School Council Minutes (September 21, 2020)

Posted September 25, 2020

Meeting Minutes

Westminster Woods P.S. School Council
Meeting Date: Monday September 21, 2020

Present: Cherise Johnson, Allison Stoffman, Keith Coutu, Kylee Booth, Melanie Taylor, Melissa McEachern, Angela Popofski, Lisa Matchett, Dawn Nicholson, Natalie Thomas, Julie May, Amber Shutsa, Nithi Nava, Lucy Oates

Welcome: Cherise called the meeting to order at 6:33 pm.

Election of School Council Executives for 2020-2021:

  • Council Chair: Cherise Johnson
  • Treasurer: Angela Popofski
  • Secretary: Kylee Booth
  • Fundraising Chair: Julie May
  • Milk/Booster Juice Chair: Angela Popofski
  • Playground/Greening Chair: Natalie Thomas
  • Community Building and Events Chair: Melanie Taylor

Introductions:

  • Welcome to Keith Coutu, Westminster Woods new Vice Principal.
  • Welcome to new Council members: Julie May, Nithi Nava and Amber Shutsa.

Review and Acceptance of Past Minutes:

  • Ange motioned to accept the minutes and Natalie seconded the motion.

Principal’s Report:

  • New school population:
    • 443 in school, 196 remote
    • Lost 8 classes and 10.5 teachers to the remote school
  • New staff-Mr. Downing in for Mrs. Brooks KB, Ms. Tupling in for Mrs. McGee, Mme. Aramal Bertozzi in for Mme. Campbell, and Mr. Forcey in for Ms. Lebrun
  • We now have a school nurse we share with approximately 10 other schools – Mrs. Loeshe is our new day time custodian.
  • Everything about how the school runs has needed to be adapted for the covid environment:
    • Parents asked to screen their children and keep them home if the display one or more symptoms
    • Before school students gather in cohorts instead
    • Entering school in a staggered way through their door, hand sanitizer, masks – Attendance is online
    • Teachers rotate to classes (students are in their same room all day)
    • Recess in two parts, half the school goes out, while the other half eats
    • Recess in zones. Cohort recess toys
    • Lates/Pickups done through calling the office
    • Visitors are not permitted at the school
    • Parents are asked to ensure they and their students know how to log into the Google Classrooms. All classes will be working with and updating Classrooms throughout the year.
  • No insurance needed for council this year. Can be purchased if restrictions ease
  • We are learning to adapt to our new restrictions:
    • Open house will be virtual this year. Details to follow.
    • Board has asked that no fundraising be done at this time
    • Orange Shirt Day will be September 30 with activities in the class
    • Terry Fox Run will be done by individual classes on October 1

Questions:

  • Dawn asked: is there a set date for elementary school parents to opt in/out of in person learning. Allison said there is no set date yet.
  • Dawn asked: will there be more restructuring of classes in the next coming weeks? Allison said the classes the kids are in right now are set. There might be more restructuring in the future depending on changes with the pandemic.
  • Lisa asked if classes are actually bigger this year than last year? Allison said the numbers are around the same.
  • Cherise asked the council how everyone’s kids are doing with going back to school. Julie, Natalie shared that their children are happy over all, a positive experience!
  • Melanie asked about whether or not students should be bringing Chrome books to school. Allison said students can bring their own chrome books, they get wiped down as they come into the classroom, but that they need to be taken home everyday. Nothing should be left at the school.

Treasurer’s Report:

  • Ange motioned to zero out Booster Juice/Milk and move funds to playground improvements. And move $5000 (10% of community building) to playground maintenance, Lucy and Dawn seconded it.
  • Soccer nets were paid out $1200-$1300
  • Cherise asked if we should still do the playground lines (as discussed last year), Allison suggested we leave it for now but budget $1500 to do it at some point.
  • Cherise asked if the school needs additional equipment for each classroom (each classroom has their own set equipment for recess balls, jump rope etc.) -decided equipment is good for now.

Community Building:

  • On hold for now.

Booster Juice/Milk/Pizza Program:

  • At this time food/drink programs will not be running. Will re-evaluate throughout the year.

Additional comments:

  • Dawn asked about if the recess spaces will be rotating->not yet, possibly in the future. Right now it is comfortable so students can rely on their location.
  • Coloured lanyards to help identify what kids go where and seems to be working so far.
  • Areas will change depending on winter weather, will need to revisit then.
  • Melanie, to Allison and Keith: “please let us know if the council can do anything to
    support. You are doing a great job.”
  • Ange- if anything comes up that the school needs we can do email voting.

New Business:

  • PIC meeting via google meet September 28th, 2020 6:45pm

Next Meetings:

  • November 30th, 2020
  • February 22nd, 2021
  • May 17th, 2021
  • (more meetings can be added if needed)

Adjournment:

  • Cherise adjourned the meeting at 7:21 pm

Categories: School Council