DPCDSB
Father Michael Goetz Catholic Secondary School
School Council Meeting
Tuesday May 26th, 2009
Resource Center
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Present: Dianna Harripersaud; Dina Madeira-Silva; Maha Broum; Rosemarie Schoutsen; Patricia Dapaah; Harold Reyes (teacher rep); Ashley Khan (student rep); Nancy Begin (non-teaching rep) and Samuel Macaluso (Principal).
Regrets: Norrine Burns and Magda Dabbour.
Absent: Raman Ragavan.
Opening Prayer: (Rosemarie Shoutsen)
The people we work with
Thank you God for the people I work with
For their greeting in the morning and their good night when our work is done
For the sense of comradeship we have all day long
Different though our natures be, we meet in common purpose, share common problems and pursue common goals.
The strange and wonderful bond of a job done together make us kin
We are not one big happy family, yet a family nonetheless.
We rejoice like a family, squabble like a family, but above all we are fiercely loyal to one another like a family.
We try to help each other and are genuinely concerned about each other.
There is an affection between us that only people who work together can understand.
And sometimes when the day is over and we are parting to go our separate ways, wonder fills me at these people I have come to know through my work.
They added something priceless to my life.
Bless and keep them always; these people I work with, God
Malorie Holmes
Approval of April minutes: Patricia approved, Rosemarie and Dina seconded.
Student Council Report: (Ashley Khan)
Month of May has been busy. There was a toonie Tuesday civvies day. Tomorrow, Wednesday is G 12 retreat. Goetz-a-palooza is on Thursday. Goetz-a-palooza is a fun festival for all students. Students are divided into 2 groups: G 9 and 11, and G10 and 12.
These groups take turns participating in 2 basic activities: The Carnival where there are games, vendors and competitions, and a hypnotist to entertain students. Towards the end of the day everyone is together in a dance for all.
Parish Report: (Rosemarie Schoutsen)
Parishes are still working on Sharelife collection.
On Sunday May 31st, Sts. Peter and Paul has an international Food Festival.
Christ the King has started a wedding anniversary celebration program on the 3rd Saturday of every month after the 6:30 mass.
RCIA (classes for non-Catholics to turn to Catholicism) will start in October 2009, so let people interested in that come forward to register.
Catholic Education Week was last week. The VP at Bishop Scalibrini spoke at the mass and stressed the importance of family, school, and church working together.
Teaching Staff Rep (Harold Reyes):
Cathy Cosgrove sent her regrets for being away today.
It is a very busy time for teachers with CPTs and final exam coming up.
The Co-op showcase on May 1st was a big success. Sports teams made history this year by moving to the finals in a number of sports. For the advancement of school spirit we have planned Goetz-a-palooza (Thursday May 28th). It is a special day that builds community, helps student groups and clubs fundraise and it is fun.
The school has started a science fair that was a real success. This is the first year we run it but will be repeated annually because of its success. The Robotics team, on the other hand, has won at the Board level and as a result was able to expand in space (a specific room is assigned to be a robotics lab) and in program development.
On May 14th, 26 students and teachers went on a trip to Ottawa to participate in the March for Life event. Going on the trip was open to all students and many students from groups and clubs, like SOOO what and Campus Ministry joined, and it was an excellent experience deepening the community’s Catholic faith and human rights awareness. Other schools stayed overnight in Ottawa to participate in special related activities. Unfortunately, we were not funded to stay and join them. That would be something to look for next year and the Council can help us finance part of the cost.
We do not know the final results regarding DECA where one of our students was in the nationals.
In addition, many retreats took place in May. On May 28th (today) we had an accounting competition. A Trivia competition between students and teachers also took place lately.
The council members commented that with these many activities there are always opportunities for students to shine.
Harold stresses that there is a goal and that is to encourage student participation in civic life.
Non- teaching Staff Rep (Nancy Begin, Child Youth Worker):
The Bereavement Group facilitated by Nancy and the Chaplin Ray Frendo is over for the year, and, in fact, they have got an excellent feedback from participants. Students expressed that the group had helped them open up without hurting anyone as they might if they do that at home. They liked the idea of journals, and the olive wood souvenir doves. She joked that they also liked her brownies.
Towards the end of the year Nancy feels there is always a lot of pressure on students. She deals with all kinds of problems all year but the final months of a school year are especially hard as students worry about getting support in summer time and about summer jobs. G 12 in specific worry about transition to college and university which for them is a totally new experience. They might have financial and family problems. Nancy said that she works with a team of excellent counselors and a social worker, but added that referrals takes long time.
Today (May 28th) G 9s had a speaker on bullying, sponsored by the Safe School Committee and the Huddle Up group. The speaker has lost his son to bullying and he tells his experience to students, teachers, counselors and parents. We might have him speak to parent council next year.
Dina asks if the problem of bulling is bigger now than before.
Nancy: It is subtle so we do not know. It can take many forms and we may see it and do not know it is bullying. In Goetz bullying is not a big problem but raising awareness about it and educating the community on what the clues are is very important.
Rosemarie: Bullying takes many forms and we do not know it, but it is bullying when it is constant.
Nancy: The Safe School committee has conducted a survey about bullying among the Goetz community. The results show there is not much complaint. We watch withdrawn and isolated students who can get easily depressed. We use community resources to prevent any negative thoughts because loneliness snowballs and might lead to suicide.
