DPCDSB
Father Michael Goetz Catholic Secondary School
School Council Meeting
Tuesday November 25th, 2008
Resource Center
Start Time: 7:00
(Click here for a printed copy.)
Present: Raman Raghavan; Dina Madeira-Silva; Maha Broum; Norrine Burns; Rosemarie Schoutsen; Sabrina Delgado; Connie D’Silva; Emelyn Van Allen; Ashley Khan; Imad Sahawneh; Patricia Dabah; Lillian Towassetti; Botros Khella; Saqr Issa; Moghtadaei; Delia O. Malayao; Karen Cole; Wendy Goberdhan; Cathy Gosgrove (Teacher Rep); Nancy Begin (non-teaching rep); and Sam Macaluso (Principal).
Regrets: Diana Harripersaud; Officer Clint Eggenberger.
Welcome and introductions: (Raman Ragavan)
The Council Co Chair Raman Ragavan welcomed everyone, introduced himself and the parents present.
Opening Prayer: (Rosemarie Shoutsen)
Hail Mary; a saying from Mother Teresa: It is not how much you do but how much love you put in the doing.
Approval of October minutes: (Raman Ragavan): Norrine approved, Dina and Rosemarie seconded then the other members who were present at November meeting.
Student Council Report: (Ashley Khan)
Highlights of the month: The last week of October was Halloween spirit day. Friday October the 30th was Teacher Dress up day. There were awards for teachers dressed up for Halloween such as the funniest or most creative teacher. The other major event was Goetz-a-Java (a talent show). It was a big event for Student Council as it needed a lot of organization and preparation as well as work on the spot serving refreshments and cake. In December the main event Student Council is working on is the Semi Formal whose theme is winter solstice. It will take place on December 5th.
Treasurer’s Report: (Dina Madeira-Silva)
Dina mentioned that there has not been any activity regarding the council’s account, so the balance is still the same ($756). A number of activities are expected in December (Holiday month). After consulting with Joanne, the school head secretary, Dina was told that she will have to use a special new account that is now open but not programmed yet. The Bank has given the school Council account a special low flat fee of $ 1.95 regardless of the number of cheques written.
Parish Report: (Rosemarie Schoutsen)
Christ the King Church has started a 9:00 a.m. mass which provides a great opportunity for neighbouring schools (especially Bishop Scalibrini) to plan to attend. Parents interested in dates and more information about first communion and confirmation can contact the church or Rosemarie to get it.
The principal mentioned there will be a mass for Goetz students on December 3rd.
Teaching Staff Rep: (Cathy Cosgrove/School Librarian)
Cathy introduced herself as Goetz teacher librarian. Her background is 9 years in elementary teaching and 20 in secondary. She has 2 great support staff: Ms. Wong the technician who takes care of all technological issues in the library as well as of the school’s website with special attention to the library’s section on the website. The other staff member is Ms. Taylor (the receptionist). Mrs. McGuire established the library when the school opened and introduced the data bas programs. Mr. Kulig took over a few years ago and he worked on updating the reference collection.
The focus of the librarian at this point is 2 areas: inviting the teachers to use the library and initiating Grade 9 students. Grade 9 students are invited in the library in their homeroom, as well as in their Grade 9 English classes. Work in the library has 3 tracks:
- Research on a particular project. We have subscription to data programs which cost $2000 per year, This subscription allows students, teachers and everyone in the Goetz community (that include parents) to access high quality information.
- Focus on a unit lesson, i.e. integrating data based programs ex. Researching food industry.
- Documentary (MLA vs. APA) and teaching students how to avoid plagiarism. We tell them about what to expect in college and university regarding research and writing papers.
Up till now the library has had 84 classes.
The goal of the librarian is to instill the love of literature. Each resource center in the board gets $12000 to spend during the year. Half of this amount has been spent already. We try to attract students and convince them to read in this electronic age. The library has comfy chairs; there are competitions of different kinds; fiction books have increased. There are 3 sections of fiction: graphic, teen fiction and popular fiction. For teens the librarian gets award winning titles. The arrangement is now similar to the show arrangement in “Chapters” with an appealing cover side out.
The next step is to move from students beginning to read to students engaging others in reading. The library is inviting students to tell other about books they read and liked in a number of ways (short reviews and Christmas decorations).
