Wendy was presenting the Lice Squad as an option for council to discuss and consider, to provide lice checks and education to teachers and parents to help stop the lice infestation.
Vote from Council: Request for Lice Squad was rejected.
Winter Safety
Wendy informed that the South path entranceof the school is not maintained in winter time. As soon as there is ice, it becomes slippery; children need to use the front or the path that are maintained by the staff. Adults and students wear appropriate footwear to prevent slips, trips and falls. Important for adults to drive safely, maintain idle free zone to ensure the fumes are not inhaled.
Treasurer’s Report – Vivian Murray-Black
Total Donation from 2017 donation drive = $3884.85 + $ 1872 = $ 5756.85
Total Estimate money for council allocation is $7161.19 (estimate at this point in time)
Recommendation for future fund drive to the paper flyers and cash online to get good results
Co-Chair Report – Maria Konstantopoulos and Jeff Young
Grade 8 Graduation fundraiser – Milk money raised upto a $1000 will be used to fund grade 8 graduation
Vivian moves the motion
QMAC –$ 1500 for two sessions will cover most of the school. This program is recommended as part of the Grow program, to deal with anti-bullying. School council all in favor and school council needs to find the money. Funds left over from council $800 will fund QMAC and rest of the money will come from Pizza
Any incoming milk money goes to grade 8 graduations
Vivian approved the motion for QMAC
Doug accepted the motion and all in favor of the recommendation
Other Business -
Fundraiser Ideas: Box of cards to distribute to students to purchase was found to be too time sensitive. Not recommended at this point in time
Another fundraiser is to conduct a dance for valentine’s day. Suggested day is Feb 1, 2018 from 6pm to 8pm. This event to include funds to support DJ, parent evening dance, pizza food, door prizes. Separate core committee will be formed to coordinate this event
Core committee: Varinder, Bahar and Yvette
Next meeting will be Monday, Jan 29, 2018 – 7:00pm.
Motion to adjourn – Vivian
Second – Maria
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.
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