Wilkinson School Community Council
Meeting Minutes
April 14, 2008
Present: Rachel Ault (staff), Carol Bennett, Karin Deane, Karen Geraci,
Sarah Gillespie, John Hykel, Ruby Lederman, April Moon, Alison Motluk,
Jamie Stokes Jacqui Strachan, Lisa Watt (Vice Principal), Paula Weekes Kahn
Guest: Caroline Ziegler
Regrets: Susan Haney, Sunny Mills, Tanya Sterioff (Principal), Karen
Wiseman
Absent: Bambi Alvia
Recorder: Alison Motluk
Meeting called to order at 7:04pm
1. Approval of the agenda
Approved.
2. Approval of March 17th minutes.
Approved.
3. Principal's update
Lisa reported that:
o On Friday April 18 students will clean up the yard from 1:00-2:00pm as
part of a city-wide initiative
o Tuesday April 22 will be Earth Day. Students will rotate to a variety
of rooms where they will be doing related activities throughout the day
o Friday April 25 will be “red and black” day. Staff and students are
encouraged to wear school colours that day
o Wednesday April 30 is the Spring Concert, the Primary concert
6:00-6:45pm and the Junior concert 7:00-7:45pm
o The Art Gallery will go up in room 3 on Monday May 5, stay up until
Thursday May 8 and be disassembled on Friday May 9. Each student will
display one piece of art
o Our annual Open House will be Thursday May 8 from 9:00am-3:00pm for
parents and potential parents to visit classrooms
4. Treasurer's report
Paula reported that:
o the current balance is $12,215.07
o $1,150.00 in donations were made but not spent for greening and
grounds
o $863.53 is still to be reimbursed to the council from the school for
Wil-Kitchen (i.e. remainder of PRO Grant)
5. Committee updates
i) Arts
April reported that the Taiko drumming performance was well received. A few
classes, including the French Immersion classes, wrote up reviews to
describe the performance.
Action: Carol to include quotes from these in a newsletter article.
April wondered why Wilkinson choirs aren't performing at Massey Hall as
several other Toronto schools are. Lisa pointed out that it is a busy time
of year for Ms. Levy as it is at the same time as our Spring Concert and
that this month one class performed at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
ii) Communications
Carol mentioned that she's putting the calendar-at-a-glance back into the
newsletter due to popular demand. The communications committee would also
like to include information about school clubs into the newsletter.
Action: Lisa to inform the committee a month in advance of a new club
starting.
Carol also asked that we delay the final newsletter till the second week of
June rather than the end of May, so that we can write about fun fair and
provide a wrap-up edition following the AGM. Tanya may want to put out a
separate newsletter this one time.
Action: Lisa to follow up with Tanya
Ruby said she has no idea how graduation works and would like a write-up
about that in the newsletter. Carol advised the committee would consider
it although this is a fully school-run event and not a council initiative
and therefore would need someone to look into it and submit something.
Karin reminded council that photos should not identify individual children.
Carol confirmed that only photos are used that have several children and
no names are ever printed. In the event a photo is included that shows
only one child, the parent's consent has been obtained. She also confirmed
that no pictures will be put on our Web site.
iii) Health and Safety
Sarah suggested teachers wear neon vests while on yard duty so they can be
more easily identified. Lisa says at her former school, they wore sashes.
Carol pointed out it would also make it easier for parents to find teachers
on duty.
Action: Lisa to raise this at the staff meeting on Friday.
iv) Greening
John H thanked April for funding a tree for the schoolyard. We will put
notice of a dedication in the newsletter.
John mentioned that trees we purchased last year have not been properly
protected. They were supposed to be caged in, but never were.
Action: John to follow up with Bruce Day of the TDSB
John will order mulch for trees and the pathways in the learning garden. It
will be deposited by the north doors. Clean up of the learning garden will
take place May 10, rain or shine, 10am to noon.
Heidi from Evergreen came up with an idea to decorate the north wall with
10 or so wood cut outs of animals. Grades 4 and up will be invited to
decorate them.
John has joined the TDSB parents environmental network. Parents talk once
per month about the environment. He also mentioned the EcoSchool program
and may work with that for the next few years. Karen G mentioned that Earl
Grey is an EcoSchool and they do lights out on Fridays - simple things keep
people involved.
John is trying to get volunteers from high schools to help with the
learning garden. He asked council members to give his name to high school
students looking for volunteer credits.
v) Fundraising
April reported that at the May 30 movie night we took in $300 at the door.
She's thinking of trying to get Horton Hears a Hoo before it comes out on
DVD. April said that if Susan Haney partnered with her, she may take over
movie night from Sunny next year. Daphne McCormack could possibly help with
the Arts Committee.
Karin D mentioned that Laura Haggart is going to help out with pizza
lunches next year.
