School Council Meeting Minutes – June 4th, 2026

Princess Margaret Public School

In attendance: Emily M., Ida C., Tracy P., JustineO., Brittani S., SarahC., Tracey M., TanyaP., Teagan

K., Billie Jo R., Andrea P.

Regrets: Amber J., Lindsay F., Ashley H., Sabrina F., Vienna R., Jen L.

Land Acknowledgement and Equity Statement – Andrea P.

1. Principal’s Report Highlights (full report follows Meeting Minutes)

▪ We are in the process of installing all new exterior doors.

▪ EQAO testing has finished and we are so proud of our students, how they slowed down and

worked hard to really process the answers before submitting responses. We found that the

small-group setups were very effective, in addition to having a weekend break in-between.

▪ Tentative class organizations for 2026-27. School numbers are reviewed the first week back,

so attendance is important. Changes will be implemented soon after.

▪ Tanya our CYC has been offering great programming to prepare kids for summer transitions.

▪ Pride month has had a great launch, including flag raising and displays.

▪ Amaya James gave a wonderful talk about her new book. Copies have been purchased for

the school library.

2. General Council Business – Emily M.

▪ Spending / budget for this school year:

o School Council ran four fundraisers this year. We covered school council insurance,

made several turkey dinner donations through Quest for Cakes, we purchased bird

seed, fishing resources and gardening supplies for the Kindies, we paid for the

climbing wall, we purchased new signage for holiday craft fair, we paid for new DPA

equipment with recess bins and sidewalk chalk for each class, we paid for triple mix

for all school garden plots, we sponsored the Paola Argentio Reading Award, we

purchased two door-prize baskets for Family Fun Night, and we supported FTP

programming.

o Playground account - approx. $1500 remains

o General account - approx $2200 remains

o We voted to approve $1,000 towards Graduation.

o We voted to approve an ice cream party for Student Council, who assisted with all

our events this year. Thank you Student Council!!

o Fundraising for next year: Remember that we need to move 25% of our fundraising

over into the playground account. Next year, we will need to increase our fundraising

efforts and reach out into the community for grants, donations, etc.

▪ State of playground repairs:

o School Board will be removing the train structure from the Kindie yard. The cost to

repair was far too expensive at over $12,000! In September, we will create a plan to

fill this space with outdoor learning items/equipment, as per the Mission of our

Council.

o Repairs for all remaining playground equipment totals $6,341. Council has voted to

repair all items. Andrea is expediting this as quickly as possible.

3. Family Fun Night Review - Tracey M.

Suggestions:

▪ Gift basket draw – let’s have one drawing can for each item, so people can choose their

potential prize in advance.

▪ Wrap the gift baskets and display them the week prior, to create more hype!

▪ Pizza sales – This year, we only purchased 4 “extra” pizzas (pizzas not sold ahead of time on

School Cash). Next year, let’s order more pizzas for walk-in sales. Also, council could plan

ahead of time for which council members would gladly purchase extra pizzas to take home

if there are leftovers. Also, let’s consider offering pre-sale for whole pizzas (families might

want leftovers, and it would make distribution easier). Remember to separate cash-sale

pizzas from the rest!

▪ Curling – at the end, roll it up with printed side out.

▪ Cornhole – move to grass near community garden (too much foot traffic with people cutting

through).

▪ Good vibes – let’s possibly use walkie-talkies to ensure that the environment is friendly for

incoming kindies, LRC families, etc. Also, let’s ensure that school council volunteers are

keeping ourselves accessible to student volunteers who might need support asking for no

photos, keeping the lineups in order, etc. Lanyards with our names might be helpful for

school council volunteers.

▪ Music – we might consider asking the band to perform first, and then the choir. Need to

announce what’s happening in advance, so people are not leaving through the second

performance.

▪ Thank you to student council – school council approves purchasing ice cream for student

council volunteers. Thank you!

