Markville School Council Minutes

September 11, 2006

 

  1. Elaine Wilkes, current Chair, welcomed everyone to the first school council meeting of the year.  We all introduced ourselves and mentioned the grade our child is in.  Mr. Bewcyk spoke about parent engagement.  The ministry has set up an initiative to get more parents involved with school councils and their children’s education.  On November 6 and April 2 we will have special evenings to bring more parents into the school.

 

2.  Mrs. Sheri Caston Visual Arts Department Head

     Mr. George Taylor Music Department Head

     Mr. Anthony Nicholson Drama Department Head

     The arts departments at Markville are now a program team.  The 3 departments collaborated to create a power point presentation explaining the importance of the arts at Markville. 

The visual arts department sent a group of students to Art In the Park at the Markham Museum this summer.  It was the first time that students had been involved in Art in the Park and Markville had the largest group of representatives of any of the schools.  Last year the visual arts department was involved with the Mulli Orphanage in Africa.  There was an art show in Markham with art works from Markville students as well as art from the children at the orphanage.  Markville students participate annually in the CONTACT art show.  At the Stephen Lewis AIDS fundraiser Markville had the largest art exhibit of any of the schools.  This year the department will get involved with the Sunrise Senior Living Retirement Home.  The students will interview the seniors and their life stories and portraits will be showcased.  The art club is always very popular and they paint the halls of the schools.  This year they will do a mural for the math department.

Drama is a medium through which students can explore the world.  It helps student confidence, speaking and presentation skills, and gives them appreciation for other cultures.  The grade nines will go to Young People’s theatre this year to see Chasing the Money, and they will also do a unit on the dangers of gambling.  All students write and adapt scripts, assemble costumes, and perform.  In the older grades they study the different genres of theatre.  There are 3 different courses in grade 12 that cover production, directing and acting.  The drama club meets every Thursday after school.  The drama club has 2 productions each year and they are about to prepare for the Remembrance Day Assembly.  Through the drama club, there is a tech crew that does sound and lighting for drama performances as well as any other presentation in the school where they are needed.  Each year the drama department organizes a trip to either the Shaw or Stratford Festivals.

The music department has a grade 9, grade 10 and a senior wind instrument band, a grade 9, grade 10, and senior strings orchestra, a junior and senior vocal group, a music theatre class and keyboarding.  Each year, students from Markville are invited to the Regional Music Camp.  250 – 300 music students from across York Region spend 5 days in Orillia where they are instructed and entertained by professional musicians.  The music tours have conducted many tours over the years.  Last year the grade nines and tens went to a music festival in Chicago and the elevens and twelves went to Vienna and Budapest.  Touring to other places not only gives our students a chance to perform in front of international audiences, it also gives them insight as to how music is appreciated in other places.  The music theatre class will perform the musical Once Upon a Mattress at the Markham Theatre from January 3 – 6.  The instrumental and vocal groups will perform Festive Sounds at the Markham Theatre on December 14 and Markville Pops will be on May 7 and 8 at the theatre.  Markville Pops also showcases the elementary feeder schools.  New this year, Markville will host the Shoeless Joe’s Jazz Fundraiser on Monday October 16th.  Professional musicians will accompany students and some of the proceeds will go to Markville S.S.  Each year the music department is involved with the Kiwanis Festival, Music Fest Canada, Arts Link York Region Music Festival and the Ontario Vocal Festival.

 

  1. Correspondence – Sheri Caston wrote a lovely note to the school council thanking us for our involvement with the visual arts department fundraiser for the Mulli Orphanage.

 

4.  Student Council Representative – Allison Clark

     September 8 was SAC Attack – large inflatables were rented for the students (i.e. Velcro Olympics, bungie run) At the same time, students could see what extra-curricular activities are offered at Markville and sign up.

Camp Robin Hood for the grade nines is at the end of the month.

Spirit day is September 21; the theme is flashback to the 80s.

There will be a fall dance in November.

 

  1. The June minutes were accepted.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report – We currently have $296.00

 

  1. Chair Report – Elaine Wilkes

We reviewed the goals of the school council and will revisit them in October.

There was a low response from the parent survey.  There was a bigger response from the e-mail survey.  The majority of respondents indicated interest in learning about communicating with their child and with the school.  As far as communicating with parents, the majority felt that e-mail would be best.  The teachers provided us with a larger response and with some thoughtful answers.  They clearly indicated that students need to be at school and on time, with their homework completed.  Results of the survey will be put on the school’s website.

 

  1. Elections – the representatives for the 2006 – 07 school year will be:

                              Chair – Elaine Wilkes

                              Treasurer – Nancy Elliott

                              Recorder – Deb Rhodes

                              Parent Grade Reps –

9 –Julia Sumner-Murray

                                          10 – Raj Seth and Marguerite Ennis

11 – Judy Hall and Nancy Elliott  

12 – Patty Luubert and Jan Christen

We are still looking for someone to come forward as the School Council’s Vice-Chair.

Elaine asked all members to think about topics and speakers for the April 2 Parent Engagement evening.

 

  1. Administrators’ Report

 

Debbie Linkewich V.P. - The second and last day for the pictures for the photo Ids is tomorrow, September 12.  Today was the first day that the students were reminded to wear their tags.  Next week there will be consequences for forgotten tags.  They may have to go home and get their tags; parents may have to bring them.

 

Susie Nunes  V.P.– Photo day is tomorrow.  Students must have a cheque and a signed form for the photo packages.

 

Steve Bewcyk Principal – Enrolment Update.

Enrolment is down by about 20 students below the projected population.  It is projected that we will lose another 10 to 20 students by the end of October.  It is unknown what the board will do but there may be an adjustment in staffing for the second semester.  The grade nine population is lower than expected.  Grade nine, 11, or 12 courses may be affected, the students will find out next week if it will affect their first semester schedule.  The grade 10 numbers are slightly higher than expected.

 

The next school council meeting will be Tuesday, October 3rd at 7:15 in the library.