Wilkinson School Community Council
Meeting Minutes - Monday, January 12, 2009
Present: Carol Bennett, Laura Bullard-Brezovsky, Sarah Gillespie, Susan Haney, Daphne McCormack, Alison Motluk, Tanya Sterioff (Principal), Sam Vrakking, Lisa Watt (Vice-Principal), Paula Weekes Khan, Karen Wiseman
Regrets: John Hykel, Ruby Lederman, April Moon, Jill Spellman, Erin Vaillancourt
Absent: Karen Geraci
Recorder: Sam Vrakking
1. Welcome & Introductions
- Meeting started at 7:00pm
2. Approval of Agenda
- Agenda approved with no additions
3. Approval of December 8, 2008 Minutes
- Minutes approved with the clarification that in the Principal's Update (3) PC John Tierney will be visiting for the week of January 26th, not just January 26th.
4. Treasurer's Report
- John was absent so there was no report
5. Principal's Update
- Tanya informed the council that there is a meeting with the board trustee on Wednesday, January 14th in room 3 about French programs. Enrollment was down from 66 to 18 this year; the introduction of extended French provides another option. It will not compromise classroom space or create the need for portables at Wilkinson. Spots in mid-immersion will be guaranteed but not necessarily at the home school though current students get first shot at their proximate school.
- Grade 6 students would be visiting Earl Grey on Friday, January 16th in the morning.
- Dan Yashinsky will be visiting the school January 16th and 23rd to introduce the storytelling process to students as part of the Telling Bee. Parents are welcome to attend.
- There will be a breakfast for the Telling Bee volunteers on Friday, January 30th.
- The Lunar Parade will take place on Monday, January 26th.
- There will be an award ceremony on Friday, January 30th.
- The 100 day activities will take place on Friday, February 6th.
- Teachers have not yet taken a strike vote and it is unlikely that anything will happen until March. Traditionally, teachers have gone on “work to rule” before entering into a strike. In case of a strike, the educational assistants, support staff as well as Tanya and Lisa will remain in the building.
6. Funding Requests
- Daphne asked if it was possible to buy more art supplies for the Inner City Angels project - leftover supplies would stay at Wilkinson
7. Committee Updates
i.Arts
- Daphne met with the artist leading the library mural project. It will be a 10- day program involving 2-3 classes (including 1 French Immersion) from grades 4-6. Council discussed spreading out special programs amongst the grades noting that the grade 6 students will be doing songwriting with Melanie Doane.
- Parent volunteers are needed for the mural project - talent not required.
- It was noted that something was needed for the grade 4s to ensure that all senior students have an arts experience.
ii. Communications
- Items are needed for the newsletter. Sarah will write on healthy eating as well as FAQ about authorized pick-ups for students in kindergarten to gr 3.
- Carol wants to expand communications beyond the newsletter and website. It was suggested that welcome banners and the character trait of the month be created in languages spoken at Wilkinson. Also resurrecting the New Parent Manual was discussed.
- Council also discussed the need for parent involvement and finding the balance between outreach and scaring off new parents.
iii. Fundraising
- The next movie night is February 6. The movie will be Kikki's Delivery Service which is anime but aimed at younger kids. Council can visit the Audi Cinefilm website to view available titles and make suggestions for upcoming movie nights
- The Sweetheart Bake Sale is scheduled for Thursday, February 12th as February 13th is a PD day. After some discussion, the bake sale was moved to Wednesday, February 11th so as to not conflict with choir. It was decided to open room 3 for the sale so that am kids can go before lunch, have the room closed during lunch and then open it again at 12:30 so the afternoon kids and the kids that stay for lunch can go to the sale. Daycares will be asked to bring their children back a bit earlier.
iv. Fun Fair
- The first Fun Fair meeting will take place in February.
v. Greening
- Both Karen and John were absent so there was no report
vi. Health and Safety
- Sarah asked whether there was more programming aimed at bullying as it was still happening behind the scenes. Lisa said that while there will always be bullying, anti-bullying strategies and language to articulate issues and solutions were being provided as part of teacher programming especially in the older grades. Things like character education ties into dealing with bullying proactively rather than reactively.
8. New Business/ Other Items
- The FSL advisory group is looking for parents to attend their meeting. Susan said she would be interested.
- Council discussed a need for Speakers/ Parent Evenings/ Information Nights with the goal of reaching out to parents. Safety information could be shared. These meetings could address subjects of parental interest and present opportunities for the meeting of minds. Hopefully they could also increase the involvement of the Muslim communities at Wilkinson.
- The next Wil-kitchen is scheduled for March 12th. Council is hoping to cook Bajan food but flying fish may be too expensive.
- Council discussed the media release form included in the year start paper work. The form is a TDSB-generated form to cover issues regarding child protection. These forms can be altered to specifically reflect individual circumstances (for example uses within the class but excluding uses in the hallway).
9. Report Back/ Follow Up items
- Julie Found will be at the next council meeting to discuss the Telling Bee which is getting a good response from parents.
10. Adjournment
- Meeting was adjourned at 8:15