McHugh School Council
Minutes
Minutes of McHugh School Council Meeting held
September 19, 2011 at 7 p.m. in the staff room, 31 Craig St., Brampton
In attendance:
Parent representatives: Dawna E,, Chris B., Brad L., Cathy S., Jennifer S., Leila W.;
Michelle B., Gail C. Karen G. , Jennifer H., Angel M., and Jackie G.
School representatives: Ann Goldenberg- Principal, Mason Vandermeersch – Vice Principal,
Karen Krieck, teacher representative
1. Welcome and Introductions
Ann G. introduced Mason Vandermeersch, McHugh’s newly appointed Vice Principal. Mr.
Vandermeersch is half-time shared with another school, however he will initially be fulltime at McHugh until Thanksgiving and then commence rotating days.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Dawna E.; seconded by Brad L.
3. Approval of Minutes dated May 16, 2011
Moved by Cathy S, seconded by Chris B.
4. Agenda Items
a)Principal’s Update
i) Ann noted that she sees no reason for the school yard to be locked from community
access and will request the custodian’s to remove the lock from the gate that has been
installed over the summer. The gate will be closed during school hours and is intended
to be left open at other time. Mason V. to follow-up with custodians.
ii) In response to inquiries, Ann affirmed that the music instrumental lesson program is
continuing and notices have gone home to parents.
iii) Canteen – will not be running this year as the volunteer staff member that had been
co-ordinating the canteen has moved on from the school. Ann would entertain other
volunteers undertaking to provide the service but noted that there was a lot of effort
(buying food, covering service) and overall the canteen has low usage by students (est.
less than 10%). As a result milk will not be available for sale in the school.
iv) EQAO – Ann handed out summary tables of the school’s EQAO results for 2011.
Overall McHugh’s ratings have deteriorated with only 40% of grade 3 students testing at
or above the provincial standard for reading (an 11% decline from 2010), 63% in
writing (slightly up from 2010) and 57% in mathematics (a 17.5% decline from 2010).
Once again, the ratings by boys were particularly weak with more than 70% of grade 3
boys reading below the provincial standard. In the discussion that followed, Ann
indicated that professional development will continue but that otherwise the low scores
did not result in increased resources from the Peel Board. Ann did note that as a result of
a Board-wide initiative, this year all students would be assessed by teachers by Sept 27
in order to submit Leading Indicator data to the Board. Ann indicated that the school
will be monitoring and using library usage stats & she would be reporting on these stats
at council meetings. Karen G. suggested that boys in particular might benefit from a
Trading Card Club to encourage reading as well as a visiting VIP reading programmed
(Brampton Battalion hockey players, firemen etc..); Mr. V. indicated that a boys book
club featuring readings by male teachers sharing a “favourite” book had been very
successful at a previous school and he undertook to make inquiries of staff at McHugh
about launching a similar programme here.
v) Reorg Day – September 27. Ann indicated that McHugh would be getting an
additional ½ teacher and that the extra staff was likely to be applied at grade 3 to address
class size issues.
vi) Vice Principal Qualities: Ann presented a letter from Pam Tomasevic, Associate
Director Peel Board indicating that the Board is required by the Ministry of Education to
consult with school councils about the qualities they would like to see in a principal
prior to placing a principal at a school. Previously the Board held these consultations
only when a principal change was pending however going forward the Board intends
that the school superintendent will consult on an ongoing basis. Therefore
superintendent deFreitas would be attending a council meeting at some point during the
school year to conduct this discussion. Additionally the Board has implemented a policy
of consultation on the desired qualities in a vice-principal to be conducted by the
principal at the first council meeting of the year. Decision: this item will be scheduled
on the agenda for the October meeting – the first meeting of the 2011/2012 council.
b)PRO Grant:
Cathy S. reported that McHugh has been awarded a $1000 Parents Reaching Out grant by
the Ont Ministry of Education to host its proposed Anti-Bullying Workshop: Tips & Tools
for Parents with Anthony McLean of iengage. Cathy S. and Mr. V to follow up.
c)School Elections
Chris B. undertook to investigate the election protocol and co-ordinate with school staff
(Jane Zaffino) in the notices to parents, nomination forms, ballots etc. in order that the new
council for 2011/2012 can be put in place.
