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School Council

Your Voice Matters at Stewarttown

Be Part of the Conversation The Stewarttown School Council is a partnership between families and the school. We are a team of parents and guardians working together to support student achievement and well-being. By joining, you help shape the learning experience for every child in our building.

How You Can Get Involved There are two ways to participate, and both are equally valued:

·  Become a Member (Elected): Each fall, parents can run for elected positions to hold a formal role on the Council for the school year. Look for information about this at the beginning of the school year. 

·  Attend a Meeting (Open to All): You do not need to hold a position to make a difference! All parents and guardians are welcome to attend our meetings to listen, learn about what is happening at the school, and share ideas. Look for information about the dates and times of our School Council meetings in The Buzz weekly newsletter. We usually meet on the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Stewarttown Library.

Resources For more details on roles and responsibilities, please view the School Council Handbook on the HDSB School Council webpage.

 

Attendees

Trevor Dykstra, Maryam Lenz, Ashley Preston, Shalline Tokarsky, Richard
Scott, Marco Sintra, Meghan McCracken
Regrets: Karly Kirkwood

Agenda Topics:


Reviewed School Council Objectives & Constitution 2026-2027 Roles Confirmed:
- Treasurer: Shaline
- Secretary: Meghan
- Voting Members: Maryam, Ashley, Richard, Marco, Karley
- Trevor will run meetings
- If anyone interested in Chair/Co-Chair or PIC Rep, please notify Trevor

Meeting dates to be confirmed for December, February, April & June (will avoid
Park Meetings & Richard to confirm Joseph Gibbons meetings). Meetings to be
live 6:00, with a virtual option if needed by a member.

-Trevor will send meeting agenda about 1 week in advance. Any meeting topic
requests send to Trevor.


President’s Report

-12 classes – 4 per grade
-Teams, clubs & field trips up and running:
- Open House Sept 17 th
- Picture Day Sept 23 rd
- Food Days & Popcorn started last week
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Sept 30 th
- Cross Country Oct 5 th
- Terry Fox walk/run Oct 9 th
- School wide trip to Run, Terry Run Oct 15 th
- School Swag available for purchase until Oct 9 th (from new vendor this year)
- IEPs go home on Oct 19th

 

Stewarttown EQAO from Grade 6 2025-2026

The 2025-2026 year EQAO results were strong with great improvement in math3.

Treasurer’s Update:

-$2,818 School Council Funds from prior year
-$698 PIC Funds from prior year
-$100 set aside from school open house refreshments
-$500 set aside from delaying Spring Food Truck

Fundraising:
Fundraising Activities Discussion:


- School has taken back the Hot Meals
- Snack table was biggest item, but need to go through School Cash Online; needs to be executable without additional supervision
- Lumberhead Fundraiser in the past did well (same vendor that provides the snack table popcorn)
- Homework: Bring other fundraising ideas for next meeting

 

Fundraising Ask List:


- Blacktop painting refresh
- Recess Equipment
- Other items to be confirm by Trevor from Teachers
- Angel Fund (but often covered by Student Parliament fundraising & Denis
Blake Halton Learning Foundation Fund)

 

Next Meeting:


-Date to be Confirmed by Trevor
-Follow-up Topics: Fundraising activities & confirmation of items to be fundraised

 

 

 

Stewarttown School Council Meeting Summary

 

Date: May 4th, 2026

1. Staffing & Announcements

  • Returns: Mr. Hughes has returned to staff.

  • Retirements: Long-time teachers Mr. Britton and Ms. Jolly are retiring.

  • New Hires: Two teachers from W.I. Dick have been hired: Katie (taking over as SERT) and Emma.

  • Recognition: The last day of school will include a farewell assembly for the retirees.

 

2. Financial Updates & Approvals

  • Current Balance: $4,950.00 remains (after the $1,500 allocation for grad shirts).

  • Approved Funding: * Grade 8 Graduation T-shirts.

    • Refreshments (water, juice, cookies) for the Grade 5 Parent Night.

  • Pending Votes (Via Email): * Sponsoring snacks (water, fruit snacks, etc.) for the Grade 8 return trip from Blue Mountain.

    • Funding for Grade 8 graduation party refreshments.

    • Funding for the Grade 8 Wonderland bus.

 

3. Technology Update (Chromebooks)

  • The Crisis: 90% of the school's devices (200 units) will no longer be supported by next year.

  • Plan: Replacements will be purchased as current devices fail; Council will need to begin long-term planning for these costs.

 

4. Upcoming June Activities

  • Trips: Blue Mountain (Grade 8), Wonderland (Grade 8), and McMichael Art Gallery (Grade 6).

  • School Events: Soccer tournament, Pride event, Dodgeball tournament (proceeds to HLF), and the installation of the new projector.

  • Rescheduled: The Food Truck Event has been moved to October 2026.

Action Items
Task Responsibility
Email Vote: Approve/deny Grade 8 Blue Mountain trip snacks Council Members
Email Vote: Determine funding for Wonderland bus & Grad party Council Members
Procurement: Purchase Grad shirts and Grade 5 night refreshments Treasurer/Lead
Event Planning: Begin preliminary prep for October Food Truck event Council Committee
Meeting Schedule: Confirm if a formal June meeting is required Ruby/Trevor

 

 

