Cliffwood School Council

Meeting Minutes February 24, 2016

6:37 to 7:56 p.m.

Attendees:

Allyson Watts (Vice-Principal), Clyde Hadley (acting Principal), Melanie Rubens, Christina Liu, Eric
Fung, Julie Kwok, Sheleen Jaffer, Ivar Soever, Colin Ryckman, Melanie Ryckman, Vronique Jgat,
Jenny Wang, Esther Chung

Regrets:

Sarah Frost (Principal), Paul Kang, Heba Osman

Chairperson:

Melanie Rubens/Christina Liu

Location:

Cliffwood Public School

1. Welcome
2. Adoption of minutes from January 20, 2016
3. School Report
4. Spring Lunch Hour programs
4.1. Art/Drawing
4.2. Chess
5. Fundraising Report
5.1. Dance-a-thon update
6. Treasurer's Report
7. Other business
7.1. Triple-P parenting seminars
7.2. Suggestion for Graduation Committee
8. Adjournment
1. Welcome
2. Adoption of Minutes of January 20, 2016
2.1. DECISION: Ivar Soever moves to accept minutes of January 20, 2016 as printed. Julie Kwok seconds.
Motion is carried
3. School Report
3.1. Special guest: Clyde Hadley is acting Principal while Sarah Frost is away this week
3.2. IT 3-year plan is already ahead of schedule
3.2.1. Second half of library lab has been delivered and installed. 4 computers are waiting for new
network connections to be installed to be fully operational.
3.2.2. Next step is to integrate teaching/learning to improve use of technology
3.2.3. IT Committee has met to plan out professional development required to leverage technology
3.2.4. QUESTION: Is there cost associated with this training?
Cliffwood School Council

3.2.4.1.
Depends on what is required and will confirm if there will be cost required
3.3. Request for $50 per classroom for outdoor play equipment. Net bags etc.
3.3.1. 22 classrooms = $1100
3.3.2. Existing indoor gym equipment can't be used because it brings in too much dirt from outside
3.3.3. QUESTION: Who would be responsible for purchasing?
3.3.3.1. Done centrally through the school office for all classrooms
3.3.3.2. Will ensure that each classroom has appropriate equipment for their age groups
3.3.4. QUESTION: Will this be a recurring item year over year?
3.3.4.1. We'll try our best to take care of it, but given the wear and tear of outdoor use, we should
think of it as a consumable that will require regular replacement
3.3.5. DECISION: Julie Kwok moves to allocate up to $50 per classroom for the purchase of outdoor gym
equipment. Colin Ryckman seconds. Motion is carried.
3.4. School Concert: Winter concert wasn't able to happen due to earlier job action
3.4.1. Two concerts (separate Primary/Junior concerts) will be held during Education Week (first week of
May) during the school day. Further information will be made available as plans are finalized.
3.4.2. SUGGESTION: Tie the concert in with the Scholastic Book Fair to coordinate volunteers. May
require additional volunteers for the Book Fair with increased traffic from concerts.
3.5. Partitions:
3.5.1. TDSB is actively looking at finding vendors that can provide a more permanent solution, vs the
more temporary structures originally proposed
3.6. CCAC:
3.6.1. Character Assembly will be this month to recognize and encourage positive student character
traits
3.6.2. Health and Wellness month is April and will include anti-bullying events (e.g. pink shirt)
3.6.3. Syrian Refugee Event will run from 21-31 March, and will School Council funds as incentive
(Decision 49 January)
3.7. Grade 5s will be going next week to Albion Hills Conservation Area
3.7.1. One group to go Mon-Wed, second group Wed-Fri
3.8. Grade 6s have their trip planned as well
3.9. SK French Immersion letters have been sent out, and formal registration appointments will happen next
week.
3.10. QUESTION: There appears to be water damage in the hallway ceiling. What happened?
3.10.1. There was a leak in a pipe that drains the roof. A final repair should be completed tomorrow.
3.11. QUESTION: Toronto Star had a story about a gender-neutral washroom. When/how will this be
implemented and where that will be?
3.11.1. We don't have a specific date yet for implementing. In other schools, they have single washrooms
that are designated for that, but no specific plans defined here yet.
4. Spring Lunch Hour Programs
4.1. Art/Drawing
4.1.1. To provide a lunch time program based on arts to nurture creativity in students through drawing.
4.1.2. 8-week art class over the lunch period held on Wednesdays and Thursdays (subject to classroom
availability) beginning April 6 and ending May 26.
4.1.3. One class for students grades 1 - 3 and one class for students grades 4 - 6, maximum 20 student
capacity in each class.
4.1.4. Teacher is Helen Lee. Vulnerable persons police check will be provided.
4.1.5. Drawing using colour pencils and markers will be the primary focus. All materials will be provided.
4.1.6. Registration and payment would be done through sign-up sheets and cheques. Paul Kang is willing
Cliffwood School Council

to help collect the registration as well as cheques.

