Get Involved/School Council

Present: Kelly Picken, Sara Berry-Nakamoto, Christine Tulloch, Jen Holinshead, Kiran Jammu, Sue Anderson, Ranjana Singh, Corinne Schaufelberger, Jill Mann, Alanna Cork, Beth Pinsonneault, Vanessa Taylor, Gabriele Wieschollek, Andrew Brown

Principal’s Welcome – Kelly Picken

Introduction of current Council – 2024/2025 – Sara Berry-Nakamoto, Tracy Peters, Christine Tulloch, Ranjana Singh

• Normally, there is a student present as well
• Vanessa Taylor will be representing the staff again this year

Approval of Agenda

Establish 2025/2026 Council:

• Chair – Sara Berry-Nakamoto
• Co-Chair – Christine Tulloch
• Secretary – Beth Pinsonneault

School Happenings (Kelly Picken)

What has been happening:

• Grade 9 Parent/Guardian Meeting
• Grade 9 workshops for the library and guidance introduction
• Grade 12 workshops – the business of being in Grade 12
• Terry Fox Walk and fundraiser
• International Student Lunch
• Clubs and Teams Advertising and Hallway display
• Recognized Orange Shirt Day – Truth and Reconciliation
• Teams are up and running – girls’ basketball, boys’ volleyball, boys’ soccer, x-c running, golf, tennis, robotics
• Music activities in full swing – Jazz band, senior concert band
• The improv club started last week
• Clubs are up and going – see below for the list
• Progress Reports went home
• Parent-Teacher interviews were on Oct. 2
• Class and SHSM field trips – continue (Algonquin Park, Killbear, Gr. 11 geo to caves…)
• Grade 12 transition activities – university, college, military info sessions -continue all year
• Library Activities – match the teacher to their baby picture

Coming up:

• Fall Awards Night Oct 8
• Information evening Spain Art trip – Oct 14
• PD Day Oct 24
• Hallowe’en events
• Remembrance Day Assembly – Nov. 11
• Mid-term report cards coming out – week of November 10
• OSSLT writing Nov. 18 – 24 – Grade 10 Literacy Test. Students who do not pass will receive targeted help and have the opportunity to retake the exam in the Spring. If a student does not pass, they can retake the course in grade 11 or take a mandatory course.
• Butterfly Project – Mental Health – stressing hope, resilience, and kindness Nov. 18
• Semi-Formal Dance Nov. 20
• PD Day Nov. 21

School Improvement Plan – Ministry Driven **Directions Team meets this Wednesday

Vanessa Taylor – 4 Part Plan:

Literacy Goal: Improve students’ literacy learning and achievement
Ministry Indicator: % of fully participating, first-time eligible students who are successful on the OSSLT
Contextualized results not yet released by EQAO for last year (81%ish); similar game plan to last year, with an increase in time for initial student orientation sessions.
Targeted support for Grade 9 reading levels – continuing

Numeracy Goal: Improve students’ math learning and achievement.
Ministry Indicator: % of students who meet or exceed the provincial standard on: Gr 9 EQAO MATH 54% (Level 3 & 4) – Success!
Shifted Level 1s down from 7% to 2.1% and Level 4s up from 3.5% to 8.3%

Preparedness Goal: Improve students’ graduation rates and preparedness for future success
Ministry Indicator: % of students graduating with an OSSD within 5 years of starting Grade 9
The guidance team will take the lead, working with credit-shy students on creative options
SHSM – increase our completion rates – Night School & Summer Co-op, for example

Well-Being Goal: Improve student well-being
Ministry Indicator: % of Grade 9 and 10 students who report being aware of mental health supports and services to seek support when needed
Our goal – 80% students know where and how to access MH supports
Additional goal – striving for students to feel safe and welcome

Fundraising:

• Tim Horton’s Smile Cookies campaign, Nov 17 -23, we will need volunteers to decorate
• Under the Stars raised $11,085.50 last year
• Looking to spend funds on Manufacturing – machines and a sea can (?) to store wood, extra might be put toward tables or put into account to send kids on trips
• This year, we will look at having Under the Stars in April – better timing

Insurance purchase – $140 + tax for any school-organized event

Parent Information Evening

• Looking at combining with elementary for promoting events
• TLDSB is coming up with big speakers
• Open to ideas

Questions:

• Field trip equity – trips are expensive; looking at ways to keep costs down by combining with other schools. International trips must involve fundraising, so trips are much more affordable

