Present:
Mary Whittaker – Principal
Eric Yerlen
Karen Yellan – Chair
Carol Lunansky
Paul Dover – Treasurer
Manisha Patel – Long-term occasional teacher (Grade 4)
1. Welcome
2. Minutes of the previous meeting – the minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
3. Treasurer’s Report – Paul reported that net profit to date from the January pizza lunch was $195.59, giving us a current bank balance of $7,016.62.
4. Principal’s Report:
• Dance-a-thon– this was a great success raising a little over $700 for the cause. Congratulations everyone! Karen showed us an envelope specifically made for donations right on the envelope; a copy was taken, and we’ll research where we can get them.
• Wake-Up Wednesdays – many activities took place in the hallways. Karen was concerned, as apparently the Grade 5’s were not doing any DPA. Mary will have this corrected.
• Police Presentations – a police constable will visit the school next Tuesday & Wednesday, to give a talk on class-appropriate issues (traffic safety, etc.).
Parking Problem – Howard Moscoe’s visit – Howard Moscoe met with Briar Hill School on Jan. 22 to discuss the problems re parking, student drop-offs, etc. in front of the school. In attendance was Howard Moscoe , Jack Sinopoli (Supervisor, Traffic Operations), Bob Cott, and Howard Goodman (trustee) from the City, and Trina Byrne, Tony Minchella, Mr. Pagano (parent) and Mary Whittaker. A number of possible solutions were brought forward and discussed during the meeting; the proposed solution - making the area on both sides of the street in front of the school a No Stopping zone, patrolled on a daily basis by police (or Parking Authority); a very small 15 minute parking area to the west of the bus loading zone; moving the present sidewalk north and create a boulevard between the sidewalk and the road. (During the winter, the boulevard would be used to collect snow ploughed from the road.) This would also involve moving the current fence surrounding school property from city land to school land.
Howard Goodman suggested identifying parents who are contributing to the parking problems in order to have individual conversations with them. He also suggested identifying those parents who had expressed concern for student safety due to parking to enlist their support.
• Kindergarten Registration – occurs next week, potential students must be 4 years old.
• School Daycare – daycare for Briar Hill School has not been successful, as we were not able to come up with personnel or programs that were up to our standards.
• ABA Training – for autistic children; there was a session last month, ensuring that all involved are interacting the same with the children. The second session is scheduled for March 26 – we have 12 signed up so far.
• STOPP (Students Triumph Over Peer Pressure) – this is a group of mostly African-Canadian children, who do performances & workshops throughout the country. This shows our cultural diversity, and addresses major issues (resist peer pressure, stop the violence, etc.). Mary proposed to have them perform at the school (cost = $500); as well, in conjunction with STOPP, there is an afternoon with the First Nation dancers and drummers from Kitkatla, who also do an exciting show (cost for both = $800). After some discussion, it was agreed to have both performing groups put on their shows for the school.
• School Organization 2008/2009 – Mary handed out the projected enrolment for 2008/2009, asking that we put together a class structure, based on the numbers given.
5. Fun Fair – Sue has contacted all her suppliers; most say call again in April. It was mentioned that Julie will call her contacts next week. Karen hopes to get some prizes, raffles at a discount (or free) this year, instead of simply buying prizes at full price. Mary will contact Karen’s boss to solicit ‘bargains’ on science booths, presentations, etc. for the fair.
6. Bake Sale – scheduled for March 28. Mary will make a Bake Sale schedule, and determine the layout for this year’s sale. The Grade 5’s will look after raffle sales.
7. Other – Manisha put forth a proposal for a field trip for the Grade 4’s; as they are currently studying castles, she thought a trip to Casa Loma would be appropriate. The entrance cost is $8 per student. A special program where the students are bused there and back would cost $145 ($25/student). To fund this, Manisha suggested a hot dog sale; she has a fairly large grill, and volunteers could cook and administer the whole thing. This would be open to the entire school. After some discussion, it was agreed, as these sales are always successful at Briar Hill. Manisha wants her students to learn responsibility, run this fundraiser themselves, for their field trip – this will encourage participation, cohesiveness, etc.
