Council Meeting Wednesday, September 13th 2017

Raymond Elementary School Council Meeting Wednesday, September 13th 2017 9:00am

In attendance:
Jacquie Fleming, Bailey Bennett, Connie Shurtz, Christal Bevans, Clarissa Foss, Graham Ruttan, Chansy Homan, Meagan Jones, Jamie Jensen, Cheri Gilbert, Marlin Hogg, Elaine Ross, Rachel Miller, Alana Sala, Kimberley Shakespeare, Jennifer Bennett, Cara Hartley, Natalie Ball, Tasha Reeve, J’Ana Smith
Communication - Graham Ruttan

• Westwind Division has implemented a best practice model on communication within social media. An increase in social media presence needed - especially on Facebook. Across the division the majority of people are on Facebook and check it at least weekly.
  
• This fall new school website was released using Square Space platform which connects directly with Facebook and Twitter. RES is doing extremely well in utilizing this tool and is gaining more followers.
  
  
• Why Facebook page instead of closed/open groups - communication is a corporate voice, RES as an entity, not a single voice. Allows answer to be public, not to a subset of parents who happen to be in the group. Answers/messages/information is from the school directly,
  
• Going forward - move away from the groups to the single page, no need to duplicate efforts. Use general school page to relay information and improve communication. School staff are willing to coordinate school council information (requests for volunteers etc).
  
• Update to follow re. sending school emails with newsletters/information etc.
  Special presentation - Marlin Hogg
  

• New programme for staff - “Share the Load” award - doing the best for the kids - awarded to those in recognition of those going above and beyond and helping each other pull the little red wagon.
  
• Award will be monthly, one for each division. Staff will then pass it on to another staff member the following month. Recognition from peers.
  
• Focus on wellness, quit looking at the bad and lets focus on the good that is going on, because it is there.
  
• Brochures being created for parents and staff to help/encourage/support. Including lesson planning, effective homework setting, dealing with disabilities/syndromes, how to read with your child at home.
  
• Members of the council presented with a little red sneaker - encouraged to help pull the wagon, help the school in their efforts to do and be better.
  

• 28th September - Terry Fox run - Canadian artist Helen Austin will be performing for the kids @ 11am and 1pm
BBQ/Meet the Staff - Jacquie Fleming & Natalie Ball

• Very positive feedback from both staff and parents. We broke even once everything was taken into account.
  
• Suggestions for next year:
  

• -  Staff to be in classrooms the whole time to avoid rush of parents during the last hour.They can have their food in their rooms.
  
• -  Run two lines
  
• -  More hands to help
  
• -  Set the date to be announced at the AGM in June so people can plan appropriately
  
• -  Possibly do another farewell BBQ at the end of year to say goodbye to those retiring, moving
  on and grade 6s moving up
  World Teacher Day - Jacquie Fleming
  • Thursday, October 6th - use leftover chips as a treat for the teachers from the council along with a card created by Jacquie.
  Volunteers
  • 26th &27th September- Picture day, 4 volunteers needed for the am & 4 for the pm. • 24th October - picture day retakes, 2 volunteers needed
  Other business
  

• Two new board trustees are up for election in October - encourage parents to vote
  
• Representative from the school council to attend election meetings to ask questions relevant
  to RES
  Meeting adjourned until October 11th @ 8:45am