d)Bye Bye Baggie Programme
Karen G announced that Metro Foods had provided an $1000 environmental grant to
McHugh for the purchase of canvas carry bags for all students in the school to be used for
permission slips, field trip money etc with the goal of reducing the hundreds of plastic
baggies that come into the school every week. Karen reported that the bags had arrived and
were being labeled with student names and would be distributed in conjunction with the
launch of pizza days.
e)S’Cool Life $1000 grant
Karen G. reported that the S’Cool Life grant from Priszm Income Fund (Pizza Hut, KFC
& Taco Bell franchisee family) has enabled the purchase of 20 pairs of skates, 30 helmets
and 25 pairs of laces for the Active Kids skating programme.
f)Pizza Days
Jen S. reported that pizza will be sourced from Pizza Pizza at a considerable savings over
the school’s previous supplier and with significantly improved taste- Pizza Pizza is
providing a white crust pizza in both cheese and pepperoni that is compliant with the
revised Ont Ministry of Education health standards. Jen S. requested $150.00 in funding to
enable sample tastings for each class as part of the launch of pizza days early October in
order to support prepaid sales. Motion: Moved Cathy S. seconded Brad L. Approved
unanimously
g)Monthly meeting night for 2011/2012
Deferred until next meeting when council for the year in place.
h)Fall Fair BBQ Oct 4
Gail C. reminded council of the decision to make the BBQ a school fundraiser for the first
time (in the past the BBQ was provided by M&M Meats with no proceeds to the school).
Gail indicated that she will be organizing parent volunteers and BBQs. Brad L. announced
that Cardinal Meats has agreed to donate hamburgers and veggie burgers to support
McHugh. Ann agreed to the request to extend the Fall Fair hours to 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
adding an additional half hour to help alleviate the conflict with Little Centennial’s Open
House on the same evening. Leila H. volunteered to co-ordinate the cookie table.
5. Financial Report
Dawna E. presented the year end financial position as at June 30, 2011. The opening cash balance
as at Sept 19, 2011 is $6834.97. See attached.
6. Health Committee Update:
Report by Jennifer S.:
 Planning for Active Kids is well underway with volunteers in place to co-ordinate each
of the planned activities:
 Grade 1 & 2 skating; Grade 3 Y Days; Grade 4 swimming & Grade 5 skiing and tennis.
7. Open Forum
(i)Jennifer S. proposed posting volunteer sign-up sheets on the door of each classroom at
the Open House/Fall Fair in order to facilitate recruiting parents to participate in delivering
Active Kids. Ann agreed to the forms. Ann and Mr. V also confirmed that parent volunteers
assisting in Active Kids programmes do not require Criminal Record checks as the parent
roles do not involve direct one-on-one interaction with any individual students.
(ii)Gail C. inquired as to the new Board process of confirming parent volunteer criminal
checks as per the flyer recently distributed with the school newsletter. Mr. V. undertook to
clarify the new requirements and report back to council.
(iii)Brad L. passed along a parent request that teachers provide parents at the Oct 4 Open
House with a Long Range Planning Form as per the practice of previous years. Ann
acknowledged that providing parents with an overview of the curriculum calendar for their
children was a very useful tool and she would request that all teachers prepare them for
distribution.
(iv)Karen G. asked that un updated school events calendar spreadsheet be made available
to council and posted in the staff room to help in the co-ordination of school events such as
guest speakers, dance-a-thon, EQAO testing etc. Ann agreed to co-ordinate in the
preparation of the spreadsheet with Karen G.
(v)Jennifer S. asked for clarification on the school’s strategy for delivering the Ministry
required 20 minute minimum Daily Physical Activity (DPA) as three weeks into school no
DPA seems to be being provided. Ann acknowledged that DPA is both important and
compulsory although DPA is not required on the days students have scheduled gym. Mr. V
noted that there is lots of flexibility in the way DPA can be delivered. Ann undertook to
remind teachers of the DPA requirement.
(vi)Several parents expressed concern that McHugh did not appear to be intending to field
grade 4/5 soccer teams this year given that soccer and cross-country are the only 2 interschool sports McHugh participates in. After noting that school participation in tournaments
requires extra staff coverage, Ann undertook to canvass for staff volunteers to organize
soccer.
8. Next Meeting
Oct 24 @ 7PM and agenda to include:
o Council Executive positions
o Qualities in a VP
o Update on Regional Pro Grant presentation
o Budget for 2011/2012
o Library Usage Stats
9. Adjournment: 8:50 pm
Moved Jen S.; seconded Brad L.