Wilkinson School Community Council
Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 20, 2008
Present: Carol Bennett, Laura Bullard-Brezovsky, Sarah Gillespie, Susan Haney, John Hykel, Ruby Lederman, April Moon, Alison Motluk, Julie Pashby (staff rep), Jill Spellman, Tanya Sterioff (Principal), Erin Vaillancourt, Sam Vrakking, Lisa Watt (Vice-Principal), Paula Weekes Kahn, Karen Wiseman
Guests: Andreea Ionescu, Daphne McCormack
Regrets: Karen Geraci
Recorder: Sam Vrakking
1. Welcome & Introductions
Everyone introduced themselves around the table and provided a bit of their background/involvement at Wilkinson
2. Approval of the Agenda
Carol asked that no additional items be added given the items already on would likely take us to 9:00pm. Motion to approve: Ruby; seconded: John. Passed.
3. Approval of the Sept 8th Meeting Minutes
No changes submitted. Motion to approve: John; seconded: Susan. Passed.
4. Overview of Council
Carol provided a brief overview of the council’s role and handed out a package to all parent members that contained the Summary of School Council Regulations #612 and #613, TDSB Financial Management Procedures related to school council fundraising and the Wilkinson School Community Council Constitution.
Carol advised that a review was not being planned for the Constitution this year but has asked Jacqui Strachan at People for Education to notify us if anything comes up that may warrant such a review.
We are an advisory committee: we give advice to the administrators on how we'd like to see the school run, we are the voice of parents, and we decide on how to spend the money we raise with input from the staff.
5. Establish Council Executive
The executive positions for the 2008-2009 school year:
Chair: Carol Bennett
Vice Chair: Paula Weekes Kahn
Treasurer: John Hykel
Secretary: Sam Vrakking
6. Setting Dates for 2008-09 Council Meetings
Council agreed to meet on the second Monday of the month:
November 10, 2008
December 8, 2008
January 12, 2009
February 9, 2009
March 9, 2009
April 20, 2009
May 11, 2009
June 15, 2009 (A.G.M.)
7. Principal’s Update
Tanya informed the council that:
Friday, October 24th is a P.D. Day
Picture Days are Tuesday, October 28th and Wednesday October 29th
On October 31st, there will be a Hallowe’en assembly and parade at 1pm
The second pizza lunch is Friday, November 7th
Remembrance Day ceremonies will take place on November 11th. The primary grades will be in room 3 and the junior grades will be on the 3rd floor.
There will be storytellers visiting the school on November 4th and 5th for grades 4, 5 and 6, November 19th for junior and senior kindergarten and grade 1 and November 25th for grades 2 and 3
Report cards will go home on Friday, November 28th.
8. Treasurer’s Update
Paula reviewed the Statement of Financial Position with the council. The $200 expenditure on the teacher appreciation lunch came from the revenue of a movie night. The council will fund an upcoming Wil-kitchen in January/February.
9. Confirmation of Funding Priorities for 2008-09 School Year
The administration identified their priorities as
Character Education
Literacy Programs – especially for boys
Scientists in the School
April asked council to earmark $5,000 for Fun Fair budget.
10. Storytelling Proposal (Part 1)
Julie Pashby presented, on behalf of Julie Found, a proposal for a school-wide Telling Bee that would include all grade levels as well as the teachers. The students will collect and share their family stories (e.g., stories of immigration, holiday celebrations etc.). The stories will be told in oral and written forms that will build skills and celebrate literacy. Ultimately these stories will be turned into a Telling Bee book. Council is asked for $3,000 to fund storytellers in the schools to expose students to storytelling. The storytellers would replace visiting authors.
Julie Found will attend the next council meeting and present timelines and discuss parent/staff workshops as well as the book.
Carol proposed a motion to approve $3,000 for this project, seconded by Jill it was passed by council.
11. Funding Requests
Batya Levy is requesting $497.56 to purchase 20 sweaters (@ $23.50 + tax) as the groups requiring them are getting bigger. Council also talked about replacing or refurbishing (tuning etc.) the concert piano. Lisa Watt will follow up.
April moved to grant the funding, seconded by Karen. Council approved the motion.
12. Committee Updates
Arts Committee
Susan and April informed the council that they have a budget of $2,500 with which they are trying to bring one or two performances to each grade level.
They have booked Cosima Grunsky (won at the Prologue For the Performing Arts preview) to perform in the afternoon for kindergarten to grade 3 on October 15th.
