Call to order K. Karkanas
- Call to Order -we have enough votes for quorum tonight
- Approval of minutes from December 19, 2024
Meeting started at 7:04 p.m.
MOTION #1: Approval of minutes from December 19, 2024
For: ALL
Against: None
Motion Passed
Principal's Report C. Barton
- Land Acknowledgement - shared the version read for junior/intermediate division
- School & Board Status - Status Quo, no news
- Survey to Parents on Behalf of Council - agreed to keep it anonymous - Craig needs link to send out
- Updates
- Feb 27, 2025 is Ballantrae Night with Stouffville Spirit
- Any Ballantrae student is able to attend the Spirit game with donation of non-perishable food items
- Craig will look into student interest for singing O'Canada, no choir currently, but hoping for enough student interest
- Healthy Hunger
- Starting Feb 4 no Boston Pizza but to Pita Pit
- Families who ordered ahead of time have been given Healthy Hunger credit
- Decision was made due to low numbers on Boston Pizza
- We are out of delivery range for Swiss Chalet and Harvey's
Fundraising Plan Status C. Barton
- Teacher "Wish List" update - we get billed when the items arrive and the school but school has not received French items yet
- Cost Sharing - Craig to send out itemized list tomorrow - looking at 10 Chromebooks, TV and stand for library and an iPad
- Microphone - board suggested one for approx $2000 but Craig not comfortable spending that much money for a single item
- Any new items to add - kindergarten looking for some subsidy for an upcoming trip to the zoo - Craig to follow up with itemized list of costs for next meeting - we will vote once we have numbers available - Craig also shared hard copies of play synopsis and information from School Spirit
Financials J. Hackert
- Review of current financials
- Since last meeting earned $12 from a Kernels deposit and paid Cindy back
- Kernels profit of $458.29 total and will go up a bit more once Diana deposits the roughly $40 cash from Dec meeting
- McMillan's commission $105.90
- FunScrip cheque came in for $304.02
- Current balance of $4931.03
- Not a lot of transactions this month
Teacher Report S. McKnight
- Junior Volleyball finished
- Girls 4th, not sure about boys
- Knights of Columbus
- Grades 4-8 and one student had a tie breaker
- Basketball
- Intermediate boys and girls
- Upcoming Play
- 15 roles for on-stage with opportunities for making props and costumes
- For grades 5-8
- Lunar Parade for kindergarten
- January 29th, just within the school
- Floor Hockey
- Separate divisions for 1-3, 4-6 and 7-8
- Runs everyday but with different groups
- Lego Robotics
- Grade 5-8 with school-based comp to start
- Area competition in February
- Ice Hockey
- Unfortunately ice time is a premium or already booked so it will be a short season
- Had 1 try-out already
- Team has been made
- Cost of approx $65 per student which covers try-outs, tournament and game
- Exhibition game Feb 10 at 7:00 a.m. in Aurora, the day before the tournament
- First game at 8:30 at Magna Centre on Feb 11
- Everyone plays 2 randomly selected games; 3 groups of 6, the more they win the more they play
- Borrowing jerseys from the high school
- Art Hub Club
- Fridays at morning recess for grades 1-3
- Knights in the Classroom
- Feb 7
- For grade 4s
- Upcoming Career Fair
- McKnight and Lee (gr 6) working on this
- Gr 6s have been using My Blue Print (online program) to explore interests and careers
- Students have to research a job they are interested in and create a presentation
- Gr 7s and 8s will be invited to explore during the fair
Council Business Kristy
- PRO Grant Speakers:
- Paul Davis is available but not until the 2025-2026 school year.
- Indu conducted a lot of research (thank you!).
- Captains and Poets is about Social Emotional Learning and Inclusion and they have a program for the kids and families.
- Would have kids in the gym and parents in the library; hoping this will increase family engagement.
- Program is called "Fostering Resilience in Ourselves and Our Children."
- Cost: $1495.00 altogether.
- PRO Grant covers $800.
