John F. Ross School Council Mintues
Tuesday June 19, 2015
Present: Charmaine Whitmore, Rachel Thompson, Heather Janes, Mary Rayner, Paul Deacon, Deb
Drake, Tom Dagg, Kelly-Lee Burton
Regrets: Terry Hadaway
Student Council Report: Student Council Report was given by Tom Dagg. Saturday June 23, 2015 is the
Big Dig. People from our Community will be volunteering. There is BBQ for those who attend.
L.J. will be the Student Trustee for 2015 – 2016. It is a position at the Board of Education
Student Council for 2015-2016
Senior Council President E.D
Junior Council Presidents M.B and A.L
There is 1 Leadership class for both Juniors and Seniors as well as 1 Athletic Council
Student agenda will be updated, details to follow
Awards Assembly next week, all grades and awards in all classes to be presented
Special Olympics May 20, 2015
Mini Hillside May 28, 2015 11:45 – 1:45
Exams begin June 17, 2015
Graduation Commencement is the first Friday in November. This year Friday November 6, 2015
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Administrative Report: Report given by Tom Dagg
School Council meeting dates for 2015 – 2016 are as follows:
September 15, 2015, October 20, 2015, November 17, 2015, no meeting in December, January 19, 2016,
February 16, 2016, no meeting in March, April 19, 2016 & May 17, 2016
Staff will be in School for a Professional Development Day September 3, 2015 School commences
September 8, 2015.
Orientation is only day this year, September 2, 2015. All grades to attend.
New Principal is not known at this time, possible later this week.
Literacy Test May 21, 2015: This is the year that the test will be given online. Results to follow the first
week of June. If a student does not pass they are able to take the test again the following year, if at that
time they still do not pass then they will take a course.
Board I.T. is aware that there are not enough wireless roters for the number of devices needed to be
used. They are currently working on solutions.
Ryan’s Law, Bill 20 has been passed. Asthma Friendly School. Information is on the Website. Both
Elementary and Secondary School are required to follow the Ryan’s Law as of now.
Next year every course is required to have an exam. Deb Drake reported that there is currently nothing
on the website regarding this. Deb will follow up with Board members and report back information. It is
stated in the Assessment Policy that Tom shared, students have to show skills, formal testing exam.
Deb Drake shared the Board Improvement Plan for Student’s Achievements 2014-2015
This year 694 classes 2014-2015, Next year 724 2015-2016
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New Business:
Parent Café: Packages are completed; Deb will look into what other information is available in other
languages
Invites completed and to be printed, 400 copies
Kelly has signs for Parent Café
Invites will be sent out beginning of June, Charmaine will do the introduction speech, Deb has the
resource packages and poster, Pro Grant information and Busing information
At this time Charmaine, Deb, Rachel & Kelly to be present at the Parent Café
June’s meeting is June 9, 2015 at 6:00 pm at Rachel’s house. Rachel to send out her address and begin a
potluck list
Survey Results: At the Parent Café 2014 90 surveys given & 23 returned.
Some barriers were time restraints, work schedule, culture, ESL. The survey also showed that improving
communication was needed. Information needed to be available sooner.
We discussed that Voice mail message be sent out earlier, email to be sent 1 week before meeting and
then voice mail closer to the meeting as a reminder to families.
PIC Event: Heather went to the event, she shared that the speaker was great. Break out time were both
for Elementary and Secondary Schools
Pro Grant has been filed, we are just waiting to hear back
School based funding report to follow
Annual Report: Deb shared. Financial report to follow at a later date
In the future when we have Guest Speakers a Thank you gift card to be presented to the speaker
Commencement Award: It is difficult to fund as School Council does not have any funds coming in. For
2015 there is money in the account set aside to fund the award.