ool Council Meeting Minutes – April 9th, 2026
Princess Margaret Public School
In attendance: Andrea P., Tracey M., Emily M., Billie Jo R., Tracy P., Justine O., Tanya P., Lindsay F., Sabrina F., Becky L., Sarah C., Amber J., Vienna R., Nelson (Student Council Rep)
Regrets: Ashley H., Teagan P., Jen L., Brittani S., Ida C.
1. Land Acknowledgement, Human Rights statements, welcome to Student Council. Principal’s Report (full report follows Meeting Minutes).
· Morning drop-off and parking issues are now elevated to the next level. Team of community members are meeting next week to discuss next steps.
· Discussed outcomes from Family Transition Place (FTP) workshops, supported by School Council. Highly positive feedback from students and presenters. Measured results shared – see full report below for details.
· Highly recommend reviewing Human Rights Report – a tough read but important info.
· Many important dates and exciting events taking place from now until end of school year. Follow social media pages and e-mails for more info.
· Andrea will have a playground repair update for us by May meeting.
· Family Fun Night taking place on Tuesday, June 2nd, from 5-7pm.
2. Student Council Rep. – Family Fun Night discussion (Nelson with Tracey M.)
· Student Council meeting by end of April to discuss event, select games, assign volunteers.
· Student Council will let School Council know how we can best support with our volunteers.
· Will be selling pizza, pop, freezies, same as years prior.
· Student Council will begin to discuss next Holiday Craft Fair mid-October.
· For remainder of school year, milk, popcorn, and freezie sales are focus.
· Kaysie and Nelson are invited back to our next meeting for an update.
3. General Council Business:
· No joint local school councils event with FTP before end of this school year. PMPS will re-visit this idea with Spencer, as per their request, in September.
· Voted to approve $200 for soil and fertilizer, for Meghann Christie’s pumpkin garden for junior students in courtyard.
· Parent Involvement Committee event next Thursday, April 16th, in Fergus. Emily shared agenda. Anyone interested, please e-mail Emily for registration link.
· Lady Glaze Doughnuts fundraiser discussion:
o Emily to arrange fundraiser launch date so that donuts can be picked up by families on the night of Family Fun Night (FFN) – June 2nd.
o Council will order extra donuts for cash sales at our FFN event.
o The more packs of 6 donuts we sell, the higher the kickback for our school.
o Emily to write socials, e-mails, and announcements for fundraiser.
· 100 new Holiday Craft Fair signs and stands have been delivered. We will use SOME in December, let’s try to make this investment last!
· Make it Sow fundraiser:
o Slow but steady. Sold 30 orders so far. About $300 commission for school so far.
o Please push this last week, finishes next Friday, April 17th.
o Emily will sort seeds when they arrive at school. Date TBD but early in the week of April 20th.
o Seeds will go home with students. Small packs, no need to arrange a pick-up date.
· Family Fun Night:
o Becky and Sabrina will shop for giveaway baskets again this year, for FFN (thank you ladies!).
o We have some great prizes already, from school families, for prizes/giveaways.
o Volunteers needed to assist Kim Ellis with art set-up in the library before FFN. Volunteers: Justine and Tanya on Friday, May 29th. Justine, Sabrina, and Emily on Monday, June 1st. Please arrive after school pick-up. Thank you!
· April is Earth Month – Ross Hughes’ Real Estate group has offered to co-host a litter pick-up with us.
o Council chose Sunday, May 3rd, at 10am.
o Hughes Group will supply coffee, donuts, bags, and gloves.
o Emily to do socials. Ask people to bring grabbers if they have them!
o Mayor Post can help to coordinate garbage pick-up if we have excess.
· Memorial proposed to honour the late Paola Argentino. Ideas include a memorial plaque in the library, a special reading corner with a chair, and/or a reading award in her name. Andrea will speak to family, then we will discuss/vote at May meeting.
