Chair: Beth Hall

Present : Wayne Allison, Isabella Beattie, Jacki Blunn, Lisa Buesnel, Rosemary Clarke, Lee Ann Fraser, Beth Hall, Candace Hyatt, Doug Marlatt, Lynn Anne McEwen, Deb Plunkett, Dee Thompson, Tammy Trozzi, Bill Vermeersch, and Kelly Wright

Regrets: Kathy Evans

1. Beth Hall chaired the meeting.  She welcomed everyone for attending.

2. Agenda Review and Additions: None were offered. Beth encouraged everyone to speak up if they had any agenda items.

4. Principal’s Report:

a) EQAO Results:  Ms. Beattie passed out the results of the EQAO testing.  She mentioned that these results are now available on the school web-site.  Ms. Beattie then reviewed the results with the Council.  Notable points from the results were:

► We surpassed the Board in the Grade 3 results in math, reading and writing.  This is excellent from our students.

► Still outstanding in all areas for Grade 6 results.

► The staff is very pleased with the students and the results are very notable.

► We hope the parents and Council are pleased as well.

Ms. Beattie asked if there were any comments or concerns regarding this issue:

The question was asked – Do we only concentrate on the Grades that are testing in that year or do we equalize it over all the Grades?  Ms. Beattie replied that she encourages the staff and it is their responsibility to prepare the students for EQAO type of testing for all other Grades.  So the staff is preparing the students – all classes are stimulated to do EQAO type testing.  Over time the students become accustomed to the type of questions and the type of testing that is done in EQAO.

Ms. Beattie meets with the Blenheim High and Harwich Raleigh Principal’s once a month.  This is one of the issues they discuss.  She has asked the High School Principal to gather results of previous Baird students to help further WJ Baird with testing for when they reach Grade ten.

We also offered an after school literacy program last year for Grade 7 & 8’s.  To help them boost them in reading and writing.  We will also offer the program again this year.

We must remember that results don’t happen overnight – it takes time.  Constant improvement is the key.

b) Korean Students: WJ Baird was asked if we had space to host Korean Students into our school.  Chatham Kent Municipality has been visiting Korea.  The program is for students to get some exposure to English speaking children.  It is basically an immersion experience for the children.  It is no extra work for the teachers as there are no report cards to be written or testing to be done.  Basically the students come and listen to the teachers and children speaking English and then interacting with other children on recess.  We do have the space.  It is a win/win situation.  It will also be a wonderful experience for our students.  The board gets tuition money for these students and we would get a portion of that money.  It will most likely start in January.  Stay tuned. 

c) WJ Baird Pamphlet: The school was given the opportunity for a University Student to design a pamphlet for our school for public relations to promote WJ Baird.  The pamphlet was made free of charge.  Ms. Beattie has a bunch of brochures and it would be appreciated if anyone were willing to take some and help put them out in the community so we can share with others how great our school is!  We want others to come to our school because we know how great it is!  This is a great opportunity for us to do that.

d) Weekly Newspaper Article: Our first submission was in the paper this week.  It is a program designed for Grade 7 and 8 students as an enrichment experience.  In teams of 2 these students collect the news at the school for one week.  Type up an article and submit it to Ms. Beattie.  She edits it and talks to them and then they forward to the Blenheim News Tribune for printing.  Students who wrote the article get the credit for it.

e) School Growth Plan: Ms. Beattie asked Bill to review the program with the Council Attachments explains it in more detail.  Highlights discussed during our meeting.

► Suspensions were down since we put these programs into place.

► Those who get a “You deserve it” will now be added into our weekly newspaper ad.

► Elmer flag is taken down when there is an accident at school.  Last year the flag stayed up the whole year.

► Gym painted.  It is the small things that make a big difference.

► Will be starting the “Schools in Motion” Program in April.  The “Schools in Motion” program is left up to each individual homeroom teacher.  More information to follow.

► OTHEA web-site asks the question – Does your school promote healthy living in their School Growth Program? – which we do.

► Best Start will be another positive addition to the School Growth Program.

► Ms. Beattie reminded us that this Growth Plan is constantly changed and updated.

► Bill said that Ms. McFadden brought in a lot of good ideas for our School Growth Program.

► Ms. Beattie asked if there was any input and are we in support of this program.  Everyone agreed.

f) Dr. Charles Baird – Ms. Beattie received a call today from his daughter to tell us that Dr. Baird passed away today at age 91.  Dr. Baird was the son of W.J. Baird. They would like to set up a Baird Scholarship fund and would we be in favour of this?  The reply was YES.  In the obituary it will say that they will accept donations to the WJ Baird Scholarship Fund.  What kind of scholarship it will be has not yet been decided.  It will be for a Grade 8 graduate.  Ms. Beattie asked if we had any input as to the type of scholarship it should be.  It was decided that we would all think about it and discuss at the next meeting in January.  The granddaughter will also get more information on her grandfather for Ms. Beattie, who will post some of this information on the school web-site.  Also we decided that it would be a good idea to send a floral arrangement on behalf of the staff and students at W.J. Baird to be sent to the funeral home.
g) Ms. Beattie ended her very positive principal’s report.

7. Board Meeting for Parent’s Council Chairs: Beth briefly explained the meeting she attended with Ms. Beattie.  Attached are the minutes to that meeting for everyone to read and review.  If you have any questions, please contact Beth to discuss.

a) Next meeting will be on Wednesday January 18^th, 2006

b) Any agenda items can be emailed to Beth Hall.

c) Campbell’s Labels for Education program will be discontinued.  Due to the new system put in place by Campbell’s Label Program.  A note will be in the December newsletter. The bin will be removed from the Sobeys.

d) Also a note will be in December newsletter that we are no longer accepting grocery store receipts either.

e) Christmas Concert: Will there be a Christmas concert this year?  Each division takes turns.  This year it is the intermediate division.  They have not decided on what they are doing yet.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a Christmas Concert.  Will be decided in the future.

10. Next Meeting: Wednesday January 18, 2006