JOHN F. ROSS C.V.I. – SCHOOL COUNCIL MINUTES
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
7:00 pm
Attendance: Deb Drake, Charmaine Whitmore, Kelly Lee Burton, Mary Livingston, Mary Zahedi, Heather
Janes, Terry Hadaway, Tom Dagg (Principal), Elise Z. (president Student Council), Colin McVicker (guest
speaker).
Regrets: Michaela Strueder-Kypke, Rachel Thompson
Welcome and Introduction
• Kelly Lee Burton welcomed everyone to the School Council meeting.
Student Council
• Elise provided a written and verbal summary of School Council events:
o The second annual Tri-School Semi-Formal dance was held December 3, 2014 at GCVI.
Six hundred students from John F. Ross, GCVI and Centennial attended the event
resulting in significant profit for all three schools.
o Frosty included week long activities between December 8 and 19, 2014. Over $6000
was raised as well as 100 backpacks for the TD Bank campaign and 175 hampers were
collected. Donations went to the Guelph Food Bank, Guelph Drop-in Centre, Wyndham
House, Out on a Shelf and Onward Willow.
o 2015-2016 Student Council application packages will be available February 2nd and due
by February 26th for those students interested in being part of next year’s Student
Council. The application process involves a written essay as well as an interview.
Elections for next year’s student council executive will take place April 30, 2015. These
dates are earlier than in the past allowing more time for the new council to transition
into their positions and shadow the current members.
o Events for next semester will be chosen by the beginning of February.
o John F. Ross is currently in first place over all levels of education in the competition for
Spread the Net with $20,000.
Guest Speaker – Colin McVicker CADS (Homewood Health Centre, outpatient division)
• Mr. McVicker advised that in his role as an Addictions Counsellor, he helps bring about
substance or gambling changes for adults and he is also a youth counsellor for all high schools
and Conestoga College (internet, gaming) in the Guelph area.
• There is no fee for this service.
• Part of his role involves speaking to parents, often the first individuals in the recovery process,
as well as providing family support. He also triages with the clinical person in each school and
provides consultation and support to teachers, students and administration. In addition, he
works with the Mental Health Lead in the Upper Grand District School Board to include this type
of support into the curriculum.
• Mr. McVicker advised that he often speaks to students in a classroom setting, which he is
currently doing for a Grade 12 male physical education class at John F. Ross. He also recently
conducted a seminar at the very successful Mental Health Summit for John F. Ross teachers at
the last P.A. Day organized by Mr. Dagg. The Summit was an opportunity to reach out to
teachers, build awareness, and reach out to students.
1
•
•
When speaking to students regarding drugs and addiction, Mr. McVicker advised that he
approaches the discussion by providing accurate information including the definition of
addiction and the anatomical changes that occur. Support systems are then formed in
developing new ways of living a normal life, and the student is linked to mental health providers
for ongoing support, as required for each individual.
Mr. McVicker can be reached at the following numbers: 226 820 6406 direct line (cell); 519 836
5733 x 2343 - Homewood
Administrative Report – Tom Dagg
• RECAP Arts Program Information Night is scheduled for January 21, 2015 to promote Dance,
Dramatic Arts, Music, Media Studies and Visual Arts at John F. Ross. Cards have been
distributed around the city to advertise the event. The intent is to inform and encourage those
leaving our board to attend other Schools for the Arts to attend John Fr. Ross instead. The
facilities at Ross are considered better in many ways than those at the other schools that
students are attending outside of the area. Ross is offering a more focused pathway that leads
to special high skills major in the arts. The principal is able to provide up to 3 changes in the 18
mandatory credits, allowing the student to participate in 13 arts courses. Students are also able
to build a co-op experience in the field that they wish to specialize.
• Staffing for next year has begun as well as changes to course selection. New programs include
Native Studies - a package of 4 credits, and outdoor education courses, branching out to
acknowledge students’ identified interests.
• The recent bottle drive to help raise funds for Spread the Net at the school was a success. Many
parents and staff assisted with taking empties to the beer store.
• January 30, 2015 is tech day for Grade 8 boys.
• Planning is under way for April’s P.D. Day. The theme is Critical Thinking Skills. Quality speakers
have been confirmed.
• A gender-neutral washroom is now available.
• Deb Drake advised that Mr. Dagg’s efforts to improve the John F. Ross website have been
successful. The website is now more helpful and up to date. Mr. Dagg advised that course
outlines will soon be available online.
Staff Appreciation Luncheon – Kelly Lee Burton
• It was determined that the staff appreciation lunch will occur Thursday, February 12, 2015 in the
staff lunch room.
• Kelly Lee Burton and Deb Drake have the lists of food. Deb will email a list of jobs for the event
(set up, clean up, bring in food) for council members to volunteer to perform.
• Mr. Dagg will arrange for the coat racks to be moved out of the staff room the night before.
Deb will send Mr. Dagg a reminder.
• Kelly Lee will purchase the food from Zehrs and provide a receipt to the front office. The
remaining purchases will be divided by Deb to put a list together for others to volunteer to
purchase. Mary Livingston, Terri Hadaway, and Mary Zahedi volunteered to help with other
purchases. Kelly Lee will ask Rachel to send an email to the general distribution list for
volunteers and food items as well as send out an Aizan (the new Synervoice) notice to all
parents. Mr. Dagg will inform the staff of the event. Deb will make a poster for the staff room.
2
Pro-Grant/Treasurers Report – Deb Drake
• Deb advised that both the Chinese and Vietnamese translations have been completed. She is
currently working on the Arabic translation. A new, effective translator is now available for the
Nepali.
• The current School Council current expenses are $756.25. The cost of the parent café and
printing the parent handbooks in different languages will leave approximately $45.00 in the
account, which will be put towards coffee cards for next year’s parent café.
• Deb requested that council members think of ideas for next year’s Pro-Grant to be discussed at
the next council meeting.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 17, 2015, 7:00pm
3