Belfast School Parent Council
March 18, 2010 meeting minutes
Attendance:20 parents, 1 administration, 2 teachers
Meeting called to order at 7:18pm
Principles report:
The newsletter will be going out tomorrow March 19, 2010. Our schools administration secretary has taken a job at a school closer to her home and will be leaving us as of March 19, 2010, we are sorry to see her go. Filling in for her for the next week will be our 3 lunch supervisors, after we return from Spring Break we will be welcoming the new Admin Secretary.
There are currently no staff changes that we are aware of. If this changes Administration will inform the parent council.
Projections for the coming year were 213, as of now we have 221 students. A large sign up for the Kindergarten program has occurred as Mayland Heights Elementary is not running a Kindergarten program next year.
The middle school program is going to go ahead as projected at Sir John Franklin, and will draw its student base from all areas North of the Bow.
Jump rope for Heart was a big success and raised over $3000.00
A very successful Lock Down practice took place this week. The meeting place in the event of an emergency is the Crossroads Community Centre.
Monday March 22, 2010 is the student lead conferences. Students will be able to show parents their learning achievements and share their accomplishments as well as set new learning goals for the remainder of the school year. The schools goals have focused on reading and personalized learning for each child, (multiple intelligence)
Your help is needed to guide the children of Belfast Elementary in understanding that the whole idea of “Boyfriend/Girlfriend” has no place in an Elementary school. This type of thing at this age means exclusion and causes upset within the classroom. Please remind your child that this type of behavior is not appropriate.
New library books courtesy of the Chapters Indigo book grant in the amount of $33,000.00 was spent this year and will be spent again next year and the year after.
Production: A new form of production for the upcoming year. Students will write their own play and their own music with the help of next year’s Artist in Residence. This will make next years production a true Belfast Elementary School production. Fine Arts Teacher is going to choose the role she wishes to take as she is ready to try something new. A production meeting may need to take place one evening to alleviate some questions and concerns.
We are hoping for 3 artists in Residence next year, 2 of which would help with the production and the third to come after the winter break.
Lunchroom: All is running well with the lunch room. A major review at the end of the year to see where we stand will be looked at.
Park Benches: Approved and ordered. The benches are set to arrive at the end of March. At that time a work group will have to be organized to install the benches.
Casino: (8) back up positions are still required to be filled. A memo will have to go out with the March newsletter or a mass e-mail should be sent out.
Key Communicator: System meeting (whole board). Trustees spoke about the role of the board, city budget over $1 billion dollars. 12 new schools scheduled to be built, 6 new elementary schools, 4 middle schools and 2 senior high school. Budget issue re: staffing, the province regulates teacher salaries using a Stats Canada figure. This figure uses the average family weekly earnings to determine salaries. However there was a mistake in the teachers favor and the CBE has to figure out how to pay employees without any lay-offs. Next meeting –April 19, 2010-is an Area 2 meeting with Susan Church, topic will be digital citizenship. Caps meeting next month, CBE branding re: corporate loge and parents impressions of the CBE. We will post the link to this.
Treasures report: $4000.00 in bank right now with no commitments except the benches.
Fun lunches: next fun lunch could be in May, however the fun lunch coordinator went back to work and this position is now vacant. We need a parent to step up and fill this position.
Meeting adjourned 8:14
