GUARDIAN ANGELS SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 2014-2015
MINUTES of the meeting of the School Council Meeting held in the Library at Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary
School, 62 Heatherdale Drive, Brampton, ON, on Wednesday May 13, 2015.
Present:
1.
Mark Cassar, Michelle Thompson, Nadia Arghittu; Daniela Cordi-Nardi, Jennifer Estevao, Maria Parris,
Kimberlee Rizun-Glynn; Nunzia Rositano; Lori Saroli; Arlene Saunders-Georges; Alida Spence; Karen
Sivasankaran and Josephine Wilson,
Opening Prayer
Mrs. Wilson started the meeting with an Opening Prayer.
2.
Welcome and Acknowledgements
Mr. Cassar welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked the staff for all the hard work and for making
Guardian Angels such a great school.
3.
Approval of the Minutes from March 25, 2015
Copies of the draft minutes were distributed. No changes were identified.
A motion was made by K. Sivasankaren, seconded by J. Estevao, to approve the minutes dated March
25, 2015. Motion carried.
4.
Approval of Agenda
A motion was made by A. Spence, seconded by M. Parris, to accept the agenda with one correction; to
remove one of the French Café items as it is listed twice on the agenda. Motion carried.
5.
Treasurer’s Report – Council Account
N. Rositano, presented the treasurer’s report.
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Opening balance: $7,435.63. Closing balance: $6,613.41
Bank expenses (Sept/14 – Aug/15) - $40.92
Pita Revenue for 2014/15 - $412.50
Spirit Wear Revenue - $445.52
Smart Board Expense - $4,778.00
Dance-A-Thon Funds - $4,457.00 plus $219.00 less $680.48 for expenses
Sacrament gifts and cards $488.18
Samko Income - $222.61
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Other Expenses - $123.32
Parish Report
The Parish Report was presented by J. Wilson and a copy was attached to the meeting package.
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 Month of Our Lady - The Parish will pray the Holy Rosary before every Mass, weekdays and Sundays in the
chapel throughout the year, but especially now, in the month of May. Everyone is welcome.
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Rosary Apostolate – The school program is looking for volunteers to teach children attending three
Catholic schools in our parish on how to pray the Rosary. Contact the Parish for more information..
Choir – The Parish’s 9:00 am choir needs more voices and is open to all parishioners who love to sing.
Please contact the Parish.
Building Committee: The next building committee meeting will be held on Wednesday June 3rd, 2015
at 7:00 p.m. upstairs at Fortinos.
Talent Show and Karaoke Night – The Parish would like to thank everyone involved. The 2nd annual
event was a great success and a total amount of $1,911.00 was raised for the Building Fund.
First Holy Communion – Will be held on Sunday June 14, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima
Church.
Confirmation – Will be held on Saturday May 30, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at St. Edmond Secondary School.
Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Parish – All Parishioners are welcome to join them on their 5th Annual
Pilgrimage to the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. For further information,
contact the Parish.
Celebration – The Parish will be eight years old on Friday June 27th, 2015. Anniversary celebrations
will be held on Sunday June 28th, after each mass.
OAPCE Rep Report
The report was attached to the package distributed at the meeting. Any parent of a catholic school student
can attend OAPCE meeting. The meetings are held by the OAPCE council. .
8.
Staff Report
Mrs. Parris presented the staff report. The remaining of the year continues with many busy events.
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Kindergarten night was held on April 20, 2015.
SK Celebration of Learning will be held on June 17, 2015
Ripley’s Aquarium FDK trip on June 3, 2015
Swim to Survive – Grade 3
Reconciliation – Grade 2
Communion – June 14, 2015
Njacko Backo Presentation
Legislative trip for Grade 5
R.A.I.D. Presentation – Grade 6
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9.
EQUA – Grade 3 & 6
Scott Mission Trip – Grade 8
Dance Competition
Dance-A-Thon
French Café
Choir
Crowning of Mary
ECO Presentations
Talent Show and Year End BBQ
Fuel For Kids – May 22, 2015
LOF Awards
Graduation Ceremonies
Confirmation
Chair’s Report
a. Council By-Laws
A motion was made by L. Saroli, seconded by J. Estevao to amend the by-laws dated
March 25, 2015 to include B10:5:
“A majority vote (more than half) is required for the approval of an action of choice by
the Catholic School Council (excluding amendments to the Catholic School Council
Constitutional By-Laws), where the majority of voting members present are parents”.
