School Council Minutes May 08

MINUTES – School Council Meeting St. Joseph’s High School May 27th, 2008 Sr. Clare Gallagher Library Attendees: Colin Slight, Mark Searson, Nick Kunopaski, Taylor Popkie, Sue McSheffrey, Sheila Sweet, Sister Sheila and Carolyn Hass. Guest: Mr. Brennan Trainor (Vice-Principal) Opening Prayer: Mark Searson introduced the prayer – The Call of the First Disciples Minutes: Minutes of the April 22nd meeting were reviewed by members and approved by Sue McSheffrey and seconded by Sister Sheila Student Council Report: Nick Kunopaski & Taylor Popkie (Prime ministers for 20072008) New Business • April 28th – May 2nd /08 – Spring Spirit Week • Tuck Shop has been very successful throughout the year. Tuck Shop will be hosting an Awards Banquet Dinner to celebrate student success throughout the year. • Track team has been performing very well at the meets. • “Little Women” was very successful. • The Prom will be held on Saturday, May 31st at the Best Western. The theme will be “Under the Sea”. • The elections are underway for next year’s Student’s Council. • The closing school mass will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Church in June. • The yearbook has been sent to the printers. They anticipate that it will be ready prior to exams. • The Lockdown held on May 27th took 43 seconds. • Exams will begin on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008. Correspondence: Colin Slight ƒ There was no correspondence to report. Principal’s Report: Mark Searson Mark Searson prepared the following report: Principal’s Report School Council – May 27, 2008 New Staff Members – September 2008 Mr. Joseph Trimm has announce his retirement, Mr. Trimm has been teaching over at the St. Joseph’s Alternate school since September 2001.

Mr. Trimm will be replaced by Mrs. Jessica Pender who is currently teaching over at BSCHS. We also have received an increase in staffing allotment and Mr. Trent Skelhorn will transfer over from STA in September. Emergency Preparedness We have held two fire drills and a third has been scheduled for early June. In our two previous drills the students exited the building in under a minute. On May 27th we held our second practice lock down of the year. The school was locked down in less than 45 sec. and Mr. Trainor and myself did a sweep of the entire school and we could not gain access to any room that had students . The school was completely quiet. Parents’ Foundation – Dinner and Little Women The Tribute dinner and the production of Little Women were a huge success. Thank you to all who were involved in both of these events. Safe Schools Committee Mr. Trainor will be presenting the work of the committee to council at large tonight. Athletic Banquet Mr. Mark Valliquette is organizing an Athletic Banquet in the evening of June 10th. This banquet will renew the past tradition here at SJHS of having an Awards/Achievement Banquet. This Banquet will take the place of an afternoon assembly. Safe Schools Presentation: - B. Trainor ƒ Mr. Trainor reviewed with Council Members the work of the Safe Schools Team. ƒ The Team worked on four main areas: Bill 212, the Dress Code, Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities, and Lockdown. ƒ Tow new positions will be created at St. Joseph’s for the students: Minister of the Environment as well as a Minister of Athletics. ƒ Mr. Trainor plans to use Bishop Smith’s template to create an Anti-Bullying Policy. A school Anti-Bullying Team will be established in the new school year. A Safe School Lockdown Committee may also be established. ƒ The School Board’s Progressive Disciple Model will be used at St. Joseph’s. ƒ Colin Slight motioned to accept the changes to the Student Handbook and all members agreed. ƒ Mr. Trainor thanked all members of the Safe School Committee. They accomplished a great deal of important work. School Council Annual Report: C. Slight • Members discussed the greatest successes as well as challenges of the year to help Colin to fill in the report.

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Successes – Establishing Council goals for the next few years. - Revision of the Student Handbook and Safe School Policy - Facilitating the changeover in school administration - Successful send off for the Parents’ Foundation - Earmarked the funds

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Challenges – The time line for the Safe Schools Policy - The new changes in the administration - How to spend the funds from the Parents’ Foundation - Successfully integrating the Grade 8’s to the school

New Business: ƒ Sue McSheffrey volunteered to create an information pamphlet to display at the orientation BBQ on Thursday, August 28th. The pamphlet will explain what the St. Joseph’s School Council is all about. Next Meeting: September 16th, 2008 at 7:00 pm.