The next initiative is the White Pine Program (One of the provincial programs to encourage students to read) planned for secondary school level. A list of top favourite10 titles is published in October. The library has bought 3 sets of these titles to keep one set in the library and circulate the 2 other sets. Students can borrow a book for 2 weeks. The circulation has doubled from last month, and tripled from this time last year.
There is a reading club in Goetz where students choose 5 of the 10 titles of the White Pine, then they qualify to vote for the best book and attend a conference.
Future plans is to get a collection for PIP kids, sets of books and films that go together, and move material from conference room to the staff room to show staff new books
Cathy finished with a show of database programs and how to access them from school or home.
Cathy also expressed a wish to get support and subsidize students going to the White Pine provincial conference (Registration fee and transportation cost).
Non- teaching Staff Report (Nancy Begin):
Nancy introduced herself as the Child Youth Worker. Nancy expressed willingness to arrange presentations for parents and students. YSAP (a part of the Y) speak about drugs and alcohol and have already given talks to half of Grade 9 classes in their homerooms. The educate students on how drugs look like and on its harmful effects. Presentations to other grades will start after Christmas.
Another topic Nancy spoke about was Christmas baskets to support needy families during the holiday season. In reference to the last meeting, a family of 2 boys and a girl (brothers and sister) has been chosen for the School Council. The council agreed to start with $100 from the council’s balance to donate to this family. Additional gifts from members are welcome to be brought before or on next school council meeting on December 16th. Gifts may be presents or cash money.
The principal mentioned that in support of this initiative he will be mentioning in his next phone communication to parents that donation will be accepted for needy students.
Chair’s Report (Raman Ragavan):
The council has two chairs who will take turns residing on the meeting. This meeting is resided by Raman Ragavan. He summarized the goals of the Council as helping needy families, getting guest speakers to get education on issues related to students. On the 20th of November the parents had a chance to meet their kids’ teachers. The School Council had a table to welcome the parents and introduce it to them. A number of them left their contact information to get any needed communication and showed interest in the Council’s activities..
The Principal (Mr. Sam Macaluso): the principal introduced the school site to the parents. Mr. Macaluso asked parents if they are willing to donate $5 at the beginning of the school year for the Council. Instead of $60 for registration, parents will be paying $65. This $5 will be a good support for Council expenses for the whole year. The money collected will be spent on supporting the library, helping the kids, and the needy students.
It will cover the expenses of the Yearbook, the agendas, and Civvies.
Mr. Macaluso told the parents that each school gets $500 from the Board each year. The $5 suggestion equals 50 cents a month which is nothing for most parents but a lot for some of them. An example is parents who have 2 kids in Grade 9 will have to buy uniform for 2 kids and that is very expensive, so they can ask for financial support.
As a result, Imad Sahaneh made the motion and Norrine seconded.
There is a motion to change uniform for next year. It will not be a drastic change and will happen gradually, and for Grade 9th, while the other grades will have a transition period and will be allowed to dress in either uniforms.
The routine is to finalize uniform changes by November 30th for the following school year. In Goetz the uniform has not changed in 20 years so a new uniform is needed. The changes are:
- Changing the Name on the sweater to the logo.
- Eliminate the kilt
- the vest will remain
- The cardigan and wool sweater will be eliminated; the only top that remains is the zipped polo
- Under the polo top the shirt may be a t-shirt with a round neck or a turtle neck. No V neck is allowed. Male/female golf shirts are tapered so there is no need to tuck it in. This shirt under the polo is green-the white shirt is gone.
- The pant is navy blue dress pants.
In the summer (months of September and October, May and June), the polo may be removed. Long and short sleeve polo with school crest is allowed.
Important dates to remember:
November 5: Grade 9 students went with a parent, a relative, or a family friend to work.
Nov. 13: Goetz-a-Java (talent show
Nov. 14: PD Day on Differential learning
Nov. 19: Vocations Fair (Father and Sisters)
Nov. 20: parent-teacher interviews.
Nov. 25: 5oo what Conference for Peace and development
Nov. 26: Presentation: Wendy Cram Peel police
Nov. 27: Civvies Day
December 3rd: Advent Liturgy at Christ the King Church
Dec. 5: Semi Formal
Dec. 9: Grad photos
Dec. 10-12: School musical for Christmas and Holiday season.
8:55: Adjournment.