Next Meeting: Monday, November 10, 20225 – 6:30 pm (HHS cafeteria)

Present: Kelly Picken, Sara Berry-Nakamoto, Christie Tulloch, Beth Pinsonneault, Leslie Holmes, Sam Pollington, Maureen O’Grady, Jen Holinshead, Corinne Schaufelberger, Chuck Kidd, Sue Anderson

Agenda and Minutes:

Principal’s Welcome – Kelly Picken

Approval of October Minutes – Approval of November Agenda
Approved

Update of School Happenings – Kelly Picken

• Spain Art Trip – next year
• PD Day Oct 24 – tackling racism, part of the Harmony movement – ‘Words Matter’ – teaching teachers to interrupt racism, then students – racism and classism – racism is something experienced every day
• Remembrance Day today, so the Legion could be a part – students were very respectful
• Grade 9 – Circle of Support – community that can help with support, Indigenous, Police, Nurse, etc.
• Cross Country to
• OFFSA
• Intramurals happening
• $10,000 in damage from vandals on the roof
• The fire alarm went off in the morning in the room with the kiln
• The fire department was called for a lock issue
• Social Justice went to a meeting about Anti-Hate
• Midterm reports Wed
• Special Olympics to BML for a range of sports
• OSSLT exam next week (18-24), if not successful, write in March – workshops in the spring to prepare
• Volleyball and basketball finals are happening this week
• Butterfly Project – colour butterflies for hope, re: grief and loss
• Nov 20 – Semi Formal Dance @ Hidden Valley
• PD Nov 21 – talking about AI
• OFSAA event for A schools for volleyball
• Dodgeball intramurals coming up
• Fry Bread & Friends – Indigenous students bring a friend for a full day of Indigenous activities
• Jersey Day – $2 for Feed All Four November 28
• Gr 8s coming for a half day week of November 24
• Dec 1 photo retakes
• Band concert Dec 3 at Algonquin Theatre
• Suessical – Drama presentation – Dec 10 at Algonquin Theatre

TLDSB Parent Council-update-Chrsitine Tulloch

• Talked about removal of trustees at different boards – Wes Hahn assured us
• TLDSB runs a tight ship and trustees hold him accountable for the budget
• An Outdoor Ed Centre is being built in Minden
• Violent incidents – decreased by 68%, all investigated, survey says majority of students feel safe

Fund-raising — Tim Hortons Capstone, Hwy 60, by A&W

• Holiday Smile Cookie campaign – $ used to upgrade tech in the gym
• There will be a pre-order form sent out on Monday
• Kids are going to make the posters tomorrow
• Need volunteers to help decorate – some leadership kids will be going
• Foundations for Independence students will be going over to decorate
• Still need 3 people at each location: Sun 12-3, M-F 10-12
• An email will go out from Sara, and Christine will put it on Facebook

Spring fundraiser-first meeting date?

• Sara talked to Jill about Sandhill ordering – not going to work
• Tim Horton’s should replace those funds
• Muskoka Under the Stars:
  – Jill will still be happy to do the spring fundraiser, looking for volunteers to help out with getting donations
  – She would like to have a meet-up before Christmas to talk about what is needed
  – Still looking for music entertainers
  – Date – thinking about April
  – Advertising for Muskoka Under the Stars is through radio, Facebook, Doppler
  – Have we reached out to the Lions’ Club or Rotary for assistance?

Parent Information Evening – update

• Sara reached out to YMCA and YWCA – Brent from YMCA has some resources for helping students who do not know what they are doing after high school
• He might have more info for a parent info night – looking at January
• Matt Beaton (HPS) is looking into a group presentation for all area schools
• There is also a WhatsApp group for keeping all parent councils connected
• Timea Nagy could present on Human Trafficking
• Should we do a parent night for parents who are new to the community

Pro-grant Application

There is a program application that we are going to apply for to get funding for the parent information evenings

Questions

• Split classes – if there is not enough for a whole class, a split class may happen
• Fundraising – how do you decide where it goes? Teachers may request that small fundraising go towards a ‘slush fund’ for things like bus trips, kids who cannot pay, or pancake Tuesday. There may also be separate fundraising from different school groups, e.g., the band.
• Specifically, prom at a different location? Limited places to have it
  It’s been in the news that prom is being cancelled —will ours be? No. When cancelled, drinking is involved
• Is clothing available for students for fancy dress? Yes, school gets a number, and anyone can take one

Upcoming Meetings: FEBRUARY 9 & APRIL 20 – 6:30 pm