On April 27th Little Red Theatre will come to Wilkinson to perform two plays on one set. Junk In the Attic will be performed for kindergarten to grade 4 and The Electric Story of Nikola Tesla will be performed for grades 3-6.
This year the Arts Committee is changing its focus to include the visual arts. Daphne talked to the council about Inner City Angels which supports arts education. Wilkinson is eligible for $500 of funding. Council discussed bringing in artists to work with kids on murals in the school (possibly in the entrance way). Alternatives to wall murals were also discussed because of the wear and tear wall mural receive. It was decided that further discussion was needed.
Last year Wilkinson parents Melanie Doane and Ted Dykstra did songwriting with the grade 6’s. They will do it again this year as well as working with kindergarten kids as an introduction to music. Anyone who knows other parents with talents they could share with the kids should talk to April or Susan.
Communications Committee
Carol introduced members of the committee and asked for suggestions for both the newsletter and the website.
Fundraising
i) Proposal for New Fundraiser
With a very detailed handout, April and Susan proposed to the council selling stainless steel, 24oz, reusable water bottles with the Wilkinson lion logo. These would replace the fall sale of chocolates. Each bottle would sell for $15.00 and if we order before the end of October we will get a discount and the bottle will be available by the middle of November. Because the bottles are not consumable there are no storage issues and the bottle can be sold at upcoming movie nights as well as at the Fun Fair. Council voted on the colour of logo and black was chosen (8 to 7) a opposed to red. Carol moved we purchase 200 units. Jill seconded this and it was passed by council. Ruby suggested that council put aside some money to purchase water bottles for some students who couldn’t afford them.
ii) Direct Donation Campaign
$1,305 has been raised so far. Cheques will be deposited in December.
iii) Movie Nights
Susan recommended changing the movie license back to ACF as they carry Disney titles and present fewer problems with title availability and additional costs. ACF will cost approx. $0.75 per student and will include one pre-release. [A motion was sent following the meeting via email to approve continued funding for our annual movie license, not to exceed $500 which was passed unanimously.]
Susan also identified the need for more effective ways to solicit help, as each night needs at least 4 –5 volunteers.
The next movie night will be November 14 to use the Criterion license once more.
The last movie night was visited by parents from Oriole Park who wanted to see how a successful movie night was run and they were impressed.
It was suggested that Volunteer Wilkinson T-shirts be worn when helping at school events
iv) Concert/Event Tickets
Ruby proposed a buy/sell list of concert and event tickets that parents received and couldn’t use. There were concerns raised about scalping which would be unmitigated by the fact the tickets would be a donation to the school. There were also concerns about the monitoring of such a list. Ruby is to write a proposal for council and the issue will be discussed further.
v) Pumpkin Sales
Ruby reported that the pumpkin sales were going well. Of the 150 pumpkins, 50-60 had been sold so far. The cost of the pumpkins is being split 50/50 with the pumpkin farmer.
Greening
April has donated a Sugar Maple to the school.
John will formally request funding to plant more trees on the school grounds.
The neighbour to the north of the learning garden has complained that the garden is infested with rats. The following was proposed:
Clearing the area next to the fence
Increasing the pathways in the garden
Inspecting the garden
Signage to explain the purpose of the garden
Reconsider the maintenance of the garden or possibly moving it to a different location
Health and Safety
Sarah expressed concern that the last pizza lunch coincided with a movie night and that was too much pizza. She also suggested that teachers be brought in at lunchtime to run programs such as hip hop, karate or theatre arts. There are issues concerning space and Sarah will look into the matter further.
Carol advised that Lelia MacDonald is compiling a list of clubs and activities currently available to students.
There are now four teachers on yard duty and bells or whistles are now mandatory. The administration is frequently in the yard also.
13. School Administrator Profile
Carol informed council that this was due in two weeks and, with council’s agreement that we draw from the profile developed last year.
14. Report Back/ Follow -Up Items
Sweatshirts
Jamie Stokes is willing to handover the work his files for more work to be done.
Bike Racks
There are donated bike racks that hold 20 bikes located by Dandylion. This will be included in the newsletter so people will know they can use them.
15. New Business/ Other Items
Carol handed out copies of the People for Education council survey with her “best guess” at some of the answers. The completed survey is due December 12 and we will go through the responses at next month’s meeting.
16. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00p.m.