Minutes from September 17, 2012

General Lake Parent Council Meeting
Monday September 17, 2012
MINUTES recorded by Mrs. Perras

Welcome and Introductions
Attendance: Karen White, Adelle Bemister, Lindsay Allan, Rowana Brown, Stacie Godin, Claudia Major, Sarah Perras, Debbie Legault, Lizanne Lacelle
Regrets: Jocelyn Pachal, Erin Morawiek, Jennifer Wiertel, Mme Spencer

Minutes reviewed- motioned to accept by Mme.Major, seconded by Mrs.White–motion passed
Mme. Lacelle presents Agenda-motion to accept (unrecorded), seconded (unrecorded)- motion passed

Election for 2012-2013 year held. Claudia Major elected Chair , Adelle Bemister elected treasurer, seconded by Karen White. Sarah Perras elected secretary.

Mrs. Lacelle suggests electing a co-chair throughout the year to shadow Mme Major. Community Representative position remains available.

Old Business
Paint for Playground
With gratitude to the Major family, the playground has received paint upgrades over the summer including the addition of some new games.
Mrs. Major has extra paint left to add more games or re-touch after winter. Council agrees to save paint for re-touches. Council suggests rules for the games should be printed and made available to the students.

Parents Reaching Out Grant
Mrs. Major announced that the Reaching Out Pro Grant was approved. This ministry supplied funding will be used to host an event centered on the topic of Mental Health for children. Mrs Major has been in contact with the Executive Director of the Phoenix Centre Mr.Gregory P. Lubimiv.
Mrs. Lacelle states that she would like to make this event open to all parents in the community.
Plans for this event are in motion, will be discussed further in future meetings.

Bulb Donation for Community Living
Mrs. Lacelle shares a letter that the Parent Council received in gratitude from Community Living for the donation of the Lily bulbs, which were left over from the spring fundraiser.


Voting members versus non-voting members
Mrs. Major proposed a quorum for this school year which will consist of the members present at the meeting regardless of the actual members in the council.
All members voted in favor. Also the group agrees that the agenda could be emailed to all council members in advance so that if there is an issue of importance to a member that is unable to attend they may write a motion to be presented.

New Business
Principal’s Report
i.School year is proceeding smoothly, number of students approximately 400. High numbers in some classes, including the full-time Eng. kindergarten class, will result in some shuffling for students in kindergarten, grade 1,2, and 3. One new teacher will be hired to assist with these changes which will occur within two weeks.
ii.E.Q.A.O scores are presented to the council. General Lake’s scores have risen 11%, exceeding the Board and province standards in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics for grade 3 students. Grade 6 standards surpass standards for Reading and Math but is slightly below in Writing, scoring a 71 in comparison to a board and province standard of 74.
iii. Open House event

Some ordered items for the school are still in transit.
Due to all classrooms now being used, the school council will need to relocate some items such as cabinets which were being stored upstairs.
Mrs. Lacelle is thrilled that an emphasis on focused work in the classroom, character building, and a positive environment in the school have led to such high academic results. She also stresses that increased communication with parents and the inclusion of a CERT teacher helped level two students to achieve higher goals.
Mme Lacelle would like to begin this training again immediately.

Treasurer’s Report
Mrs.Bemister explains to the new council how the school’s funds are organized. She provides the 2011-2012 financial report and reports an opening balance for the 2012-2013 school year of approximately $6,000.


Date for next meeting
Wednesday, October 10th from 6-7pm in the school library.

General Lake BlogSpot
i.Mrs Bemister suggests that a separate blog should be linked to the regular school blog specifically for student council information. This idea is agreed by all.
ii.Mrs. Bemister also inquires as to whether the treasury report should be included and Mme. Lacelle agrees.
iii. The school website should now feature a link to the blog.
Mrs. Bemister and Mrs. Major will create the new blog.
Mrs. Allan offers to check to make sure the link is available and that the comment section on the blog is open to the public.

Committee Reports
Fundraising
i.It is noted that a fundraising committee must be organized. Mme. Lacelle suggests this committee holds independent meetings to discuss fundraising initiatives.
ii. A tentative date is motioned for the Gift and Craft show, Saturday November 17th. The PA day on Friday the 16th will allow vendors extra time for preparation.
iii. Mrs. Godin, Mrs. Brown, Mrs.Bemister and Mrs. Major volunteer to assist with the Gift and Craft show.
iv. Mrs. Bemister suggests having the teachers fill out wish lists indicating which fundraising options they would like to see.
Mrs.Major will contact Mrs.Wiertel to set up a meeting to plan this event.
This motion is approved and a memo will be drafted by Mme.Lacelle
v. Mme Lacelle suggests the possibility of fundraising for a SmartBoard for the library.
The committee will look into gaining donations and fundraising for this item. Mme.Lacelle also mentions the possibility of meeting funds raised with budget funding.

Public Questions
Mrs. Perras inquires about the Breakfast for Learning program. The program has not begun as of yet.
Mrs. Legault will organize a student group to wash and distribute fruit bowls.
Mrs.Major, Mrs. Bemister, Mrs. Perras, Mrs.Brown, Mrs.Allan, and Mrs.White all volunteer to pick up items from Moncions if required.

Meeting adjourned 7:30 pm.