Riverview School Council Meeting Minutes

Monday December 11, 2006

 

Present:  Heather Anderson, Melanie Trenchard, Donna Sinninghe, Crystal Stamler, Rebecca Tolen, Diane McCormack, Kendra Halvorsen, Hugh Jensson, Aurea Jensson and Anne Carradice

 

Review and Acceptance of Minutes from November 13, 2006

·               Heather motioned the minutes to be accepted. Dianne seconded it

Lunch Program Update

    • Collecting the money for lunches/milk everyday has been time consuming and a fair amount of time is put in on a daily basis.  In January we will go to a weekly order.  More information will be in the newsletter.  Lunches are very good, but sometimes are cold.  Crystal suggested that we buy a new microwave to solve that problem.  Heather asked about our Food Handling Course.  Kendall said he would look into that in the New Year.

Best Start Update

    • The contract went out to tender and the cost far exceeded the budget.  It won’t happen until the summer.  This means we’ll use the lunch room again.  It is probable that the special Education room will also be used and there wouldn’t be an addition to our building.  We will have to submit a plan on how we would house our students without the Special Education Room.

Fundraising

    • Kendall thanked everyone for their support and contributions.  The balance is now $10 536.59.  Aurea would also like to see a financial report on the lunch committee funds next meeting.
    • Rebecca informed us that there would be funds available for those students who cannot afford sports activities.  Please inform Valdron Vogan if you know of someone.  There will be more information in the paper.
    • Other fundraising needs for the future:  Library, Sports Equipment and drinking water (like the high school has).

Basketball Court

    • Anne will check for a quote for an athletic flooring rather than blacktop.  JTJ contracting gave us a quote of $11 210.00.  Rebecca also reminded us to ensure that the tubular steel has a bend in it for safety reasons.
    • Dianne was very concerned about the asphalt that’s become a safety hazard. 

Parent Involvement Committee

    • Heather shared the Parental Involvement Policy which focuses on increasing parental involvement in the school.
    • Aurea suggested having us make a school council pamphlet emphasizing the good we do.  Rebecca suggested having a Grade 8 student to write about the good things that happen in our school on a weekly basis.
    • Kendall reminded us that we’re the best ambassadors for our school.  Let’s keep three good things in our pocket for the times we are asked.  Dianne suggested to have teachers call parents rather than waiting for parents to call the teacher.  It might encourage home-school communication.

Teacher’s Report

Spelling Bee of Canada

·        Our school has been invited to attend the Sioux Lookout’s 2nd annual Spelling Bee in April

·        We are going to begin a spelling bee club here either after school or during breaks to help those students interested prepare for the spelling bee

·        The students who win the regional competition move on the National competition in Toronto.

·        The prizes are excellent

 

Read for 2007

·        On Friday the entire school participated in Scholastic’s “Read for 2007”  where the older students were paired up with the younger students and they read to each other for 2007 seconds. 

·        Boys were paired with boys as part of our boys and literacy initiative.

·        Great participation by everyone. 

 

Christmas concert

·        Dress rehearsal Wednesday Dec. 20th at 9:00 a.m.  with the concert Wednesday night at 7:00

 

Families Learning Together

·        This year the celebration will be called Families Learning Together to extend beyond literacy. 

·        Last year we had the biggest turnout across the district.

·        This year we will also have a guest, and Rodney Brown has apparently expressed interest

·        Exhibits who have already confirmed:

o       Ontario Early Years

o       Day Care

o       Library

o       Doug Irish

o       Teacher will also have either workshops/presentation or booth

o       Thursday, January 25th from 4:30 – 7:30

 

VP Report

    • Crêpes Day was a huge success!   We made over 200 Crêpes.  Thanks for your support!
    • We are planning to go caroling on December 12th at 6:30.  This will be followed with some cookies and hot chocolate in the lunch room at school.
    • The Friday skate has many eager children out there.  Thank you to all of you who come out to help us tie skates.  I’ve been discouraging the use of chairs on the ice except for beginner skaters.  100 % of the permission slips have been returned.  Thank you for your help with that.

Principal’s Report

    • We hired one more EA.  Brenda Jodoin was the successful applicant.  Her position will start in Jan.  We now have a 3rd adult on the playground which will help with playground safety.
    • Riverview has been assigned Ed Cain to work with the Junior Teachers in Literacy and Numeracy.  He’ll be working specifically with our boys and literacy
    • Dec 5th we had our volunteer appreciation Tea.  Cards and a small gifts was given to each volunteer
    • Kendall gave us the School Improvement Plan draft.  If you’re interested in our targets for our kids see Kendall.
    • We’re focusing on our boys and literacy.  Our boys were lower than the girls, but we’re also looking at the school in general.
    • Kendall would like to highlight at each meeting some positive things that are happening at our school

                                                              i.      Cross-graded grouping for 100 min.  Research has shown that if you target instructional a child’s level that they will progress at a faster rate.  Kids are tracked on a monthly basis.

                                                            ii.      Reading Recovery Teacher.  Kendra is doing and outstanding job.  There is not other more effective program.  Every $3.00 you spend on Reading Recovery saves the school $5.00/student in the long run.

                                                          iii.      Later Literacy Program.  Students in Grade 8.  It’s a 50 – day cycle to bring their overall grade levels up by 2-3 grades.  Bev Arpin runs that program.  Our Reading Recovery person, Janet Maxwell, was impressed with the fabulous job she is doing with her students. 

                                                           iv.      Energy Retrofit.  Honeywell was hired by our Board to ensure that we’re as energy efficient as possible.  $180 000.00 has been allotted to our school.

Items for Next Meeting

    • Fundraising

                                                              i.      Aurea will come up with a couple of fundraisers such as citrus fruit

                                                            ii.      Develop a survey to prioritize what we need/want

Quotes for Basketball Court

    • Anne will have some information on the athletic flooring
    • Rebecca will have some more information on basketball hoops, etc…

Family Learning Together

    • Food organization (Dianne McCormack and  Melanie Trenchard volunteered to organize the food for that event).