- Date: November 4, 2024
- Location: BAPS Library
- Time: 7.00pm – 8.30pm
In attendance:
School Staff: Nadia Russiello, Voula Divetta, Melissa Doucas
Parents: Deepshikha Swaroop, Mounika Sourial, Tharshini Tharmalingam, Carmen Lam, Ashley Bebbington
Regrets: Sushma Karikondala, Elida Pour Kian, Sonia Khera, Shauna Rezka
1. Welcome:
- Meeting began at 7:11 PM
2. Principal’s Report:
A quick report on the various activities within the school was given by Nadia:
- Parent teacher interviews are next week on Thursday and Friday.
- Progress report will be sent home electronically on November 8.
- There are many fundraisers happening for the grade 8 graduation and trip (TBD) such as popcorn and cookies sales, fall dance;
- EQAO: results were shared at this meeting and will be shared in a bulletin to the community. Math is an area to improve in.
- Mme Bereas returned to BAPS this week from leave
- Family portal: families can access all information regarding their child soon. It will be one spot that will contain all documentation relating to their child such as report cards.
- Council members received the Principal Profile for BAPS. Council is asked to make any changes and submit during the January meeting.
3. Teacher’s Report: Mme Doucas, Mme Khera, and Mme Rezka
- Food drive is officially on with the Richmond Hill Food bank. School is collecting non-perishable items. We are anticipating an extension as more students bring in items near the due date.
- BAPS has partnered with the Richmond Hill Food Bank for our Fall Community Food Drive. If you have non-perishable food items to donate, please send these to school with your child(ren) as part of this donation drive (Oct 28 - Nov 19)
- Beaver Computing Competition - All BAPS Grades 5 and 6 (Nov 5) and interested Grades 7-8 (Nov 8) students will have the experience of writing in this contest. (Thank you to Mme Khera and her student team for helping to run this activity.)
- This week is both Holocaust Education Week and Treaties Recognition Week. Classes will engage in such learning all week. There are announcements and displays all week highlighting these initiatives. Please ask your children about the conversations and learning taking place at school.
- Grade 8 - Take Your Kid To Work Day/Take Grade 8s to High School Day - Nov 6th
- Our students are visiting Langstaff and Thornlea SS. They will learn about those schools, meet some of the teachers and student leaders, but they will also learn about Grade 9 in general - what the different classes are like, how the days are structured, extra-curricular opportunities that are available.
- Intermediate Fall Dance - Nov 8th 12:45-2:00 pm. Tickets/Entry: $2 or 2 items for the Food Drive / or 1 item and $1. Snacks and drinks will be sold there.
- Scholastic French Book Fair will run November 11-15. Classes will be scheduled for preview and purchase times.
- Monday, November 11 is Remembrance Day. Students and staff will acknowledge the day and poppies will be available. Donations towards the poppies are greatly appreciated and can be arranged through the school or your child(ren)’s homeroom teachers. All donations go directly to the Canadian Royal Legion. There are announcements to remind students as well.
- Remembrance Day Assembly (10:20-11:05am): Students in the Glee Club and the Junior Choir will perform, as well as students in Mme Aminzadeh and Mme Steenburgh’s grade 4 classes. Mme Rezka’s and Mme Nitcheu’s grades 5 and 6 students will recite In Flanders Fields, and there are Grade 7 and 8 MCs during this assembly.
- In addition to the assembly, the whole school is participating in creating a Remembrance Day display in the front foyer.
- As well, there is a contest that is run by the Legion - Students may enter posters or writing submissions (Grade 4 to 8) or videos (Grades 7-8) on the theme of Remembrance. These are due by November 29. ● Photo Retake Day and Class Photo Day - Nov 12th.
- Extracurricular activities:
- BAPS had an outstanding 19 runners at the Cross-Country regionals event. Go, Blizzard, go!
- Our Intermediate Flag Football Team coached by Mme Wong and Mme Lee did well in their tournament and more importantly they showed true sportsmanship and a positive attitude.
