JOHN F. ROSS C.V.I. – SCHOOL COUNCIL MINUTES
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
7:00 pm
Attendance: Charmaine Whitmore, Rachel Thompson, Mary Livingston, Mary Zahedi, Heather Janes,
Elizabeth Rafferty-Price, Michaela Strueder-Kypke, Tom Dagg (Principal), Elise Z. (president Student
Council), Amanda Spencer (Special Education), Sharon Dills (CMHA), Adrian Renzetti (Guidance), Sisca
Campolongo (Student Success Teacher).
Regrets: Deb Drake, Kelly Lee Burton, Terry Hadaway, Paul Deacon
Welcome and Introduction
• Rachel Thompson welcomed everyone to the School Council meeting.
Student Council
• Elise provided a written summary of Student Council events: November 12 – the Poppy Fund
was selected as the charity of the month; November 9 to 14 – over 1600 articles of clothing
were collected for the Winter Clothing Drive with items going to Lakeside Hope House,
Wyndham House and select students at John F. Ross; November 14 – Pyjama Day and Movie
Night were held together; November 17 to Completion - Senior Survivor with 14 teams of 6
students performing mental and physical challenges; and December 8 to 19 – F.R.O.S.T.Y.
activities occur every day, charities include The Guelph Food Bank, The Guelph Drop in Centre,
Wyndham house, Out on the Shelf, TD Backpack Fundraiser, and Onward Willow.
• Elise also summarized the Ontario Student Leadership Conference, which occurred November 9
– 11 in Niagara Falls with 29 students from the Executive Student Council, major clubs and
councils in attendance. It was an excellent experience with learning and development. Funding
was provided by Mr. Dagg, the Grad Council and Art Council. The discussion with Vice-Principal
Weddig following the conference led to the development of Ross’ Student Senate.
Guest Speakers – School Support Services
1. Amanda Spencer - Special Education. The Special Education department make
recommendations about programming, strategies and resources for students with all types of
special needs who require accommodations, modifications or alternative curriculum. Students
who have behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities, may
require special education programs and /or services to benefit fully from their school
experience. Ms. Spencer and other special education teachers are located in the resource
room.
2. Sharon Dills – Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Waterloo/Wellington Branch
(formerly Trellis). Provides speciality services for ages 0-6 and 6-18. Available programs include
the following:
 Infants – difficulties in early life (born premature, development issue), workers complete
assessments and work with parents in the home, transition to school, transition to child
care.
 Growing Great Kids, a coordinated community based program, 0-6 years, one point of
access – Kids Line – Kids Ability, Occupational Therapy, consultants provide support to
parents, child, teacher, care giver
Infant Mental Health, 0-6 years, support families with a potential mental health
concern, coordinate services for children, link to services in community and CMHA
 Child and Adolescent Services include the following: Family Consultation Team
(strengthen relationship between child and care givers - group programs, support at
school, help with basic needs); Mental Health workers in school – support county,
primarily help those not attending school due to mental health issues, group programs –
anxiety, family relationships, work with other support services in the school
 Psychiatrist – crisis referral; access to telepsychiatry and telepsychology – consultation
 Resource Coordinator – provides services including basic needs, fills out forms,
recreation program information, funds, refers to other services with multiple needs
 Walk-in clinic – 6-18 years needing mental health services, central access point
 Child and Youth sexual abuse team (previously Help Now)
 Camps for children with mental health or developmental issues
 Gateway – section 23 grades 6-8
 Behaviour Therapy program – in the home
 Specialty Assessment Team – autism, developmental issues
 G.L.O.W. W. (Giving Light Offers Wellness and Worth) Team – youth engagement –
educating youth and eliminating stigma, weekly meetings, transportation provided
 Crisis line: 1-844-437-3247 (website: http://here247.ca/)
 Individual counselling
3. Adrian Renzetti – Guidance. Provides assistance to students with appropriate course selections,
education and career development counselling, and advises students on post-secondary
options. Guidance Counsellors also collaborate with other school counsellors - social worker,
Child Youth Counsellor, Addiction Counsellor and health nurse - to provide emotional support to
students. The Co-operative Education and High Skills Major programs are also coordinated
through the Guidance Department. Students are currently going through their individual
pathway plans, “My Blueprint” – an online web based tool. There are different goals for
different grades and parents can access with students. Guidance staff currently visit all grades
to educate them on this program and address specific grade-related issues. Grades 9-11 will be
completed by the end of the year and grade 12 in the New Year. Parents are welcomed to meet
regarding education and career opportunities with or without students.
4. Cisca Campolongo - Student Success Teacher. Student Success programming allows struggling
students who have experienced difficulties and have fallen behind in their academic
development to get back on track. Programming includes credit recovery, alternative
programming and experiential learning opportunities. The following are available: additional
course material; an independent learning course using a workbook; older students can earn
mandatory credits outside of a regular class of younger students; help to finish a high school
diploma; opportunity to work or earn co-op credits at the same time; and able to earn a
diploma one credit at a time. There is also a cope class where students are provided with
assistance to deal with anxiety – a quiet place is offered with learning coping mechanisms first
thing in the morning. A small budget is also available for at risk kids referred by proposals from
teachers. Students are contacted and a plan is established to earn credits. Literacy and
numeracy projects are developed to help students at risk and Ms. Campolongo meets with
feeder schools to help at risk elementary students transition successfully into high school.

5. Constable Kevin Dahl - uniformed resource officer. Constable Dahl advised that this program is
operated by the Guelph Police Service servicing schools inside city limits only. It is a program
not available in all areas and Guelph is lucky to have this effective service available. The
resource officers work with principals and vice-principals in conjunction with youth. There are
also 2 detectives who conduct lengthier investigations and one supervisor. Resource officers
are specialty trained and educated on youth related issues and legislation. The service is more
of a proactive approach: making presentations to students and staff, attempting to reach at risk
students, developing emergency plans, performing lock down drills, visibility and availability at
lunch time outside of school, and building positive relationships with local businesses. Schools
within the city of Guelph are considered safe.
Administrative Report – Tom Dagg
 A new math program is available at Ross aimed at assisting students/teachers in grades
5-8 within the feeder schools to ensure a clear understanding and continuum from
elementary to high school.
 There is a Professional Development Day November 21st. The focus is on mental health
issues. There are several guest speakers available to teach staff to help with student
issues.
 New cameras have been installed within the school to broaden the scope.
 WECAP is a program to better publish the arts programs available in the school
currently. Ross is losing students to Eastwood School of the Arts in Kitchener, yet Ross
has many and sometimes better programs.
 Arrowsmith Program – assists students in overcoming learning disabilities. The premise
of the Arrowsmith Program is that the affected cognitive areas that contribute to
learning disabilities can be improved through targeted strenuous cognitive exercises,
resulting in increased mental capacities and strengthened learning abilities. When the
deficient area is improved, the individual’s ability to perform complex tasks such as
reading or writing or mathematics or comprehension of conceptual material will also be
improved. One staff member is receiving training currently. Mr. Dagg is looking into
bringing this program to John F. Ross.
 Spread the Net, John F. Ross is currently in first place, looking at earning $30- 40,000.
There is no meeting in December 2014. The next School Council meeting is scheduled for January 20,
2015 at 7:00pm in the staff cafeteria.