St. Michael's School Council

Meeting Minutes

March 26, 2012

St. Michael's School Library 

1. Chelan Citrigno called meeting to order at 7:05 pm.

2. Tina Delinte led opening prayer.

3. Susan Gerber moved to approve agenda; Jill Bruder seconded.

4. Lisa Holoboff moved to approve minutes from February meeting. Susan Gerber seconded.

5. Reports:

Principal (Don Kuchison)

• Holy Spirit School Division's nominee for Edwin Parr Award for Excellence in First Year teaching is Nicole Parkin
• Senior basketball and wrestling teams did well; thanks to coaches and athletes
• Staff meetings and PD conversations have been around setting the direction; AISI
• Don Kuchison attended Catholic Conference put on by ACSTA
• School Division Spiritual Development day had several topics
• Reminder of Open House this Wednesday; lots of displays; everyone is invited
• Budget talks at division level; preliminary numbers only so far; no idea of staffing yet
• Inclusion; direction for the future; change in focus
• Bill 2 of Education Act is on hold; thanks to those who contacted government to oppose
• Don Kuchison attended Rural Education symposium; different rural divisions showing how they are surviving, being innovative and providing opportunities; looking at non-traditional methods e.g Fort Vermillion BLAST program
• March 31: look for school featured on Global Lethbridge; broadcast will be on Holy Spirit website April 1

Friends of St. Michael's (Lisa Holoboff)

• Gift cards are going well
• Meeting next Monday
• Working on constitution

Teachers (Lori Jo Ettenhofer)

• Manon Dyck (Tues/Thurs ECS)

March theme:  Always Grow; Dr Van Bussel coming in (Doctors our Friends); Nurse Robbins (handwashing); Heather (dental care); Mrs Goodfellow helped plant sweet pea called "Bijou"

April Theme:  Spring on the Farm; visiting a farm; visiting Bos Sod in Coaldale and the Birds of Prey centre

• Angie Reimer (Mon/Wed ECS)

Visiting the Calgary Zoo April 23; participating in the educational program "The Bear Necessities" Spring Easter and learning about bears; feel free to come in and help with Jolly Phonics, printing , numeracy and 3D objects

• Patty Zoratti (2 English)

Science: boats and buoyancy unit; building boats and hopefully getting to test them in the pool after Easter

Religion:  learning about the symbols of Easter and the Eucharist

Going to the Calgary Childrens' Festival in May with the Grade 1 and 3 classes

• Jennifer Parker (3/4/French)

French:  concentrating on storytelling

Science:  have begun unit on light and shadow

Math:  have begun unit in measurement beginning with measuring time

• Lynn Wocknitz (5 English)

Math:  working on investigating division through a workshop that has students test personal strategies, share ideas, and learn how their strategies may be used to learn about more efficient strategies; students are preparing presentations, sharing, discussing; mini-lessons support their work

Science:  Electricity and Magnetism; investigated what material is attracted to magnets, what is unique about magnetic poles and magnetic fields

Religion: class is preparing to lead elementary classes in Stations of the Cross prayer and meditation service as they enact each station (Holy Thursday)

Health:  students have learned about and practiced positive communication strategies for team/group roles in skits

• Lori Jo Ettenhofer (5 English)

PE:  badminton unit; up to 10 minutes in their endurance run

LA:  finishing up novel study (Underground to Canada)

Social:  continuing to study the history of Canada

Mini Basketball has ended; Grade 5 and 6 students did amazing; great team to coach; played well and represented school well.

We should apply for 1A Boys Provincials

6. Business Arising from the minutes

• Lighting/Traffic safety in front of the school:

Don Kuchison will look into this.

• 4x4 Formation Meeting Update

Bernie McCracken attended the meeting; Gladstone Valley and Beaver Mines look like they're moving ahead to 4x4 formation; thanks to Jonathan Spranza and Kim Gelber and Angie Reimer.

Meetings set for April 24: Gladstone Valley and May 15: Beaver Mines.  There must be a minimum of three petitioners at the meetings.

7. New Business

A. Report Cards

• Discussion around report cards.

B.  Bill 2-The Education Act

• information shared regarding Bill 2; concerns around Catholic education; bill is quashed due to public concern

C.  Repairs to playground

• Central Office maintenance department will continue to repair as necessary

D.  Executive for School Council next year

• Chelan Citrigno is stepping down as chair
• Will likely need a new secretary

E. Mexican Fiesta

• May 5 in the Dale Wentz Memorial Gym;
• Money raised will go to the Friends of St. Michael's and to the school for Fine Arts and CTS programs
• Volunteers needed
• 50/50 draw, live and silent auction
• decorating Friday, May 4 at 1:30

8.      Next Meeting:  Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7 pm

9. Susan Gerber Moved to adjourn; Jill Bruder seconded.