Sir Ernest MacMillan P.S. 

School Council Minutes

Monday, November 1st, 2021 

6:30-7:30 pm

Present:

Chris Row

*Karmyn Bokma

*Sarah Bean

*Nikki Pembleton

Andrea Howard

Christian Brudnjak

Welcome 

∙ Approval of Minutes from Oct 4th, 2021 - Nikki motioned, all agreed

Principal’s Report

Outdoor classroom is now done.  Teachers will be signing out the use of the space and that area will be open again for recess time.

The volleyball has had 2 games: 1 win and 1 loss.

Lunchbox started last week.  It had a small group that signed up.  This week has a few more kids involved.

Intramurals started with Christian.  The school is excited to have them up and running.

All new musical instrument mouthpieces are now ordered.  Students will start playing instruments once the mouthpieces have arrived. Mr. G has been doing bucket drumming.

Halloween was a huge success even without a parade.  Lots of energy in the school.  Pictures of each class were taken for the yearbook.  Felt good for the staff.  

Student leadership team is looking at doing more spirit days

The new math computer program has been introduced to the students in grades 3-6.  Knowledgehook is able to adjust the program to meet each students’ needs.

Student led conferences coming up on November 24-26 and they will be virtual.  Report cards go out on the 15th, a week earlier than usual. Teachers handed in their reports today for editing.

School improvement plan started today.  Looking at gaps and how to fix them.  Reading goals for primary, junior and senior divisions.  This will be shared with its own school Messenger once it is put together.

Board has revisited the dress code and changed it. Only rule is that as long as no nipples or genitals are showing and there aren’t any slurs against race or identity, it can go.  Also, no clothing that promotes beer or marajuana brands.  The approach is to educate students to learn their own biases and educate themselves so that people’s clothing doesn’t determine their identity.  Post dress code on the website by board request.  Question about whether classes have discussions about biases and dress choices with the kids.  Staff have been encouraged to have these discussions going forward.  Not just about dress code...also about how people learn and behaviour.  

Halton - calendar of cultural events is shared with staff.  Educate around all.  If we are doing Halloween full out, let’s do it all full out.  Challenge is finding staff who know about the different events or bringing in experts.  Better than outlawing events.

Treasurer’s Report

Account will be emailed to us with numbers from pizzas after the due date on Friday.

Emails will be sent by teachers for pizza orders.

General Discussion

Thanks to Christian for doing intramurals.  

How can we better promote and communicate what is happening at the school?  How to share this.  Some schools do council newsletter and school ones.  Chris does twitter and instagram.  Maybe create a google form for teachers to drop in pictures that can be shared.  Talk offline to brainstorm ideas on how to share more from the school to improve the level of engagement with the community.

Nikki’s idea of a parent council video to open up the school council to the community.  Another idea is parent council tidbits - i.e. - sharing that there are learning gaps this year as a result from online school.  Show that the staff knows and cares.  School improvement plan will include this.

This will be a year to lay a foundation and raise money so that in the future we will be able to have a bigger group and plans.

Christmas Season - pre covid council helped with the concert and the snacks that were there.  Canadian Martyrs had an all day dance party with lots of decorations.  Split black top up and have a fun movement break during the day.  Or close the gym and take in 2 classes at a time.  Full week of spirit days in December.  Perfect week to do something outside.  Snow Fest.  No food or drink allowed.  Inflatable snow globe will be found by Nikki.  Idea that we can get inflatables and keep them for future years.  Equipment can be shared because transfer is less than 1%.  Can parents volunteer during school hours for an event?  This year, staff will set up and run it and in the future, council can come in to run the stations.    

Action - plan some event during school hours during spirit week.  Decide on whether to buy or rent inflatables.  

Do we do another family trivia night?  It had a great turnout.  Maybe do it the same night as the school event? Sir Ernest MacMillan Snowball.

Next Meeting Feb. 7, 2022

Meeting Adjourned at 7:17