8. Date for next meeting – Tuesday, March 18th, 2008.
Mission
At Briar Hill we provide an inclusive, nurturing learning environment where students will strive to succeed to the best of their ability. We provide an enriching, well balanced academic program with a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy. We actively promote and practise healthy lifestyle choices to enable our students to achieve positive physical and emotional well being. We value a respectful and equitable partnership with our diverse community. Together we endeavour to build a strong foundation for our student’s life long learning.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Council Minutes - 17/01/08
Present:
Mary Whittaker – Principal
Sue Hill
Trina Byrne
Paul Dover - Treasurer
Karen Yellan – Chair
Carol Lunansky
Julie McFayden - Secretary
Bernadette Ryan-Phillips
Kuwassi Hutchinson
1. Welcome
2. Minutes of the previous meeting – The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
3. Treasurer’s Report – Paul reported that the new balance in the account is $7,039.54. Net profit from the entertainment book fundraiser was $847.50 and pizza lunch was $123.42.
4. Principal’s Report:
• Gym Ceiling – The repairs have not been done yet. The ceiling was looked at over the holidays and the job was re-costed. The materials are being ordered. Mary reported that work would start before March break to be completed by the time students returned.
• Parking Problem – meeting with Howard Moscoe – Mary received an email from his office advising of his availability to meet on January 22nd at 10 a.m re the parking issue. Mary plans to discuss the possibility of a layby. She invited parents to attend to lend a voice to the discussion however the time of day made it inconvenient for most. It was also uncertain as to whether Howard planned to attend the meeting or if he was planning on sending a representative. Mary would be calling to clarify.
• Principal’s Profile – Mary is required to provide a Principal’s Profile to Jeff Heinbach’s office. She is asking parents at the meeting to identify the qualities they want to see in their principal. Mary provided a copy of the profile questions which they agreed to review and complete for discussion at the next meeting. The profile must be completed by the end of March.
• Falconer Report/Safety Procedures in place at Briar Hill – Mary felt it was important to mention that Jeff Heinbach and many other superintendents were never asked to speak to the panel as reported in the media. She highlighted the legal responsibilities of teachers and advised that Briar Hill has a code of behaviour in place. Julie will be posting this on the blog.
• Me to We (Building a school in a Third World Country) – Mary highlighted this character building initiative which would engage students in fundraising toward this worthy cause. Its purpose is to help teach students empathy. This is slated to start after March Break.
5. Chair’s Report:
• Reading Recovery – One more student has left the program successfully. Two other students came close however they did not meet the level 16 requirements. Trina is recommending another support system be put in place for those students (Early reading intervention program). Her goal is for all students to achieve level 16 by the end of Grade 1. She will be interviewing 2 more students to join the program.
• Let’s Dance Workshop – Grade 4 and 5 students will be participating in this program next Friday. Students will be introduced to hip hop and jazz in a 2 hour long session. The first hour will be dance instruction and the second hour will have kids perform their own dance routines.
• TSM (Toronto Schools on the Move) – Trina has not received any more info on this program however she is attending a workshop on January 24th.
• Health Matters Fair – The fair was cancelled due to the inability of organizers to confirm a pharmacist. They would not stage the fair without one.
6. Fun Fair – Sue has started calling her list of suppliers. Julie also has a list which she will start working on soon. This year we will be trying to get as much stuff as possible for free.
7. Bake Sale – March 28th
8. Dance-a-thon – February 14th (this is tentative as Mary is still waiting to hear from the DJ)
9. Date for next meeting – February 21, 2007.
Mary Whittaker – Principal
Sue Hill
Trina Byrne
Paul Dover - Treasurer
Karen Yellan – Chair
Carol Lunansky
Julie McFayden - Secretary
Bernadette Ryan-Phillips
Kuwassi Hutchinson
1. Welcome
2. Minutes of the previous meeting – The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
3. Treasurer’s Report – Paul reported that the new balance in the account is $7,039.54. Net profit from the entertainment book fundraiser was $847.50 and pizza lunch was $123.42.
4. Principal’s Report:
• Gym Ceiling – The repairs have not been done yet. The ceiling was looked at over the holidays and the job was re-costed. The materials are being ordered. Mary reported that work would start before March break to be completed by the time students returned.
• Parking Problem – meeting with Howard Moscoe – Mary received an email from his office advising of his availability to meet on January 22nd at 10 a.m re the parking issue. Mary plans to discuss the possibility of a layby. She invited parents to attend to lend a voice to the discussion however the time of day made it inconvenient for most. It was also uncertain as to whether Howard planned to attend the meeting or if he was planning on sending a representative. Mary would be calling to clarify.
• Principal’s Profile – Mary is required to provide a Principal’s Profile to Jeff Heinbach’s office. She is asking parents at the meeting to identify the qualities they want to see in their principal. Mary provided a copy of the profile questions which they agreed to review and complete for discussion at the next meeting. The profile must be completed by the end of March.
• Falconer Report/Safety Procedures in place at Briar Hill – Mary felt it was important to mention that Jeff Heinbach and many other superintendents were never asked to speak to the panel as reported in the media. She highlighted the legal responsibilities of teachers and advised that Briar Hill has a code of behaviour in place. Julie will be posting this on the blog.
• Me to We (Building a school in a Third World Country) – Mary highlighted this character building initiative which would engage students in fundraising toward this worthy cause. Its purpose is to help teach students empathy. This is slated to start after March Break.
5. Chair’s Report:
• Reading Recovery – One more student has left the program successfully. Two other students came close however they did not meet the level 16 requirements. Trina is recommending another support system be put in place for those students (Early reading intervention program). Her goal is for all students to achieve level 16 by the end of Grade 1. She will be interviewing 2 more students to join the program.
• Let’s Dance Workshop – Grade 4 and 5 students will be participating in this program next Friday. Students will be introduced to hip hop and jazz in a 2 hour long session. The first hour will be dance instruction and the second hour will have kids perform their own dance routines.
• TSM (Toronto Schools on the Move) – Trina has not received any more info on this program however she is attending a workshop on January 24th.
• Health Matters Fair – The fair was cancelled due to the inability of organizers to confirm a pharmacist. They would not stage the fair without one.
6. Fun Fair – Sue has started calling her list of suppliers. Julie also has a list which she will start working on soon. This year we will be trying to get as much stuff as possible for free.
7. Bake Sale – March 28th
8. Dance-a-thon – February 14th (this is tentative as Mary is still waiting to hear from the DJ)
9. Date for next meeting – February 21, 2007.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Briar Hill Safety Plan & Procedures
Code of Behaviour:
•The Briar Hill Code of Behaviour is published in both our school agendas and handbook.
Briar Hill Golden Rule:
•The Briar Hill “Golden Rule” “At Briar Hill we keep our hands, feet and hurtful words to ourselves” is well known to most senior students and should be familiar to all junior students.
Dress Code:
•The Briar Hill Dress Code is also published in both our school agenda and handbook.
Character Education:
•Character Education is taught on a weekly basis at Briar Hill. The staff has developed a curriculum to guide the weekly lessons.
•The Future Aces Program and Philosophy is actively promoted and pracitised at Briar Hill. Students are rewarded with Future Aces Mini-Alerts after displaying Future Aces behaviour and they are recognized at our monthly assemblies.
•The Briar Hill School Song is also sung at our monthly assembly to help instill pride in being a student at our school. The lyrics in the song promote good character behaviour. The song is also published in the agenda and handbook.
Partnerships with Charitable and Community Organizations:
Partnerships include:
Terry Fox Foundation
UNICEF
Jump Rope For Heart
Food Banks
Senior’s Group Entertainment
Remembrance Day and The Memory Project
Student Volunteer Programs: Eco Club, Milk Program, Fun and Fitness Ambassadors, Special Education Helpers, Library Helpers, Peer Tutoring
Centrally Assigned School Support Staff:
•Constantly being utilized to give support to “At Risk” students
Agendas:
•Many staff members use the agendas to communicate with parents about concerning situations in the classroom or at school
Phone Calls and Parent/Teacher Conferences:
•Ongoing for “At Risk” students
School Support Team Meetings:
•Monthly meetings to discuss students experiencing academic or emotional concerns
Staff Meetings:
•Staff meetings are held at least once a month to disseminate up-to-date information from the Board of Education or others on health and safety matters.
