School Council

School Council Meeting

January 12th, 2026

6:30 pm – Hybrid Model – In Person at Park & Virtual

In Attendance:

Ian Clark, Morgan Priest, Karly Kirkwood, Gavin Oakes, Sara Bechberger, Prasenjit Ghosh, Diana Bruggemann

online- Bonnie Burns, Liz Cook

Agenda

Welcome, Introductions and Agenda Overview – 6:30

Review and approval of last meeting minutes - approved

Principal’s Report – 6:45

Updates: 

• Land Acknowledgement
• Annamay Pierse (Olympic swimmer) came in last Friday to give a “Growth Mindset” Presentation
• Upcoming Important Dates:
  • PD Day - Report Card Writing - Jan 26
  • Popcorn Day - Jan 30
  • Gr 4 & 5 Field Trip to First Ontario Art Centre - Feb 3
  • K Field Trip to RBG - Feb 5
  • PA Day - Feb 13
  • Family Day - Feb 16
  • Pink Shirt Day - Feb 25
  • Cookie Day - Feb 27
  • Dance-a-thon - March 12
  • Spring Break - March 16-20
  • Popcorn Day - March 26
  • Grade 5 Field Trip to Crawford Lake - March 27
  • Good Friday - April 3
  • Easter Monday - April 6
  • Popcorn Day - April 30
  • Student of Excellence Ceremony - May 7
  • Council Meeting - March 9/May 11
    

• EQAO Data: 

  • Reading in line with the Board and the Province
  • Writing went down a bit (concise kiddos, no elaboration)
  • Mathematics was above standards 

    • keep in mind…take results with a grain of salt- small cohort can give really skewed data 

     - bought the Library chairs, gym equipment, etc. with approved Council funds

• Office Reno has been completed, just waiting on cabinets. Nice open concept  

• Kindie Pen Closure due to significant branches falling

  • arborist has come and pulled down what he could 
  • the city needs to complete the project by clearing the branches near power lines 
  • pen is back open now=

• Holiday wishlist purchases

  • Math games to support engaging Math programs

• Uncle Dads Pizza

  • made $413 (minus the school cash online fee)
  • planning a google form to poll families asking if this was a hit
  • can run 2x/year - need a paper notice (not just email)

• Teacher purchase requests 

  • $250-$500 clipboards/whiteboards- council approved
  • $500 math games - council approved

Streaming License Renewal 

• • $500 approved

Trustee Education Funding Presentation - Jeanne Gray- 7:15

• Our funding situation has reached a critical point
• 7.1 million deficit, asked to clear that by the Minister of Education, which will mean cuts from other areas
• student enrollment is down (which is also tied to funding)
• Halton District School Board is always given the lowest or second lowest funding in the province
• Halton has historically done “more with less”, but that isn’t possible with the latest stats
• parents and students are going to feel the impact of this latest round of cuts
• encouraged to attend the Public and Trustees Information Sessions and spread the word so the community knows what’s happening and can try to demand more 

Fundraising Updates - 7:30

• Dance-A-Thon - March 12th 

• Each grade dances for a period
• Karly to make the letter
• Sara to make the poster  
• Purchasing LED bracelets/necklaces for each student 
• prizes to be given per class (teachers decide their criteria)
• Make a letter for the school to fundraise (date to go out to school?)

• Fun Day update

• Gavin - Food - Maple Lodge BBQ contact shared
• Sara - Games and Prizes - waiting until April to organize 
• Bonnie and Kaitlyn - Auction - Solicit Leaders (delegate places to each member to help) 
  

Seed Fundraiser

• runs February 16th - March 2nd
• put out once it opens
• aiming to be distributed by end of March

PIC Update

• Mad Scientist booked for February 26th (trying to change the date as Volleyball is also this day)  
• families to arrive at 6pm
• one 45 minute presentation (6:15-7:00 in the gym)
• two fun stations booked for afterwards, probably need one more 
• Reminder to move away from ‘PIC night’ terminology, call it ‘Park Family Night’

Next Meeting Date: Monday, March 9th