Stewarttown School Council Meeting Summary

Date: March 2, 2026

Next Meeting: April 13, 2026

Bullying Prevention & Student Wellbeing
  • Survey Insights: Recent data shows students feel least safe in washrooms. In response, staff have increased monitoring, which has already successfully reduced incidents.
  • Target Goals: The school aims for a 5% increase in student belonging and a 5% decrease in incidents by next year.
  • Inclusivity Fix: Following feedback that the February "Candy Grams" felt exclusive to those who didn't receive one, the school is redesigning the activity for next year to be more inclusive.
  • Upcoming: An assembly is scheduled for next Thursday to clarify definitions of bullying and the school’s Code of Conduct.
Spring Event: Food Trucks & Concert (April 30)
  • Format: Council officially approved a "free-flow" format. Families can visit food trucks and watch the concert performances at their own pace rather than following a rigid schedule.
  • Food Trucks: There will be three trucks total. Council voted to fully sponsor the ice cream truck, providing one free ticket per attendee.
  • Outreach: The council is considering inviting Grade 5 families from feeder schools to attend the event to help with their transition to Stewarttown.
Financials & Approvals
  • Equipment: The new projector has been ordered and is arriving soon.
  • Pending Votes: Cost breakdowns for Grade 8 Grad Shirts and the Wonderland trip bus will be shared via email for a final vote.
Action Items

Task

Responsibility

Save the Date: Send out April 30th event notice

Ruby / Trevor

Food Truck Lead: Volunteer needed to coordinate vendors

Parent Volunteer

Ice Cream: Contact vendor to secure date

Parent Volunteer

Grad/Wonderland: Send cost details for email vote

Ruby / Trevor

Permits: Finalize food truck permit requirements

Ruby / Trevor

 

 

Stewarttown School Council Meeting Summary

Date: January 12, 2026 Next Meeting: March 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Administrator’s Report
  • Key Dates: Report cards go home Feb. 17. Grade 8 grad photos are Feb. 11. School trip to Steelheads game is March 4.
  • EQAO Results: Scores remain above provincial averages, though 6% below the HDSB average.
    • Strategy: The school is returning to "basics" in math and language. Support staff/high school teachers will visit in February to mentor staff on Grade 6–8 math and guided reading for older students.
  • Bullying Prevention: The plan will be posted to the updated school website on Jan. 19 and presented at the March meeting.
Financial Updates & Approvals
  • The Gym Screen Project: The estimated cost has jumped from $2k to over $10k due to electrical requirements and specialized "asbestos-safe" drilling protocols. Tracy is leading the procurement.
  • Wish List Approvals: Council agreed to fund:
    • Gym equipment (volleyballs, basketballs, badminton birdies, etc.).
    • Calculators.
    • "Forest of Reading" program for Intermediates.
    • Grade 8 Graduation t-shirts (approx. $1,100).
  • Revenue: The snack table continues to perform well, netting approx. $1,500/month.
Spring Event Planning (Food Trucks)
  • Concept: A community "food truck" night with activities like beach volleyball.
  • Vendors: Considering Alijandro’s Kitchen (Mexican/Palestinian) and a dessert option (70 Below or Whimsy’s).
  • Logistics: Trevor and Tracy to confirm permits and costs. The event will include a pre-order system and a rain date.
Trustee Report (Jean Grey)
  • Budget Crisis: HDSB is facing a $7.1 million deficit. Halton receives some of the lowest per-pupil funding in Ontario, which has not kept pace with inflation or WSIB/cyber-security costs.
  • Advocacy: Parents are encouraged to attend the information session on February 11, 2026, to help advocate for "Fair Funding."
  • Labor: Note that next year is a contract year; potential strikes or loss of extracurriculars are a concern.
Action Items:
  • Trevor/Tracy: Contact food truck vendors regarding permits and pricing.
  • Tracy: Continue obtaining firm quotes for the gym screen and specialized contractor.
  • Ruby: Available for questions regarding the Bullying Prevention Plan once posted.

Stewarttown School Council Meeting Summary

Date: December 1, 2025 Next Meeting: January 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Administrator’s Report
  • Upcoming Grade 8 Dates: Course selections are due Dec. 18. A trip to GDHS to see the play "Boxes" is scheduled for Dec. 3.
  • December Events: A busy month ahead featuring the Five Days of Giving (Dec. 8–12), North Pole Party (Dec. 12), and the Winter Dance (Dec. 18).
  • Early Dismissal: School closes 90 minutes early (1:20 p.m.) on Dec. 19.

 

Bullying Prevention & Wellbeing
  • WellBeeing Team: Ruby introduced the committee of staff and students focused on mental health and anti-bullying.
  • Action: Two parent council members volunteered to join the team to provide a parent perspective.
  • Consistency: The school is using "Community Circles" every Monday to ensure all students and staff use the same language to address unkindness.

 

Financial Updates
  • Revenue: The snack table remains a steady fundraiser, generating approximately $1,500 per month.
  • Purchases & Approvals: * New PA System: Successfully purchased from Costco for $1,200 (under the $1,500 budget).
    • Projector Screen: Council approved an initial allocation of $2,000 toward a new electronic screen. Trevor is sourcing quotes.
    • PIC Grant: Erin will lead the application for the $500 Parent Involvement Committee grant to support the Spring Event.
  • Wish List & Tech: The school is currently funding most wish-list items (calculators/science supplies) via hot lunch revenue. Council will revisit Chromebook funding toward the end of the school year.
Spring Event Planning (Target: April 30, 2026)
  • The Concept: A community event featuring food trucks to "piggyback" on the Spring Concert.
  • Activity Ideas: A parent-student beach volleyball tournament was proposed.
  • Logistics: * Discussion on whether trucks should serve before or after the concert.
    • Potential vendors mentioned: Briskit BBQ, Whimsy Street Treats, Beavertails, and Chain Smoker.
    • Action Item: Trevor and Tracy to investigate Board and Town permits. All members to research food truck pricing/options.

 

Action Items:
  • Erin: Complete/confirm the PIC grant application.
  • Trevor: Finalize quotes for the electronic projector screen.
  • All Members: Research food truck options and pricing for the next meeting.

 

September 13, 2023

Regular School Council Meeting

Agenda

Minutes