Physical School Safety:
•School Doors are locked on a daily basis at 9:15 a.m. Doors are unlocked by a buzzer system and visitors to the school are viewed on a video monitor before entrance is granted. Communication is by an intercom system.
•A Health and Safety Committee of different staff members is in place and meets to discuss school safety issues.
•Fire Drills and School Lockdowns are practiced six times a year to help students become familiar with school safety routines.
Student’s Emotional Well-Being:
•Except in extreme situations, progressive discipline is used at Briar Hill. Infractions of our Code of Behaviour are consequenced progressively e.g. warning, lost recesses, call to parents, in-school suspension, etc. Out of school suspensions are used rarely and usually only when other measures of discipline have not been successful.
•The Briar Hill Community is very diversified. Equity for all students and staff is an expectation at our school. An Equity Committee is in place and receives on-going professional development throughout the school year.
•To promote positive self-esteem, Briar Hill seeks out opportunities to highlight such events as individual birthdays, exceptional behaviour, academic successes, etc.
Transitions:
•To ensure smooth transitions for students who are moving to other schools, both students and their parents are invited to attend an information session and take advantage of an arranged school visit to the new school (for Grade 5 students, if it is the middle school that is in our area). This is also encouraged for Special Education students and their parents who are moving on to a new academic setting.
At-Risk Students:
•Students who are identified as “at-risk” academically receive individual support in either our self-contained classes, Home School Program or receive Resource Support from our school Special Education Staff
•Centrally assigned support staff are also available to support the above students, students with special needs (e.g. hard of hearing, blind, intellectual disabilities, students experiencing emotional difficulties, concerned parents, etc.)
•The Briar Hill Code of Behaviour is published in both our school agendas and handbook.
Briar Hill Golden Rule:
•The Briar Hill “Golden Rule” “At Briar Hill we keep our hands, feet and hurtful words to ourselves” is well known to most senior students and should be familiar to all junior students.
Dress Code:
•The Briar Hill Dress Code is also published in both our school agenda and handbook.
Character Education:
•Character Education is taught on a weekly basis at Briar Hill. The staff has developed a curriculum to guide the weekly lessons.
•The Future Aces Program and Philosophy is actively promoted and pracitised at Briar Hill. Students are rewarded with Future Aces Mini-Alerts after displaying Future Aces behaviour and they are recognized at our monthly assemblies.
•The Briar Hill School Song is also sung at our monthly assembly to help instill pride in being a student at our school. The lyrics in the song promote good character behaviour. The song is also published in the agenda and handbook.
Partnerships with Charitable and Community Organizations:
Partnerships include:
Terry Fox Foundation
UNICEF
Jump Rope For Heart
Food Banks
Senior’s Group Entertainment
Remembrance Day and The Memory Project
Student Volunteer Programs: Eco Club, Milk Program, Fun and Fitness Ambassadors, Special Education Helpers, Library Helpers, Peer Tutoring
Centrally Assigned School Support Staff:
•Constantly being utilized to give support to “At Risk” students
Agendas:
•Many staff members use the agendas to communicate with parents about concerning situations in the classroom or at school
Phone Calls and Parent/Teacher Conferences:
•Ongoing for “At Risk” students
School Support Team Meetings:
•Monthly meetings to discuss students experiencing academic or emotional concerns
Staff Meetings:
•Staff meetings are held at least once a month to disseminate up-to-date information from the Board of Education or others on health and safety matters.
Physical School Safety:
•School Doors are locked on a daily basis at 9:15 a.m. Doors are unlocked by a buzzer system and visitors to the school are viewed on a video monitor before entrance is granted. Communication is by an intercom system.
