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Minutes of the meeting of

Howard Public School Home And School Association

Wednesday 18 February 2015 7 pm

Howard Public School Library

Attendees: Rosanna Sardella (RS) Principal

Kris Wessenger-MacDonald (KWM) Vice-Principal

Michelle McBride (MM) & Linda Torry (LT) Co-Chairs

Tory Millar (TM) Vice-Chair

Dorothy Chen (DC) Treasurer

John Doherty (JD) Ward 7 Rep

Kathy Narraway (KN) Athletics Committee

Jeff Beardall (JB) Tech Committee

Stevan Petrakovic (SP)

Stacey Kushnir (SK)

Cara Thomson (CT)

Katherine Ball (KB) Secretary

No apologies

1. Welcome by LT

2. Agenda - approved with the addition of Road Safety by JB. Motion to approve (JD) Seconded (TM).

3. Minutes - although posted on the school blog, these weren’t seen by all as they were archived. Minutes need to be posted with the agenda before being archived. Minutes of the meeting of January 21, 2015 approved. Motion to approve (KN). Seconded (TM)

4. Exec News - KB introduced as the new secretary and Madeleine Bentley thanked for her hard work as secretary over the last 18 months.

5. Principal’s Report - Report cards were recently sent home to parents and interviews were taking place and going well.

Ski trip to Snow Valley on February 11 had been enjoyed by all and there were no injuries reported. Thanks to Mr Jurek and Ms Ringler and the parent volunteers.

Grade 6 graduation photo taking place on February 19

Wellness Day on February 25 was to include a Yoga Day hosted by Madame Raymond, who is a qualified yoga instructor. The library would be turned into a yoga studio and teachers and children to take part in scheduled 30-40 minute yoga sessions including breathing exercises, sun salutations and stretching. Part of the well being for mental health strategy. Mindful moments is due to start in March.

Kiwana choir competition coming up soon.

4 chrome books have now been purchased by the school and are being used by Area 27, Ms Ringler, Madame Datoo (grade 5) and Madame Desilets (grade 4). These are going well - more feedback from JB in Tech committee update (see below).

6. Committee Updates

FALL FETE - still looking for a chair - any ideas of people interested to be approached to be given to LT and MM. SK reported that there had been someone with interest but going back to work in the Fall so still looking. It should be made clear that the Fete doesn’t have to be the same event it has been in the past. A new chair could make it something new, there is lots of help from the existing chairs of the different events within the fete committee and the outgoing fall fete chairs are still around to help out too.

DANCE-A-THON - money has now been counted and the school portion is estimated at $5,200, which is great. Tony Marra and Denis Keyes ran the day for Mahshad Aryafar. Lots of fun reported.

ARTS COUNCIL - Art club has had a fantastic response with 81 students applying. The limit on numbers is 20 per club meeting and so a lottery will decide participants and others will have another opportunity in the future. Ballet Creole is coming back on March 5 for the junior group, following the success with the primary group in January.

WARD 7 UPDATE - JD - Council met on February 18 and GREG SNEIDER (?) gave a presentation on the budget, which they are looking to have approved by March 11. Will be subject to change as the provincial government will not have announced their budget by then. Significant change this year can see how own school budget is generated by base allocation, pupil allocation etc. this gives a sense of how the budget is spent; 83% of budget is salaries with the rest over activities. Short of a balanced budget by a small number. Additional cuts to special education. Toronto Board spends more on special education that it gets and so as the budget tightens, seek to recover these costs. In future there will be more librarians, more v-principals and a variety of staffing models to be taken out of different areas of the budget. Capital budget will be debated in May - including the issue of buildings. Howard is to get a new roof in July and then solar panels. Mandate to look at schools to be closed but this Ward 7 not to be included. King George is now above capacity. Looking at boundary changes. Document showing the boundary lines for Ward 7 can now be found on the Facebook page. Parents are encouraged to join the Facebook page for the Ward 7 Council to keep up to date with discussions and have access to documents posted there. Next meeting is at Howard on March 24. Howard, as host school, is asked to make a short presentation on the school about the programs offered - a sort of story to give people a sense of what and who Howard is. This usually lasts 5 minutes and is given by the Vice-Chair. RS to discuss the presentation nearer the time with LT and MM. Technology presentation to be given at the next School meeting on March 25.

EDUCATION TOWN HALL - LT - This took place on January 22 in Parkdale public library - well attended: Robin Pilkey, Peter Tommins, Krista Wylie, Cheri De Novo, Peggy Nash, Gord Perks and community organisations including the GIRLS FROM CITY VIEW who ran the petition on curriculum consent. Interesting event. Own presentations on where things are going. Robin Pilkey spoke on the 10 year plan out there for schools within TDSB - potential for that to be released in the future - including lists of potential school closures and boundary changes etc. Utilisation rate of 97% in ward 7 but less at high school (80%). Greater interest in French etc. Need to discuss use of public space in closed schools. Issues proposed not debated. Urban planners don’t consider schools when approving new buildings. Potential discussion for solutions to the empty school problem. Runnymede PS and UFA - schools with 15 degrees in winter - heating in schools amongst the issues to be worked on. Incentives for empty schools, for example using them as special schools - TDSB don’t believe in it - and prefer schools with less transition eg secondary schools. Interesting and enlightening. Krista Wylie had many valuable proposals - follow her on Facebook and her blog - she needs help to move her proposals forward.