Harold: As a teacher I am concerned and the solution may be there to stop bullying. Same as parents, we need to know how to stop it. Education and knowing the right channels will help parents and teachers deal with such a problem.
Nancy: I suggest that at the beginning of next year, the team of social worker, child youth worker and the psychologist speak to parents through parent council about their job and what they can do to help students so that students know there is help and where to get it.
Dianna: It would also be good to share a list of community agencies with students.
Nancy: Pamphlets of community agencies are displayed in the Guidance office in a very visible location. However, students need to get a referral before they go to some of them. This referral may also take away the fear of acting on their own. Referrals usually take 6 to 8 weeks before they get back to a student and that might be too late or long for some situations. There is a Mobile Crisis Helpline that is available 24/7 for depressed students that they can call.
Harold: We teach students self esteem and tell them about resources in a number of courses such as Phys ed, Religion, etc…
Dina: Does the agenda include information about help for students?
Nancy: Yes. There is a section on guidance, counseling and a section on bullying and consequences.
Dina: What about the bully? Does he get any help?
Nancy: We usually know the bullies and help them.
Dianna stressed the importance of counseling the bullies. They have their problems too.
Sam: A few bullies need positive personal change, and when they are suspended they go into a special program to change their behaviour. The program aims to not get repeats. In fact 80% of those in the program do not repeat, 20% go back to bully. Our goal is to give victims tools not to be victims again.
Dina: Can you say there is more bullying among boys or among girls?
Nancy: Girls can be worse and very mean. Forms might take the shape of rumors, or lately cyber bullying. Cyber bulling follows you home, and everywhere through texting.
Sam: The clue for parents, if your kid is being bullied, is the change in mood and in behaviour. You are the one who knows the kid very well. In school, we can not ignore it and pretend it is not there. We need to talk about it and educate the community. We need to tell bystanders they have a responsibility to take a stand and report it to Crime Stoppers whose number is everywhere in the school.
Nancy: Early intervention will help stop bullying and we have had many success stories. Most importantly, we encourage students to connect.
Patricia: Is there a possibility to have another CYW to deal with the load?
Sam: The Board follows a certain formula to hire a CYW based on the numbers but it is hard to get another worker because currently one CYW will work in more than one school. They are shared and there are not enough in the Board.
Rosemarie: Student volunteers may help isolated students, not directly by getting involved in problems, but something like inviting them to watch a game together.
Treasurer’s Report: (Dina Madeira-Silva)
In fact Dina started by asking the principal about the projected number of students for next year because $5 of the registration money goes to the Council. Projected numbers for 2009-2010 is 1859. The actual number of registered students as of today is 1675. So, we are still short but will be up to the usual number in September. The money from registration will be moved to the Council’s account in September. Joanne (School’s secretary) will create an account with subheadings based on the budget items we approve today.
Dina asked the Council members to approve the proposed budget from last meeting. All Council members present approved it as following:
Categories for the budget and percentage for each:
- Families in need of help all year round: 20%
- Student clubs/ activities/ plays, etc… 10%
- Celebrations: Christmas/Thanksgiving/ Easter 10%
- Staff/parent development/building relationships 10%
- uniforms 5%
- Support groups: Bereavement/separation 5%
- Graduation fund (Gr. 12 expenses) 5%
- Staff requests 10%
- Gift for grads (souvenirs) 5%
- School improvement 10%
- Emergency fund 10%
Principal’s Report: (Mr. Sam Macaluso)
The Council voted for a change of the meeting day for next year
Meeting on the last Tuesday of each month coincides with the Trustees meeting time and as a result trustees are not able to attend any of our meetings. We will change our time to accommodate and encourage trustees’ participation in our meetings. Next year, the council will meet every first Monday of the month.
Next year’s meeting dates are approved as follows:
Monday October 5th, 2009
Monday November 2nd, 2009
Monday December 7th, 2009
Monday February 8th, 2010
Monday March 1st, 2010
Monday April 12th, 2010 (Moved because of Easter Monday)
Monday May 3rd, 2010
Here are important dates of events for the Goetz community for the rest of the year:
May 27th, 2009 Civvies day and Gr. 12 retreat
May 28th, 2009 Goetz-a-Palooza
June 3rd, 2009 Closing Mass
June 5th Prom
June 8-9 Gr. 9 EQAO Exam
June 10 Birthday of Father Michael Goetz Catholic Secondary School
June 11 Civvies day & Athletic Banquet
June 16-22 Exams
June 25 Graduation Mass, Grad Breakfast and ceremony
June 26 School year ends
To assess this year’s work we can say that by October next year, we would have established routines for our meetings, got some experience and more exposure among parents, as well as had a budget based on our vision and it will give us direction on where we are going.
At the end of the year we are all busy with exams. Ms. Laura Green is leaving to Gonzaga and at the Board’s meeting tonight a new VP will be assigned for Goetz.
Rosemarie pointed out that quite a few students will be back after graduation because there is a lot of rejection at university admissions. That means higher numbers.
Chair’s Report (Dianna Harripersaud)
At next year’s first meeting in October (on the fifth) the Council will choose a new chair or 2 co-chairs as it is always good to have a backup. Raman has not sent a message about his absence.
Sam thanked the Council for a good year.
Dianna on behalf of the council thanked Sam for supporting the Council.
8:45: Adjournment.
Our next meeting will be on October 5th , 2009.