•A Health and Safety Committee of different staff members is in place and meets to discuss school safety issues.
•Fire Drills and School Lockdowns are practiced six times a year to help students become familiar with school safety routines.
Student’s Emotional Well-Being:
•Except in extreme situations, progressive discipline is used at Briar Hill. Infractions of our Code of Behaviour are consequenced progressively e.g. warning, lost recesses, call to parents, in-school suspension, etc. Out of school suspensions are used rarely and usually only when other measures of discipline have not been successful.
•The Briar Hill Community is very diversified. Equity for all students and staff is an expectation at our school. An Equity Committee is in place and receives on-going professional development throughout the school year.
•To promote positive self-esteem, Briar Hill seeks out opportunities to highlight such events as individual birthdays, exceptional behaviour, academic successes, etc.
Transitions:
•To ensure smooth transitions for students who are moving to other schools, both students and their parents are invited to attend an information session and take advantage of an arranged school visit to the new school (for Grade 5 students, if it is the middle school that is in our area). This is also encouraged for Special Education students and their parents who are moving on to a new academic setting.
At-Risk Students:
•Students who are identified as “at-risk” academically receive individual support in either our self-contained classes, Home School Program or receive Resource Support from our school Special Education Staff
•Centrally assigned support staff are also available to support the above students, students with special needs (e.g. hard of hearing, blind, intellectual disabilities, students experiencing emotional difficulties, concerned parents, etc.)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Parking Concerns Meeting with Howard Moscoe
Meeting Date: January 22, 2008
In Attendance:
Howard Moscoe
Jack Sinopoli
Bob Cott
Howard Goodman (trustee)
Trina Byrne
Tony Minchella
Mr. Pagano (parent)
Mary Whittaker
Discussion centred on student safety and the negative impact on this safety from cars parked on Briar Hill Ave. to either drop off or pick-up children.
Several possible solutions were discussed, including: a bus layby, cut-outs of children attached to parking pylons, assemblies to enlist students' help in discouraging parents, no stopping signs, signs directed to parents, snow-removal from roadway, Walk-a-Block program, moving the sidewalk, creating a boulevard, etc.
Some changes involved changing by-laws.
Proposed solution:
- make the area on both sides of the street in front of the school a "No Stopping" zone patrolled on a daily basis by police (or Parking Authority);
- make a very small 15 minute parking area to the west of the bus loading zone
- move the present sidewalk north and create a boulevard between the sidewalk and the road. (During the winter, the boulevard would be used to collect snow ploughed from the road.) This would also involve moving the current fence surrounding school property from city land to school land.
Howard Goodman suggested identifying parents who are contributing to the parking problems in order to have individual conversations with them. He also suggested identifying those parents who had expressed concern for student safety due to parking to enlist their support, (the school’s allies).
In Attendance:
Howard Moscoe
Jack Sinopoli
Bob Cott
Howard Goodman (trustee)
Trina Byrne
Tony Minchella
Mr. Pagano (parent)
Mary Whittaker
Discussion centred on student safety and the negative impact on this safety from cars parked on Briar Hill Ave. to either drop off or pick-up children.
Several possible solutions were discussed, including: a bus layby, cut-outs of children attached to parking pylons, assemblies to enlist students' help in discouraging parents, no stopping signs, signs directed to parents, snow-removal from roadway, Walk-a-Block program, moving the sidewalk, creating a boulevard, etc.
Some changes involved changing by-laws.
Proposed solution:
- make the area on both sides of the street in front of the school a "No Stopping" zone patrolled on a daily basis by police (or Parking Authority);
- make a very small 15 minute parking area to the west of the bus loading zone
- move the present sidewalk north and create a boulevard between the sidewalk and the road. (During the winter, the boulevard would be used to collect snow ploughed from the road.) This would also involve moving the current fence surrounding school property from city land to school land.
Howard Goodman suggested identifying parents who are contributing to the parking problems in order to have individual conversations with them. He also suggested identifying those parents who had expressed concern for student safety due to parking to enlist their support, (the school’s allies).
