Markville Secondary School Council

 
 

 

 


Participants:

Admin team: Linda DiMarco (Vice-Principal)

Student Council :

Parents:  Arjan Samtani (Treasurer), Lee Carwana (Secretary), Janet Wellsman Thomson (Vice-Chair), Joyce Chan (Chair), Elaine Wilkes, Marguerite Ennis, Robyn Craig, Vonda Melanson

 

Minutes

 
 

 

 


Wednesday, November 19, 2008

7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.  Library

Welcome & Introductions

Joyce/Steve

Approval of previous meeting minutes – Oct minutes approved by Arjan Samtani and Janet Wellsman-Thomson

Joyce/All

 

Student Council Report

Students not available for this meeting

There is a Student Engagement Initiative of up to $1,500 – can apply for this funding – due date 28 Nov 2008

 

Department Presentation

Doug Gillespie, Department Head, Computer Studies

Learn how to communicate with an inanimate object to develop problem solving skills

Program is not offered in grade 9; Grade 10 is a fun overview course to help students decide if they want to do programming

Grade 11 – create a joy stick

Grade 12 – take all components of a computer system and make it practical

Learn skills and turn them into making games

The grade 11 & 12 course will change next year and be divided into those who will be college vs university bound.

 

 

 

Focus: School Wide Initiatives – Career Planning

John Roberts, Department Head, Guidance

Check out “My Blueprint” program.  You can input all the courses you take in high school – program will show you paths for university/colleges

-       shows thousands of choices you are eligible for and where you can go

-       gives introductions to universities, colleges and apprenticeship programs

-       once you choose a destination, you can directly link into specific sites to get more info such as costs, meals plans…

-       lots of info on different scholarships, international programs…

 

 

 

Council Report (Joyce/All)

Treasurers Report by Arjan Samtani

Need to confirm if the $500 board fund has been received

Subcommittees:

Constitution: Needs to be reviewed annually. All to read at home, make notes and come back next time with comments.

Parent Engagement: Did apply for the Parent Reaching Out grant – topic will be “How to engage parents”

 

 

Administration Report (Admin team)

Information Items:

Heritage Fair was Nov 15.  Totally student run.  Grade 10’s looked at historical events – Fantastic

Nov assembly – excellent visual presentation – a war vet showed up, there were songs, all attended

Nov 5 – Grade 8 transition day, 300 students; Morning program – math & English, afternoon – electives; kids ate in the cafeteria – well received

New attendance practice – letter will go home to parents ref unauthorized absences

Looked at all “at risk” kids – will call home

52% or less, an action plan will be done with the student, report will go to guidance

Will change some students to applied programs – redirection to salvage the credit

New Trillium program – cannot send out attendance via email

Staffing: new hire in the 2nd semester

 

 

New Business

Ask admin team to do a talk on budgets and school funds

Take notes from Joyce for future agenda topics and distinguish between action items and discussion items

Ask Mark if there is room to upload the constitution and if the annual report is or can be posted on the site

Schools standardized test results – report was deferred in June – is it coming?

 

 

Action items for next meeting

Approval of the November minutes

 

 

Next Meeting:   Wednesday January 14th, 2009 7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.  School Library

 

                       

 

 

LINKS:

School’s Website:  http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/

York Region District School Board, School Councils Home Page: http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=SSC000001

Markville Secondary School Board Trustee:  Elizabeth Richardson
Email: elizabath.richardson@yrdsb.edu.on.ca