4.1.7. QUESTION: Why can we not include JK/SK?
4.1.7.1. Are there teacher/student ratios that must be accommodated?
4.1.8. SUGGESTION: Would we be able to do Art for JK/SK and 1-3, with Lego Robotics for 4-6?
4.1.8.1. ACTION: Paul to consider proposal and discuss if Helen would be open to provide a program
for younger students.
4.2. Chess
4.2.1. Would like to provide that opportunity to students who were wait-listed
4.3. QUESTION: We previously had dance programs as a lunch hour offering. Can we bring this back?
4.3.1. School Council will investigate at a dance program, if information about a provider/program can
be provided
4.4. QUESTION: Will registration information be posted on the Parent Council website?
4.4.1. Yes
5. Fundraising Report
5.1. Dance-a-thon Update
5.1.1. We've been collecting for 3 days, with $730 from 35 envelopes, with another 9 days to go (March
8 deadline).
5.1.2. We've collected ~$1600 worth of prizes from local businesses
5.1.2.1. As a result of donations, total cost to run the Dance-a-thon will come in under $400
5.1.3. ACTION: Sarah Frost and Eric Fung to promote Dance-a-thon by email communications
5.1.4. DJ needs to come in the night before to setup and needs direction from Principal/Vice-Principal to
be let in after 5:30-6:00 to complete the setup.
5.1.4.1. ACTION: Allyson Watts and Colin Ryckman to coordinate logistics for DJ setup the evening
before the Dance-a-thon.
5.1.5. Would like students to help make thank-you cards for some of the larger donors
5.1.5.1. ACTION: Allyson Watts and Melanie Ryckman to connect and coordinate creation of thankyou cards for corporate donors to the Dance-a-thon
5.2. Sushi Lunch:
5.2.1. While it seems to meet all the healthy eating guidelines, we can't find a provider that is able to
provide the quantity required and delivered within an acceptable timeframe
5.3. Sub Lunch:
5.3.1. Last year, we had run sub lunches as an alternative to pizza lunches
5.3.2. While less popular than pizza, they help to break up the number of pizza lunches over the year
5.3.3. Considering running a sub lunch in April
6. Treasurer's Report
6.1. ACTION: Julie to speak with Sandy/Sevelina about use of TDSB G/L account first before deducting from
TD account
7. Other Business
7.1. Free Triple-P Parenting Seminars
7.1.1. Hosted at Arbor Glen Public School Library, with childcare and snacks provided
7.1.2. Raising Confident, Competent Children Wednesday, Mar 2 @ 6:00-7:30pm
7.1.3. Raising Resilient Children Wednesday, Mar 23 @ 6:00-7:30pm
7.1.4. Registration form available on School Council website, to be returned to Cliffwood
7.2. Suggestion for Graduation Committee
7.2.1. We've allocated $25 per student for graduating classes to purchase composite photos for
students, but it would be good to have a Graduation Committee from G5/6 parents to help decide
how to use the funding, or liaise with Edge Imaging to order composites
Cliffwood School Council

7.2.2.
7.2.3.
7.2.4.

