Sullivan Community School

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Parent Council Minutes Apr. 2, 2025.

1. In attendance: Colleen Benninger (Chair), Astrid Kastner (Principal), Gina MacVeigh, Becky Bouwmeester, Todd Arnold (Teacher Rep.), Jessica King, Kate Dunbar, Majesta Elder
2. Approval of Minutes
3. New business

   -Kate requested the school share the personal contact information for families in the school so that more families could connect. Astrid told her that this was illegal and that she could not do this. Astrid suggested that if Kate or other families wanted their email or phone numbers shared, they go about it in another way as the school could not be involved.

   -Astrid had asked at last meeting to put funds remining from Pre-Covid towards a new sign out front of the school. Board is removing the old one. Parent council had approved.  Becky questioned why the school should have to pay money for a new sign. Astrid explained that there are simply certain things the school is responsible for, and the sign is on of them. Astrid to follow up with Plant or Purchasing to get more details for Becky. Astrid explained that fundraised money is not supposed to be carried over and cannot be put into a savings account (as questioned), so something needs to be done with it. Colleen seemed to think it was left over from playground equipment fundraising fund, and the playground and the gaga ball pit have been purchased. Colleen reiterated that moving the funds had been approved.

    

4. Library-questions about how much use the library was being used. Some parents did not think classes were accessing it all.  Astrid shared that it is used for resource, conferencing, and group work along with class visits. Individual teachers choose how much and how often for book exchange. Astrid to follow up with classes.

    

5. Principals report:

   -Astrid shared upcoming dates (see school calendar)

   -Math night rebooked for Apr. 24, 2025.

   -New jerseys coming in 3 weeks using school budget

   -EQAO coming at beginning of June. Not as strenuous as it once was.

   -Becky inquired about information for high school and open houses. Todd is handling guidance and relays that information. You can contact the high school directly with questions or Todd can facilitate answering any questions you may have.

   -science fair questions: discussion around having more feedback to parents regarding why students got the scores that they did and what to improve on next year.

   -Those that went on to regionals received next steps for improvement to improve their projects prior to the next level competition. Todd to look into expanding the feedback, but will change the logistics of the day (e.g. multi day event to allow teachers to assess all projects/checking language of feedback from community members, how much was done independently)

   -Some parents said they also did not receive rubrics. Todd will investigate expanding distribution of information more centrally.

    

6. Fundraisers:

   -Colleen to email Mark at Harriston meats as forms have not arrived

   -looking at week of May 12; May 14 delivery day

   -some discussion around what we are fundraising for – Library has needs, trips remain expensive and fundraising helps offset the cost for families.

    

   -Big Box Fundraiser

   -Becky shared info.

   -1 free box to each family

   -letter home about it

   -purchase price of $35, school gets $11

   -looking at Sept.

    

7. Field trips and extracurriculars:

-Becky enquired about the school doing more extra-curricular and field trips.

Astrid responded that field trips are at the discretion of the teachers and that she will approve them if they are related to the curriculum. Field trips are not a requirement and not mandated.

Jessica stated that she would rather her children remain at school and learn in the class.

-Becky to present proposal in the fall. Astrid to make final decision.

 

Next meeting date: June 4 @ 530 pm in person at the school

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Parent Council Minutes – Sept. 25, 2024. 

-promoting parent involvement/interest 

-how can we do more with the school? 

                b.  Fundraising: quarter auction, seeds, candles, meat, pizza. Possible New: Springhill Fish? Hawthorne seeds? Card boxes (Becky to inquire) Clothing by the pound? 

-money used for a lot of bussing and to help subsidize fees for trips 

-in past, raised money for equipment, library, playground 

-more stingers jerseys an area of need 

Dates: 

  

-possible parent council help with tallying/organizing orders on delivery day (group of older students to help, Todd to organize) 

  

      d. Book Fairs-Astrid to inquire about (are we getting a good return for it?) 

      e. Track update: not happening. Board has requested engineers, specific materials which would increase costs by tens of thousands of dollars. 

   

Next meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 530 pm. 

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School Council Minutes Apr. 3, 2024.

