Regency Acres Public School

School Council Minutes

September 22, 2009

 

 

Attendance

Cathy Martino-Porretta, Maria Maiato, Becky Knowles, Shelley Rose, Susan Roy, Terry Hampson, Laura Parkin, Sheila Johnson, Chris VanderPloeg, Gayle Palmer, Nancy Meredith, Maggie Thompson

Regrets:  Kim Hosmer, Vicki Dietz, Ilse Dunlop

Guest: Donna Bingham

 

Welcome

Shelley began the meeting at 7:13 p.m.

 

Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as circulated.  The motion was made by Sheila, seconded by Sue and carried unanimously.

 

Approval of the School Council Minutes for June 11, 2009

The minutes were approved as circulated.  The motion was made by Gayle, seconded by Laura and carried unanimously.

 

New Business

Election of Council for the 2009-10 School Year:  Gayle made a motion that the following individuals be named as School Council Officers for the 2009-2010 school year:

 

Co-Chairs:  Shelley Rose and Susan Roy

Secretary:  Maggie Thompson

Co-Treasurers:  Sheila Johnson and Ilse Dunlop*

 

*Gayle and Terry will help prepare the fundraising currency for deposit. 

 

The motion was seconded by Terry and approved unanimously.

 

Terry made a motion that the following individuals be named as Chairs/members of Council: 

 

Communications Committee Chair:  Laura Parkin

Hospitality Committee Chair:  Vacant

Fundraising Committee Chair:  Vacant

SCEC Committee Chair:  Kim Hosmer

Community Rep:  Vacant (Sue will ask Larry Green to join **)

Teacher Rep:  Becky Knowles

Parent Reps:  Gayle Palmer, Nancy Meredith, Terry Hampson, Chris VanderPloeg, Vicki Dietz

Principal:  Cathy Martino-Porretta

Vice-Principal:  Maria Maiato

 

Shelley seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

 

Setting of Meeting Dates:  Sheila made a motion to accept the following meeting dates: Wed., Oct.  21; Tues., Nov. 24; Wed., Jan. 13; Tues., Feb. 23; Wed., April 14; Tues., May 11; Thurs., June 3.  Terry seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

 

Financial Report  

Sheila distributed the Treasury Report to Council and reported that the bank balance is $33,932.62 as of September 10, 2009.

 

Laura made a motion to allocate the $10,000.00 from Council’s previous commitment (see Minutes from Sept. 23, 2008) to the primary play structure with the intention of allocating $5000.00 from the 2009/10 School Council budget to be voted on at a later date (this would be part of committed funds in the budget). The motion was seconded by Sue and carried unanimously.

 

Principal’s Report

Staffing:  Joanne Lau is covering for Amy Ward; Shauna Rezka is covering for Nadia MacKinnon part-time; Melanie Jefferson has been hired; Ann Thomas is now half-time and her other half-time is being covered by Michelle Scarna; Sandra Ivory is covering for Claire Bernier; Maria Maiato is a half-time V.P. at Hartman and a half-time V.P. at Regency.

EQAO Results:  The Grade 3’s and 6’s participated in testing in Mathematics, Reading and Writing in the spring.  Cathy distributed and discussed the report with Council.  The results were as follows:

Grade 3: 72% of students were at or above the provincial standard in Reading; 91% of students were at or above the provincial standard in Writing; 91% of students were at or above the provincial standard in Mathematics.

Grade 6: 87% of students were at or above the provincial standard in Reading; 84% of students were at the provincial standard in Writing; 76% of students were at or above the provincial standard in Mathematics.

*This year’s focus (as well as last year’s) is Writing.

Recommendation to School Council for the Expenditure of School Council Funds (September 22, 2009). Cathy circulated the report and discussed the requests for funds for the various school items with Council. Terry made a motion to approve spending $16,550.00 for the items outlined in the report (with the amendment that $1500.00 be spent on walkie-talkies).  Sue seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

 

Committee Reports

 

Fundraising

A Chair and additional volunteers are needed for this committee.  The magazine fundraiser will take place this fall.  Pat Morton is willing to help with the spring fundraiser but a volunteer is needed to head this initiative.  Caroline will run the pizza/sub lunch fundraiser again his year, but will not be at Regency to help next year.

 

Communications Committee

Laura will run the website again this year.  Many families (250) signed up for information to be distributed through e-mail.

 

Volunteer Committee

Caroline is chairing this committee and volunteers are in place.

 

 

Kids Care Committee

Initiatives for this year include Hallowe’en loot bags (distribution to shelters and hospitals), Valentines for Seniors and freezie sales during track and field days in June.  Donna Bingham explained that in the past, Ryan’s Well was chosen as the benefactor of the freezie sales (this charity provides water for children in Africa) and committee members would like to continue with this initiative as an outreach to another community in the world.  Donna will speak to the committee about looking at charities other than Ryan’s Well in the future.  Sue made a motion to approve the activities for this committee. Terry seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

 

Enrichment Committee

The Winter Arts Club will be run by Nancy Hallis.  Sheila has information to pass along to anyone interested in running the Math Club this year.

 

Environmental Committee

Gayle and Terry weeded the back garden.  Sod needs to be placed in a few areas and the kindergarten coral is in need of weeding.  Volunteers are needed to help maintain the gardens. Volunteer hours could be given to high school students for this and Regency students could help as well. Cathy reported that the paving of the kindergarten tarmac has been postponed by the Board so this is on hold. The town is giving free mulch to the school.  Gayle will call about getting mulch delivered Oct. 9th and on Saturday, October 10th, families will be invited to help spread the mulch in the gardens.  Gayle will talk to Caroline about sending an email out to families about this and she will write a notice for the October newsletter. **

 

Sunshine Committee

The Family Ski Nights have been booked.

 

Holiday Heritage 

Volunteers are needed for this committee as there is only one volunteer at this time.  Cathy will mention this at the Meet the Teacher Barbeque. **

 

Donna will talk to Kim about putting information together explaining the roles of each committee so that it can be placed in a binder in the office.

 

Shelley will be in charge of a sign-up table for volunteers at the Meet the Teacher Barbeque. ** Specifically, volunteers are needed for the Fundraising and Holiday Heritage Committees.

 

Other

Gayle will be organizing three lice checks this year to be held in October, after the Christmas break and after March Break.  Sue will help with this initiative.

 

Mailbag

Shelley did not have information to share with Council.

 

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. 

 

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the library.