KN reported that at the meeting there had been a reference to Fern’s future as a French immersion school and discussion as to the importance of these potential changes being made public.

TECH COMMITTEE - JB - we now have 4 Chrome books in school! Last week a lunch and learn was organised for teachers. This was run by Marlena from Parkdale Collegiate. We still need clarity on the future use of the Chrome books. Teachers seemed enthusiastic. Suggested a chrome book for every teacher (25) - initial plan to replace some of the old computers - something to be thought about. Also officially ‘cutting edge’ at Howard now. As we adopt Chrome books, teacher experience will be different to children. Teachers may have to learn a whole new stream of programs and a way of doing stuff - teachers are now getting to know them and then will meet again after March break (maybe after Peter’ Singh’s technology presentation - at next school council meeting). Theft concerns - Go Guardian - shuts them down and takes webcam pictures of thieves. Cannot print from them, but other printing options if this becomes a concern. TDSB price list. In a holding pattern - maybe 20 more for teachers and 10 on a cart for students to use. Wait to check in with the teachers before further purchase. Great potential to enhance the classroom.

DC raised the issue of maintenance of existing student computers. TDSB has to maintain computers - no administrator access but DC to use RS and KWM’s login’s to ‘clean up’ the existing class room computers. Computers are updated with modern hard drives - they just look antiquated. DC to assess the state of existing computers and whether they need replacing. RS has audited the classroom computers. Need someone to assess/audit the Mac Lab - need sufficient administrative access. RS reported that the school to be wireless by the end of the month with more hubs to be added. But if TDSB is down then we need the plugged in computers as back up. Would be good to have a balance.

ATHLETIC COMMITTEE - KN- 4 ‘Sizzler sleds’ (1-2 people sleds that are pulled) have been purchased for the Kindergarten and the students they love them. Also 6 robust storage bins. Memo for requests for DPA (Daily Physical Activity) going out to teachers. RS to send out to our staff via email. KN to put forms in mailboxes too. New parent volunteering to be on the sports council (Rich Cooper) - hoping for more requests so we can look at needs by grade etc.

LEGO - LT - Robotic Lego is in Mr Ing’s class - Used to be Lego league - lego robotics to be programmed for missions. Need someone to run it. Decide time of day to run it - advertise it and see how regularly to run it - depending on interest. Everyone is encouraged to approach teachers and ask for volunteer help. JB also interested in a tech club, with lego as a component part. Need a parent - STEM teachers - Anne Serazin and Eddie Ing - to go along with RS for training and then come back with ideas. ECEs can also be approached as interested teachers for these clubs.

7. Finance update and Budget - DC - Summary of Fundraising and Expenditures - Reserve of $10K but projected numbers actually give a reserve of $13K. This assumes no more parenting workshops. Parenting workshops funded by $1,000 - from school and from Ministry (parent reaching out) grant. Although the grant is not actually itemised, it is in fact spent on unseen office costs and therefore balances out. There will be another parent workshop this school year and so the allocated funds will be spent. Figures in the summary are to DC’s best knowledge - not all figures are in from the councils. No news on the Music camp yet. One potential retirement gift so far. May is the deadline for others who wish to retire to give notice. Gift is from parent council, rather than from the teachers.

Donation of $1,000 made to the Lambton Girls on the Run/Run Wild project. The contact there moved and the program didn’t take off but the donation had been made and so they are asking to put the money towards the purchase of Lego to start up a Lego club. Although not the original intended use of the money, it still goes to an extra-curricular activity. Motion to approve the new use of the money for the Lego club approved. Moved MM, seconded SK

8. Road Safety - JB - recent incident involving school children on Roncy/Howard Park. Gord Perks’ office contacted for signs - crossing signs - two new ones on the other side of Roncy. Tiny and obstructed by trees. Should this concern be escalated - more signage? or involve the Police traffic dept? Need bigger signs to be large and obvious. Maybe raise awareness in the neighbourhood but it is felt that it is not necessarily the neighbourhood but cars using Howard Park Ave and Dundas (in particular) as main arteries from the city. Maybe approach the police to ticket the Roncy/Howard Junction and Marmaduke/ Roncy and Dundas/Ritchie? (RS to call traffic dept and to email Gord Perks too). Also agreed to obtain a feathered school sign from the Leaside ‘Kids at Play’ campaign. This cost had previously been approved by RS - each sign is around 6 feet tall and costs approximately $250 (KB to contact and co-ordinate). Parent reminder to go out regarding parent parking on Marmaduke St.

9. No Other Business

10. Action Items:

i) Minutes of the meeting to be posted on the school blog before being archived

ii) Renewed Call for a new Chair for the Fall Fete

iii) MM and LT to prepare presentation for the next Ward 7 meeting on March 24, 2015

iv) DC to assess existing student computers

v) RS to send out DPA request by email. KN to put forms in mail slots

vi) Call for a teacher to run Lego club and/or tech club

vii) Lambton to be informed of decision regarding funding

viii) RS to contact police traffic department and Gord Perks re: road safety

ix) KB to co-ordinate purchase of School Kids at Play sign

x) Parent reminder regarding parking on Marmaduke Street

Meeting adjourned at 8.12 pm to reconvene on March 25, 2015.

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