Composite ordered individually would be normally $25, but would be reduced to <$20
Krystyn Chepelsky has expressed interest to represent G6
ACTION: Eric to send out a call for interest from parents to help organize/coordinate graduation
activities
7.2.5. QUESTION: Do we have a graduation date set for G5/6? Will they be separate or together?
7.2.5.1. We're still in planning phase and scheduling, but will confirm once finalized
7.2.6. QUESTION: Do we have a date for Grad Photos?
7.2.6.1. Scheduled for March 29
7.2.6.2. Ideally, the grad committee will reach out to Edge Imaging to determine how much lead
time is required to produce the composite photos
7.3. PART Update
7.3.1. Alexander Brown and Ken Lister met with Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy
(LTPAS) on Feb 18
7.3.2. PART assessment for York Mills CI cluster is likely to occur, with expected outcome to move G9
from Windfields to York Mills CI
7.3.3. Firm dates for when York Mills CI PART will occur have not been established yet, but Alexander
believes this should happen in 2016 or as soon as possible
7.4. Teachers were allocated funds and wanted to know if there was a deadline to use the funds
7.4.1. ACTION: Allyson Watts to inform teachers that classrooms' allocations must be used by March 31
or will be forfeited. Exceptions will be granted where planned use of funds will primarily benefit
students within this school year.
7.5. Julie has spoken to organizers of this year's pizza lunch and they have indicated that they would not like
to organize pizza lunch for next year.
7.5.1. ACTION: Eric Fung to add call for Pizza Lunch organizing committee for 2016-2017 school year
7.6. IT planning:
7.6.1. QUESTION: What are the planned needs?
7.6.1.1. IT Committee is discussing if more iPads are required and how many. As well, they need to
look at whether or not the remaining half of classroom desktops would need replacement
soon. Changing enrollment numbers will also change what the requirements will be over the
next few years
7.6.2. QUESTION: Are there any guidelines/policies around screentime for students?
7.6.2.1. It would be helpful for parents to understand how their children's eyes are being protected
from over-exposure
7.6.2.2. No specific guidance from TDSB, but use of technology is always used for delivery of specific
curriculum.
8. Meeting Adjourned at 7:56pm

Action ID
8.

66.

Description
Bring forward request for
creation of class mailing
lists to teachers and provide
update by next meeting
Solicit teacher input into
preferred configuration for
partition pilot once job
action resolved

Cliffwood School Council

Date Raised
Oct 1, 2014

Jun 17, 2015

Actions

Assigned to
Sarah Frost

Status
Open

Action Taken:
Suggestion for simpler nearterm solution. Sarah Frost to
provide update at next meeting.

Sarah Frost

Open

Teacher input to be provided by

next meeting.

Action ID
72.

81.

84.

85.
86.
87.

88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.

94.
95.

Description
Provide clarification on
partitions and TDSB
quotation status at next
School Council meeting
Contact Alexander Brown to
confirm if delay in Grade 6
transition in Georges Vanier
cluster will impact Cliffwood
and why Grade 6 transition
was delayed in Ken Lister's
ward, but not in ours
Draft a role description for
classroom parent
representatives for review
on Jan 20
Provide timeline for revised
5-year ICT plan
Provide School Council with
link to TDSB technology
selection guidelines
Defer discussion of nontechnology requests to next
School Council to prepare
equitable requests for all
grades
Investigate implementation
of a formal School Council
Constitution
Defer discussion of other
fundraising ideas to next
School Council meeting
Discuss if proposed Art
program can be modified to
also support JK/SK students
Promote Dance-a-thon
through school and School
Council email blasts
Confirm logistics for DJ
setup for Dance-a-thon

Date Raised
Nov 4, 2015

Coordinate creation of
thank-you cards for
corporate donors to Dancea-thon
Request parent volunteers
to form a Graduation
Committee
Inform teachers that
classroom allocations must
be used by March 31

Feb 24, 2016

Cliffwood School Council

Actions

Assigned to
Sarah Frost

Status
Closed

Action Taken:
TDSB investigating more
permanent structures than
previously proposed

Dec 2, 2015

Melanie
Rubens

Open

Dec 2, 2015

Paul Kang

Open

Jan 20, 2016

Sarah Frost

Open

Jan 20, 2016

Sarah Frost

Open

To be provided by TDSB Central

IT

Jan 20, 2016

Sarah Frost /
Eric Fung

Closed

Sarah to work with teachers on

proposals.
Eric to move to Feb agenda

Jan 20, 2016

Eric Fung

Open

Jan 20, 2016

Eric Fung

Closed

Feb 24, 2016

Paul Kang

Open

Feb 24, 2016

Sarah Frost /
Eric Fung

Open

Feb 24, 2016

Allyson Watts
/ Colin
Ryckman
Allyson Watts
/ Melanie
Ryckman

Open

Feb 24, 2016

Eric Fung

Open

Feb 24, 2016

Allyson Watts

Open

Deferred to March

Eric to move to Feb agenda

Open

Action ID
96.

Decision ID
51.
52.

Description
Request parent volunteers
to form a 2016-2017 Pizza
Lunch organizing committee

Date Raised
Feb 24, 2016

Actions

Assigned to
Eric Fung

Decisions

Status
Open

Action Taken:

Description
Ivar Soever moves to accept meeting minutes from Jan 20. Julie Kwok seconds. Motion is
carried
Julie Kwok moves to allocate up to $50 per classroom for the purchase of outdoor gym
equipment. Colin Ryckman seconds. Motion is carried

Cliffwood School Council

Date
Feb 24, 2016
Feb 24, 2016