Cornell Village School Advisory Council
Date: February 24, 2014
Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm
Parent Council Attendees:
Shana Betz / N / Susan Reid / YVicki Liu / Y / Rachael Buma / N
Casandra Bryant / N
Marie Scott / Y
Jim Vair / N
Elisa McGann-Golding / Y
Jeannie Daniels-Burry / N
Heidi Riley / Y
Kelly Dunn / Y
Parent Attendees: Kristin Vikse, Zaheera Dhanani-Saji, Anne Norcia,
Jennifer Porteous-Miller
Staff Attendees: Scott Saunders, Erin Hudson
1a Welcome / Acceptance of Current Agenda
· Motion to accept – Kelly
· 2nd – Vicki
1b Motion to Accept Minutes from Last Meeting
· Motion to accept – Kelly
· 2nd – Heidi
2 School Report
● Renovation Progress
o To be started on time during March Break
o The budget for the Kindergarten Program is being done currently
o Big transition, training for Kindergarten teachers
o Might have to move entrance for Portables once fencing is put up.
● Door Locking
o Daycare is responsible for time after 4:15pm.
o Daycare is getting a better handle of the procedures
● Outdoor Classroom
o The original 10 options for design have been seen by parent council, students and staff and the final three designs have been sent back to Kelvin.
● Lunch Assistants and Safe Arrival
o Still need lunch attendants full time and part time.
o Need parent volunteers to assist office for 1 hour in the morning to answer the phone and write up late slips so secretaries can focus on calling students who have not shown up at school.
o Both Safe Arrival help and Lunch Assistants info should be placed in the forms packages at the beginning of the school year
● Parking Lot
o Blocking off of parking lot after school due to lack of staff available for duty after school (not ECE)
o Parents Council members will help by putting out pylons.
o Add to newsletter that cars are not to come in the parking lot at the end of day.
o Maybe a pass for cars that are allowed would help
3 Treasurer Report (Elisa)
· Balance is- $10,023.58 as of Feb 24
· Motion to accept –Heidi
· 2nd – Kelly
6 Sub Committee Updates (Chairs)
● Fundraising (Kelly)
o Requests for money to be spent in the following areas
$2500 Math Manipulatives
$2000 Support Staff
$1000 Math Night
$5000 Outdoor Classroom
o School would like to use $4000 for the support staff due to the fact that for the first half of the school year they have spent $2000 on the Support Staff so that the teachers can attend tournaments and games with the teams
o Worst case scenario is if we don’t have the funding then people could stop going and then students suffer.
o Track and Field Junior/Intermediate is the largest area and if we get the funding then more students could participate.
o Chess Club started as of Feb 24th
o Parent Council proposes we use $3000.00 for the extra-curricular activities Support Staff
Motion to accept – Shana
2nd – Vicki
Passed unanimously
o Math Manipulatives $2500 to be used by the school to buy math manipulatives for classrooms
Motion to accept – Kelly
2nd- Shana
Passed unanimously
o Math Night school has asked for $1000.00 to fund the math night that will be attended by parents and students
Motion to accept – Heidi
2nd – Kelly
Passed unanimously
o Outdoor Classroom Parent Council will leave $3000.00 in the account for the outdoor classroom with the understanding that we will do a fundraising event in the spring to raise more money for the classroom. Goal is to raise a minimum $5000.00 for the outdoor classroom
Motion to accept – Kelly
2nd – Shana
Passed unanimously
o Fundraising Committee to have brainstorming meeting after this meeting to discuss the next fundraising event
o Cornell Community Garage Sale Book / BBQ Sale do we want to do this in June?
● Communication and parent Engagement (Sue)
o Website is being updated 1/3 through
o Math Fundamental Night will be April 16th
Volunteers needed
More information will be provided via email
o Video to be posted on the website with resources and tips about internet safety. Toronto Police have a binder full of information on this topic
o Getting in contact with the York Region Police to come and give info to parents and students
o Link to YRP site
o Any info that should be added to the newsletter due by the end of the week.
o Add to newsletter about getting multiple copies and info on how to block if they want to.
· Staff Appreciation (Elisa/Marie)
o Spring Concert Nights we will need meals. Dates to be provided
o Possibly Math Fundamental Night maybe we could order pizza for staff, parents and students
● Sustainability (Sue)
o Milk Bag Program has started we just need to make sure bags are clean when brought to the school
· Constitution (Shana)
o Meeting in March to discuss revisions
7 New Business
· Grade 8 Graduation,
o Grade 7 parents are asked to help serve and decorate.
o Setup and Clean is an issue and we could use more help.
o Karolynn Vaisanen and Heather McQueen are organizing. Scott to see what needs there are.
· Yearbook for Grade 8’s Mrs. Hudson still has reservations about the privacy laws and sees more barrios than profit.
· Question was raised about Time it takes to respond to a parent’s inquiry.
o Erin hopes ti was just a one off that was missed and both Erin and Scott try to respond to all parents concerns quickly
· Bullying Policy
o Children do not all get the same type of discipline
o There is a progressive discipline plan at the school – typically first time ½ day in office, second time 1 day in the office, third time suspension for the same offense. Different type of offenses will result in starting the progressive discipline from the beginning
o Ultimate goal is to reduce incidences of ‘bullying’, However, each child will be treated differently depending on mitigating circumstances (including whether or not a student has special needs).
o All students have the right to education. Students who are subject to lengthy suspensions will have access to alternate programs at alternate locations.
· The school's policy in regards to contacting parents about issues depends on the child’s age and the situation, but the school does lean towards calling. If the issue is physical then parents are always called
· The school constantly strives to communicate clearly with parents. More communication regarding our Bully Prevention programs will be added to our monthly newsletters
· Parents are encouraged to contact Daycare should incidents arise and they want more detail. The school and daycare will continue to work on communication plans together and work on aligning common discipline procedures.
· All reports are triplicated teacher has a copy and both principal and vice principal have a copy.
8 Motion to adjourn
· Motion to accept - Shana
· Second - Heidi
· Meeting adjourned
If any discrepancies in these minutes please contact:
Marie Scott