Chair: Beth Hall

Present : Jennie Bertram, Candice Hyatt, Dee Thompson, Lee Ann Fraser, Wayne Allison, Tammy Trozzi, John B. Kyle, Isabella Beattie, Bill Vermeersch, Beth Hall, Lisa Buesnel, Lynn Anne McEwen, Kathy Evans, Jackie Blunn and Rosemary Clarke.

Regrets: Debbie Plunkett

1. Beth welcomed everyone to the meeting.  We had a new parent tonight.  Jennie Bertram introduced herself and we all welcomed her to the meeting.

2. Agenda Review and Additions: None were offered.

3. Presentation from Life Touch Photos

Hosted by Mary Ellen who gave a quick presentation of the services and products they offer. Some highlights:

►two weeks for proofs, depends on the time of year

►All photographers have been background checked and cleared for the safety of the children.

►Digital photography

►Fall and Spring sessions. In the fall it is the regular fall background and/or the studio expressions. Packages are roughly $36.00 each. Ms. Beattie has the price lists if you wish to review.

►Spring sessions are the Summer garden and/or center stage backgrounds.

►She will honour the family discount. 3 rd child is free even if the child is in the High School and she has not taken their photograph.

►Class groups are complimentary.

►Graduation packages, book marks, key tabs, teacher planners and many other complimentary items were reviewed.

►There is no extreme change in price and they are comparable to the competitor. Most packages ran around $36.00 each and extras were in the range of $6.00 up to $12.00 per item or sheet.

Beth cannot attend both of these meetings. If anyone is interested in attending please see Beth after the meeting or give her a call. She has an outline for both meetings. The meeting in Toronto might pay for travel and accommodations. If anyone is interested in attending that meeting, please let Beth know. The meetings are as follows:

►Lambton-Kent District School Board Meeting – Thursday, April 20, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm LCCVI
►3rd Annual School Council Symposium – Friday April 28, 2006 in Toronto.

a) Handbook - Every year we have to review the School Handbook.  So Ms. Beattie handed out copies and asked that we all take a look at it.  Jot down notes or comments or questions and we will need to discuss it at the next meeting in May.

b) School Council Annual Report - lso every year we have to do an annual report on the School Council and the Home and School – to be prepared and typed for all parents.  We need to discuss this at our next meeting.  Beth is working on the outline.  We need to send it out to all parents by the middle of June.

c) Campbell’s Labels for Education – A big big thank you goes out to Tammy Trozzi for all her hard work on the Campbell’s Labels Program and Deb Plunkett’s assistance.  We were able to obtain a new digital camera and docking station.  Ms. Beattie passed around the camera for everyone to view.  It is a beautiful camera and our old camera is ancient and the battery is always dying and this will be very much appreciated.  Ms. Beattie thanked Tammy for all her hard work and efforts on this program.

d) School Mural – They are all doing fine. No concerns to date have been brought forward. This has been a wonderful opportunity for W.J. Baird. There are a couple of the students leaving at the end of February. One will be replaced on March 1st in Grade 6. The students are adjusting well and picking up so much.

e) Education Week – Plans are in progress for Education Week. They will send out the final plans in the next newsletter. Key things that are planned:

►Volunteer Appreciation
►An open house.
►Wrap up of the Schools in Motion program with special events each day.
►Bring in an author for the Grade 6, 7 and 8 students.

f) Variety Show - Tomorrow night (April 20^th) the students will be putting on a variety show for the parents, friends and neighbours of our community.  If you are interested in attending it is at 7:00 pm.  The Home and School has volunteered to donate pop and tim-bits for the students who are participating.  These items will be available for them after the show tomorrow night.

g) Schools in Motion Program - Bill Vermeersch reviewed the Schools in Motion Program for all in attendance.   Ms. Beattie thanked Bill for all his hard work on this program.

h) Presentation with Life Touch Photos – Ms. Beattie mentioned that Life Touch used to do the photos at W.J. Baird years ago.  But it’s important to scout out what’s available.  Josten’s heard that Life Touch was coming in and they would also like an opportunity to do a presentation.  So at the next meeting we will have a presentation by Josten’s.  Then we need to let Ms. Beattie know what direction we will go in for next year photographs.

Beth asked if there was any kind of updates as she had seen a few things in the paper.  Ms.  Beattie has not heard anything.  They have not started anything yet.  They are 99% sure it will happen but nothing further to add

a) KFC - KFC has monies available for schools – you can apply for a grant on-line and the money could be used for playground equipment and other items. Kathy is going to find out more information. Will try to have by our next meeting.

b) Park Benches – Total for the 3 benches with arms is $3145.00 or $2805.00 with no arms just a back. Ms. Beattie would prefer just plain flat benches with no backs or arms. The fancier they are the more susceptible they are to vandalism. Mr. Vermeersch mentioned the new benches in the park across street would be a good example of what they are looking for. Kathy to get more information and pricing. If we agree Ms. Beattie will start the paperwork process and we can probably order them and have them by September next year.

c) Bingo Dates – May 1st at 9:30 pm. There is another Bingo in May – Kathy is not sure of the date and it will be at 12:00 am. She did have a baseball team approach her – they are willing to do the bingo for us for a couple of hundred dollars. This would still allow us to make money and not have to round up volunteers for a 12:00 am Bingo. Kathy will get the dates to Ms. Beattie. If you are able to help with any of the Bingo’s – please call Kathy Evans.

d) Last Fundraiser – we made $1000.00 from the last fund raiser.

e) Track and Field Dates – May 19th and a rain date of May 26th. Home and School will take care of the BBQ once again. However we will have to raise our prices this year. Kathy asked Ms. Beattie if she would be interested in using the Optimist Club again to do the BBQ. Ms. Beattie is fine with that. This will allow all parents to watch their kids and not have to volunteer with food services.

f) School Beautification – Kathy read an article in the Blenheim paper today regarding a program to involve schools in a beautification project. She asked everyone to take a look at it and maybe comment at next meeting.

a) Bike Helmets – do we do anything to encourage the use of Bike Helmets considering it is the law now? This is the parents’ responsibility not the school. The Elmer Safety Program does mention bike helmets in their program. It is ultimately up the parents to enforce.

b) Grass Cutting – is there any specific time that the grass can be cut? Parents on the school yard are complaining about cutting the grass near the end of the day with kids’ allergies and such. Ms. Beattie said this is a very contentious subject. Once the children are inside the school they are allowed on the property to cut the grass. They have to cut the grass sometime. Since he does the contract for all the schools, he can’t set one particular time to be there and/or not be there.

11. Next Meeting: Wednesday May 17th, 2006 at 7:00 pm.