James McQueen School Council Minutes – January 14, 2015 Attendees: Larry Lacey, Lisa Arnott, Kim Saunders, Elizabeth Bender, Sue FitzGerald, Kim Blanchard,
Jackie Fraser, Sarah Joyes, Katie Pope, Yvette Detta
Council Minutes Approved
Principal’s Report All buses now drop off at the front again. Safety concerns at the back of the school, no sidewalk, blind
spot with the snow. At the front there is a loading zone, buses can pick up/drop off one at a time.
Dance-a-thon Jan 15.
Indoor Recess – Larry is doing stories with them followed by dancing.
Hat day on Friday.
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PD day January 23 .
Dental screening coming up.
Kindergarten registration Feb 2-6.
Feb 12 report cards will go home to all grades except JK. JK parents will have the option to come in for
an interview or visit the school to see their child in the classroom and meet the teacher.
Learning Foundation – we should do one more eblast this year. Larry is fielding questions from parents –
how it works, where the money goes etc. 21 families have donated, total so far just over $1000.
Issues with Campaigner – feedback from staff. How he sees it and how it appears in parents’ email is
different. Larry working through issues.
Books purchased for Raising Resilient Children workshop – same number of French and English books –
French books cost $625.92, English $137.92. Can bring a friend but keeping adverstising JMQ focused in
order to keep the emphasis on primary students.
Business arising from minutes From October minutes – increasing French Immersion experience:
Signage – this is on its way from the board. Waiting for it to arrive.
Bilingual letterhead – can be done for next school year. Website can be done ASAP. Larry.
Announcements – can students be involved somehow? Announce the day and date in French? Larry to
talk to Lorrie to see if it’s doable.
th
School yard meeting with Karen Epp from the board. Date has been set for January 20 , 9am. Larry and
playground committee to attend.
Banners – Elizabeth and Ryann worked together to create banner to dress up rear school fence/gate.
Two 2’x6’ banners, outdoor grade is approx. $200 total. Larry to fund with discretionary funds. This could
be used inside and out, for various events, great school pride project. Elizabeth to go ahead and order.
Alphagraphics to invoice school.
Treasurer’s Report No revenue this month.
Current anticipated balance $1318.77, former greener mcqueen money $1154.25.
Raising Resilient Children Ryann created posters – they are up around school. Thank you Ryann.
Mini-posters sent to Lisa to distribute.
Larry to send out reminder via campaigner.
Sue to buy pens.
Jackie to check with Frabert’s team to see if they can cater – tea, coffee, baked goods for approx. 50
people. Jackie to confirm by Jan 15.
Council to wear red T-shirts to event.
Dance-­‐a-­‐thon CW Food Bank donations.
Council agreed to buy $150 in Gift of Choice certificates for Mark Hanes, volunteer DJ at all our dances.
Bunny Breakfast th
March 28
Frabert’s to do pancake making again.
Kim S to buy Crusty’s mix $7.99/bag, need 6 bags.
9am to 12pm, $3 per person, $10 per family.
Need more help from council members for silent auction. For next meeting each member to come with list
of people/companies/stores they can approach.
Jackie to put BB in next newsletter – request donations, small prizes for penny table.
Staff will do baked goods auction again.
Lisa to find out if church doing eggs and bunnies for sale.
Will ask last year’s bunny to do this year too.
Valentine’s Dance th
Thursday Feb 12
By donation.
Can kids do decorations? Lisa to ask.
Lisa to buy 8x$5 gift certificates from I Love Chocolate
Posters – Sarah to find, update and put up posters at beginning of Feb.
Jackie will write blurb for campaigner.
Kim S to write blurb for campaigner re the need for bakers/volunteers. Sue to coordinate responses via
email.
Kim S to buy drinks
Other business Elizabeth – GRCF (Grand River Conservation Foundation) grant for naturalization projects – seeds, trees,
th
etc. Deadline is Feb 27 . Will discuss ideas at next council meeting after meeting with Karen Epp has
taken place. Grant is up to $750.
Communication - Sue
Need list of upcoming projects for Ryann:
Bunny Breakfast poster – Sue to send Ryann old press release to give her an idea of the event. “Easter
Bunny is turning 20” or “Happy Birthday Easter Bunny” etc.
Sue to ask Ryann if she can work with Larry to redesign campaigner.
Meeting adjourned 8pm– thanks for coming everyone!