School Council Minutes – June 12th, 2025
Sarah Roberts, Patti Blundell, Lynda Peterson, Erin Hills, Becca Birnie, Joanna Marrelli,
Nicole C., Melanie Maxwell, Dana Sinclair, Nicole Bradley, Sabrina Scott
Welcomes and Introductions
Principal Report – Erin Hills:
- June has been very busy, all year end class trips except for 2 (Kinderland and
Mr. Maxwell’s) have happened and been great. - Very successful 3 day trip to Montreal with the grade ⅞ class.
- Our track and field days were fantastic, thanks to all of the parent volunteers for
helping with the events and providing the snack for all the students. - We will have 2 EAs next year, no other staffing updates.
- Soccer goal posts will arrive by the end of June.
Accomplishments this year – Sarah:
TOGETHER THIS YEAR WE ACCOMPLISHED MANY THINGS!
Thank you to everyone who supported us!
● We held 8 very well-attended school council meetings and had an email list of
over 30 parents and guardians that have been engaged in school council events
over the year.
● We paid for the Graduation dinners for each of our Grade 8 graduates.
● We organized and prepared 9 hot lunch fundraisers, resulting in profits of $4153
for Irwin!
● We ensured that every student was fed at all hot lunches, regardless of participation in the fundraisers.
● We organized and facilitated a daily nutritional breakfast program for all Irwin
students.
● We secured $3350 in sponsorships from our generous community members that
paid for hot lunch expenses and allowed all profits to go straight to the school
● We served the entire school a full, complimentary Thanksgiving Feast using
some of the vegetables grown in our school gardens by our students!
● We raised $670 through the generous fundraiser from DipNDots at the Meet the
Teacher event.
● We supported our students and staff by volunteering and leading activities on
field trips, in classrooms and at special events held at Irwin, such as the Terry
Fox run and Track and Field day.
● We hosted a hot lunch fundraiser and donated $1000 to support the Huntsville
Hoyas Robotics Team travelling to the World Championships.
● We helped with the growing and planting of our vegetable and pollinator gardens.
● We provided all students with a “Poppy Project” for Remembrance Day and planted a
new poppy patch at Irwin together.
● We served the entire school a free kidcutterie lunch on Track and Field Day and
brought the local firetruck for the traditional soak down!
● We raised $587.08 through poinsettia sales.
● We supported families with clothing and Hallowe’en costume exchanges at Irwin.
We purchased replacement gold jerseys for our Irwin athletes.
● We represented Irwin at 4 DSC-PIC meetings with TLDSB Directors and
Superintendents and other TLDSB school council chairs.
● We used a $500 PEG grant and secured another $583 PRO grant for parent
engagement and hosted a free BBQ and Time Capsule event for all families.
● We repaired the Centennial Cairn of 1967 and added a Time Capsule to be
opened in 2050.
● We raised $861.65 at our Christmas Concert Bake Sale.
● We purchased two new soccer posts and nets for a second soccer pitch at Irwin.
● We paid for Aubrey Noronha from Hello Hope to share his anti-racism
presentation with grades 4-8 and at a parent event.
● We volunteered and supported fundraisers for the Grade 7/8 trip to Montreal.
● We organized with other local schools, provided 84 volunteers, and raised a total
of $34,379 ($5730 each!) through the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign.
● We provided $100 for each classroom to purchase necessary crafting or other
supplies not covered by their budgets.
● We asked students and staff for other wishlist items not mentioned above and
supported by buying: hockey helmets, primary grades learning tools, a sandbox,
a picnic table, seeds and soil for the garden, kitchen supplies and more!
● THANK YOU EVERYONE! WHAT A GREAT YEAR AT IRWIN!!!
Treasure Report – Nicole:
- End of year treasurers report is attached.
- Funds from Tim Horton’s Cookie Campaign have not yet been received ($5,730).
- Account does not reflect $2,600 debit for soccer posts, sandbox ($400), picnic
table ($360), or $100 per classroom that has been approved.
Next hot lunch: - June 18th doing a BBQ to use up leftovers from parent engagement night.
Wish List: - Money has been set aside and approved for: $100 per classroom, flooring for
kinderland structure, sandbox for playground and picnic table for intermediates. - 1 Sandbox (16” x 16” x 6”) approx. $400
- 1 Picnic Table approx. $340
- Mark Boothby is quoting for the ground floor work to be finished for the outdoor
structure. - Motioned by Sarah Roberts, Seconded by Patti Blundell and approved by all: 2
Folding Tables for school council to use for events and hot lunches. $150
Link:
Irwin Memorial Volunteer Sheet
- Check it out for watering the garden.