Friday, January 11, 2008
School Safety - Draft Final Report
The draft Final Report on school safety from the School Community Safety Advisory Panel was released on January 10, 2008.
Click on www.tdsb.on.ca/schoolsafety to view the full report.
There will be an opportunity for parents to discuss issues from the Report at your School Council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for January 17, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
Click on www.tdsb.on.ca/schoolsafety to view the full report.
There will be an opportunity for parents to discuss issues from the Report at your School Council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for January 17, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Council Minutes - 6/12/07
Briar Hill Junior School
Council Meeting – December 6, 2007
Present:
Mary Whittaker – Principal
Trina Byrne
Karen Yellan – Chair
Julie McFayden – Secretary
Paul Dover - Treasurer
Carol Lunansky
1. Welcome
2. Minutes of the previous meeting – The minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed and approved.
3. Treasurer’s Report – A deposit was made for $1771.50 bringing the current balance to $6,428.13. Deposit money was for entertainment books sold from the fundraiser. Total profits from the fundraiser were $847 making it a worthwhile effort.
4. Principal’s Report:
Superintendent – Jeff Hainbuch came for a visit to Briar Hill on November 27th and commented on the great atmosphere in the school. He says the school has a very nice feeling when you walk through it.
• Gym Ceiling – The repairs are scheduled to start on December 21st. Tony, the Caretaker has agreed to open up the school each day to facilitate the repairs. Unfortunately the ceiling will not be repaired in time for the holiday concert. Mary also advised that there are some loose floor tiles which she will advise Design and Construction about.
• Daycare – Mary is still exploring the possibility of a daycare at Briar Hill despite the fact there are no subsidized spots available. She indicated there may be some logistical challenges with equipping the school for a daycare as washroom facilities are currently not sufficient.
• Playground update – There was nothing new to report. Mary will continue to follow up.
• Choir – Mary advised that the choir engagement for Yorkdale had been cancelled by HBC. She called around to other establishments to see if an alternative performance could be arranged to avoid disappointing the children. Fairbank Community Centre for seniors was delighted to host them although notice was very short. Students will walk to the community centre accordingly.
• Parking –Mary advised of the increasingly dangerous parking situation during drop-offs and pick-ups and the fact that parents are disregarding the designated bus zone. The frustrating parking conditions were made worse by the snow banks. One parent suggested placing pylons in the bus zone however the logistics of this would need to be fleshed out. Mary advised that she would be calling the parking authority to try to get the situation under control. On a positive note, she reported that the Board had provided the school with a garden tractor and snow plow.
5. Chairperson’s Report:
• Pep Rally – The pep rally was a huge success. The students went wild when the cheerleaders came out and were thrilled to learn their own Briar Hill cheer. Trina was delighted at the level of school spirit exhibited by students. The rally launched the Toronto Schools on the Move program.
• 2 Fruit Tuesdays – Trina reported on the success of this initiative, which promotes healthy eating. The program will run until the end of December at which time there will be two draws for prizes. She advised that vegetables also qualify.
• Health Matters – Dec 14 – A group will come in to put on a FREE health fair. There will be different stations set up in the gym dealing with a range of health issues (e.g. hand washing techniques, pharmacist, etc.). The fair will be open to all grade levels.
• Reading Recovery – The student that was given their final assessment passed with flying colours. This means he no longer has to be part of the program. Five new students were also assessed for entry into the program. One will be chosen. Ms. Byrne and Ms. Ciesielka attended a workshop in order to determine what they can improve on.
6. Character Development in Action – Parents in attendance at the meeting were shown a short video highlighting some of the character attributes the Toronto District School Board is considering adding to the school curriculum. Each school is required to provide their top 12 picks based on input from teachers and parents. Each parent was therefore provided with 12 stickers and asked to select from a list of 24 character attributes. Some of these included: respect, initiative, responsibility, honesty, inclusiveness, resilience, optimism, self-discipline, self-respect, empathy, sympathy, courage and optimism. Ten character attributes will be selected by the Board.