4. School Council Elections for next school year:

▪ Lead Chair: Emily Mallett

▪ Vice Chair: Justine O’Brien

▪ Administrative Coordinator: Ida Carr

▪ Financial Coordinator: Vienna Riddle

▪ Volunteer Coordinator: Amber James

▪ Social Media Coordinator: Brittani Sweeney

▪ Fundraising Community Liaison: Tanya Paradowski (temporary consulting position)

Next meeting date will be Thursday, September 24th, at 6pm, during Meet the Teachers night.

Principal’s Report: PMPS School Council

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.

My commitment this evening: to celebrate and recognize National Indigenous People’s Month by

sharing resources with staff and students (if time show board resources)

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:

A few words first....

Thank you to our incredible School Council—along with our strong leaders, Emily, Billy Jo, and Ida—

deserves sincere thanks for all of their work guiding the council this year. Together, we have truly

accomplished so many great things. For our non-executives, none of this could have been done

without you all as well.

One of the highlights of the year has been your unwavering support for every initiative I have brought

forward. Whether it was rock climbing, the holiday craft fair, providing new resources for our

kindergarten programs, supporting our Family Transition Place initiatives, or so much more—you

have always stepped up.

I wish all of you could have been present during the rock climbing days. The smiles on the students’

faces were truly heartwarming. Watching children take risks, try something new, and build

confidence—especially some of our students with special needs who were initially hesitant—was

incredibly special. For many, this was a core memory, and we are so grateful. The timing in May was

perfect, giving everyone a much-needed lift before the warmer weather arrived.

We deeply appreciate Council’s continued support of all our initiatives, especially our food and

breakfast programs. Please know the difference you make in the lives of students who come to

school needing both nourishment and a warm, welcoming start to their day. Your care and

commitment have not gone unnoticed.

It has truly been a successful year. Even with challenges such as significant playground repairs and

disappointing news about our train structure, we have remained optimistic and resilient, continuing

to move forward together.

Wishing everyone a restful and well-deserved summer. I look forward to collaborating again in the

year ahead.

Construction: Great news- replacement of all exterior doors has started. This includes new

frames.

EQAO: EQAO is over for another school year. Our grade three and six students worked hard and we

are excited to see their results in the fall. Overall school scores in math, reading, and writing are

made public in the fall as well as individual results for each student.

Tentative Class Organizations for 25/26:

A reminder that all organizations are tentative and school numbers are reviewed the first day of

school, with the board reviewing numbers the first week of September and changes happening by

the third week of September. This happens because we have students who move in and move out

during the summer. We need to meet Ministry caps on class sizes. I do not share teacher

assignments at this time and I do not take teacher or class requests. Our staff are working hard to

build classes based on many factors including; academic, social, emotional, and emotional needs,

friendships etc.

Our tentative organization for September includes:

-1 kindergarten classe

-1 grade SK/1 class

-2 grade 1⁄2 classes

-1 grade 2⁄3 class

-1 grade 3 class

-1 grade 3⁄4 class

-1 grade 4⁄5 class

-2 grade 5⁄6 class

-2 grade 7⁄8 classes

- 1LRC 8 class

We will continue to have ETS (Early Transition to School program) to our school as well.

Child & Youth Worker Support & Plans for the Month of June: Last year the board increased CYC

and social worker support in all UGDSB schools. We are lucky to have a social worker in our

building a half day to a full day each week and our CYC here 4 days a week. Tania is planning

presentations during the month of June and we wanted to share the content with our PMPS

families.

Every class, K-8, will have a presentation in June focusing on preparing for the end of the school

year and going into summer. The purpose of the presentation is to reinforce some of the topics

discussed throughout the year in other presentations and to provide tips for a healthy summer. The

topics within the presentation include:

-change and the feelings that come with it, both positive and negative

-easy ways to calm when feeling big feelings, which we will practice together

-ways to take care of our bodies over the summer, including healthy eating and healthy sleeping

-ways to take care of our mental health over the summer, including trying new things, screen time

tips and staying connected to friends

-how to ask for help when struggling with any of these things

To end off, each class will have a Summer Plan activity to complete and take home. This plan will

have them thinking about specific things they will do to have a healthy summer.