- Intermediate girls and boys volleyball - the BAPS intermediate teams have been working hard to prepare for their upcoming area tournaments. Thank you to Mme Harper and Mme Wong for coaching our teams. Area tournament is Nov 14th and 18th.
- Dance Club is on the go - Thank you to Mme Steenburgh, Mme Aminzadeh, and Mme Rezka for overseeing this club.
- Grade 6 Badminton Club has commenced. Thanks to M. Ramde for running this club for the kids.
- Junior Arts and Crafts club had their first meeting. Thanks to Mme Nitcheu for organizing the club. ■ Junior Choir and Intermediate Glee Club have commenced rehearsals for the Remembrance Day assembly. Thank you, Mme Doucas, for arranging these performances for us.
- Reach for the Top trivia club (Grades 7-8) is starting up next week
- Student Leadership:
- Community Spirit - has been working on the Food Drive and are planning some spirit weeks. They are also creating mini presentations for Grades 4 to 6 classes as to how they can participate on Student Leadership Committee
- Equity and Inclusivity have created displays and posters for Latin Heritage Month, LGBT Heritage Month- highlighting contributions by some members of the community, Islamic Heritage Month, Diwali, and have started some work on Holocaust Education Week, Treaties Recognition Week and Hindu Heritage Month)
- Fundraising - Working on posters and advertising for the Intermediate Dance, Spirit Wear, Grad fundraisers like cookies and popcorn. They will be selling snacks at the dance.
- Fundraising and Community Spirit are delivering the lunches as well as the fundraising snacks
- Yearbook has been taking photos of events, practices, clubs and special days such as Halloween.
- Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds organize and deliver the class morning snack bins. They are creating displays and announcements for their initiatives such as anti-bullying campaigns. They are working on some activities for our Mental Health family engagement evening. Some students on the committee will be attending a Mental Health Symposium on November 29 at Thornhill Community Centre
- Members of the committees will be participating as Student Ambassadors at Student-Led Conferences/PT Interviews on Thursday and Friday
- The Eco Club organized Take Me Outside Day on October 23. Classes rotated through 4 stations outside - they played at the park, danced, noodle tag and even did some crafts. Thanks to Ms. Steenburgh for this fun day!
4. Treasurer’s Report:
- Preliminary budget: expecting $26000 from the three hot lunches; will potentially add more options
- After expenses are proposed, we will have spent $23500. Funds left will be -$920.
- We will meet again in February to reassess and re-discuss.
- Deepshikha began the vote and 5 members voted in favor of the proposed budget.
5. Fundraising/Lunch programs updates
- Parent volunteers are needed!
- Voula suggested that we can recruit parents during parent teacher interviews next week.
- Pamphlets or posters should be visible around the school to recruit more parent volunteers.
- MJPS is exploring Dominos pasta options. can revisit next term. This will take us to having hot lunches five days of the week.
- School will check with Carmela to check the survey sent to parents last year regarding interest.
- In honor of Hindu heritage Month, it was brought up that someone can come in to teach dances or yoga. Council will inquire further to seek someone from the vendor approved list.
- Melissa: Any donations are always appreciated for the display case
6. The Central School Council Forum
- Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Richmond Hill High School.
- 3 council members registered instead of 2.
7. Pro Grants
- Specific criteria: parents can enroll in School Cash online for various workshops.
- There are already a few resources ready: Meditation session hosted by a Monk, A YRDSB psychologist
- School will need to let the community know 14 days prior to event
- Deepshikha will share onext week potential proposal, regarding potential presenters, to share content and to filter presentations out. She will also use last year’s breakdown to get an idea of how to approach this years’.
- School can pay with school funds first, if grant is not available yet
- Nadia will also connect with school’s social worker
- Council agreed to move date to December 10
- Council agreed that the word ‘Mind’ can deter parents from coming as it is related to mental health
- Potential title: Pathways to Wellness
- Council to also promote during parent teacher interviews. Announcements will also be added to the Blizzard.
8. Adjourns
Meeting adjourned at 8.29pm
Department