 

1. Minutes approved from last meeting.
2. Business arising from minutes
   • Seed fundraiser: $1000 profit
3. Principal’s report:
   • Review of board math support at the school; school targeted for improving math results
   • Math intervention and support (Rachel Shute from the board, Math lead)
   • Small group work and teacher training
   • Astrid was to share board improvement plan, but not yet available. Shared school improvement plan. Reviewed areas of mental health, transitions, attendance.
   • Astrid shared draft of an updated school code of conduct to hopefully go home with packages in September
   • Reviewed school calendar

     = number of updates coming (e.g. archery tournament, CMHA, spirit days for Earth week, Track and field dates

   • Donations: ABATE motorcycle club $500 to the library
   • Quotes for outdoor classroom and 200 m track pending.
   •  
4. Science Fair and Speeches
   • Discussed parent concerns around speeches and science fair, such as communication about timelines, amount of class time provided, used for assessment or not, mandatory or not.
   • Also discussed timing of speeches and science fair around the same time.
   • Todd shared that speech and science fair competitions are set by outside groups. We plan for kids to have topics chosen before Christmas. Discussed possibility of timelines/exact dates for each stage in the project.
   • Will discuss as a staff if we can better streamline how speeches and science fair are delivered in each class.
   • Parents would like to know how much time has been given in class (kids aren’t always clear when they communicate)
   
   5.Harrison Meats Fundraiser
   • 2 week period
   • May 15^th for pickup
   • April 25 to have orders in
   • Colleen to contact to get forms ASAP, hope to send them home by then of next week
   • Todd to get students to help with organizing/helping with orders on pickup day
   • Audrey to get cash online set up
5. Grad

• Carolyn asked for an update on grad such as if/what parent help is needed, meal, themes
• Meeting next week about grad and what the theme will be. Astrid to check in with Mr. Smith about how things are going

Next meeting May 8 at 530 pm

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School Council Minutes- Feb. 7, 2024.

Approval of minutes from last meeting:

Fundraiser profit update-

1. Quarter Auction- $3200
2. Candles-$2330
3. Poinsettias-$550
4. Little Caesars-$1300

Feb. 7 minutes

1. Discussion of upcoming fundraiser-Harrison Meats in May

   -Becky Bouwmeester suggested seed fundraiser for the Spring, she would follow up with info.

    

2. Review of Parent Council PC bank account. $2022. Was $9000, but spent $5000 on Gagaball pit.

   -helped pay for fire hall trip bussing

   -lowered cost of OEC trip from 200 to 75.

   -Colleen B. asked about putting quarter auction money in parent council account. Astrid to look into fundraising policy around that.

   -council asked about money for instruments or offsetting projector/screen costs for gym

    

3. Principal Update:

   -review of winter fun day

   -Becky asked about electives. Discussed issues around equity and costs. A number of families have difficulty paying. Need certain numbers to make a trip reasonable/logistically possible eg. Having 1 teacher, a bus, and 9 kids skiing with 1 teacher and 50 kids snowshoeing.

   -Colleen mentioned Gardhouse memorial fund + Kinsman for possibly supplementing school/community sports activities for kids that cannot afford it. Astrid to call Krista Fullerton to inquire.

   -Astrid looking into Swim to Survive for Gr. 3’s

    

   Archery update:

   -Astrid shared delay of work order from October for gym mountings. Astrid followed up with Superintendent. We were to have them installed Feb. 13, but no none came. Astrid will be following up again.

   -there is a school archery competition in the works to be hosted at the Desboro arena.

    

   Blue Jays trip update:

   -56 tickets/ 1 bus

   -Gr. 4 and up going (some driving)

   -some parents wanted clarification about who was allowed to go, Colleen to follow up with them.

    

4. Grad photos

   -poor service and last minute dates from company, so we are changing companies.

   -going to edgewell?

   -they are coming next year (2 year contract with current company)

    

5. Booking dates:

• All school dates on digital calendar- concern parents not getting notification for these events.
• Becky asked about going back to paper copies for dates.
• Astrid to look at ease of printing from the webpage/website
• Majesta suggested expanding weekly update to a monthly one to send home. Astrid to send out.