Upcoming events:
Irwin MPS Volunteer Appreciation Day!
When: June 20th
Time: 8:50am
Where: Irwin Gym
Disk golf event through the library.
August 20th - Need volunteers
- Parent council sponsorship?
Next year thoughts (2025-2026):
- Google drive has been set up with council info and resources.
- List of positions and responsibilities shared below for consideration for next year.
- Thanksgiving 2025: yes from Arrowhead! Any other ideas?
- Mark Rover to take a picture of the whole school?
List of Parent Council Positions for consideration:
Chair
Prepares agendas and chairs the monthly council meetings
Writes a monthly blurb for the Irwin newsletter
Attends (or tries to) the 4 tldsb district council meetings with other chairs from all tlsdbs
schools (online Zoom meetings)
Works with the Principal on ideas and events.
Speaks on behalf of the council when needed.
Submits council spending/fundraising and activity reports to TLDSB
Takes the lead on Irwin family events, and organizes the volunteers.
Supports all other council roles as much as possible.
Co-Chair
Supports chair and steps in to cover any of the chair duties if they are not able to do
something.
Treasurer
Provides updated financial reports at our meetings
Collects monies raised by fundraising and fills out deposit forms for the school secretary
Secretary
Takes notes at council meetings
Writes up the minutes of the meetings, shares with Erin and members for approval.
Hot lunch lead. Needs food handler course
Plans and advertises our monthly hot lunches
Looks for sponsors.
Organizes the volunteers for the event
Buys all the food and supplies needed
Is on-site with food handler certificate for all events
Hot lunch co-lead needs food handler course
Supports the lead
Breakfast club lead food handler course
Orders/buys all breakfast program food weekly
Organizes a prep and serve schedule of volunteers
Fundraiser lead
Organizes our fundraising efforts which include bake sales, bbqs, poinsettia sales etc.
Grants lead
Sources and writes applications for grants
$ 4,875.69
Deposits
October Hot Lunch – Turkey Soup $ 495.00
less expenses $ 55.82 $ 439.18
October Hot Lunch Sponsor $ 200.00
November Hot Lunch – Spaghetti and Meatballs $ 584.00
Less expenses $ 219.42 $ 364.58
November Hot lunch sponsor $ 200.00
December Hot Lunch – Tacos $ 477.75
Less Expenses $ 301.83 $ 175.92
December Hot lunch sponsor $ 200.00
January Hot Lunch – Chkn on a Bun $ 506.00
Less Expenses $ 252.79
Less School Cash Online Fee $ 13.80 $ 239.41
January Hot Lunch Sponsor $ 200.00
February Hot Lunch – Mac and Cheese $ 550.00
Less Supplies $ 245.94
Less School Cash Online Fee $ 15.75 $ 288.31
February Hot Lunch Sponsor $ 200.00
March Hot Lunch Nachos $ 520.00
Less Supplies $ 339.47
Less School Cash Online Fee $ 14.11 $ 166.42
March Hot Lunch Sponsor $ 100.00
April Hot Lunch Meatball Subs $ 475.00
Less Supplies $ 307.85 $ 167.15
April Hot Lunch Sponsor $ 200.00
May Hot Lunch Mac and Cheese $ 471.25
Less Supplies $ 152.72 $ 318.53
May Hot Lunch Donation $ 400.00
Less Misc. Hot Lunch Supplies -$ 334.63
Misc Hot Lunch Sponsors $ 750.00
Total Hot Lunches $ 4,274.87
Fundraisers
Pointsettia Fundraiser $ 1,779.00
Cost to Bradford Greenhouse LTD $ 1,191.92 $ 587.08
Dippin, Dots Fundraiser $ 670.00
Bake Sale Christmas Concert $ 861.65
Total Fundraisers $ 2,118.73
Add: HST Reimbursement $ 96.55
TOTAL DEPOSITS
LESS
Year end faculty gifts $ 72.28
Cedar Canoe books – Battle of the books $ 125.00
Transfer for ’25/’26 Graduation $ 960.00
Fanshaw Poppy Project $ 63.56
Thanksgiving Feast $ 425.68
Hello Hope Guest Speaker $ 2,683.75
Christmas Bake Sale Supplies $ 54.62
Outdoor Helmets $ 400.00
Kinderland Dollhouse $ 229.99
Wishlist Items – Education Station $ 423.08
Robotics Team Donation $ 500.00
Dishwasher Soap $ 28.24
Yellow shirts for Sports Teams /Garden supplies/smile cookie flyers $ 340.21
Track and Field Snacks $ 61.92
TOTAL DISPURSEMENTS $ 6,368.33
Balance as of June 12, 2025
$ 6,490.15
$ 4,997.51
