School council MMPS minutes - November



Milliken Mills Public SchoolSchool CouncilNovember 28, 2013 : 7:00 – 8:15School LibraryMinutesAttendees: Catarina Burisch (P), Douglas Grundman (Teacher), Ron Yiu (Chair), Bharati Thayabharan (Treasurer), Minnat Ahmed (Secretary), Fiona Veening, Anders Rawlins, Tania Fung, Teresa Ing, Elaine WongLyew, Weiber Zhou7:00 Welcome7:05Adoption of last School Council Meeting MinutesApproved – Motion to approve: Minnat Ahmed; Seconded by: Ron Yiu7:10Discussion about the School Council Forum held on Oct.21st 2013, from 6pm – 8pm @ Bur Oak Secondary School. Forum attended by School Councils across York Region. Attendees from M.M.P.S.: Catarina Burisch, Tania Fung, Anders Rawlins, Minnat AhmedSome topics discussed at School Council Forum:Developing self confidence in students and helping them deal with anxiety; presentation by child psychologistSuggestions from parents for the Ministry regarding what could benefit children and what could the Ministry do better to support schools and children. Ideas from this discussion:Consider topic “Self confidence in students” as a topic for ProGrant workshop;Reach out to community parents and empower them with tips and techniques that will enable them to understand their children’s perspectives;Educate parents to build that ‘bridge’ with their childrenProvide translation and daycare services to parents that attend workshopWorkshop would be useful for single parents, elderly family members, immigrant parents.7:20 Principal’s ReportGrades 7/8 participated in the Mental Health Walk Conference; children capitalized on the experience and learnt about organizations that are involved; Mr. Grundman suggested the use of School Council to promote equity and create mutual respect as part of the school environment.Parent teacher interviews went well; student led conferences allowed for bondingMilliken Mills High School and Highgate Public School muisic to perform at M.M.P.S.Milliken Mills Public School band performed at Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School; parents reported that the band did an amazing job.Volleyball season has ended; basketball season has begun; ping pong and chess are other optionsStudent tech crew is a form of student leadership opportunity – team of students who set up technology Neena from High Birch Child Care has donated a playpen for the outdoor kindergarten area. Other donations are forthcoming.December Concert Occurring on December 17thOnly primary grades performing – KG – Gr.3Will be a multicultural presentation in a story form (one hour long)Parent council confirmed that there will be a raffle of unopened gift donations by parents before the showVarious fundraising ideas were discussed.Food sale from 5:30 – 6:30pm7:40Treasurer’s ReportSchool Council has raised $2259.A motion was made to spend $2000 to buy 10 laptops for the school. Motion made by Ron YiuMotion seconded by Teresa IngMusical Wish list: School Council will help fulfill the Musical Wish list at next meeting.Why do we need a new instrument? Many students playing instruments; currently most of our instruments are borrowed. 7:44Pro Grant – Feb.20, 2013Date for Math Workshop tentatively set for the day following the long weekend. This would come on the heels of the report card being sent home and a Math Workshop would be a timely event. Suggestions: 6pm – 7pm: Parent arrival 7pm – 8 pm: Math Workshop7:45Gr.8 Graduation – June 23rd. Mme Burisch met with an ad hoc committee of Gr.8 parents to discuss graduation details regarding the venue, program and logistics.7:46Parent Concerns re: science and math textbooksStudents in Gr. 5 & gr. 8 are having to shareOne parent bought a textbook because she needed the book at all times to work with her child.The availability of English math and science text books is a budgetary challenge because this year there was a n alignment across the board in French Immersion of which subjects needed to be taught in which language. Prior to this year math was taught in French and science in English. The change required math to be taught in English and science in French. The initial purchase was made and Mme Burisch assured that more books are being purchased in January and online e-learning for math is also being consideredThe learning in these subjects does not require a textbook to be successful; they are a resource. The children experience, discuss, observe, take notes and review them. Parents suggested that some children were too young to be taking notesMr. Grundman explained the inquiry method in Math classes which teaches relevancy to what the children are learning, as we move away from rote learning. The premise is for children to understand what they are learning and connect the pieces as a whole. Practice can still happen through workbooks, providing different ways to suit each individual child. Critical research is encouraged and children use technology and a variety of search engines (not just Wikipedia).Parking lotFiona suggested painting of parking school lot to direct movement of traffic through the parking lot.People tend to drive the wrong way when getting out of the parking lot.Some cars drop the children off in the middle lane in the mornings.Plan to remove the corner parking lot as it is treacherous and could cause accidentsPlan to have teachers hang identification from their mirrors when parked in the parking lot.Morning guiding volunteers to encourage parents to drop off their children at the far end of the kiss and drive lane, near the chain linkPlan to put 2 people on duty every morning.Parent pick-up in the afternoonParents are not allowed to come into the school to pick up their children in the afternoon. They will be encouraged to move to the back of the parking lot to wait. For safety reasons the front door will remain locked and be accessible via bell. Parents felt that it makes the school appear more depressing. Mme Burisch wants to provide a haven of school warmth on blizzard/snowy cold days for family members who walk to school to wait for younger children and pick them up. Trying to figure out a waiting space for them without cluttering up the lobby.Next School Council Meeting: Feb.20, 20148:15Adjourned ................
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