· Becky Lindo announced she can no longer remain on council, due to increasing work commitments. We are very sorry to see her leave but are very grateful for all she has contributed to our school via her role on Council for the past few years. Thank you Becky.
Next meeting will be on Thursday, May 7th, at 6pm.
Principal’s Report: PMPS School Council
Thursday, April 9th, 2025
Land Acknowledgement:
Princess Margaret Public School is situated on the ancestral, treaty and title lands of the
Anishinaabek Ojibwe Nation, specifically the Michi Saagig of the Credit land. This
Nation holds legal and specific rights in their respective territories. This area has been and continues to be home for Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous peoples.
Promote Indigenous learning opportunities and invite Indigenous elders and speakers to our school:
April 23rd:Shannon Paul, Indigenous Speaker (Szabo, Westlake, Patel)
June 17th: Grades ¾ (pm) & ⅘ (am) at Island Lake for Indigenous Learning
And other opportunities that helps us learn and then respect the area we live:
April 28th: Island Lake Rowing Program Grades 6-8 (more info to come)
May 1st: Patel & Christie: Nature Journaling workshop am
May 15th: Bee Ambassador K-¾ (letter to go home)
A Commitment to Humans Rights In Action:
As a school community, we have a responsibility to recognize, call out, and break down racism and oppression in all forms. The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) is committed to removing systemic barriers that continue to impact students, staff, and families. This is not just a short-term project - it’s an ongoing commitment to making sure every student has a learning environment that is fair, just, and inclusive.
Principal's Report:
Update regarding school parking lot and street traffic: Team of community members and partners, as well as board staff area meeting on April 14th after school to solve concerns and discuss next steps. More information to come.
FTP Feedback (Thank you School Council for Supporting This Work:
Feedback from Presenters: “I have attached a copy of the Power report for you to take a look at. Not surprisingly the results were fantastic. Your students actively engaged in the program and were so respectful throughout the sessions. It is always a pleasure to work in your class. You set the tone for the class and it is clear how hard you work to ensure the standards you set in terms of respect and participation are met. Thank-you for all you do to create a safe and welcoming class for your students (and for guests too😊).”
Results from One Intermediate Class (other classes very similar) :
Program Objective:
· To increase students’ ability to resolve conflicts in a non-violent manner
· To increase the level of respect within the classroom/build healthy relationships
Classes Participating: Class A: Evaluation Tools Used to Measure Program Effectiveness
· Classroom Climate Scale used to measure respect levels
· Teen Conflict Survey to measure self-efficacy (non-violent conflict resolution strategies)
· The Youth Satisfaction Survey used to measure the students’ enjoyment of the program
Evaluation Results: Knowledge of Healthy Relationships (score out of a maximum 5)
Evaluation Results: Self Efficacy (Non-violent conflict resolution skills). Scores out of a maximum of 25):
Explanation of the Results:
The students in class made positive gains in each area measured. This is particularly impressive since the students scored higher at the outset of the program when compared to the average class that participates in the Power Program (see pre-test baseline results). In fact, the students post test scores also far exceed what is expected of a class that completes the program.
The teacher has created a strong and healthy culture of mutual respect and attentive listening. This helps explain the high pre-program scores and made for an engaged and enthusiastic class. The students weren’t afraid to answer questions, participate in activities or make personal connections too.
Name Pre-Test Score Post-Test Score Outcome
This high level of engagement and supportive environment was a large factor in the class learning and achieving positive gained in each area measured.
Potential Benefits of the Power Program:
Healthy Relationships:
Research shows that having healthy relationships builds self-esteem, improves mental and emotional health and helps people live a fuller life. (thenationshealth.aphapublications.org/content/41/2/20.full)
Research shows that healthy relationships are essential to achieving success, feeling good about oneself, and they are essential to physical and emotional health. http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-of-Maintaining-the-Healthy-Relationship&id=1344224.