April discussed volunteer T-shirts. Sunny, April and Susan met and decided
to spend the extra $2.50 to get VOLUNTEER printed on the back. This will
hopefully help get all the shirts back at the end of an event. Ruby
suggested we order 50 this year and 50 next year. Karin confirmed that 50
will be enough. Carol asked that we just check to see if 100 isn't much
more economical.
vi) Fun Fair
April advised that there were no new faces at the Fun Fair meeting. We will
begin accepting donations starting Friday April 18 and start organizing
what's in the parent room. May 20-23, Fun Fair organizers will ramp things
up, coming in every day. There will be a Wil-Kitchen on Thursday May 29 to
prepare dishes for Fun Fair.
Dream Basket letters will go home today. Cathy Willar will prepare them.
We've changed our themes this year. Donations for the baskets will be
accepted until May 9. By May 12, hopefully they'll be on display to get the
kids excited about the event.
Two weeks from now the Fun Fair package will go home. April also advised
that anyone needed any signage or pricing lists prepared for Fun Fair needs
to let her know as soon as possible as Kim Diamond will be unavailable
after May 22.
Monday May 5 at 6:30pm is the next Fun Fair meeting at the school. Monday
May 26 is another meeting right before Fun Fair.
Book sale donations will be stored in the kitchen near the gym.
Ruby asked if we could show the video pleading for volunteers right before
the spring concert.
Action: Lisa said she'd check with Ms Levy.
Some donations so far: $400 from Sam Soukas, a local Real Estate agent, to
sponsor our game cards again this year. Sportsplay will be there again to
do a demonstration. Donations for the silent auction include two tickets
for Jonas Brothers.
6. Funding requests
Lisa asked on behalf of Ms. Whitfield and Ms. DiModugno that we fund a
whole school skipping workshop by David Granger and some skipping champs.
He will leave a warm up video. It's $200 per day plus $50 travel expenses.
For two days, to hit all the classes it's $500. Council decided two days
sounded best.
MOTION: Approve up to $500 for the skipping workshop - Ruby; seconded by
Jamie. Motion Passed.
Karen G suggested we ask Batya Levy if she needs any money. We could
consider replacing and/or tuning the piano that is used for the concerts.
Action: Lisa to follow up with Ms. Levy
7. Staffing Model
The staffing model for the 2008/2009 school year was reviewed. Lisa
informed council that we have 498 students registered for next year, down
from 550. We are down 1.5 teachers from last year. Jacqui indicated in her
view higher number of students in the junior classes was mitigated by
having full time phys ed, music and librarian teachers. (0.25 ESL is
included with the librarian).
8. Ward 15 Update
Bambi was not here. No update.
9. Report Back /Follow-up Items
o Sweatshirts --Jaime told council that he had found a great company to
do sweatshirts and hoodies, etc. They will meet with us, make orders by
class, have great order forms. People can have choice of shorts, track
pants, T-shirts, etc. There's a one-time cost per logo, plus you can get a
name on a sleeve. Hoodies are $23.50, we could sell them for $28 and make a
profit. Ruby asked that we ensure the quality is good. Council decided that
a small group would meet with the company to see samples and assess sizing.
Action: Ruby to work with Jamie to review and bring proposal to council.
o Kindergarten play structure - no update.
o Chocolate sale options - Karen G brought in chocolate samples for us
to try, including almonds, Belgian chocolate and plain chocolate. Karen
said she'd be willing to take over chocolate sales for the fall if someone
would help out. We have to order by the beginning of June. Karin D reminded
council that we had not resolved the issue about selling nuts in
fundraising. Alison suggested we hold a vote at the next meeting, May 12,
and stick to our decision.
o Grant proposal for visual artists- no update.
10. New Business
o Questions about report cards - Alison agreed to defer to next meeting
as it was getting late.
o Bike racks near Dandylion - April asked that we consider co-funding
bike racks near Dandylion daycare. There's no room for strollers, scooters
aren't allowed in. There may be a scheme to get financial help. Alison
mentioned that we have the same problem in front of Wilkinson - no place
for strollers or bikes near the entrance.
o Lunch room - Lisa discussed strategies she's been working on to make
the lunchroom a calmer more civilized place for children to have their
lunches. These included different ways of getting children's attention
(hand clap patterns instead of flickering lights), keeping primaries in
their lunchroom till noon to give the littlest ones time to finish, then
they line up and head outside together. Alison, as one of the parents
raising this as a problem, agreed that things have improved. Lisa also met
with children to discuss problems and they indicated they all felt the
lunchroom was too noisy. Sarah Jane suggested mood music. Carol said she
didn't know staying inside at lunch was an option. Lisa said she would be
taking SKs down for a visit and that they'd make a point of ensuring they
knew their way outside after lunch. In future, juniors and primaries will
use different stairwells to get to lunch.
o French language school Advisory Committee - Sarah is a Wilkinson
representative on this committee. Karin D said, and council agreed, that
equality of access was the most important thing
9 Adjournment
Council adjourned at 9:20pm.