Minutes

In attendance

• Lynda Peterson
• Sarah Roberts
• Patti Blundell
• Mel Maxwell
• Elissa Boughen
• Dana Sinclair
• Becca Birnie
• Erin Hills
• Nicole Bradley
• France Armour
• Joanna Marrelli

Principal’s report

Additional classroom so much smaller classes
New SK/1 classroom with Darcy Beathune

Sept 26 – Meet the staff night at Irwin

Friday Sept. 22 – Terry Fox Run

October 19th – Dance at Spruce Glen for ⅞’s

Language Curriculum changes in literacy, screening, and report cards

New system for writing IEP’s

Thursday – TLDSB Indigenous team coming in to teach land acknowledgement, then how to be a good ancestor

April 4th – Paul Davis – social media and technology (how to be safe) In grade 4,5,6 and 7,8 and a parent info meeting

Oct. 11 – Heather Douglas will be taking outdoor class photos for a price very similar to Edge Imaging.

Parent Council positions

Chair – Sarah

Co-Chair – Becca

Secretary – available

Treasurer – Nicole Bradley

Hot Lunch Lead – Dana Hot

Lunch Co-Lead – Joanna

Fundraising Leader – Patti

Treasurer’s report

Year End – Grade 8 funds for graduation – staying two years ahead, looking at grade 7’s who will graduate in 2025 (currently 12 students)

Motion by Nicole to transfer $600 to grad account for this group of students

Seconded by Sarah

Motion approved

Hot Lunches

Meet the Staff BBQ (Tuesday Sept.26)

– do a hot lunch with what is left over from this event on Wednesday the 27th or Thursday the Sept.28

Conversations with local businesses will happen throughout the year to ask if they would be willing to support Hot Lunches

Menu items – always looking for ideas

In 2022/2023 we raised over $6000.

Fundraising

Bake Table out during basketball/volleyball games

Fall Basketball season – Starts Oct. 12th

Fresh from the Farm – haven’t done it lately, but we’ll look at the numbers to see if it was worthwhile. Consider pick up during interview night

Poinsettias in December – makes about $1000

Flip Give – buy things through an app

• Raised $360 for Irwin in 2022/23
• Little work involved
• Suggestion to make a flier to put on school door

Wish List Items

Sarah will send an email out and Mel will ask around.

Upcoming events

Google doc sent out for signing up to volunteer

Staff BBQ

Terry Fox Run
– Friday Sept. 22
– road will be totally closed

Thanksgiving Feast – Oct. 5

• Sarah has secured the permit and community center, Arrowhead Campkitchen is available for prep
• Lots of food will come from the school garden
• 12:15 start
• Invitation to Susan Franks to join us and honour her husband and his contribution to the triangles he provided for Irwin

Next Meeting

Oct. 24th at 7pm

Minutes

In attendance

• Lynda Peterson
• Sarah Roberts
• Patti Blundell
• Dana Sinclair
• Becca Birnie
• Erin Hills
• France Armour
• Joanna Marrelli
• Nicole C
• Colleen Chambers
• Triptta Neb

Principal’s report

– Gr 8 students, transitioning to high school has begun. Spent a day at high school, and will be talking to admin about classes. Registration is happening soon.

– Gr. 8 walkthrough re-scheduled due to snow days.

– Heather Douglas is coming to take pictures for Grade 8 and SK graduation in the spring.

– Gr. 3 swim to survive has begun.

– Cross country skiing happening at school second recess. Possible xcountry event in Feb.

– Volleyball: First game is February 1st – whole day for all schools. Will likely be Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after that, schedule coming soon.

– Outdoor holiday concert, was good but weather was not. Talks about how to make it better for next year in regards to lighting, and visual fields.

– Family literacy, January 27th.

– January 26th, dress as your favorite book character/book wear

– Irwin putting on our own Intro to battle of the books: Will be Jr and intermediate level, 4 students per team. There will be 10 books, and create poster.

– Cost associated will be around $400-$500 for books.

Motion: support money going towards books? Motioned by Sarah, seconded by Patti, and approved by all.

– Hold and Secure at Irwin last week. There was an unsafe situation in proximity of school, The students were brought inside for their recess, there were police on site. Hallways were open, and classes continued as normal. No weapons were involved in the situation.

– We spoke about Inviting first responders (OPP, firefighters) to come help serve a hot lunch? Have done in the past and was successful.

– Invite first responders to come talk to students?

