Windham Ridge School Council Minutes - October 2024

Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 6:30‐8:30 p.m. 

In Attendance 

Welcome by Irene & Cassandre. 

Land Acknowledgment 

• Land Acknowledgement read by Sabrina Singh‐Itwarie.  

African Ancestor Acknowledgment   

• African Ancestor Acknowledgement read by Sabrina Singh‐Itwarie.
• Additional comments on DE&I by Sandy Kofalvi. 

Approval of Minutes 

• Approval of Minutes by Jodie, Lucy, Lisa. 

Teacher Report – 

1)Terry Fox run Friday September 27^th, 2024. 

• Date:  September 27^th, 2024.  Brief history and the impact Terry Fox continue to have on the society were shared with the students.
• Total donations collected will be reported later.   

2)Yearbooks for 2024‐2025 

• 30 students from grades 6,7, and 8 are participating in the yearbook committee.
• Yearbooks are expected to arrive in June for 2025. 

3)Cross County 

• Held on October 16^th, 2024.
• Total participants:  97 students.
• 40 students qualified for regionals.
• Top Regional Performers: o Maddie (grade 5) o Raven (grade 6) 

4)Volleyball

• Senior volleyball:  currently taking place.
• Junior Volleyball:  To begin this week.
• Developmental volleyball team:  open to students who did not make the main teams but are interested in improving skills. Practices held twice a week.  

5)Fun club: 

• For juniors (grade 4, 5, and 6).  Meets once a week. 

6)Open Gym: 

• Available during recess for students who want to play basketball. 

7)Chess club: 

• Open to students in grades 4, 5, and 6.
• Separate sessions for primary students:  grades 1, 2, and 3) are planned. 

8)Beaver Math competition: 

• Open to students in grade 7 and 8. 

9)Youth space: 

• Led by Mr. Raha and Mme. Patel.
• Purpose: leadership and mental health support, allowing students to assist peers.
• Eligible grades: 6, 7, and 8.
• Selection process:  application‐based, with interest announcements made multiple times. Six students Windham Ridge; final selection is pending.
• Training:  selected students will participate in coaching sessions to bring skills back to the school. 10) Concert Band Club:
• New club starting this year. 

11)Outdoor learning: 

• October 23^rd, 2024. 

12)Cedar Glen: 

• Activity planned for grade 8 students.

13)Remembrance Day Assembly: 

• Date and details to be announced.
• Next steps: follow up on total donations for the Terry Fox and finalized the selection of students for Youth Space.  

Administrators Report ‐ S. Kofalvi  and S. Singh‐Itwarie

14)School photo updates: 

• Photo Day took place last week.
• Retake day scheduled for November 21^st, 2024. 

15)Elevate student voice:  Youth Space: 

• Windham selected for Youth Space to empower students with leadership potential and support those with ideas who may not share proactively. 

16)Announcements update: 

• Announcements are now virtual, enhancing accessibility.
• Grade 8 students 

17)Grade 8 trip to King City: 

• November 6^th, 2024.
• Purpose: course selection and meet‐and greet event.
• No charge to families. 

18)Skills training and development: 

• Upcoming Level Up! skills and training session for grade 8s in Mississauga, supported by transitions team and a grant.  November 27^th, 2024. 

19)Field Trips: 

• Grade 5: visit to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on November 6^th, 2024
• Grade 6: Visit to the Holocaust Museum as part of mandatory Holocaust education for grade 6.  Currently pended due to the geo‐political environment. 

20)Remembrance Day Assembly: 

• All students will attend the assembly.
• Parents are welcomed to join.
• Assembly will begin after morning recess at 11:15a.m on November 11^th, 2024.  

21) Farewell to fall concert: 

• Tentative Date:  December 6^th, 2024. 

22)EQAO Results 2023/2024: 

• Math results received for grade 3.
• Majority of students met provincial standards; only 18% were below standards.   
• Sabrina and Sandy to further analyze the results for trends.  If needed, there are additional support for teacher and students. 

23)Early Reading Screening: 

• Plan to obtain training to implement early literacy screening. 

24)Early Reading screening: 

• Primary students will receive an additional page with their progress report that outlines their early reading screening results.   
• Next steps:  Sandy & Sabrina to review and assess if there are common themes in the results and if further skills training required.
• Finalize plans for the Farewell to Fall Concert.

25)Fundraising Planning:

• Fundraising period:  October to November
• Jodie will be supporting and overseeing the volunteers.

26)Fundraising goals and priorities:   

• Projected fundraising target:  $36,500.
• Priorities for the use of funds to be set by the Sandy and Sabrina as per the board’s direction and criteria.   
• Funds raised in a school year apply to students in that school year.   
• Funds must be used to in an equitable and inclusive manner.

27)AV and Technology Purchases

• Technology purchase dates will be determined based on the board assigned timelines.
• Angel Fund:  $1,500 allocated to assist families experiencing hardship, covering costs for students unable to participate in certain activities. 

28)Scientists in school program:

• Teachers will book Scientists in School sessions as their curriculum progresses.  On a need basis.

29)Funds allocation requirements:

• Funds raised within a school year must be allocated within that year.
• Last year’s fundraising report has been finalized and will be presented to Sandy.
• Fund spending is outlined according to the board and ministry of education.   
• Next steps:   Confirm technology purchase dates and prioritize fundraising allocation based on projections.   

Committee Reports – 

Treasurers Report 

No update 

Volunteer committee update:   

• Lead for Pizza lunch:  Maryam K
  • Lead for Swiss Chalet lunch:  Ange L
  • Lead for Subway lunch:  Jodie
  • Report will be complied and ready by January.   

Volunteer requirements: 

• All volunteers are required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening and volunteer clearance initially.   
• Annual declaration required for returning volunteers.
• Confidentially agreements signed by all volunteers. 

Fundraising Committee: 

• Discussion on hot lunches frequency and potential parent survey to gage preferences.
• Goal to balance convenience for families with fundraising targets.
• Fundraising committee to review options and report back. 

Communications Committee:

• Coffee shop flyer to be completed and distributed that includes the following: Held on November 8^th, in room 108 from 8:40am to 10:30am.
• Agenda to include an overview of the parent councils’ role and a message from S. Singh‐Itwarie in absence of S. Kofalvi.  S. Kofalvi will not be able to attend the coffee morning due to a prescheduled meeting. 

Student programs committee: 

• Led by Mme. Suliman? Robotics Club to resume with a competition planned in February.   
  • Led by Mme. Saadati?  Math night is typically planned in December for primary, junior, and senior students.  

Council Events: 

• Speaker series planning underway; suggestions welcomed.
• Fall Dance scheduled for November 22^nd with DJ and food drive.  Alternative activities will be available for students not participating in the dance.
• Food drive kick‐off November 8^th to November 22^nd, with drop‐off scheduled for November 25^th, 2024.
• Student and parent volunteers required to drop off the food collection to the local food bank in Richmond Hill.   

Grants committee: 

• Healthy food grant program led by Lucy in partnership with the public health nurse.  A cooking session for 16 selected students (Grade 7 & 8) last year.
• Mme. S. Kofalvi to review the program and selection process.   

New Business ‐Grade 8 Fundraising and Grad trip: 

• Survey was sent to Grade 8 families to gauge interest in the graduation celebration. 

Feedback suggests a preference for local graduation venue. 

• Fundraising committee to review and feedback to S. Kofalvi and S. Singh‐Itwaire.  

Closing: 

• Irene put forth the motion to close the meeting at 8:40pm, voted by Lisa and 2^nd by Lucy.