Chair: Beth Hall

Present : Dee Thompson, Lee Ann Fraser, Tammy Trozzi, Debbie Plunkett, John B. Kyle, Isabella Beattie, Bill Vermeersch, Beth Hall, Lisa Buesnel, Lynn Anne McEwen,  Rosemary Clarke and Barb Pardo

Regrets: Candice Hyatt, Wayne Allison, Kathy Evans

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 Josten’s

Hosted by Andy.  Brief run-down of items and services already offered by Josten’s.   New items for next year included digital retouching of photos, cut-outs, wallet photos with name at bottom of photo, magnets and key tags.  They also can do Yearbooks however the school still needs to set up a working committee.  Andy thanked everyone for giving him the opportunity to present and hoped that we would continue to make Josten’s their choice school photographer.

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) Mural at front entrance of school – is coming along very nicely.  They met as a committee and decided to use the talents of Penelope Duchesne.  You can check out her website.  She does great work and her art work can be found locally throughout the community.  It’s been a great experience for the students to see the progress and the wonderful comments they give to her as she is working. It is very encouraging and motivating.  Ms. Beattie also thanked Candice Hyatt for volunteering on the committee and giving her input.

b) Landscaping – Ms. Beattie is looking to spruce up our front yard with some landscaping.  She is looking for some funds in order to do this.  She can certainly use some of the funds we receive from the Korean Students.  But there is also a grant you can receive from Union Gas if one of your student’s parents or grandparents works at Union Gas.  She asked if we knew of anyone in the school whose parents work at Union Gas.  If we could ask around so then the school can apply for the School Beautification grant.  In the meantime she will have McGuigan’s come in and give us some suggestions and provide a quote to landscape the front of the school.  The Board takes care of the maintenance of the gardens once they are in.

c) Track and Field Day – Due to the weather and conditions of the field the Track and Field Date might be cancelled at this time.  Mr. Vermeersch will make his decision tomorrow.  Ms. Beattie fully supports Bill’s decision on this.

d) Busing has been a real issue this year in booking field trips and for the track and field event in Chatham.  A letter will be going home to parents regarding the track and field event in Chatham.

e) Ontario Parent Involvement Policy - Ms. Beattie shared a letter she received regarding funds the Board has allotted to the Home and School Councils.  She received $500 which she has to spend before June.  She asked for our input on how to spend the money.  It was discussed and agreed by all in attendance to pay off the outstanding bills for the Volunteer Tea and then use the remainder of the funds to pay half of our balance to the Webmaster for our Web Page for next year.

f) School Handbook – Many helpful recommendations were made:

► Dress Code – page 8 – take out the word spandex – outdated term and not applicable.

► Page 2 – Adding the teacher’s titles before their name so parents know if their child has a male or female teacher.

► Page 8&9 – Adding a section on Parent Volunteers and the requirement of a Police Criminal Check.  Also to mention confidentiality.

► Electronics Equipment – add a section to reflect that these items are not to be used or allowed inside the school.

► Page 9 – School student records – Do we have a school nurse?  Yes.  It was suggested that we add this to our September newsletter to let the parents know her name and her function in the school.

► Page 11 – Bicycles and Safety – was suggested that Bike Helmets are the law to be bolded to stand out more.

To add a section regarding Sabrina’s law on Peanut Allergies.

► Page 11 – Suggested that in the September newsletter parents are reminded that they can buy school t-shirts for gym use.

It was also suggested that we put a cut-out page like we do with the newsletters stating that the parent has read the Student Handbook and have the parents return it to the school.

► Page 9 – Spelling mistake was noted in the Smoking section.  Ms. Beattie to have corrected.

Everyone’s input was appreciated and she would sit down with Bill and make the necessary changes.

g) Year End Reports – reminded Beth that they are due in the middle of June.

h) School Photographer for next year – it was discussed in length and agreed by everyone present that we will try Life Touch Photo’s for 1 year and then discuss our feedback at next year’s meeting.

Beth added on this subject that anyone who is interested in joining this committee can do so and contact Sue Fraser as outlined in this memo.

a) Dee Thompson only reported the Home and School was helping to fund all year end trips in some way (i.e.:  busing, extra costs, etc.).  Ms. Beattie wanted to give special thanks to the Home and School committee for their generous amounts of money they are providing for year end trips.  Hats off to everyone on this committee!

b) Park Benches – No status at this time.

a) This is the last meeting till next Fall.  In September it will be announced which day the meeting will take place.  It will be a Wednesday night.

b) Best Start Program – Is still a go ahead.  Construction will take place in September and continue into the fall.  Start up date at this time is estimated in 2007.

c) Ms. Beattie thanked everyone for participating this year on the Council.  She gave a special thank you to Beth as Chair and Lynn Anne as Co Chair.

d) Class Alignments – this was brought up at the last minute.  Ms. Beattie outlined the class alignment status to date for next year:

► JK/SK will be blended again – approximately 19 students in each class.  Teachers will be Mrs. Kacer and Mrs. Harrison.

► Grade 1 – one class – approximately 20 students.  Teacher will be Mrs. Barnard.

► Grade 2 – one class – approximately 20 students.  Teacher will be Mrs. Miller.

► Grade 3 – one class – approximately 22 students as this class size must be capped.  This will be a LTO teacher as Ms. Simms has extended her maternity leave.  The position is currently posted.

► Split Grade 3 and 4 - Also will be a LTO teacher as Mrs. Butcher is still currently on maternity leave.  Position is currently posted.  This class will be larger as she is not required to cap the number of students after Grade 3.

► Grade 5 – one class – Miss Wild is retiring – Position currently posted.

► Grade 6 – one class – Mr. Woods

► Grade 7 – one class – Mr. Vermeersch

► Grade 8 – one class – Ms. Kestilunic.  She is a teacher currently at Wheatley and is very excited to be starting at our school.

► Mrs. Espie will be going part-time.

► Ms. Clark has been laid off.

► Mrs. Lethbridge will become an LCR and will do part-time librarian.

► E.A. time has decreased by .5. Ms. Jackson will full-time and Mrs. Caldwell will be .5