Motion Carried.
b. PRO Grant Application 2015/2016 – An online survey was set up with a questionnaire asking what
parents would like to see as a parent engagement event. The top choices were Workshops and Active
Activities. The submission deadline is May 19, 2015. The application will be submitted to request funds
of up to $1,000.00 to cover expenses.
c. Freezie Fridays – It was agreed to sell freezies on Fridays for four weeks starting on May 29, 2015.
A large freezie will be sold for $1.00 each to grades 4-8 and the small freezies will be sold for $0.50
each to grades FDK-grade 3.
A motion was made by N. Rositano, seconded by L. Saroli to spend $85.00 towards the
purchase of freezies for each Friday based on four weeks. Motion Carried.
d. Santa Pictures – It was agreed to book the Santa pictures again for 2015.
e. Fuel for Kids BBQ – The event will be held on Friday May 22, 2015. An email has been sent to
parents outlining the details. It is also advertised around our community. There is no cost to us to host
this event and all proceeds will be donated to our school. Two school presentations for the students will
be done by Dave Connelly during the day at the school and the BBQ will be held at Fortino’s from 4:00
p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
f. Smart Boards
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i. Dance-a-Thon – The Dance-A-Thon funds earned are to be used to purchase a smart
board.
A motion was made by J. Estevao, seconded by J. Wilson to approve $4,776.00 to purchase
another Smart Board. Motion Carried.
ii. Fuel for Kids – All funds earned will be deposited to the council account.
A motion was made by J. Estevao, it was agreed to use all funds earned from the Fuel for Kids event to be
used towards the purchase of a smart board. All in Favor.
Mr. Cassar noted that in the last two years, between council and the school, 15 new smartboards have been
purchased. There are only two classrooms left that require a Smartboard.
10.
Principal’s Report
Catholicity Community and Culture - Mrs. Thompson
a. Living Our Faith Awards – Two more award ceremonies to be held on May 29th and June 23rd.
b. Easter Mass - Was held on April 8th, 2015.
c. Communion 2015 – Letters have been sent home to parents. This will be held on June 14,
2015 at 3:00 p.m. Father Jan will be asked if gifts can be distributed before photos are taken.
d. Confirmation – Will be held on May 30, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. There has been a change and
starting in Year 2016, Confirmation will be completed in Grade 7. In 2016, both grades 7 & 8
will take this sacrament to transition.
e. Graduation – Lunch and evening ceremonies will be held on June 22, 2015
f. End of Year Mass – Will be held on June 19th, 2015 in the school gym.
g. Crowning of Mary – Will be held at the school on May 14, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
h. French Café – The French café was very successful.
Learning Environment - Mr. Cassar
a. EQAO assessment, after school tutoring: Testing begins on May 22, 2015. Tutoring starts
on May 12, 2015.
b. New York Trip: The trip is scheduled for May 19-22, 2015.
c. Njacko Backo: The presentation was a success.
d. French Café – The French café was very successful.
e. Tru Colours – The was a huge success.
f. School Painting – The common areas of the school are currently being painting.
g. Health Curriculum – Mr. Cassar provided a brief outline on the new health curriculum that will
be implemented in September 2015.
h. Pan-Am Games – Cassie Campbell is hosting a small version of the games and our school will
be attending.
i. Diversity Conference – Will be held at St. Roch’s.
j. SK Celebration of Learning – This will be held on June 19, 2015.
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k. Staff Changes – Student numbers are declining and next year the school is expected to have
601 students. One teacher placement and classroom may be been lost through attrition. Mrs.
Fournier & Mrs. Stoker will be retiring. We wish them all the best.
Community Engagement - Mr. Cassar
a. Classroom trips: Scott Mission, Queens Park, Ripley’s Aquarium.
b. End of Year BBQ and celebration of learning, talent show – Will be held on Monday June
15, 2015.
c. Last Assembly of the Year – Will be held on June 25, 2015.
d. Portables – The plan is to remove the portables in the future, probably 2016.
11.
Other School Council Business
a. Labour Issues – The current news relates to the public labour issues and not the
Dufferin peel catholic school board.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
The next regular meeting of the School Council of Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School is to be
announced.
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