2015-2016 Catholic School Council
MINUTES
Date: December 1st, 2015
Present:
Dan Compagnon,
Marija Burazin
Ada Fiore
Maria Rodrigues
Andria Bancheri
Tania Vincent
Regrets:
Denis Radetic
Jocelyn Balthazaar
ITEM:
Review & Approval of
Minutes
Christmas Liturgy
(Andria /Tania /Chaplaincy
Team)
Ambrozic Riverhawks
Chaplaincy Team
Student Council
(Nikolas and Sabrina)
Mona Rodrigues,
Angela Creighton
Deborah Balthazar
Alvin Francis
Nikolas Filice
Diana Jones
Teresa Abbruscato
Rosanna DeLuca
NOTES:
Rosanna and Maria approved the October minutes. Mona and Ada approved the
December agenda.
The Chaplaincy Team led council in a beautiful Christmas liturgy in the chapel prior to
commencing our meeting.
ARC is a student based leadership team at the school. The team has been re- branding
this year and the hope is that it will have a stronger role within the school community.
Their role is to foster a positive school community, assist in school masses, and promote
Christian values through various charitable work.
1.They helped organize the Christmas baskets this year for families in our school
community.
2.They also helped at a The Canadian Food for Children warehouse, organizing food
items for distribution.
3. They participated in a “street patrol” in Toronto where they gave out food and personal
items to the homeless.
4. The ARC students welcomed seniors to our school from Villa Amica where they enjoyed
music and shows presented by our students.
4 Sabrina DeRosi (an ARC member and student council co-prime minister ) was selected
to participate in a leadership retreat by the DPCDSB.
December 14-18 will begin Spirit Week.
There are many exciting activities planned:
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Christmas music playing in the morning as students come to school.
There will be a Christmas tree and decorations.
Cookie grams will be sold.
Pictures with Santa.
Pajama Day.
Painting the cafeteria windows.
Christmas accessories day.
Movie Night December 17th at 6pm.The students will vote from a list of movies
Jesus Doll-Keeping Christ in Christmas game. There will be a Jesus doll hidden
around the school Students will be asked to look for him. There will be points
received if you find him .The message is to remind ourselves that Christmas
should be about Jesus.
On October 29 Ada attended the Central Committee for Catholic School Councils
meeting.
Chairperson Report
(Ada/Mona)
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Elections were held for Executive positions.
Peel Safety Village presented information on internet safety. They called it “The Box”.
They presented to schools in the DPCDSB and within a secure environment had
students access the internet. The students did not realize that they were capturing the
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Treasurer Report
(Alvin Francis)
Parish Rep
(Maria Rodrigues)
data they posted online. They captured the data the students were accessing to show
them what to do and not do online. Students do not realize the danger.
Fully Alive - update to the religion curriculum to include the new Ontario sex education
component. The last update to our textbook was in 1999. They presented the new
updated curriculum for the grade 9 section. It will be part of the physical education
class.
Jesus Doll – explained how the “keeping Christ in Christmas game works with the
Jesus doll. Schools can order it for Christmas season.
November 20- bring your own devices to school. The DPCDSB is promoting respect of
technology and healthy learning over the internet. They are also focusing on anti –
bullying initiatives involving proper use of social media (grades 5-8)
Introduction of Marianne Mazzorato as the new director of the DPCDSB .
As of November 30, 2015 the balance in our account is $ 360.29
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On December 8, Pope Francis will declare 2016 the Year of Mercy by opening the
doors of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Seven churches were picked by the
Archdiocese of Toronto to have a Holy Door of Mercy and St. Patrick was one of
them. On December 13, there will be a precession and an official “‘opening of the
doors “at 3pm.
Throughout the year, pilgrims will make their way to the church.
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At the school, a door was purchased and the Chaplaincy Team will be painting it
and it will be used as a visual centerpiece for the jubilee year.
Youth Ministry- there is a special program for youth in the parish.
Bake sale – for Christmas.
Knights of Columbus –pictures with Santa for the kids.
Thanksgiving Day dinner was held at the church.
Christmas luncheon- December30 ,2015 at the church
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Teacher Staff
Representative
(Teresa Abbruscato)
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Non-Teaching Staff
Representative
(Diana Jones)
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November 4th, grade 8 students came to the school and participated in “a Day in
the Life of a grade 9 student”. Grade 8 teachers were also in attendance and
meetings took place with regards to placing students in the correct academic
stream for grade 9.
Sports – Girl’s Flag football wrapped up the season. Basketball and Volleyball
have commenced playoffs.
Dodgeball tournament - November 25. Students signed up and donated money to
play and raised $700 for prostate cancer awareness.
Christmas baskets are being made through donations of items from the students.
They will be distributed to Vita Manor and to selected families in our school.
The “A Team” has been participating in the PIP classes at the school as they
prepare for the Art Olympics held at Notre Dame SS. on December 16th.
The “A Team” will be holding study sessions during lunches to prepare students
for exams.
Guidance department is reminding students in Grade 12 to submit their college
and university applications ASAP.
BRAVE Team had a successful SAY NO MORE week November 16-20 for
Bullying Awareness and Prevention. There were PSA announcements
throughout the week via Twitter, stickers were distributed, posters were
displayed around the school, guest speakers.
November 25 is the International Day for the elimination of Violence against
Women. On December 4 white ribbons will be distributed to all students as they
enter the school in the morning as the school’s white ribbon campaign. The
victims of the Montreal Massacre will be remembered by the BRAVE TEAM as
they will read out all of the names of the victims and also there is a poster in their
honour. The Flags at all the DPCDSB buildings will be at half mast to honour the
victims.
The BRAVE students filled shoe boxes with personal items for women in shelters
and will distribute them for Christmas.
The Brave students attended a workshop - to end gender-based violence,
hosted by the Toronto Argonauts.
Principal’s Report
(Dan Compagnon)
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The Paris attacks were addressed at the school, and teachers helped students
reflect the next day on the events and encouraged them to talk about it. There
are many cultures and faiths at our school and students are encouraged to
address conflict with a faith perspective.
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Enrollment for next year is approximately 1330-1360 students. This includes
approximately 100 open access students from the Peel board. There are 7
portables currently at the school. There is a projected 320 grade 9 student
enrollment.
There will be Syrian refugee students enrolled in Dufferin Peel Schools and the
board is currently hiring more child youth workers, settlement workers, ESL
workers.
The Pro Grant application is due May 9, if our school is interested in applying.
Council members are encouraged to bring any ideas to the next meeting.
The school cafeteria gives the school 16% commission on sales which is
approximately $ 25,000 to $ 30,000 annually. This is used to pay for items that the
board budget does not cover (i.e. extra-curriculars, student events, program
enhancements, equipment/furniture/technology enhancements). Student activity
fees are also used to subsidize the purchase of some of items (extra-curriculars,
student events etc.)
The used uniform donation and sale is ok as a fundraiser for needy families.
Dan advised that the Catholic School Council is run by the parents and it
maintains an advisory role to the principal. The success of the council is
determined by the parent members. It is not his intent to micro-manage the
council. He encourages council to set up tables at parent teacher nights, open
houses, and other school events to promote membership, thereby enhancing the
viability of council.
The school uniform was mentioned as to whether the school would consider
changing the blazer and looking at changing to rugby shirts or making the blazer
from a more breathable material. Dan suggested we bring our ideas to the next
meeting and council can ask other parents for input.
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Next Meeting Date
Meeting Adjourned
February 9th
9:03 pm Motion to adjourned supported by Rosanna and Ada