School Council

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 Tuesday 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.

2025/2026 School Council Executive

Chairperson - Gary Rice

Vice-Chair -  Krystal Prins

Treasurer - Pam Dedora

Fundraising - Renee Spelt

Secretary - Melissa Rogers

                                                                                                                                             

École James S. McCormick School Council Agenda

September 23, 2025

6:45 - 7:45 pm 

Wellness Room - C120

Present: Gary Rice, Pam Dedora, Kelly Lowry, Krystal Prins, Sarah Kornelius, Lauren McLeod, Alisha Williams, Kacey Oehlerking, Caitlin Ranger, Melissa Rogers, Renee Spelt

1. Call to order: Gary Rice - 6:47pm
2. Introductions: 
3. Acceptance of the Agenda:  Pam Dedora 6:52pm
4. Acceptance of the Minutes: May 6, 2025 - Krystal Prins/ Pam Dedora
5.  Old Business:
1. Recess bins - soccer balls and frisbees from Reds Sports 
2. Gym Mats for PE - Reconnect about this in November
3. Wooden Spoons for Music/Carnaval - Kacey will count how many we need
4. Family BBQ - same night as Bike Night
5. Year End Swimming for classes - paid for

New Business

• Goals for the year

1. White Elephant: December 1-4 Parent volunteer form will be sent out via Sign-up Genius; start collecting on November 1. We will need some paper, wrapping and tape - Milly Oak has saved the bags with good handles. Name tags ready to go with students/teachers - parents to send fabric grocery bags.
2. Winter Carnival: Maple Shack company comes from Edmonton and stations run by parent volunteers.
3. Indigenous Education Week: End of January
4. Year End Swimming: Free swim at the end of the school year. ($796)
5. Parent Teacher Interviews: 1 made meal and payment towards ordering food
6. Playground update: Lacombe Public School Playground Enhancement Society - Applied for the CFEP Grant - $125,000 grant - it's not a guarantee but they share where the need is (March). If they have enough money - A-den - a bigger playground out front.

Reports

1. Trustee: Kelly Lowry - School Board Trustee - September is a big month for the division - the biggest need is more EA’s. 1.5 fte teachers/ 5.0 EA’s. The Premier knows nothing about what happens in schools, neither do MLA’s. School divisions do the best they can with the money given. The Smear campaign  - putting teachers down. So passionate about public education - this makes an impact in our community. 
2. School Events: Parent/Teacher meetings (Oct. 6-8) Staff Meals during parent meetings this year?
3. Staff Report :
   1. 4 Teachers to introduce (Emily Kassies; Shauna Favry; Kaylinn Poirier; Marina Mazure) 2 EAs (Chantelle Lembicz /Denise Olsen) / JS & ELUES - letter from Superintendent Tim De Ruyck
   2. New teachers shared - EA - new funding from the board shared - Info shared about the letter from Tim De Ruyck.
4. Treasurer: $135, 000 - JS families have brought in more than half of this money for playground fundraising. $2500 will start in the account - but sports equipment and bins will still come off. - $1200 is still owed from the division. $4730 were paid out for activities for the kids last year.
   1. November - $700 towards portfolio nights (meals)
5. Hot Lunch: Booster Juice / KFC / Grade 3 Hot lunch delivery/possibly stickers needed for Antoinelle. They love the reminders of hot lunch texted out to families. Can we look into adding on the parent portal - “Purchase a hot lunch for another friend” - Leibel will look into this as an option.
   1. Fundraising: Cookies - (Renee) - We will be doing cookies - we have secured a contract - we are the only vendor in Lacombe to have it. The proceeds for this don’t need to go towards the playground this year. They usually arrive in early December. Forms will be sent out on Oct. 3rd so parents have it before the potential strike.
   2. Sept. 24 - Panago Pizza - JS fundraiser night;  families order - they give a code and JS receives 15% of the proceeds. 
   3. Read-a-Thon - (January)
   4. Rebels Hockey Game - January?
   5. Boston Pizza Receipts? - (Year round)
   6. Flowers - Patio Gardens - less work as everyone went and picked their purchases up.
   7. Year End Family BBQ - (May)
   8. Other ideas:  Gift cards (Alisha)
6. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn - Sarah Kornelius (8:15pm)
7. Next Meeting Date(s): 

• October 28, 2025

• November

• January

• March 10 - Joint Council meeting

• April/May? (both)