Wednesday, November 25, 2009

PSSC Meeting Minutes

Nashwaaksis Middle School
PSSC Meeting Minutes
2009-11-02

Attendees:
Andrew Rowe Alan Atkins Tracy Allen Carol Coleman (DEC) Mitch Claybourn
Anne Small Don Richardson Heather Touchie-Blakely Sherry Thomson
Regrets:
Shauna Miller Pat Campbell
Tracey Grattan John MacKenzie

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:10pm.
Approval of Minutes

Motion to accept the minutes by Anne Small, seconded by Andrew Rowe
Friends of NMS Update – Andrew Rowe

Andrew distributed a written update from the Friends of NMS to the group. Highlights of Friends activities include:
• Approximately $9500 in profits from book fairs to be used to build classroom libraries
• Corn boil was huge success
• Firefighters Challenge next big event (Thursday, November 19)
• Friends are providing a ‘Munchie Table’ for teachers during parent/teacher interview time (November 12 & 13)
• Friends nominations for co-chairs accepted from December 7 through 11 with elections to take place on January 13, 2010
D.E.C Report – Carol Coleman, D.E.C. Rep

PSSC Orientation
The PSSC Orientation held October 22nd was poorly attended, therefore the D.E.C. has organized another Orientation event for November 19 @ 6:30pm at Kingswood Lodge.

Supplemental Funding
The D.E.C. has reviewed the sixteen supplemental funding requests that were received. There is a meeting on November 12 to make decisions on how to distribute the $5000 of available funding. The D.E.C. is considering alternatives to the current method of distributing this supplemental funding. This will be a discussion item at the PSSC Orientation.
Action Item Follow-up

Action Item: Tracy to prepare & submit application for supplemental PSSC funding [2009-09-28]

Update: The supplemental funding request was submitted on November 15. It is currently under review by DEC (see above).

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. [2009-09-28]

Update: Mitch provided the ‘Crossing Guard Location Guidelines’ and is proposing that we determine whether or not we meet the criteria. The area in question is the bottom of the front driveway.

New Action Item: Mitch will prepare a grid for counting (to track traffic, pedestrians crossing driveway, pedestrians using sidewalk by driveway). Don & Mitch will meet Friday morning to take the first count. After collecting the usage information, Mitch will set up a meeting with the city to present the request. If the request does not move forward, we will invite Mike O’Brien to the next meeting to discuss other options.

Action Item: Mitch will invite Wanda Bauer to attend a future PSSC meeting to discuss this request for barriers along the school driveway. [2009-09-28]

Update: Mitch provided a copy of email correspondence between Alan & Wanda Bauer. This email indicates that there is currently a budget freeze.

New Action Item: Carol will bring the issue of safety of pedestrians along the driveway forward at the next D.E.C. meeting.

Action Item: All PSSC members are requested to contribute ideas to Mitch for ensuring the continued safety of students walking along the school driveway. [2009-09-28]

Update: Anne proposed using spring loaded pylons in lieu of concrete barriers. She felt these might be more cost effective and could easily be removed for snow removal. Alan felt that the daily setup & removal would not be practical during the winter months. This continues to be an area of significant concern to the PSSC.

New Action Item: Alan to arrange for communication home reminding folks about the designated sidewalk area.

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. [2009-09-28]

Update: A milk vending machine has been installed. The school has also arranged for a separate line-up in the cafeteria for milk, cookies & various baked goods. Grade 8 students assist with staffing this additional line. Sherry requested that communication go home regarding this new service.

New Action Item: Alan will arrange for communication home regarding availability of milk.
Ideas for subsequent PSSC agenda items include:
• Parent Involvement
• Safety Around the School
o Proposal for education evening for parents, to speak about drugs, planning session for next meeting (Dec)
• Snow Plows/Removal
• Tell Them From Me
o review last year’s data at next meeting (Dec)
• Parent/Teachers Meetings
o Same format as previous years (evening are teacher requested, first part of morning are parent requested, later part of the morning are walk-ins)
• Meet the Teacher
o Review this in May for next fall
School Improvement Plan Update & Overview – Alan Atkins

Alan provided a quick review of the SIP. Measurement of whether ideal targets have been met will be done during the school review process, which takes place next school year.

The PD on Thursday, November 12 will be focused on the SIP. Nasis will be looking at three specific areas: literacy, numeracy/science and communication. One of the January PD days will also be dedicated to SIP development. The new SIP will be a 2-3 year plan, starting at the end of this school year.
Principal’s Report
Kids now
UNB nurses are delivering this awareness program in several classes. Each class will visit 5 or 6 stations, learning about such health related topics as nutrition, self-esteem and drugs.
Magazine campaign
The magazine campaign was highly successful, resulting in about $76,000 in sales with about 1/3 coming directly back to the school.

Miscellaneous items
• Breakfast program resumed
• School safety week completed
• French & English Book fairs
• PD session October 8 & 9: Focus on literacy & numeracy
• