SCAC - Minutes 2004 - February 25
School Community Advisory Council Minutes. (Summary of Meeting on Wednesday, February 25, 2004.)
Highlights
- $80,000 track donation.
- Armed police officers patrol school.
- Posting homework online.
- Valentine’s Day and Ambush dances.
- Smoking at school.
- Grade eight orientation.
1.0 Opening Remarks and Roll Call
1.1 The meeting was called to order at 6:02 pm with greetings from Nancy Lane.
1.2 The roll call was as follows:
Joellen Bauder, Vice-Principal
Tony Chellew, Staff Representative
Susan Rabb, Support Staff Representative
Nancy Lane, Chair
Shirley Sayeau, Parent Representative
Brenda Kenney, Parent Representative
Ruth McKay, Parent Representative
Robyn Demeule, Parent Representative
Rick Foubert, Parent Representative
Catherine McLean, Student Representative
Scott Irving, Student Representative
Bryan Somerville, Chief Prescott Police
2.0 Review/Approval of Agenda - February 25, 2004
Motion to accept the amended agenda by Shirley Sayeau, seconded by Joellen Bauder.
3.0 Review/Approval of Minutes of Meeting - January 28th, 2004
Motion moved by Ruth McKay , seconded by Brenda Kenney.
3.1 Business Arising from Minutes:
3.1.1 Track Update - Nancy Lane presented a letter she drafted on the donation to the track requesting $80,000.00. The School Council then agreed to send the letter to the school board trustees. Ms. Bauder also brought up the idea that our track is being used by so many groups that the exact number of hours and groups which use our track would have to be totaled and dealt with.
3.1.2 Budget consultation meetings will be held on the 30th of March UCDSB meeting will be held on March 24th, 2004.
4.0 Correspondence
4.1 Nil
5.0 Reports
5.1 Changes to the By-Laws and Constitution
Deferred to the next meeting.
6.0 New Business
6.1 Acting Police Chief Bryan Somerville - Police presence and location at South Grenville. Discussed the police presence at South Grenville. Addressed the recent concerns about the drug problems. Chief Somerville is willing to attend the parent meetings on a regular basis to have access to more first-hand information about drugs at the school.
Police presence in the building has been considered. Brenda Ramsay and Bryan Somerville have had discussions about a police presence in the school.
Not thinking about having a room, but is considering having police officers
present at the school on their lunch hour. Also considering a Crime Stoppers program at the school. Perhaps the Parents’ Council could spearhead the initiative.
The police would come on a volunteer basis when working their day shift.
T. Chellew thinks a police officer as a presence in the halls would be a good thing.
The gun would have to be on the officer’s person at all times. The main idea behind this is to send the message that it is not acceptable to have drugs or do drugs at school; “we (the police) do not condone what is going on.”
The OPP from the feeder school areas could participate as well as the Prescott Police.
It is also hoped that the students will develop a rapport with the police officer. They will be more likely to bring up issues with an officer.
Similar progams include the successful Adopt-a-Cop program at T.I.S.S. It seems to be working well. Inevitably there will be a negative/apprehensive initial student response; this is to be expected. The program would be implemented gradually; it would become part of the routine.
In regards to the police dog searches, it was recommended by Mr. Somerville that we do not conduct these searches during school hours. This is seen as an offensive movement, this is not what we want. It is more effective and it prevents misunderstandings as to the presence of the dogs if they are conducted after school hours.
T. Chellew feels that giving speeches and threats are somewhat effective to prevent drug use during school hours. The kids don’t particularly seem to care about suspensions, but concrete proof is required that these kids are doing drugs or drinking.
Robyn Demeule feels that the presence of cops in the school will help break the bad cop stereo type.
The motivational drug and alcohol abuse assembly was discussed and the impact on the student body was praised by everyone involved.
Bryan Somerville was welcomed to the School Advisory Council as a community representative.
Nancy Lane - the goal was to have a centre for the students here at the school i.e. Connect Youth, the presence of the Health Nurse every Thursday and now the police.
Joellen Bauder would bring this up at the next Admin. Council meeting at the School. Thought a non-threatening presence would be great.
