CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School Council serves students, parents, staff and the greater community. Meetings are held once each month at the school and are open to everyone.
It is the goal of the School Council to make the school a better place for learning, to provide a link between the school and the community through good communication and to encourage parents and community members to participate in education. New members and their ideas are welcomed.
We are fortunate to be able to pray and celebrate together daily as a Catholic community.
CSCs are composed of:
Parents, who are elected by other parents of students enrolled at the school
A teacher, who is elected by other teachers
A support staff member, who is elected by other support staff
The school Principal, who is not entitled to vote
Catholic School Councils cannot include:
Parents employed by the school or at the Catholic Education Centre
Board Trustees
Supervisory Officers from the Board
Elected positions on Catholic School Council and their responsibilities include:
Chair/Co-Chair - Promote and advocate for Catholic Education; call Council meetings in co-operation with the Principal; prepare the agenda for meetings in co-operation with the Principal; chair Council meetings
Vice Chair - Promote and advocate for Catholic Education; fulfil the role of the Chair when he/she is absent
Recording Secretary - Promote and advocate for Catholic Education; take Council meeting minutes and distribute to Council members; assist the Chair
Treasurer - Promote and advocate for Catholic Education; oversee the finances of the Council and produce financial statements for meetings as required; comply with the Guidelines for School Generated Funds as approved by the Board; authorize all withdrawals/disbursements from the account as approved by Council motions
Parent Representative - Promote and advocate for Catholic Education; participate in meetings; act as a link between the Council and the school community
The election is held within the first 30 days of the school year. Interested parents should complete the nomination form provided by the school and return it to the school by the end of September.
An election committee, formed by the Principal, a staff member, and a parent, oversees the election process. The staff member and the parent from the election committee cannot be running for election.
The committee receives nominations for the parent seats, and nomination forms must have two other parent signatures. A list of candidates and their biographies are made available to the community. Voting is conducted by secret ballot.
No individual campaign material may be distributed in the school, and no school resources can be used to support individual candidates.
The number of parent seats depends on the number of community and school members. The number of available parent seats on the council must be a majority. The election committee estimates the number of community-held seats to determine a majority number of parent seats available.
Elected or appointed members of the Catholic School Council hold office from the date elected or appointed to the date of the first meeting after the next year's election.
The first meeting of the Catholic School Council must be held within the first 35 days of the school year after the election. The date is set by the school Principal. A Catholic School Council meets at least four times during the school year.
To hold a meeting, a majority of the current members and the Principal or designate must be present. A majority of the Catholic School Council members present must be parent members.
A member of the Catholic School Council will:
Consider the best interests of all students
Be guided by the school and Board mission statements
Act within the limits of the roles and responsibilities of a school council, as identified by the school operating guidelines, the Board, and the Ontario Ministry of Education
Become familiar with school policies and operating practices and act in accordance
Maintain the highest standards of integrity
Recognize and respect the personal integrity of each member of the school community
Treat all other members with respect and allow for diverse opinions to be shared without interruption
Encourage a positive environment in which individual contributions are encouraged and valued
Acknowledge democratic principles and accept the consensus of the council
Respect the confidential nature of some school business and respect limitations on the operation of the school council
Not disclose confidential information
Limit discussions at school council meetings to matters of concern to the school community as a whole
Use established communication channels when questions or concerns arise
Promote high standards of ethical practice within the school community
Declare any conflict of interest
Not accept any payment or benefit financially through school council involvement
If you have any questions regarding our Catholic School Council, you can contact the Principal at 905-372-6879. You also visit the Catholic School Councils page on the https://www.pvnccdsb.on.ca/our-schools/catholic-school-councils/
Minutes
Meeting of Monday, September 23, 2024
3:15 called to order
Introductions and In Attendance:
Kim Fletcher (Principal)
Amanda (Chair)
Christina Foy (Member)
Brittany McBride (Member)
Jennifer (New Member - welcome!)
Nicole (Not present)
Henry Hawkes(Secretary/Kindergarten Teacher)
TBA (Student representative)
1. Welcome/Introductions
2. Prayer (Mrs. Fletcher)
3. Approval of Agenda/Minutes
Approval of Agenda Motion: 1st Brittany 2nd Christina PASSED
4. Elections
Nominations
Chair - Amanda (Declared)
Co-chair - Brittany (Declared)
Recorder - Henry (Declared)
Treasurer - Christina Foy (Declared)
Teacher Representative - Henry (Declared)
Student Representative TBA
5. Principal’s Report
Great start to year
Staffing change Shannon Shillinglaw has moved to Board Office position (math), but to still support school in consultant capacity, new teacher to be appointed.
Krystine Windolf to return in October as grade 7 teacher
Fire & Lockdown drills have happened successfully, no fire and police presence but will be invited to future drills.
Fr. Emmanuel has visited regarding sacrament of confirmation
Cross country has 30 students attending
Bus evacuation practice upcoming
Terry Fox speaker on Thursday Sept 26th
Truth and Reconciliation activities
BBQ on Sept 26th
Agenda for PA Day to be shared with CSC Chair 14 days prior to the meeting. Link to be sent and also available on board website
6. Student’s Report
N/A
7. Treasurer’s Report
$2,147.35 opening balance
Plus Pro Grant of $474.65
Need for basketballs and soccer balls, and Ottawa Trip and possibly for Parent/Teacher conference software discussed
Motion to use Pro Grant Funds for back to School BBQ - 1st Christina 2nd Jennifer PASSED
198 students enrolled
8. Back-to-School BBQ (September 26th, 2024: 5:00pm - 6:00pm)
Details of BBQ condiments, drinks discussed - this to be added to the minutes for next year.