– This could help make kids less afraid of OPP and creates a positive relationship.

Treasure report

Document

Hot Lunches – Dana Sinclair

– Last month’s hot lunch: $545.00 made in orders!!

– Expenses was more than any other month.

– Dana is Looking around for more sponsors.

– The money raised from Decembers lunch will go to the book costs.
We will try to add what we are raising for in more detail on the flyers
each month.

– Hot lunch happening this month with meatball subpitas, veggie side
and a fruit dessert.

– $426.00 to spend still left over from previous sponsorships.

– Baysville General Store and Robinsons have committed to sponsor
each month!

– February ideas for lunch welcome.

– We are working towards to make an effort on the TLDSB healthy food guidelines.

Next hot lunch: February 14 likely.

Hot Lunch Wish list items needed to buy

• Utensils
• Tea towels
• Dish soap
• Gloves
• Better knives
• Push cart (have some quotes for a better utility cart)

Motion: Dana can spend up to $200 for misc items needed for hot
lunches.

Motioned by Sarah, seconded by Patti, and approved by all.

Fundraising – Patti Blundell

Holiday cards (Becca Birnie):
$117 collected, still need to pick up money from Erika’s. Unsure of the
amount raised there.

– Valentine’s day cards to get out? Erin will speak with staff and Becca
will take the lead.

– Christmas bake sale made: $605.00

– $602.67 raised from poinsettias fundraiser.

– Heather Douglas possibly coming to do a grade 7⁄8 February fundraiser for class trip. Family photos! Waiting for details.

– Lottery license? Colleen has talked to township, have the list of rules and we need to apply if we wish to do any raffles or bingo nights. Sarah and Colleen to follow up.

– Silent Auction idea for end of April beginning of May.
– Small to large items with varying price ranges. Experiences are good items to auction also. Mayor for the day, Fire truck drives you to school, principal for the day kind of thing.

Winter Carnival – Sarah Roberts

– Joanna and Sarah met with Barb Bloomfield from the Chamber of Commerce and Leanne Sibeon, as Chamber is not running the carnival this year. They asked if Irwin would take over, and it was decided that there is not enough time or volunteers to organize it for this year.

– Anyone wanting to join the committee or interested in helping, please reach out. Chamber has provided alot of information and timelines of what would need to be done for next year.

France suggested organizing a family fun event, in lieu of Winter Carnival? Landed on Skate event.

Skate day – February 10th, afternoon – Sarah, Patti and Nicole (email to discuss details)

BBQ
Hot Chocolates
Coffee
Sarah will contact Scott MacCinnon about ice and look into insurance needed. Bonfire?

Will Approach businesses to help sponsor for food?

Triptta, spoke about cultural night as discussed last year.

– Could be an idea for our annual Family night in spring. Sarah and Triptta will discuss and bring forward ideas next meeting. Also spoke about a Festival of Colors on March 25th.

Nicole: Time Capsule

– Nicole will continue gathering information to share at next meeting.

– No documentation has been found so far.

– Buried in 1967 for Canada’s centennial. Was not opened at the 50 year mark in 2017.

– Contacting Huntsville Library for archive of newspaper on it.

Paul Davis Internet Safety- April 4th

– We have applied for $1000 grant that the Ministry of Education is giving
to schools to promote student safety. We will use it to pay for Paul Davis to
come and give his Internet safety talks. We will collaborate with Spruce
Glen and Pine Glen and bus our students to Pine Glen for the afternoon,
and host the parent night at the Alongquin Theatre. Student talks are:
grade 4-6 (45 mins and q&a) and 7 -8 (45 mins. q&a) Parent night is 70
minutes plus Q&A Sarah will work with the other schools and provide more
information and cost of the theatre soon.

Volleyball/basketball Jersey’s – Steven Jurchison/Sarah

-We have $1136.50 raised from snack tables at last years volleyball and basketball games.

– Steve asked Granite Rose Designs for quote and moc ups. Local company, but they have not yet sent anything. Sarah will follow up with them.

– NoveltyMann provided Sarah with moc ups and we are waiting for moc ups from Plant Folk designs. Both local companies.

– No reversibles in our colour through Noveltymann and stock is low in many jerseys.

-We will provide students with 3 options to choose from next week, and
get these made asap! In a perfect world before volleyball starts, but as
it is starting earlier this year might not be possible.

Next meeting:

Thursday February 15th @ 7pm