Self-Efficacy:
Students with a strong sense of efficacy are more likely to challenge themselves with difficult tasks and be intrinsically motivated. These students will put forth a high degree of effort in order to meet their commitments, and attribute failure to things which are in their control, rather than blaming external factors. Self-efficacious students also recover quickly from setbacks, and ultimately are likely to achieve their personal goals. Students with low self-efficacy, on the other hand, believe they cannot be successful and thus are less likely to make a concerted, extended effort and may consider challenging tasks as threats that are to be avoided. Thus, students with poor self-efficacy have low aspirations which may result in disappointing academic performances becoming part of a self-fulfilling feedback cycle. (Bandura) [Margolis and McCabe, 2006]
Evaluation Results: Youth Satisfaction Survey (student enjoyment) Max. Score out of 5
Question Teacher of course Satisfaction Score (scored by students) (out of 5)
Student Evaluation Comments:
· Now I know how to set a boundary and make sure it’s respected.
· This helped me figure out if my relationships are healthy or not.
· I learned a lot about the danger of stereotyping people. I think this is really important.
· I learned to stay strong and true to my values and not be worried about what other people might think.
· People are being more respectful to me now than they were before.
Important Dates:
April:
-14th: Mayor Post to Hickey’s grade ⅚ class 9am (info sent home)
-24th: PD day-no school for all students
-21st: Badminton at PMPS 4-7pm
-21st: Grade 3 & 7 Swim to Survive
-22nd: OC appreciation day: Thank you to Mrs. Mckenzie for ensuring everyone is safe, for keeping our school running, and for all of the work that she does for our school nutrition program. She is kind, caring, funny, and dedicated.
23rd:Shannon Paul, Indigenous Speaker (Szabo, Westlake, Patel) info to come home.
-24th: PD day (mental health & curriculum): No school for students
-27th: IPRCs full day
-28th: Island Lake Rowing Program Grades 6-8 (more info to come)
-28th: Grade 3 & 7 Swim to Survive
-30th: Scientists in the School: Szabo 9am
May:
-1st: Patel & Christie: Nature Journaling workshop am
-4th to 8th: Education & Mental Health Week
-5th: Empowerment Day-am Grade 7-8s
-5th: Grade 3 & 7 Swim to Survive
-5th: Primary Trip to Orangeville Theatre K-¾
-8th: Accessibility Presentation (Lauren Pires) K-3s: 120-150pm & 4-8s 2-230pm ( info already sent home)
-11th: Optimist Bike Roadeo
-12th: ODSS visit for grade 8s 9am
-14th: Special Olympics (rain date May 15th)
-15th: Bee Ambassador K-¾ (letter to go home)
-15th: EA & CYC appreciation day!
-19th: Victoria Day- No school for students and staff
-19th to 22nd: Rock Climbing at PMPS/ gym in use all week (permission forms will be sent out at the end of April)
-26th: Spring ⅞ Vaccination Clinic at PMPS
-28th & 29th: EQAO grades 3 & 6
June:
-1st & 2nd: EQAO continued grades 3& 6 ( EQAO make up 3rd & 4th)
-2nd: Family Fun Night 530-7pm
-5th: PD Day: am curriculum & pm report card writing: no school for students
-9th & 10th: Intermediate Trip
-13th: Finale for Bike Roadeo: Alder Street
-17th: Grades ¾ (pm) & ⅘ (am) at Island Lake for Indigenous Learning
-22nd: PMPS Grade 8 Grad
-25th: Last day of School with students
-26th: PD day for staff (school improvement plans and transitions)
Upcoming Spirit Days:
-Friday, April 10th: Cascading Crackers!! Which classroom can bring in the most boxes of crackers to overflow Snacker the Cracker? Can you help your class cause a cascade of crackers???
-Wednesday, April 15th: Wordsearch Wednesday! Student council members will bring a wordsearch to each class with spring words to find.
-Wednesday, April 22nd: Earth Day (Dress like the world! Wear brown, blue, and green!)
-Friday, May 1st: Attitude of Gratitude day! Classes can create a sticky note door - writing things you are grateful for in your life. Stick the notes on your classroom door.