Markville School Council Meeting

Monday February 5, 2007

 

January’s meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather.

 

  1. Elaine welcomed everyone and wished us all a Happy New Year.

Steve Bewcyk introduced Maureen Weaver, our new vice principal.  Susie Nunes has gone to another school.

 

  1. The minutes from October’s meeting were approved.

 

3.  Student Council Report by Deb Linkewich V.P.

Sat. Feb. 24 There will be a heart and stroke fundraiser.  The students will be canvassing the neighbourhood in the morning and there will be a silent auction in the afternoon.  If anyone has donations, please e-mail Deb.

March 1 There will be a semi-formal at the Grand Bacchus hall at McNichol and Kennedy Rd.  All grades are invited to purchase tickets.

 

  1. Science Department Head – Jen Parrington

Courses offered:

Grade 9 and 10 academic and applied and essentials

Grade 11 there are 5 courses to choose from

Grade 12 biology chemistry physics

The new grade 9 and 10 curriculum has an optional implementation in Sept 2007 and is mandatory in 2008.  The new grade 11 and 12 curriculum will be offered in September 2009.

There is a focus on literacy in science.  Literacy involved the scientific knowledge skills and habits of mind.  In grade 9 there is a creative writing piece, in grade 10 a reflective piece, in grade 11 and 12 there are research presentations and papers.  In grade 12 a persuasive essay is written and in grades 10 to 12 there are research poster projects.

Field trips – Science Centre, Kortwright Centre, the Pllanetarium, Indoor Go-Karting, etc.

In grades 11 and 12 there are chemistry and physics and biology competitions.  Markville has also entered the York Region Science Olympics  (the senior team won last year).

This is the third year for the science club.  More than 40 students are involved and anyone can still join now.

 

  1. Business Department Head – Judith McCutcheon

The curriculum for the business department changed in September 2006.  The focus is on 5 critical areas: business skills, communication for business purposes, digital literacy, financial literacy and ethical, moral and legal issues. 

Judith believes that after English and 2 maths, the most important courses for students pursuing business at college and university are the grade 12 business and economics courses.

On February 12, DECA will take place.  Markville has a competitive club that will go to this competition and put their skills into practice in role playing.  There is also a non-competitive business club and a competitive mock trial club. 

The curriculum didn’t change for the grade 11 law course.  A moot trial The Judge’s Cup will take place in a couple of weeks.

Lots of things are happening in the business department which Judith will miss when she retires in June.

 

  1. Parent Engagement – Jen Parrington

There are 19 ways that parents and teachers communicate.  The most effective way is a phone call.  Parents want an easy effective tool to communicate with their children about school and with the teacher about their child.  Jen has created a form that will be sent home on a weekly basis to science students to help engage parents.  There will be a checklist of homework and tests as well as a description of the content to help promote communication with all three parties.

 

  1. Parent Engagement Evening – April 2nd 2007

Elaine sent out a survey to school council members asking for feedback.  Everyone thought that a session on teens and technology was critical.  Perhaps we could begin with the whole group and have a speaker on supporting your child’s success in school and then breakout sessions on communicating with your child and teens and technology.  We discussed possible speakers with our limited budget.  Deb thought that the police would be a possible resource.

Elaine asked for help to hammer out the details.  Joyce, Nancy and Marguerite volunteered to meet soon.

There will be a newsletter going out with the report cards.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report  Nancy Elliott

We have $1406.82.