- Hoping council to supplement.
- 60-minute workshop, with a buffer before and after.
- Looking at a Thursday in May, doors open at 4:45 p.m. and starting at 5:00 p.m.
- Will need volunteers and possibly grade 7 and 8 students to help as well.
- School to provide art supplies for activities.
- Options for assemblies at school during the day along with the evening portion is approx $3200.
- Kristy and Indu to reach out and see about a hybrid option for families as well.
- Topics include "Being Your Best Self" or "Discovering the Leader Within."
- Depending on our fundraising budget, we may look into the whole package.
- Adding the daytime package will increase student engagement.
- Kristy will organize an online vote after Professor Jamz funds come in.
- Need to make a decision before the next meeting.
- Craig, Indu, and Kristy to meet over the next week or so to fill out PRO Grant paperwork.
- Social Media Update (Shannon):
- First video could advertise Spirit Night.
- Start advertising after Dance-A-Thon.
- Have launched Instagram page and have 5 followers (3 of which are on Council).
- Would like to share more content but also need to think about how to get people to engage.
- Discovered a second BPS page on Instagram with 700 followers that is not our page (BPS_Parents) and is public.
- @BallantraeParentCouncil is private.
- Craig to encourage teachers to include Parent Council dates and our handle in their newsletters like Mrs. Ivie did this past month in her monthly newsletter.
- Potential to advertise our Instagram at PRO Grant night and Book Fair, especially if we donate a prize.
- Next Council Meeting:
- Scheduled for Feb 27 but that is now Ballantrae night at Stouffville Spirit.
- Will meet at 5:00 p.m. at school so we are all free by 6:30 p.m. to get to the game.
- Doing this allows a hybrid version to be offered, or totally virtual if needed.
Motion #2: Move meeting to Feb 27 at 5:00
In Favour: All
Against: None Motion Passed
'FUN Raising' Planning/Acti on Kristy
- Dance-A-Thon - Jessica:
- Dance is January 28th.
- Money due by January 27.
- Last year we raised approx $5000, down from the year before at $10,000.
- Jessica has enough volunteers for the day and will provide the float.
- Little Caesars:
- Start March 14 and last order date March 31.
- Delivery to school April 17, 2025.
- Will discuss volunteers for pick-up at our next council meeting.
- Need volunteers for about 4 hours after delivery.
- Potential to send small orders with kids on the day depending on the size of orders.
- Pick-up until 5:00 p.m. on April 17 at the school.
- June BBQ:
- Considering karaoke station where kids sign up on the fly and sing for the crowd.
- Jessica has karaoke mic and speakers.
- Kristy arranging firetruck and ambulance.
- Magician/bubble maker was a big hit -> Kristy to reach out again and see what options are available.
- Soccer baseball, plate race, bean bag toss?
- Tattoos like last year.
- Jessica to book the ice cream truck.
- Do any of the students have things they could sell like they used to at George's ice cream store (Craig to look into possibility of this happening).
- Indu looking to book Mr. Corn food truck; very, very limited orders on site, will have to commit to pre-orders.
- Craig to send out date confirmation.
- Will need volunteers for stations.
- Family Movie Night:
- Hosting on March 6 at 6:00 p.m.
- Pizza wasn't popular but the popcorn was.
- Jessica and Cindy to arrange pick-up for 4 Mondays after the March Break.
- Craig to set up seating for movie night and then following 4 weeks at school.
- Order seating closes on Monday, March 3, 2025.
- When we decide the movie, please let teachers know so they don't show it in class.
- Still looking for a good film to show.
Meeting Adjourned Kristy
- Assign Roles:
- Kristy to start a Google Doc and share with the council.
- This will help keep track of dates and notes for the BBQ.
- Using the Google Doc will allow for better communication instead of an email chain.
Meeting Adjourned 8:23 p.m.
Minutes taken by: _Maggie Kobold
Minutes approved by: _lndu Bains_& Kristy Karkanas
Department