A MESSAGE FROM
THE CATHOLIC
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Welcome TO THE 2015/2016 SCHOOL YEAR!
Council is excited to welcome new and returning families to our school community.
We look forward to another successful school year with many upcoming events. Please
keep informed by reading the Council Corner in the newsletter and coming out to Council
meetings.
Natalie Ingram and Julie McCarthy
Co-Chairs, Catholic School Council
THE 2015-2016 CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
Natalie Ingram, Co-Chair
Natalie is a parent of 3 children in grades 2, 4 and 6. She has served on Council as a Parent
Representative for 5 years and as a Representative on the Parent Engagement Committee
at the Board level for 5 years. Natalie sits on the committees for the Dance-a-thon, Yard
Improvement Plan, and Pizza Days.
Julie McCarthy, Co-Chair
Julie is a parent of 3 children in grade 3, 5 and 7. She has served on Council as a Parent
Representative for 5 years and a Representative on the Parent Engagement Committee at
the Board level for 5 years. Julie was Fundraising Chair for 2 years. Julie sits on the
committees for the Yard Improvement Plan, Santa Clause Parade, and Dance-a-thon.
Cindy Pearce, Secretary
This will be Cindy's fifth year on Council, and fourth serving as Secretary. She has 2
children in the Primary and Junior Divisions. Cindy also coordinates the Children's Liturgy
program at St. Francis of Assisi parish.
Ashley Priest, Treasurer
Ashley has three girls that attend St Francis. This is Ashley’s third year on Council and
also her third year as Treasurer. Ashley has been the lead on our school BBQ committee
for the past two years and assists with many other committees and council initiatives.
Contact Council at sfoacsc@pvnccdsb.on.ca
or leave a message at the school (905-987-4797)
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Linda Bier, Principal
Mrs. Bier serves in an advisory capacity on Council and attends all meetings. She
communicates on a regular basis with the Co-Chairs and encourages all parents to attend
at least one meeting so all can be aware of the many roles and responsibilities that the CSC
members undertake as volunteers. She is pleased to promote and advocate for Catholic
Education.
Tobias Ryan, Vice Principal
This is Tobi's first year as a member of the Catholic School Council as the Vice
Principal. He is involved in many of the Council activities throughout the school.
Joseph MacDonald, CUPE Representative
Joe is a graduate of Centennial College from the Child and Youth Worker Program. Joe
was hired by the board to work in the Bes Program at St. Paul’s Peterborough. Joe has
been actively involved with sport teams, rainbows and other school activities such as the
BBQ. Presently Joe is working as an E.A. in the intermediate division at St. Francis.
Nicole McGill, Teacher Representative
Nicole has been teaching for 23 years. She worked as a classroom teacher, a special
education resource teacher and a special education consultant. She started her teaching
career at St. Francis of Assisi CES and was the Teacher Rep on the first ever CSC for this
school. This is Nicole's first year back at St. Francis and she is happy to be teaching grade
2 again.
Christie Dawson, Parent Representative
Christie is a parent of 3 kids; Braden, Madison and Tyler at St Francis. Christie sat on
Parent Council for 2 years, Pizza Committee 4 years, Volunteer Recruitment Committee
and Fundraising Committee.
Pamela Knott, Parent Representative
Pamela has served on Council for the past 6 years in various roles. She is a long-time
volunteer and has worked on many initiatives including the St. Francis Feast Day and
Family Fun Nights. Pamela also heads the Yard Improvement Committee. She has 2
children at St. Francis in grades 7 and 5.
Megan Las, Parent Representative
This is the Las family's third year at St. Francis and Megan's second year on Council.
Megan has previously volunteered at the Santa Claus Parade and looks forward to
participating in more events and connecting with the school community. Megan has 3
children at St. Francis in grade 3, grade 1 and year 2 of kindergarten.
William Paroschy, Parent Representative
This is William's third year on Council. Previously he was on Council at St. Elizabeth's for
4 years where he served as Parent Representative and Co-Chair. He has 2 children at St.
Francis in grades 7 and 3.
Contact Council at sfoacsc@pvnccdsb.on.ca
or leave a message at the school (905-987-4797)
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Nicole Rands-O'Brien, Parent Representative
This is Nicole's third year on Council. She has 3 children, year 1, grades 3 and 4 attending
the school. She has been a classroom volunteer and is currently part of the Santa Claus
Parade and the Dance-a-Thon Committees.
Susana Gomes, Parent Representative
Susana is in her 9th year on Council and has served in various roles. She is a long-time
volunteer and has worked on many initiatives including the Annual School BBQ, the Santa
Claus Parade and Family Fun Nights. She has 2 children at St. Francis in the primary and
junior divisions.
Danette Crawford, Parent Representative
Danette has served on Council for 5 years, and before that for 6 years on St. Joseph's Parent
Council in various roles. She is a long-time volunteer and has worked on many initiatives.
She has 1 child at St. Francis and 2 children at St. Stephen's.
Valerie Burns, Parent Representative
This is the Burns family’s 5th year at St. Francis and Valerie’s first year on Council. She
has been an active volunteer with the pizza lunch program, school activities, class trips &
assisting in the classroom. She has 2 children at St. Francis in grades 5 & 2.
Maureen Rego, Parent Representative
Maureen is a parent to 2 students at St. Francis (Grade 6 and Year 1 Kindergarten), this is
Maureen's first year on council.
Leigh Whalen, Parent Representative
This is Leigh’s first year sitting on council as a Parent Representative and has four children
that attend St. Francis..
MEETING DATES
Council meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend. Childcare can be
arranged with advance notice. Please contact the Co-Chairs one week prior to meetings by
emailing sfoacsc@pvnccdsb.on.ca. Meetings run from 6:15PM to 8PM in the staff room
unless otherwise noted. Please watch the monthly school newsletters for any changes.
November 23rd
January 11, 2016
February 8, 2016
March 21, 2016 (tentative)
April 11, 2016
May 9, 2016
June 3, 2016 (Staff Appreciation breakfast)
June 13, 2016 (year-end potluck).
Contact Council at sfoacsc@pvnccdsb.on.ca
or leave a message at the school (905-987-4797)
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FUNDRAISERS
At this point, Council has confirmed two fundraisers for this school year: Pizza Days, Big
Box of Cards and Dance-a-thon. Responding to the feedback from last year’s Parent
Survey, Council decided to introduce a specific fundraiser (Big Box of Cards) to
specifically support Community Involvement Activities such as a swim/skate or movie
night.
The Dance-a-thon will follow the same format as last year’s Spring Fling Dance-a-thon:
students collect pledges from friends and family and dance during school hours. There will
also be prizes and incentives for the students. The money raised from the Dance-a-thon is
intended for the Yard Improvement Plan.
The weekly Pizza Day fundraiser is a very important fundraiser for Council. Money
gathered from this fundraiser goes towards events and regular obligations of the Council.
For example, retreat days, Grade 8 Graduation, extra-curricular activities, like equipment
for Fitness Friends and compost digesters for the Eco Team, Play Day and more. For the
past several years, Council has been able to provide an amount of money for each class to
offset the cost of class trips—often this money is used to cover the cost of bussing. The
Pizza Days also fund special requests from the school and teachers. A few years ago,
Council funded the repainting of the school yard (those fun games like 4 Square the kids
play at recess), and the past few years Council replenished the equipment bins for each
classroom.
Lunch Lady is also a fundraiser for the Council and brings in a modest amount that is
pooled with the Pizza Days funds for the same expenses.
YARD IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Did you know Council is undertaking a HUGE project to improve the school grounds? We
are so excited to be working towards the multi-year goal of creating an engaging, active
and beautiful school yard for our children.
We have consulted with students and parents and using that feedback have developed a
plan to increase the activities available to students during recess and the school day and to
provide a more naturalized environment. Parts of the plan require permission from different
stakeholders and lots of funds. But Council is approaching this project in carefully planned
stages.
Have you noticed any changes yet? Since first undertaking the Yard Improvement Plan
three years ago, some changes have already been made to the school yard: there are many
more trees than there were before! These native species will provide shade and a
windbreak. Two years ago we also had a new sun shelter installed next to the playground
on the lower field and we are currently working on seating for underneath it. There are now
Contact Council at sfoacsc@pvnccdsb.on.ca
or leave a message at the school (905-987-4797)
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two sheltered spots for students to relax during recess. Last year, we added 2 more trees by
the kindergarten play structure and more improvements are coming!
There are many more exciting changes in store for the yard! A trail around the lower fields
with engaging stations along its path, a butterfly garden and even an outdoor stage!
Council thanks Lisa Andrews from Greenwood Landscaping for her vision and assistance
with phase one and planting a few of our new trees.
Keep watching the Council Corner section of the school newsletter for details of the Yard
Improvement Plan.
Contact Council at sfoacsc@pvnccdsb.on.ca
or leave a message at the school (905-987-4797)
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