Wilkinson School
Community Council
Meeting Minutes
September 14, 2009
Present: Leasa Adams (Vice Principal),
Carol Bennett, Sarah Gillespie, John Hykel, Ruby Lederman,
April Moon, Alison Motluk, Jill Spellman, Tanya Sterioff
(Principal), Erin Vaillancourt, Sam Vrakking, Paula Weekes
Kahn, Karen Wiseman
Regrets: Rachel Ault (Staff Rep), Laura
Bullard-Brezovsky, Karen Geraci, Susan Haney
Guests: Jacqui Baby, Laarni Portelli
Recorder: Alison Motluk
Meeting called to order at 7:06pm
1. Welcome and introductions.
Carol welcomed council back from summer holiday. Our guests
were introduced.
2. Approval of the agenda
Changes: Treasurer's Report and Greening
Update to precede Principal's update as John needs to leave
early. Update on new playground equipment and Council table
at Curriculum Night added to New Business/Other Items.
motion: Sarah Gillespie
seconded: Jill Spellman
3. Approval of June 15 minutes
The minutes were not available for approval. Deferred until
next meeting.
4. Treasurer's report
As of July 31, 2009, we had $15,550.76 in the bank. We're
in good shape to start the year. John suggests we should be
more aggressive with spending.
April reminded council that money saved last year for arts
needs to be put into mural this year. John pointed out that
operating expenses for council are down somewhat this year
because we applied for government grant.
John will create a spreadsheet to make tracking money
easier. He also offered to be treasurer again this year but
suggested someone shadow him to prepare to take over next
year.
Greening
John told council we will aim to paint the wooden wall in
the primary play area. Ruby agreed to help if the date
could be September 27 - Date to be changed. A notice will
be placed on the website and by the front door.
5. Principal's Update
Tanya informed council that Wilkinson now has approximately
500 students, 28.5 students above projection. We are now a
closed school and will not take in any students currently
on the waiting list. We have a large number of kindergarten
students because of last year's intake and next year, the
seniors will all become full-time students and our numbers
will expand.
The annual fall book fair will be next week in room 3.
Thursday September 24 will be curriculum night, from 6:45
to 8pm. We'll meet in the gym, where Tanya will introduce
staff before parents vote in this year's school council.
The school is taking precautions against H1N1. Caretakers
are now disinfecting handrails and doorknobs on a daily
basis. Office staff are disinfecting phones and counters
every morning. The librarian is disinfecting the computer
lab daily. We have ordered Purell for all the classrooms
and there will be soap and water for children whose parents
don't want them to use hand sanitizer.
Alison mentioned that the younger children cannot reach the
soap in the basement washrooms. Tanya agreed to find a way
to make soap available. Alison also asked how staff would
define “sick” when deciding to call a student's
parents. April asked that the school coordinate policies
with Dandylion daycare.
There will be two fire drills next week, one in the morning
and one in the afternoon. We will also be having our annual
“hold and secure” (formerly known as
“lockdown”) practice for students. It will be
very low key for students. It is aimed at teachers and how
they communicate with the office during that exercise.
A red and black climber is on its way. It will arrive in a
few weeks. It will cost $3000-4000 to excavate the area and
more to make a safe ground cover. It is more than the
school intended to commit but Tanya felt it was important.
She will have the gate removed so that locals don't use it
as a dog run area.
6. Pizza lunches
Laarni has agreed to take on pizza lunches. She proposed
raising the price a bit, from $7.50 to $8, for instance,
with the highest price capped at $20. After much discussion
about the fairness of various price hikes, council decided
to leave it to Laarni to decide, taking our input into
consideration. The first pizza lunch is October 23.
7. Ukulele club
Jacqui spoke on behalf of Ms Levy and Melanie Doane, who
are coordinating a ukulele club at the school. Melanie is
offering to instruct a group of grade 4 students on the
ukulele. Twenty-two students have shown interest and the
class is now full. Ukuleles cost approximately $40 and 4
students don't have one yet. Jacqui came to council to see
if council will pay for the instruments, giving the
students an option to buy them at the end of the year.
Sam asked if these 22 students will be the only ones to
benefit from the club. Jacqui was unsure. Sarah suggested
it would not be well-received by parents if we were funding
an exclusive group. Ruby suggested we should fund it even
if it was just this selected group. Tanya said the school
could subsidize up to $200 if there was financial need.
Carol suggested we revisit the issue once we know if
Melanie intends only to take on this group, or give another
group a chance next year. Agreement that any instruments
purchased by the council should remain with the school
(i.e. not kept by students).
8. Funding requests
Ms Di Iorio, the librarian, has requested $2500 to cover
the costs of author and illustrator visits. Council said
they had already earmarked that much for this purpose and
would await specific requests.
Leasa requested we buy a few more IKEA bags for lunch time.
Tanya said if they are only a dollar we should buy 30. Erin
said she would purchase them.
9. Committee updates
a) Communications
Carol mentioned that a welcome package had been sent out.
She also mentioned that this is the last year she'll be
doing the newsletter and if someone wanted to shadow the
position with a view to taking over next year, that would
be great. Jill said she would. Gerald Flach will be taking
over the graphics. Phil will continue to manage the
website.
b) Fundraising
Chocolate sales Carol told council that 150 boxes of
chocolate would be arriving on Thursday Sep 24. Ruby
suggested we sort the chocolate and hand it out on
curriculum night. Others felt Friday would work better.
Money has to be back on Friday October 16.
Direct donation Carol will send out a flyer with the
November newsletter as this will follow the chocolate sale.
Erin will get a graphic of the new play structure and we
will indicate we are continuing to raise funds for its
installation this year.
Movie nights “Up” will be the first movie of
the year, on September 25. Set up starts at 4pm. April is
looking for help.
Other Ruby is wondering if council wants to sell pumpkins
again this year. The general consensus was yes.
c) Health and Safety
School windows/school building Sarah heard through the
grapevine that Wilkinson will not be getting new windows
because assessments late last year found that the building
was not structurally sound. Tanya said no one had told her
we are not getting new windows. She awaits the decision.
Asphalt area of the schoolyard Sarah pointed out that the
asphalt in our playground was buckling and needed to be
replaced. She wondered why other schools in better
condition had had replacements. Tanya will ask.
Lanyards Sarah asked again what was happening with the
lanyards that are meant to identify teachers on yard duty.
Leasa said that there would be a staff meeting on Friday
and they would be distributed then.
10. Process for Council Election
Carol outlined how elections would take place on curriculum
night. She regretted she would not be there. Paula agreed
to take over. Next council meeting is Oct 5th.
11. New Business
Water safety Ruby mentioned a swimming program that our
school might be interested in, “water safety
first”. Tanya suggested Muslim families may not be
keen. Alison felt we should get further input from these
parents rather than assume anything. Tanya said in addition
a swim program would present a logistical nightmare for the
teaching staff.
Dandylion April mentioned that there is room in Dandylion's
afterschool program, for grades 4, 5, and 6. It provides
care only on school days (no lunches), and costs $265 a
month.
12. Adjournment at 8:40pm
Motion: Carol
Seconded: Erin