Pride Month at PMPS: Copy of speech shared at PMPS flag raising ceremony:

Good afternoon everyone!

Students, staff, families, and community members—thank you for being here today as we come

together for a very special moment in our school community.

Today, we proudly raise the Inclusive Pride flag.

Before we do, I want to take a moment to talk about what this flag means—especially for all of you,

from our youngest learners in kindergarten to our leaders in Grade 8.

The Pride flag is bright and colourful. Each colour reminds us of something important, but together,

they share one powerful message: everyone belongs.

At our school, we believe that every student should feel safe, valued, and respected—no matter

who they are, how they look, who they love, or how they express themselves. Pride Month is a time

to recognize the importance of kindness, fairness, and acceptance. It is also a time to celebrate the

diversity that makes our school such a wonderful place.

For our younger students:

Pride is about being proud of who you are. Just like we celebrate our differences—our talents, our

cultures, and our interests—we also celebrate that everyone is unique and special in their own way.

Being kind and including others is something you can do every day.

For our older students:

Pride is also about understanding and standing up for one another. It is about being an ally—

someone who shows respect, listens, and supports others, even when it might feel difficult. It

means speaking up when we see unfairness and choosing actions that make our school a safe and

welcoming space for all.

As we raise this flag, we are making a promise as a school community.

We promise to:

• Treat one another with kindness and respect

• Celebrate differences instead of fearing them

• Ensure everyone feels seen, heard, and valued

• Continue learning and growing together

This flag will fly as a reminder that our school is a place of inclusion, where every student belongs

exactly as they are.

Let’s carry that message not just this month, but every single day—in our classrooms, on the

playground, and in our community.

Thank you for being part of a school where we lift each other up.

Now, it is my honour to invite you to join me as we raise the Pride flag.

Happy Pride Month, everyone.

Support to Access Digital Report Cards for Parents/Guardians : To support upcoming report

cards at the end of June, The Upper Grand District School Board has an online parent portal

called Parent ConnectED. Parents/guardians are able to access their children's report cards

digitally through this portal. To assist with access and support any technical challenges that

families might experience, the UGDSB has created a support website for Parent ConnectED

found here: UGDSB Report Card Support. This is also posted on our school website.

Within this website there is support on the following topics:

• How to create a parent portal account

• How to access report cards

• A list of links to schools report card websites

• The parent-teacher interview booking process

• Information on 18+ students granting parental access

• What to do if you forgot your password

Important Dates:

*** Freezie Sales are now over. Thank you for your support for our grade 8s***

June:

-4th: Compass Run @ PMPS- last block (please donate a non perishable item if you are able)

-4th: School Council- Last meeting 6pm (elections-everyone is invited to run for positions)/ First

meeting of 26/27 September 24th/26 6pm in the library (same night as Meet the Teacher)

-5th: PD Day: am curriculum & pm report card writing: no school for students

-9th & 10th: Intermediate Trip

-12th: School wide play day

-12th: All school library books due back.

-13th: Finale for Bike Roadeo: Alder Street

-17th: Grades 3⁄4 (pm) & 4⁄5 (am) at Island Lake for Indigenous Learning

-18th: Pozniak/Szabo/Ditchburn Trip to Orangeville Library ( permission form coming home)

-21st: Summer Solstice & National Indigenous People’s Day

-22nd: PMPS Grade 8 Grad

-23rd: Senior kindergarten celebration 2pm

-25th: Last day of School with students

-26th: PD day for staff (school improvement plans and transitions)

Upcoming Spirit Days:

June 12th: School Colours to celebrate our PMPS outdoor playday!!

Make sure to wear a hat and some sunscreen!!

June 19th: Share the Sunshine Day

Dress in yellow or bright colours to symbolize sunshine and positivity.

June 25th: Celebrate Canada!!

Dress in red and white or orange and wear Canadian accessories