minutes

Parents of Middlebury Minutes
11.14.2014 / 6:30 pm – 8:20 pm / Middlebury Public School
Type of Meeting / School Council Meeting
Note taker / Natasha Persaud
Timekeeper / Natasha Persaud
Attendees / Suzana Budetic, Principal
Sarah Schoettler, Vice Principal
Tara-Jade Hinsperger, Teacher Representative
Emily Wan, Fundraising Chair
James Piasecki, Treasurer
Mehr Suleman, Chair
Nataha Persaud, Secretary
Lin Tian, (until 7:45pm)
Saria Alvi, Communications Chair (Shared with Jai Chhillar)
Jai Chhillar, Communications Chair (Shared with Saria Alvi)
Regrets / None
Visitors / Tabatha Malone (left approximately 6:50pm)
Approve Agenda/Meeting Minutes
5 min / Presenter: Mehr Suleman
Discussion / Minutes from previous approved by council. Move ahead with Agenda.
Principal/Vice Principal Report
60 min / Presenter: Suzana Budetic/Sara Schoettler
Discussion / Health & Physical Education Curriculum Survey – Deadline Nov 28th, 2014
·  There will be a survey regarding the Health & Physical Education Curriculum to seek input from parents.
·  There will be one representative from each school.
·  Survey will be completed by School Council Chair, only Chair can open and complete the survey.
·  Short survey to be done by Nov 28th deadline. Survey is anonymous.
Discussion / Safety Procedures
·  There is ongoing concerns with parents entering school parking lot after 2:50pm. Busy time of day with parents picking up kids.
·  2 Lanes at front of school are for buses only – buses start entering around 2:55pm
·  Safety concerns as students walking/crossing lanes which can be dangerous.
·  Saria brought up a concern for a need of a crossing guard at Thomas Street – parents would have to contact City of Mississauga Safety Council for review/action.
·  Newsletter will be sent home at the end of November to remind parents not to enter the school parking lot after 2:50pm.
·  If students are late, parents are required to drop them off at the office to receive a late slip and student must proceed to their classroom on their own.
Discussion / 1. Jingle Mingle Winter Concert: December 11th, 2014 @ 6:30pm
·  Music Teacher will be hosting a Winter Concert on Dec 11th, 2014.
·  Parents are welcome to attend concert.
·  Teachers are running Toys for Tots – confirm date & drop off info.
Discussion / Anti Bullying Week: November 17th – November 22nd
·  The focus is digital citizenship – Cyber Bullying.
·  We will have a guest speaker and two presentations at the school.
·  There will be a display of books for teachers to use in the classroom.
·  Continued education for parents and students on “What bullying is”.
·  November 24th, 2014 is “Move & Groove”.
·  Move & Groove is a program offered by the Polycultural Centre and free for all students. It is a one-hour session and is a positive school community builder and tool for physical, social and emotional health.
Discussion / Engage Math PowerPoint Presentation: 25 Minutes by Sara
·  Numeracy results has declined in grade 3 + 6 scores & challenges in grade 9 applied level math
·  Middlebury is well above provincial data.
·  Changing learning approach to more Critical Thinking – making learning more visible & encourage students to show how they are thinking. Finding different ways to solve a problem.
·  Peel District SB has developed Engage Math to support the teaching and learning of Mathematics.
·  It’s a 3 year comprehensive numeracy strategy to help students achieve numeracy greatness.
·  It is built on three foundational drivers: instructional focus, instructional strategies and assessment practices.
·  There will be a Parent Numeracy & Beyond Conference on Saturday April 18th, 2015 – 8am to 2:30pm @ Fletcher’s Meadow secondary School, Brampton.
· 
Discussion / School Council Roles/Responsibilities
·  Reviewed four council positions available.
·  Reviewed roles of council members & purpose of school council.
·  Want to encourage parents to be more involved and active in council meetings.
·  By law, we cannot use old email distribution list.
·  Have paper consent forms for electronic communication but new distribution list needs to be created. School needs volunteer to work on new distribution list and enter all info.
·  Emily Wan volunteered for Fundraising Chair.
·  Saria Alvi & Sanjay volunteered for Communications Chair (they will co-chair).
·  Saria Alvi – Volunteered for Volunteer Chair position.
·  Education Chair – Will have to confirm with Lin Tian if she’s interested.
·  All council meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every of the following months: Jan 14th, Feb 11th, April 8th, May 13th & June 17th, 2015.
Action Items / Person Responsible / Deadline
Pro Grant – In School Cooking Lessons / Suzana
Move It Middlebury – Fundraising for upcoming needs / Suzana / 2015
James to confirm with Lisa on Red & White Pencils & Pizza Expenditures / James
Chair Report
15 min / Presenter: Mehr Suleman
Discussion / Move It Middlebury
·  Move It Middlebury - Discussed raising funds for any upcoming school purposes. Suzana will review and let council know possibly by March 2015.
·  There is a need for more ipads. Cost for 10 ipads is approx. $6000.
·  Grove Edge is available throughout the year – could possibly look at charging students/parents to raise funds – Undecided at the moment.
Pro Grant
·  $1000 is available to use for Fitness & Nutrition. Reviewed various options on how to use the funds. Suggestions given by council such as sending home a Booklet on Nutritious foods, contacting a Nutritionist for a presentation, Cookbook and kids would submit recipes, in school cooking lessons. Will explore further.
Treasurer Report
10 min / Presenter: James Piasecki
Discussion / ·  Opening balance: $3537.90 (As of Sept 1st, 2014)
·  Collected approx. $5000 for Pizza day (Pizza day ends Nov 24th)
·  Balance forward $3537.90
·  Council agreed to purchase new Pizza Gift Cards - Fundscript
Fundraising/Volunteer Report
0 min / Presenter:
Discussion / ·  None
Communication Report
0 min / Presenter:
Discussion / ·  None
Other
15 min / Tabatha Malone
Discussion / Staff Appreciation
·  Discussed a staff appreciation luncheon for teachers
·  Cost is approx. $300-$500
·  Parent & Community would host luncheon
·  Suzana confirmed we cannot use funds that council raises for staff (funds can only be used for students)
·  Suggestion for a Spirit Committee – could send info home to parents and see if they are willing to donate to a staff appreciation luncheon
·  Tabatha will discuss further with Suzana
Discussion

Adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 14th, 2015