School Council Minutes - September 2024

Meeting Information:

Date Thursday, September 26th 2024
Time 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location In-Person: Learning Commons Online
Chair - M. Giona
Treasurer Treasurer: VACANT
Secretary Secretary: S. Greenberg
Administration: S. Hepburn and M. Dogra


Topic: Welcome and Check In

Duration: 20 Min.
Spokesperson: Stephen/Monika

• Introductions

 

People in attendance:

Staff:
• S. Hepburn
• M. Dogra (virtual)
• J. Pegg
• E. Gordon
• S. Pirie

Parents/Community Members (in person):
• Mike Giona 
• Elise Cunningham
• Jason Ngo
• Josh Harold
• Suzanne Greenberg
• Alon Bousso 
• Sunpreet Kaur

Online (shared contact info):
• Qing Xiao

Voting members list

• M. Giona 
• E. Cunningham
• J. Ngo
• J. Harold
• S. Greenberg
• S. Young 
• C. Blake

 

Welcome from Stephen Hepburn

Stephen shared about the role and purpose of the AMPS Parent 
Council:
• Elevate parent voice and ideas
• Opportunities to fundraise to enhance the learning 
environment
• Collaborating with community partners
• Looking forward to setting students up for success and 
moving forward with initiatives

 

School Council Executive elections:

• J. Harold nominated himself to be Chair, seconded by 
M. Giona who nominated himself to be Co-Chair, 
seconded by Suzanne Greenberg
• Josh Harold nominated Suzanne Greenberg to be 
Secretary, seconded by Mike Giona
• Treasurer – vacant

2024-2025 Executive Council

Co-Chairs: Josh Harold and Mike Giona
Secretary: Suzanne Greenberg
Treasurer: VACAN

 

Treasurer’s Report

Duration: 10 Min.
Spokesperson: Stephen

• Review current state of funds
• Treasurer position continues to be vacant
• Stephen will provide treasurer information until role is filled
• There is a slight delay with accessing the updated amount in the account because the Board has changed financial institutions and most recent Movie Night fundraiser was not included
• Overall $8663.10 total
• Movie license fee is pending $598.98 to be subtracted
• Movie Night money not included, money needs to be deposited (approximately $450)

 

Other Business

Teacher Report: J. Pegg

Duration: 45 Min.
Spokesperson: Janet/Stephen/Monika
Executive
Stephen/Monika

  • It has been a busy four weeks at school
  • Madame Kalo has brought back the popular Running Club 
    at lunch, grades 4-8 going for runs
  • Cross Country is practicing morning recess and after 
    school, the Meet is October 15th (for grades 4-8)
  • Walking Wednesdays is a recess club for students to walk 
    to the forest
  • The Terry Fox Walk/Run was a great day and successful. 
    Donations are still be accepted on School Cash Online
  • Intermediate volleyball, flag football and soccer are 
    beginning/have begun
  • Band has started up, a lot of interest being expressed from 
    students
  • A Leadership club is starting; they will plan and lead school 
    wide initiatives including Colour Houses for all students for 
    school spirit
  • Leadership club is voluntary, open to students from grade 
    6-8, hoping for them to be involved in Remembrance Day
    planning, organizing and serving hot lunches, role 
    modelling for students; serve as a ‘student council’ type role
  • Snacks at morning recess starting next week (for students 
    who may need more snack or have forgotten snack)
  • Intramurals for all grades primary-intermediate beginning
  • Snack Shack is coming back too, snacks for sale to raise 
    funds for school use

 

Admin Report: Stephen Hepburn

• Reorganization of classes is complete in accordance with 
Ministry and Board compliance with class sizes and 
provincial standards
• Planning and projections are done in May/June for 
September
• Once student population numbers are confirmed, the
school reorganizes based on Ministry class size caps
• 65 students were impacted by reorganization
• All families have received communication if their student(s)
was impacted and transitions to new classes have begun
• New students will begin in their new classes Monday, 
September 30th
• An SK/grade one was created
• Reorganization was whole group moving rather than 
specific students
• 540 students in school total

Fundraising

• A Fundraising sub-committee to be formed
• Potential future fundraisers to be further discussed:
• AMPS Night at Boston Pizza
• Art Night
• Big Box of Cards (Josh has been in contact with them)
• Family Skate Night (Josh will contact local arenas)
• Movie Nights (serving pizza as well)
• Holiday Market (vendors in the gym, renting tables)
• Stephen will determine what types of fundraisers are Board 
approved re: renting tables to vendors for a Holiday Market, 
and report back to Council
• Stephen proposed a Hot Dog Lunch fundraiser in 
November
• Parent Council would be responsible for all set up and 
supplies, including hot dogs, buns, etc
• Consideration for veggie hot dogs, Halal, etc
• 3-4 parents to run event, cook and serve
• A google form will be shared to determine who is interested 
and available to help

Spending of current funds:

• Janet Pegg requested to use funds for sand toys for 
students to use outside at recess
• Council will support this request, Janet Pegg will look into 
Board approved toys
• Discussion of using Council funds to stock a cart with 
games, pencils, clipboards, books, for students to access 
while outside at recess - to be discussed further

Playground funds:

• Playground fund continues to need further discussion
• Jason Ngo has been in ongoing conversation with YRDSB 
Plant Services for over a year
• Playground is unlikely at this point, based on Board’s 
feedback and cost ($100k and up)
• Further discussion needed around spending of playground 
funds and options (benches, trees)
• Josh, Mike, Stephen, and Jason will meet separately then 
present options to Council

Considerations for Sub-Committees:

• Fundraising (see above)
• Jason Ngo will offer and facilitate a sub-committee aimed at 
AMPS staff who are not able to attend evening Council 
meetings
• He will share dates and times for staff to meet with him; 
Jason will then share with Council ideas and thoughts 
shared by AMPS staff

Future meeting and upcoming dates and times:

• Set the tentative Fun Fair date: June 12th, 2025
• Grade 8 graduation will likely be June 19th, 2025
• Next Council meeting: November 7th, 2024 at 6pm
Adjournment: 7:15pm by Stephen Hepburn

Thank you!