7. Date for next pizza day – January 25, 2008 (notice to go out on January 14, 2008).
8. Date for next meeting – January 17, 2008.
Council Meeting – December 6, 2007
Present:
Mary Whittaker – Principal
Trina Byrne
Karen Yellan – Chair
Julie McFayden – Secretary
Paul Dover - Treasurer
Carol Lunansky
1. Welcome
2. Minutes of the previous meeting – The minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed and approved.
3. Treasurer’s Report – A deposit was made for $1771.50 bringing the current balance to $6,428.13. Deposit money was for entertainment books sold from the fundraiser. Total profits from the fundraiser were $847 making it a worthwhile effort.
4. Principal’s Report:
Superintendent – Jeff Hainbuch came for a visit to Briar Hill on November 27th and commented on the great atmosphere in the school. He says the school has a very nice feeling when you walk through it.
• Gym Ceiling – The repairs are scheduled to start on December 21st. Tony, the Caretaker has agreed to open up the school each day to facilitate the repairs. Unfortunately the ceiling will not be repaired in time for the holiday concert. Mary also advised that there are some loose floor tiles which she will advise Design and Construction about.
• Daycare – Mary is still exploring the possibility of a daycare at Briar Hill despite the fact there are no subsidized spots available. She indicated there may be some logistical challenges with equipping the school for a daycare as washroom facilities are currently not sufficient.
• Playground update – There was nothing new to report. Mary will continue to follow up.
• Choir – Mary advised that the choir engagement for Yorkdale had been cancelled by HBC. She called around to other establishments to see if an alternative performance could be arranged to avoid disappointing the children. Fairbank Community Centre for seniors was delighted to host them although notice was very short. Students will walk to the community centre accordingly.
• Parking –Mary advised of the increasingly dangerous parking situation during drop-offs and pick-ups and the fact that parents are disregarding the designated bus zone. The frustrating parking conditions were made worse by the snow banks. One parent suggested placing pylons in the bus zone however the logistics of this would need to be fleshed out. Mary advised that she would be calling the parking authority to try to get the situation under control. On a positive note, she reported that the Board had provided the school with a garden tractor and snow plow.
5. Chairperson’s Report:
• Pep Rally – The pep rally was a huge success. The students went wild when the cheerleaders came out and were thrilled to learn their own Briar Hill cheer. Trina was delighted at the level of school spirit exhibited by students. The rally launched the Toronto Schools on the Move program.
• 2 Fruit Tuesdays – Trina reported on the success of this initiative, which promotes healthy eating. The program will run until the end of December at which time there will be two draws for prizes. She advised that vegetables also qualify.
• Health Matters – Dec 14 – A group will come in to put on a FREE health fair. There will be different stations set up in the gym dealing with a range of health issues (e.g. hand washing techniques, pharmacist, etc.). The fair will be open to all grade levels.
• Reading Recovery – The student that was given their final assessment passed with flying colours. This means he no longer has to be part of the program. Five new students were also assessed for entry into the program. One will be chosen. Ms. Byrne and Ms. Ciesielka attended a workshop in order to determine what they can improve on.
6. Character Development in Action – Parents in attendance at the meeting were shown a short video highlighting some of the character attributes the Toronto District School Board is considering adding to the school curriculum. Each school is required to provide their top 12 picks based on input from teachers and parents. Each parent was therefore provided with 12 stickers and asked to select from a list of 24 character attributes. Some of these included: respect, initiative, responsibility, honesty, inclusiveness, resilience, optimism, self-discipline, self-respect, empathy, sympathy, courage and optimism. Ten character attributes will be selected by the Board.
7. Date for next pizza day – January 25, 2008 (notice to go out on January 14, 2008).
8. Date for next meeting – January 17, 2008.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thank you, Julie!
On behalf of Briar Hill Junior School's students, staff and parents, I would like to thank Julie McFayden for her contributions to the development of this blog site. She has done a fantastic job and we all appreciate her time and commitment to getting the blog up and running. Remember to check the blog on a regular basis to see the latest updates on what is happening
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