Welcome & Introductions

 

Approval of Decembers Minutes – approved by Tim and seconded by Wendy

Pass tonight’s agenda – approved by Donna and seconded by Dave

 

Action – we need a better plan for how we ask for money from parents and ways to deal with needy families going forward.

Melanie needs to find someone to take this over next year and she is trying to recruit a new organizer for next year.  Needs 2-3 people to run this.

 

Approval of December minutes and tonight’s agenda

 

Principals Report

Mini Carnival

Mini carnival on Feb 9^th at 7:40-8:15 organized by Wallis and sponsored by Dovercourt. 

Chalk wall, schlockey and serve cider. 

Outside activities. The community walk would take place after that weather dependant

 

The Nook Room

Christine Seabrook has set up The Nook Room and staff have said that visits to the office have been greatly reduced.  Students are having scheduled times there during the day and is has been a very positive experience.  Teachers are saying how students are more focused when they return from the room and we are hoping to keep this as a permanent fixture at the school. 

 

Spring Cleaning

We are hoping this summer to spring clean some rooms and need parents to help with this job. Megan has a list of rooms that need cleaning.

 

Westfest

Look for opportunities to promote our school at Westfest and tie an event in with the festival.

Possiblity of having a family dance and make it a fundraiser.

 

DS Ban

This ban is in effect from Feburary 1^st Does not promote the right type of interaction skills and is not very physical

We now have a DS club that we will be taking place on either Monday or Wednesday

We are looking for a snowball target to increase physical activity – Sara to do it

 

Report Cards

They will be coming out with marks this term – we were the only alternative school that was not giving out marks.  They will be coming home in a sealed envelope and Megan is sending out an email about the marks.  If we decide as a school that we do not want to have grades on the report cards it would need to be a concerted effort on behalf of a group of parents to make a change.

 

Portable Planatarium

Lynne Filion is organizing this instead of Blue in The School – every class would get to participate science program.  They are asking for $500.00 to do this.

 

Yoga

$100.00 for needy families to be able to participate in this school wide program.

 

Staff Transitions

Summit and Broadview kids will be buddied up with a Churchill student to help with the school transitions. There would be a school tour and a follow through of their day.

Panel of teachers to come in February or march to answer any questions that the students might have.

Kindergartners would have the opportunity to buddy up with the 1-2

Challenge that they might assume that they are going to that school

 

Monkey bars, make the yard safer so that they do not get hit with the balls, more skipping ropes, longer school day, wooden skipping surface in the yard, younger students feel like they need a space.

 

Teachers Update

Schlockey Boards

Fenced area at the back of the yard will store the boards and we have a teacher that has agreed to bring them in and out. Parents need to help out when they see them bring brought in or out.

 

Lunchtime Clubs

Opportunity to come off the yard and play inside

Monday –Reading & Writing Club

Tuesday - Lego Club

Wednesday - Chess and Primary Choir

Thursday - School of Rock, French Club, Junior Lego

Friday - Drumming and Electronics Club, Knitting Club

 

Calendar Update

The holiday break for next year has the children leaving December 16^th and back on Janary2nd so that we are coming back on a stat holiday again.  CASC has a letter for parents to send to the superintendent

 

Lates

The teachers are emphasizing with parents how the emphasis is not on what the children are late are missing but how this disrupts the whole rest of the class.

Megan has checked past records and it is consistent across the years – it is not a time issue

10-20 minutes late which is standard at our school.

Discussion regarding lates

 

Fun Yard Ideas

Snowball Target – sara’s family

Coloured ice blocks

 

Tie Dye Update - $1260.00 raised

A very successful event but not something that we would do every year but maybe every two to three years.

Need to help kids in need for next year.  Identify families in need and have teachers approach kids next year to fill out the form and not send in a check.

Pizza and other Lunches

 

Family Potluck

January 25^th was the scheduled date but we are thinking about doing this around family day in February

 

Fundraising

Looking at the playground and forming a committee to address the needs of the playground

Put together a proposal for a process of what they would like to see in the playground – make a wish list and put together a design for the school community.

Need to look at potential investors and see if we can get some support from the community.

Looking for a grant for the outdoor classroom.

We will not qualify for the Evergreen Grant because we recently had the trees planted.

 

Treasurers Report

Wallis has put Wendy in contact with someone who has a software program that would be good for the CASC treasurer to own so that it can be easily transferable and can quickly pull reports. 

Call has gone out to ask for a treasurer for next year – no people have come forward.

Need to try and reduce the amount banking fees that we incur every month.

 

Other Business

Westboro United Site Update - Noting is happening to the church across the street and any development is a very long way off – they all have cold feet and it seems like this is even further behind than before.

 

ASAC Sub Committee Update

In the process of defining ourselves and Churchill is very well along. We are working in a very unified way and pulling together a framework of how Alternative works.  How the tenants are practically applied within our school.

We are working with the superintend and on how the tenants relate back to the school effectiveness framework.  We are meeting this week to discuss this further. Lots of good things are happening and we are really coming together as a program ntot just as individual schools.

Positive feedback from the school board that they really want to promote the program.

 

Pizza Lunches

Need an update from Sue Carkner as to the nutritional guidelines.  Gauge the interest in the Lunch Ladies at the school

Action

To have a survey monkey to ask if we want to have the Lunch Ladies

Find out if Adams Apple is interested in doing the catering.

 

Arts Committee Update

Electives are coming up on Thursday and we believe that we have enough parents to help run this.  Right now the teachers are taking the lead.

 

Knitting Club – The Knitting Club is scheduled for either Tuesday or Friday.  Possibility to have the older kids teaching kids

 

Weaving – roving loom that could be passed between classes and the students could make something and then pass it along.

 

Mural Week – to coincide with the painting of the Winston Churchill mural painting

There is a parent who is interested in heading this project up.

 

 

Next Meeting February 8th