Wilkinson School Community Council
Meeting Minutes
Monday February 8, 2010
Present: Leasa Adams (VP), Varathan Aiyadurai, Rachel Ault (staff rep), Carol Bennett, Laura Bullard-Brezovsky, Sarah Gillespie, Kris Kearns, Alison Motluk, Ruby Lederman, Tanya Sterioff (Principal), Sam Vrakking, Paula Weekes Kahn.
Regrets: Paul Dobson, Jay Friedman, John Hykel, Kirsten McGoey, April Moon, Saeka Shaikh, Jill Spellman, Karen Wiseman
Guests: Karen Anthony, Supervisor – Dandylion Daycare
Recorder: Carol Bennett
Meeting called to order at 7:05pm
1. Welcome and Introductions
Paula welcomed everyone and introduced our guest, Karen Anthony, Supervisor – Dandylion.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion: Sam; Seconded: Sarah - passed
3. Approval of January 11th meeting minutes
Approval of last month’s minutes were deferred until next month as they were not yet available.
4. Principal’s Update
Tanya shared the following:
• PALS (school yard leadership) program will begin on February 9th
• 100-day activities will take place on Thursday February 11th
• Valentine’s Day activities and bake sale will take place on Friday February 12th
• Monday February 15th is Family Day – no school
• Lunar Parade for kindergarten students will take place on Tuesday February 16th (am and pm)
• Kindergarten registration for all in-district children and children who attend Dandylion Daycare takes place the mornings of February 17th, 18th and 19th
• Talent Show on Friday February 26th (pm)
• Reports go home Monday March 1st
• Reporting to parents Thursday March 4th (evening)
• P.A. Day for reporting to parents Friday March 5th
5. Treasurer’s Report
No report as John was not in attendance.
6. Funding Requests
None
7. Dandylion Daycare
Karen Anthony briefed the council on some of the ways Dandylion continues to partner with Wilkinson:
• Daycare staff support teachers during yard supervision
• Thank you for inviting daycare children to Charlie’s performance
• Each daycare class is bringing cupcakes (about 120) to the Sweetheart Sale. They will drop them off 8:30am.
• All Daycare staff (11) have committed to volunteering at the Fun Fair.
Karen advised that Dandylion does not do any fundraising of its own. They elect to reflect their partnership with Wilkinson by supporting Wilkinson’s fundraising efforts and not having competing initiatives.
There are spaces available at the daycare: 3 spaces in gr. 1,2,3 program (all star program), several spaces in the after school program gr. 4-6. They will run summer camp program but it won’t be open to the broader community.
8. Wil-Kitchen
Date set for Friday February 26th from 6-9pm with a Greek theme for the evening. The permit has been arranged and recipes organized. Linda K. provided recipes from Christmas calendar given to her mother. There will be a flyer going home. Badminton evening will also run that night.
Action: Paula to send Gerald the info for the flyer.
9. Sweetheart Bake Sale
Taking place Friday Feb. 12th. Flyers went home Friday Feb. 5th. Volunteers needed at the event – morning recess and lunch hour. Dandylion kids come to the sale before they go for lunch as well as kids being picked up by their parents at the beginning of lunch. Kids in lunchroom go before they go outside after they eat. Mr. Enticknap’s class did the posters.
Action: Erin to ask Gerald to make up the price list.
10. Kindergarten Registration
Jill is looking after this. Anyone interested in helping out with welcoming parents should send her an email.
11. Badminton Nights
Going well. Roughly 20-30 people showing up each week. Good mix of adults and kids.
12. Committee Updates
a.) Arts
April provided the following update to Paula beforehand: She and Daphne McCormack have met with a local artist who is looking to do a project that will allow teachers to participate if they wish. They still need to get more details from the artist prior to presenting to the staff so they will be meeting again at the end of February. A high level overview of the project:
1. The artist would conduct a workshop for the teachers
2. Different classes or art clubs will have roles
3. Outcome will be a shadow puppet play written and produced by the students around May/June.
They’re looking to approach Mme Cooke on board and work this project into the art curriculum.
b.) Communications
Carol advised that the Communication Committee met last month to discuss having a Facebook page for the council. Kirsten had set up a page for Wilkinson that contained dates for movie nights and fun fair. Concern was raised that dates had not been confirmed and target audience hadn’t been discussed; page taken down as a result. The page had about 20 members already – mostly local parents whose children will eventually go to Wilkinson that want to get a sense of what goes on at Wilkinson. Considerations:
• Our dates are already in the public domain as they are on the website
• Anyone can make a Facebook page about anything at any time
• We’re always trying to spread the word about events and volunteer opportunities at Wilkinson and this is a great way to engage more people through “pushing” vs “pulling”
The committee’s recommendation to council is to re-establish a Facebook page on behalf of Wilkinson Council that will be administered by Jill Spellman and Phil Kahn. Dates for our community-related events will be posted (e.g. Fun Fair, Pumpkin Fest) but not for events taking place within the school that are geared toward gathering Wilkinson families such as movie nights or Wil-Kitchen.
No one objected to this recommendation so we will implement.
The committee also discussed introducing a Photo Permission Form. Kirsten designed a permission form for the council to obtain parental permission to use children’s photos in the newsletter or on the bulletin board
• Photo will be put on the form so the parent can a) ensure it is actually their child and if so, b) provide their consent.
• Form will be used as needed, not something signed by everyone at the beginning of the year
Ruby raised the point that we don’t want to confuse parents about what consent they’re providing with what forms so we will ask Kirsten to clarify the intent and where this additional consent would be stored at the next council meeting.
Carol asked for suggestions on how to obtain reviews of arts events for newsletters. Agreement to develop a template for students to fill in after they attend a performance.
Action: Erin to ask Gerald to draft a template for review.
c.) Fundraising
Chocolate Sales: Carol is collecting the last of the outstanding chocolate money and will provide a financial summary at next month’s meeting. She also advised that chocolates should be sold for $1/each and at every opportunity in an effort to get rid of them. Tanya advised that the chocolates have been moved to the Academic Storage room where it’s cooler.
Mabel’s Labels: no report as Kirsten was not present
Movie Nights: January event went well. Next movie night is Feb. 19th – starting half an hour later but doors still opening at 6pm.
Fun Fair: April provided Paula with an update beforehand: The creative team has rebranded the event so stay tuned for the new look. A new letter for donations has been drafted and will be sent out soon with the “rules of play”. Meeting to be held soon.
d.) Greening
Kirsten provided Paula with an update beforehand:
Signs – quotes are coming in very high for the signs ($500-$700 for EACH) so I am rethinking the method of delivery (i.e. can we get away with a less costly option?)
Art Project – next step is JK/SK teacher feedback.
Playground – Jay/Paul/Jill are working on this.
e.) Health and Safety
No report
13. Report Back/Follow Up Items
None
14. New Business/Other Items for future meeting
• Alison raised a concern that her husband shared with her today about a man holding one of the school doors open for people this morning, then he came into the school, wandered around the lobby got a drink, then left and went to Donlands station. Could have been a parent but just brings to bear concerns about school security and need for the office staff to be able to see everyone coming through the front door. However cost to open up front office is prohibitive. Actions: Put reminder in newsletter to keep eyes and ears open; Leasa to raise at staff meeting as a reminder.
• Susan brought forward new fundraising idea that seems to be relatively low effort – Bag 2 School – where textiles/clothing is donated and sold overseas. (www.bag2school.com) Susan has written to them to find out more information and will report when she hears back.
15. Thank you and Adjournment at 8:12pm
Motion: Ruby Seconded: Erin - passed