School Council

Mission Statement

Our School Council is committed to enriching our children’s educational community and maintaining their enthusiasm as life-long learners. 

Our School Council

An active school council meets every second month (the last Thursday of the month at 6:45 pm) to discuss school programs, school policy, current educational issues and ways to enhance the educational endeavors of the school.  ALL parents are members of the School Council and are encouraged to be part of this advisory board.

2023/2024 School Council Executive

Chairperson - Renee Spelt

Vice-Chair -  

Treasurer - Pam Dedora

Secretary - Tracy Duckett

Fundraising - Krystal Prins 

École James S. McCormick School Council Agenda

September 21 2023

6:45 PM Ecole James S McCormick

Present:   Robyn, Tonya, Pam, Karen, Renée, Melissa, Tracy, Krystal, Kelly Lowry, trustee

1. The meeting was called to order at 6:51.
2. Introductions were made.
3. Tonya moved to accept the agenda. Krystal seconded the motion.
4. Krystal moved to accept the minutes. Pam seconded.
5.  Old Business
• Front Sign Update - It should be in place next week.
• Playground possibility - Mike from Play World will be at the school tomorrow to look over the grounds and make recommendations. It has been a really helpful company to work with. The main structure will be located on the A den. It will cost about $125,000. A charity number will need to be applied for. 
6. New Business

• The chair position is open for this council. Additional people to help with the playground committee and with grant writing are required. Robyn and Pam offered to help out.
• A digital sign up form will be sent out for volunteers to help with the White Elephant Sale set up, sales, and take down. Donations are needed now, so a drop off is by the office. Wrapping paper and bags are needed as well. Teachers need to make sure the students have forms filled out in advance so volunteers know the ages students are shopping for. Melissa will look after getting this done. Parents/guardians will be asked to send in the number of gift bags according to the number of gifts their children need. 

1. Reports
• Trustee - Enrolment is up by about 135 students across the division. The board met with the new minister of education. He is solution driven so letters to the government about education should focus on suggestions for solutions. The board met with the shadow minister of education (NDP) as well. She is a strong advocate for education. The board had a retreat and met with a political analyst who said education is not a priority at this time for the UCP government. Wolf Creek is collaborating with RDP to promote getting more students into the trades. The board spoke with the minister of education about transportation because busing is now supposed to be provided at 1.2 km instead of 2.4 km. Wolf Creek will need 18 more buses to accommodate this, but additional funding will not be added to budgets to pay for these buses outright. Additional teachers and educational assistants were funded by the board in the fall to meet the needs of hot spots in the division.
• Staff Report - Karen Gustafson explained the theme for the concerts this year. The dates are December 19-21. Performances will be during the day times again this year. The grade three choir will be performing at the Administrator Association’s December meeting during lunch time at the LMC. They will be performing at the Remembrance Day assembly and will be guest performers at the kindergarten concert. Concert risers will be set up Dec.14 @ 8am.
• Treasurer - The balance is $24,878.39.
• Fundraising - The bottle drive made $994.10. Mabel's labels made $65.00. 170-180 students are typically fed during each hot lunch. The next fundraiser will be cookie dough. The sale will be November 6th until the 20th. He will match $100.00 if the school contributes that much as well. That $200 will go toward prizes for the high sellers (highest individuals and highest class sales). Krystal also showed everyone the apparel she selected with the school logo and ‘Be Kind’. She might look into Wedin’s so the money can be collected on their website.
• Hot Lunch - It is moving to a different platform called Lunch Box, so all the management and money is looked after online. There is no fee for the program. The council determines the prices for the sales. The company sends the council cheques, but the council doesn’t have to do any work. Delivery to the classrooms is the only responsibility of the council members.

Upcoming events  

• Book Fair - Dec. 4-6
• Remembrance Day Assembly - Nov. 9th @12:30pm
• White Elephant Sale Dates - The set up is on December 6. The sales are on December 7, 11, 12. The take down is on the 13th. 
• Christmas concerts - December 19-21

9. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15. 

2023-2024 Meeting Dates: 

6:45 - 8:00 PM

• February 1, 2024
• March 7, 2024
• May 9, 2024

École James S. McCormick School Council Agenda

September 21 2023

7:15PM Ecole James S McCormick

Present: Renée, Robyn, Laurelle, Gifty, Jaime, Crystal, Melissa, Suzanne, Tracy, Sarah, Pam 

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:50 pm.
2. Everyone introduced themselves. Renée invited everyone to join the parent Facebook group.
3. Renée explained a little about how the agenda is determined. Sarah moved to accept the agenda.
4. The May 2023 minutes are located here. 
5.  Old Business
• Renée shared a picture of the new Front Sign for advertising. $4000.00 was put down as a deposit.
• Books were received from Crystal Haitsma’s speaker session. Her books can be purchased from the school council. 
6. New Business
7. Positions available this year: 
• Chair - Renée is interested in taking over the playground fundraising rather than running the meetings. No one offered to take the position. 
• Treasurer - Pam Dedora is taking over the treasurer position. Jaime moved to vote Pam in as the treasurer, replacing Dawn Poisson. Carried.
• Playground Committee - Laurelle and Crystal will be on this committee with Renée. 
8. How parents can get involved: Renée mentioned other ways to be involved, including White Elephant Sale, Hot Lunch, Year-End BBQ. 
9. Staff members will be asked to invite their parents/guardians to be school council reps. 

1. Reports
1. Trustee - No trustee is present. Renée mentioned the trustees usually attend a couple times per year.
2. Staff Report - Tracy mentioned that the school board made a decision today to provide more FTE funding for the French and English kindergartens. There are two FI programs running and three English programs. The school will be creating another English kindergarten. 
3. Treasurer - $29,000 is the current balance but $10,000 will be spent on the new signage. Renée wants to raise about $75,000 for new playground equipment. There are a lot of grants available, but it is a big investment of time to write out grants. 
4. Fundraising - The bottle drive is booked for October 2, 3, 4 to coincide with the parent-teacher meeting nights. Cosmo will pick up the bottles on the third day. Crystal has also planned the following fundraisers:

• October - clothing
• November - ornaments
• December - White Elephant Sale
• January - Pizza
• February - Mom’s Pantry
• March - 
• April - Flowers
• May - Nossacks

1. Hot Lunch - Lunches are booked with Booster Juice, Subway, KFC, and East Side Eatery so far. Gluten free options are also included. We want to provide small snacks for options like rice crispies for some days. They can be made in the school’s food room. Crystal is running the hot lunch program but can’t continue after December, so we will need a new hot lunch organizer.

1. Upcoming events 

     Parent teacher conferences (October 2 - 4)

• Bottle Drive (October 2 - 4)

9. Meeting dates for the year are scheduled as follows:

• September 21, 2023
• November 2, 2023
• January, 18, 2024
• March 7, 2024
• May 9, 2024

The meeting was adjourned at 7:59.