Nancy Lane asked whether or not the officers would wear their uniform. Chief Somerville indicated that the uniform was optional. The usual presence will just be enhanced because the uniforms are being worn for dances and everything else. The consensus at the meeting seemed to prefer a uniform.
Chief Somerville suggested the officers drive through the parking lot and do checks.
6.2 School Web site/posting homework by teachers.
Nancy Lane brought up the idea to post all homework on the new Giant Web site. Ms Bauder brought up the issues on how the current website is unable to be accessed by all of the teachers. The new website that Mr. Gray purchased would be accessible.
The voice mail system was discussed and it was decided it would be a poor way to get homework.
Tony Chellew - His goal is to post all his work guidelines on the website where his students can access this information.
Questioned whether the teachers could email homework to students. Ms. Bauder will bring up this homework posting issue at the next staff meeting.
Scott and Catherine have a buddy system in place for homework.
6.3 New Staff
Mr. Crotty has been hired as a Long Term Occasional teacher this semester. He is teaching Grade 10 English and Grade 11 Mathematics. Mr. Crotty is a graduate of South Grenville and also did supply teaching here over the last year.
6.4 Update on the Home Base Room - #149
This room started last November. Around 33 students access this room on a daily basis during their MSIP class.
They have received their computers and they will be set up by one of the technology people within the next few days. Ms. Gilmour will be looking at the possibility of starting anger management or confidence courses.
7.0 Administrative Report
7.1 Month in Review- Joellen Bauder
7.1.1. Trustee’s UCDSB Program meeting was held here at South Grenville on February 4th, 2004.
There was an On-Line Learning presentation by Pam Needham.
There were many positive comments on how clean the building was kept. Some of the people on the tour had many positive comments on the building and everything the school had to offer. Some of those present did not realize the facilities we have here at the school.
7.1.2. Promotion Meeting - Some students are currently doing credit recovery. Students who have failed a course are given this option based on how they did during the course and why they failed.
Susan Rabb inquired about the Ontario Scholars criteria. Does the promotion committee look at those students with averages between 79 and 80%?
7.1.3. Valentine’s Day Dance - Valentine’s Day and the dance were both successful in the school in February.
7.1.4 Grade Eight Visits - were done in all the schools that feed into South Grenville. The students then came to South Grenville for tours of the classrooms and the facilities. In the evening the parents and students came to meet the teachers. This was a great success with approx. 200 parents attending. Over 30 students from St. Josephs came for both events.
This is the best attendance we have seen in awhile. Many parents were also quite impressed with the programs and facilities offered at South Grenville. The options sheets should be handed in.
7.1.5 A total of 54 students from SG wrote the Mathematics contest last week.
7.2 Upcoming Events
7.2.1 South Grenville Ski Club Ski Trip - March 12th, 2004
7.2.2 Reach for the Top Tournament - Friday February 27th, 2004 at SGDHS
7.2.3 Preliminary Interim Report cards will be issued March 1st, 2004.
7.2.4 Parent Teacher Interviews - March 3rd, 2004.
8.0 Student Report
8.1 Scott Irving - President of Giant Fusion discussed the following:
8.1.1 Ambush Dance - went over very well with the students
Although they lost money on the dance the school spirit was definitely boosted.
8.1.2 Freedom to Read Week - Mr. Swift has done an amazing job in making people aware.
8.1.3 The stage committee has taken the next step and will be showing a movie next month. The movie chosen is called Honey. If this is successful they will be showing a movie every month.
9.0 Other Business
9.1 Smoking on School property.
Shirley Sayeau brought up the issue of students smoking on school property, specifically at the front entrance.
Joellen Bauder informed everyone that the By-Law Officer expects the school to forward the names of the students violating the smoking rule. If the student if over sixteen years of age they will receive a fine. The issue of smoking marijuana was also discussed. It was agreed that this will be added to the agenda for the next few meetings.
9.2 Grade Eight Orientation - went over very well and there were two parents interested in joining the School Parent Advisory Council next September.
Nancy Lane thanked the council members for their involvement in the evening.
10.0 Adjournment & Date of Next Meeting
Meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31st 2004, in Student Services at 6:00 pm.
Motion to adjourn by Tony Chellew, seconded by Scott Irving.
Posted 25 FEB 04 in School Community Advisory Council (SCAC)
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