April School Council Minutes

Posted May 2, 2022

Minutes – Salem Public School Council

April 26, 2022 – Start 6:30pm

Attendees: Natasha Skerritt, Courtney Ecclestone, Lauren Shelby, Andrea Catteau, Johanna Hilditch, Ghesal Mojallali, Thomas Samson, Lisa Wyatt & Vanessa Cordes

Welcome

Approval of Minutes: Courtney Ecclestone approves & Thomas Samson seconds.

Principals Report: (Natasha Skerritt)

  • Each year we complete a number of emergency drills. In the Spring our drills include a Tornado Drill and 3 Fire Drills.
  • Yearbook is well on its way. Thank you so much to Vicki for all the work she is doing with this.
  • An Early Reading Teacher has been hired. She will be in our building 0.7 time. Ms. Hart will be working with some students in grade 2 and 3 over the next 9 weeks.
  • We also have received the funding to hire a reading tutor to work individually with students needing more practice with reading. This position is not yet hired but I am hoping shortly. We have funding for 10 hours a week for this position for the next 9 weeks. Teachers will be choosing the students to work with the reading tutor in consultations with myself and Mrs. Brnjas
  • Earth day Activities were a highlight this week and last week – planting of trees, bushes and spreading of Mulch is happening. Many classes walked last week and participated in a community clean up.
  • This week we are urging everyone to wear blue for Autism on Friday.
  • Reminder pizza orders are now open. We will not be able to accommodate late orders this time. Please don’t miss out. This order will take us to the end of the year.
  • Grade 6 Graduation – Monday June 27th
  • Calendar – I have been updating the school calendar on our website to show all the food days. If you are unsure about a food day this is a good place to have a look.

Treasurer Report: (Courtney Ecclestone)

Fundraising 0

General $498.89

Milk $0

Nutrition $6690.10

Parent engagement $430.81

Playground $4333.20

Playground Maintenance $1000.00

Student activities 0

Teacher Allocations $0

Charitable Lunches $0

Total: $12953.00

Fundraising:

Raise the Dough

  • Raise the Dough fundraising night with Fergus Domino’s Pizza was a huge success! Of approx. 160 families at the school, we had 150 that placed an order.
  • $792.00 was raised for our school (a 94% response), congratulations and thank you to everyone.
  • Our kindergarten C class was the winner of the in-class pizza party last week.
  • Going forward the Raise the Dough fundraiser will likely run twice a year (spring & fall).

General Fundraising

  • School Council Fundraising is now done for the year, except for the ongoing option to purchase Mabel’s Labels.
  • A lost and found post will be made for families to see if they have anything to claim, with a reminder that Mabel’s Labels are a great option to label all the gear.
  • A Flipgive account has been created for our school as a fundraising option for next year (fall start).
  • Elmira Chicken fundraising went towards purchasing six new televisions for our classrooms. One tv is still needed, as well as 3 mounting brackets, electrical hook ups and new connectors (Chromecast is our current connector).
  • The Canada Post grant has been successfully submitted. We have requested Chromebooks as well as a sports package (balls etc.) totalling $5000.00. The school will find out if the application was accepted in August with funds getting distributed to successful applicants in the fall.
  • Still looking into other grant options (Best Buy/TD/Canadian Tire/Sportcheck).

Other/ New Business:

  • Looking at a school picnic towards the end of the year. A time to come together as a community. This picnic will be held outdoors (rain plan to be decided).
  • Potentially selling tickets ahead of time for families to enjoy pizza/pop/ice cream on the evening of.
  • Ideas for a “Kindergarten Team Tent” where we can invite our incoming kindergarten families that are set to join Salem School in September to experience and be welcomed to the Salem community.
  • We have just been given the approval for this outdoor event. A date to hold this event is being looked at (Thursday June 2nd, before the PA day is one option), but potentially another date may be needed due to the provincial election happening at that time.
  • Any donations of recess equipment (balls etc.) are always welcome.
  • Our playground is officially open! The children have enjoyed this all week.
  • The playground is set to receive new updated safety ground covering (in place of the stones around the play center). The stones will be removed, and the new material will be installed. This new material will be “less compactable”.
  • The children enjoyed some extra snacks recently through our nutrition program, carrots and celery were a hit.

Next meeting in person on May 24th @ 6:30 pm in the library. All welcome.

End 7:46pm

Categories: School Council News