Wilkinson School Community Council
Minutes
November 15, 2005
Attendees: Ruth Allen (Teacher Rep), Carol Bennett (Vice-Chair), Karen Geraci (Chair), John Hykel (Treasurer), Bianca Kapteyn, April Moon, Jonathan Root (Vice-Principal), Tanya Sterioff (Principal), Paula Weekes Kahn, Karen Wiseman
Regrets: Ruby Lederman, Jacqui Strachan, Sharon Weller (Secretary)
Absent: John Abberger, Catherine Lake, Sunny Mills
Recorder: Carol Bennett
Quorum met at 7:00pm
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve: Bianca/John
PASSED
Adoption of Minutes – September 20th meeting:
Changes required to:
• Regrets (include all Council members from 2004/05 school year who were not in attendance)
• Principal’s update, Treasurer’s update, Greening committee, Communications
Motion to approve with changes: Bianca/Karen W.
PASSED
Adoption of Minutes – October 18th meeting:
Changes required to:
• Treasurer’s update
Motion to approve with changes: John/Bianca
PASSED
Principal’s Update – Tanya
• Upcoming Events
o Nov. 18th: Safety Day (grades 1-6) videos, indoor/outdoor activities, fire department coming
o Nov. 30th: Winter Concert (grades 1-6)
o Dec. 2nd: Report Cards go home
o Dec. 6th: Picture retake day
o Dec. 6th & 7th: Reporting to parents
o Dec. 9th: P.A. Day
• Karen raised issue on behalf of Ruby Lederman: Parents who live a fair distance away from the school have asked whether it’s possible to stay with their children and provide their lunch at the school. Tanya agreed to let them use Room 56 for this. Ruby will inform those parent who have expressed interest in this option of Tanya’s response.
Wilkinson Council Constitution – Karen G.
• Action: Council members to review constitution for discussion at next month’s meeting.
Items discussed:
• Would like to see Education and Health & Safety Committees rejuvenated: Good opportunities for parents who would like to contribute to something not focused on fundraising
• Can we get a report to Council on the monthly Ward meetings? Perhaps there are parents who already attend who would be able to report to Council.
• Council members can appeal to their own contacts to generate interest in the committees, in addition to using the newsletter
• Add Performing Arts Committee to the Constitution Action: Bianca to bring written motion to amend constitution at next meeting (outline of committee’s mandate)
• Karen W. raised questions about the “Other Members” section: Is there a requirement to have representation from the following:
o Non-teaching staff (used to be Gail Simpson)
o Community (we haven’t had anyone for a number of years)
o Dandylion Day Care (needs to be a “non-voting” Council member so it can’t be someone from the Dandylion Board who is also a Council member). Action: April to follow up with members of Dandylion Board
• Article 5: We need to clarify language around what “…executive will convene two general meetings” means.
Treasurer’s Update – John H.
i) Statement of Financial Position – November 14, 2005 distributed
• Funds available: $9,879.19
o Amount will be amended in future to reflect funding set aside for Scientists in the Schools, Visiting Authors and Performing Arts
• New expenditures showing this month:
o Numbers (iron-on) for t-shirts: $144.45
o Visiting Authors: $1,230.50
o Performing Arts: $800
o DVD Player: $103.48
• Funds raised:
o Movie Night: approx. $600 from Nov. 11th event
o Direct Donations: additional $210
o Action: John to confirm profit from Oct. 28th Pizza Lunch with Sunny
ii) Funding Requests
• To ensure requests are given fair consideration, funding requests should be submitted at least 10 days prior to next Council meeting
• Action: John to email Funding Request form to all Council members
Committee Updates
i) Performing Arts – Bianca
• Faxed in request to Hot Docs; looking into use of Room 3 or Library to present
• Looking into Native Dance (for all grades), Dragon Dance, Puppet Show (primary grades)
• Will work on new mural with Daphne – Details to be confirmed
ii) Greening & Grounds Committee – John H
• John to organize a lunch with primary teachers to discuss plan and options for Kindergarten play area, including:
o Shed
o Trees
o Painting paths for tricycles, etc.
• Learning Garden has been cleaned up for the winter
iii) Communications Committee – Carol
• Nothing new to report
iv) Fundraising – Karen G. and Carol
• Update provided on behalf of Kim Diamond regarding 90th anniversary celebration: fundraising committee members and some staff members exploring ideas. More to come at the next meeting.
• April initiated Dominion Save-a-Tape program for Wilkinson
• Collecting Canadian Tire Money
• Chocolate Sales:
o Projected profit of $6,300
o About 30 students still owe $2,200 in total; follow up phone calls made; $50 lost
o 170 students participated in this year’s campaign a significant increase over previous years
o $450 in chocolate in stock remaining to sell at movie nights
• T-shirts: No Youth sizes left, lots of Adult sizes
o Carol obtained quote from supplier for reorder of 40 Youth t-shirts: $386.27; significantly higher as cost is $6/shirt due to small quantity
o We will not reorder at this time; agreement to revisit t-shirt order in the spring
Other Business
i) April raised issues concerning Dandylion Day Care children attending Pizza Lunches
• Day Care teachers not informed of all children attending Pizza Lunch by parents, therefore looking for them at lunchtime. Also, teachers saw Day Care children in the yard without adult supervision..
• Concerns raised by parents that they don’t have the opportunity to bring the money themselves for the lunch at the stated time/dates. Can they arrange to have the Day Care teachers bring money to the school on their behalf?
o Tanya and Jonathan amenable to having Day Care staff involved in the process
o Action: Karen G. to talk to Sunny about amending the forms and process to accommodate Dandylion children attending the Pizza Lunches
ii) Paula said Eid Party went well despite the blackout. Sarah Manjra would like to provide a thank-you piece in the next newsletter
iii) John advised the principals that the Council would be receptive to looking at purchasing team uniforms
• Tanya advised that the school had already purchased new uniforms for the basketball team
• Karen raised concern that teachers may not be aware of what they can request funds for in addition to the usual items e.g. Scientists, Authors, performances, etc. Action: Karen G. to attend next staff meeting (November) to talk about what Council fundraising objectives and funding criteria.
iv) Bianca will take photos of Council members at next month’s meeting for the bulletin board in the main hall.
Motion to adjourn - 8:15pm
Karen W./John
PASSED