Pre-event BBQ test discussed, and back-up plan to boil wieners, lighters required
Check for RAIN DATE use of gym?
9. Allocation of Fundraising Proceeds
Student Needs Motion 1st Brittany 2nd Christina PASSED
Ideas included outside equipment, soccer and basketball, junior basketball tri-post, kindergarten equipment e.g. bikes.
10. Hot Lunches
Hot lunches to start in October: Pizza and Hot Dogs - Papa Johns to return call
Alternative hot lunch for Gluten Free student discussed
Little Caesars offers Hawaiian, and mushroom and green pepper pizza, Student Rep to canvas student body. Currently, cheese and pepperoni to be offered. Price at $2.50 per slice. 24 hours notice.
Subway - veggie, turkey, ham and cold cut to be offered. - offered for $5.50. 5 days notice.
No more relish for Hot Dog Days - offered @ $1.50
2 Pizza Day per month, 1 Sub Day & 1 Hot Dog Day.
Juice boxes from NoFrills pricing to increase to $1 for healthier juice
Link to Safe Food Handling to be provided by Amanda.
Staff to be included in Hot Lunches
Poinsettias - suggested mark up 40% again and round up of $1.
Dance-A-Thon
Halloween Spirit Week
Nicole to come up with list of fundraising ideas to go to Wanita, ahead of time - 3 Spirit Weeks per year
Grade 7&8 have separate fundraising during Halloween Dance but mechanics need discussion
Spring bulbs
Bake sale at Christmas, needs planning closer to event
Santa Claus Parade?
9. Next Meeting:
Monday Nov 18th, 2024 3:15pm (proposed & accepted)
Monday January 20th, 2025 3:15pm (proposed & accepted)
Monday April 28th, 2025 3:15pm (proposed & accepted)
11. Meeting adjourned:
at 4:33pm
St. Joseph CES Catholic School Council
Meeting of Monday, November 18th, 2024
3:15 called to order
Introductions and In Attendance:
Kim Fletcher (Principal)
Amanda Maurice (Chair)
Christina Foy (Member)
Brittany McBride (Member)
Jennifer Scott (Member)
Nicole Bouzane (Member) - Absent
Henry Hawkes (Secretary/Kindergarten Teacher) Kyra Fortaleza (Student representative)
Zain Kalisli (Student representative)
1. Welcome/Introductions
2. Prayer (Mrs. Fletcher)
3. Approval of Agenda/Minutes
Approval of Agenda Motion: 1st Britttany 2nd Christina PASSED Approval of Minutes: 1st Brittany 2nd Christina PASSED
4. Principal's Report
• Daily Announcements are up on website for parents (no birthdays)
Soccer, cross country teams participated in fall season. Volleyball just started for winter season for both boys and girls.
• PA Day Faith Day - Mass at St. Mary's CSS with St. Anthony's CES. Jubilee theme of Hope activities
Truth and Reconciliation Day acknowledged. Some wore orange shirts and educational pieces were shared on the daily announcements as well as in some classrooms Halloween: Spirit Week was a success for CSC and students. Dance - success and all grades participated. Kindergarten + revised snack options for K and Gr 1 Progress Reports released Appointment software, free for the first time - future is $9 per teacher (10 teachers) (issue for mobile phone users who had to copy and paste link rather than click and go directly to site - Kim to look into it through school messenger). Mrs Thompson can walk parents through the process. Motion in next meeting to use money to support parent engagement
Use of Acadience reading screener for Literacy support - PVNC ahead of province, St Joseph on track
Math Coach did 2 weeks - St. Joseph is a math priority School
Grade 8 Entrepreneurship Project - grant given from PVNC board to work with Venture13, local business and St. Mary's CSS. Student driven project uses various media including 3D printer to create cookie cutters.
5. Student's Report
Skills Trade Fair; Memorial Park; Bake Sale for Ottawa
Upcoming:
End of November: Dairy Presentation
December:
16th Mass and Advent:
Spirit Week
Concert Dec 12th
January:
Kindergarten Registration Week
Volleyball
Skating Trip
February
18th 1st Term Reports
Hopes - Brimacombe/Swim/Fitness/fundraisers
6. Treasurer's Report
Opening $ 2, 172.70 Current $ 3, 717.14
$ 403 raised by Spirit Week
7. Hot-Lunch Update
Gluten-Free Pizza options - Dominoes, Amanda to talk to Wanita about setting up system to include G/F pizza (delivered = $19 pick up = $ 11.29) suggest price $3,50 cheese and pepperoni options.
Inclement-Weather back-up plan - becomes a next day event and this to be included in newsletter/Messenger. Hot lunches can be collected the following day by students
8. Poinsettia Fundraiser Update
21 orders over $1,000 in sales (last year $900 & 23 orders)
9. Christmas Spirit Week (December 16-20th, 2024)
Ideas from students for days requested
Food Drive: staff organizes, not CSC
10. Dance-a-Thon (February 14th, 2025)
Prizes - top fundraisers from K-3 & 4-8
Ideas for prizes needed
Kick off in January - promotion
• Use Cash Online proposed alongside cash
11. Spring Bulb Fundraiser
Is it worth the time involved? Timing of event may need thinking about
12. Addition to the Allocation of Fundraising Proceeds
Motion to Add "Field Trips" to the Allocation of Fundraising Proceeds for Student Needs (1st Brittany 2nd Christina PASSED)
13. Roundtable/Closing Comments
Santa Claus parade involvement postponed as it is too late to prepare
14. Next Meeting
January 20th, 2025 (3:15pm)
Adjourned 4:23pm