Thursday, November 12, 2009

PSSC Meeting Minutes - September 28, 2009

Nashwaaksis Middle School

Attendees:

Andrew Rowe Alan Atkins Tracy Allen Gary Gallant Mitch Claybourn
Shauna Miller Pat Campbell Anne Small Heather Touchie-Blakely Sherry Thomson
Tracey Grattan John MacKenzie Don Richardson Carol Coleman (DEC)
Regrets:
n/a
Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm
Welcome/Introductions

Welcome was extended to our new PSSC member, Don Richardson and our guest NMS Vice-Principal Gary Gallant.
Call for Agenda Items/Approval of Agenda

Proposed Agenda:
• Election of PSSC Chairperson & Secretary
• D.E.C Report – Carol Coleman, D.E.C. Rep
• Principal’s Report
• Friends of NMS Update
• D.E.C. Supplementary Funding

Additional Agenda items:
• Ease of Purchasing Subsidized Milk
• Impact of Six Day Cycle on Physical Education
• Foul Language

Motion to approve agenda by Tracy, seconded by ?
Election of PSSC Chairperson & Secretary

Mitch Claybourn elected chairperson by acclimation.
Tracy Allen elected chairperson by acclimation.
D.E.C Report – Carol Coleman, D.E.C. Rep
Student Voice
Carol announced that Mike Jacobs (FHS) has been elected as a student representative to server with the D.E.C. for a 1 year term.
PSSC Orientation
This year’s PSSC Orientation will take place on October 22, 2009. Further details were to be announced when available.
Supplementary Funding
Request to the D.E.C. for supplementary funding are due on October 15th.
D.E.C. Supplementary Funding

All agreed that a request for funding be submitted to redesign the school website. Mitch, Alan & Tracy agreed to work as a subcommittee to prepare & submit this request, with assistance from Gary, who is involved in supporting the current website.
Principal’s Report
School Improvement Plan (SIP)
Alan reported that the PD Day on November 12th will provide insight into developing our new SIP & setting some SMART goals. He expects the SIP to have primarily an academic focus, based on current provincial & district priorities.
Soccer Fields
The two lower soccer fields are closed for repair.
Morning Traffic Patterns
Alan explained that he received a call from the District regarding concerns raised about morning traffic congestion on Carrington Lane. The first attempt at rectifying this situation involved both the bus & car traffic proceeding around to the front of the school. This caused extreme congestion & confusion in the traffic circle at the front of the school. The current solution is to have all bus traffic, except special needs buses, stop by the pool & use the parking lot to turn around. Car traffic continues to be directed to the front of the school.

Concern was raised by parents that there is now traffic congestion & confusion on Fulton Avenue at the end of the school driveway. Several proposals for managing this congestion were raised but these require coordination with the city & police.

Action Item: Mitch will invite a representative from the police and the city councilor for the school zone to attend a PSSC meeting to discuss this concern about school traffic patterns.

Concern was raised over students walking into the school in the morning along the school driveway and the lack of sidewalk. It was reiterated that the PSSC has requested that the jersey barriers be extended along the length of the driveway. Alan indicated that this request has been passed on to the district but no funding is available at this time.

Action Item: Mitch will invite Wanda Bauer to attend a future PSSC meeting to discuss this request for barriers along the school driveway.

Action Item: All PSSC members are requested to contribute ideas to Mitch for ensuring the continued safety of students walking along the school driveway.
Meet the Teacher
The school Meet the Teacher was held on September 23, 2009. One PSSC member suggested that they found the team presentation approach much more beneficial than visiting individual teachers, mostly due to time constraints.
Events in the School Calendar
School Terry Fox Walk – September 25, 2009
French Book Fair – September 29 – October 1, 2009
Magazine Campaign – starts September 29, 2009
School Safety Week – October 5 – 9, 2009
Literacy Support
Annette Stehouwher is providing literacy support at NMS, in hopes of increasing reading competency for non-SEP students who have been identified as requiring assistance. This support will be provided in an intensive block, starting with Grade 7 students. Identified Grade 6 students will receive support after Christmas and Grade 8 students, closer to the end of the year, just prior to provincial assessments.
Friends of NMS Update
Mary Rowe reported that the Friends of NMS have refreshed the bulletin board in the front foyer of the school. It is now nicely decorated and labeled ‘What’s New at Nasis?’.
Ease of Purchasing Subsidized Milk
Shauna Miller raised concern over students being reluctant to purchase subsidized milk at the cafeteria due to line-ups at lunch. Alan communicated that student just buying milk are able to move to the front of the line but Shauna felt many may be reluctant to do this as they be seen as simply cutting in. Shauna would like to propose having a separate location for those just purchasing milk. Gary also mentioned that the school is looking into milk vending machines, however, this milk would not be subsidized.

Action Item: Alan to work on communication/promotion to students to let them know that they can get subsidized milk and consider options for making this more accessible.
Impact of Six Day Cycle on Physical Education
Concern was raised over the students not receiving adequate physical education. Alan confirmed that each student receives only two 45 minute periods of physical education per six day cycle, instead of 90 minutes/week, as was the case last year. This does not meet provincial requirements for physical education (120 minutes/week). Alan explained that the school does not have enough qualified staff to meet this requirement and even if the school did, it would mean cutting back on other valuable programs such as Art, Music, Shop, etc. Instead the school has introduced a noon-hour intramural program, has ‘Walk, Talk & Rock’ daily in the Fieldhouse, and the students also have noon-hour pool time available.
Foul Language
Concern was raised by a parent that there is a great deal of foul language heard on the school grounds. Alan indicated that there is an ongoing effort to control this. There is policy explained in the student handbook and offending students are dealt with on an individual basis, as situations arise.
Agenda Building
Ideas for subsequent PSSC agenda items include:
• Parent Involvement
• Safety Around the School
• Snow Plows
• Tell Them From Me
• Parent/Teacher Meetings
Next Meeting Date & Meeting Adjournment

Motion by Tracy, seconded by Shauna: PSSC meetings will be scheduled for the 1st Monday of each month.

The next Nasis Middle PSSC meeting will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009 @ 7:00pm.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm

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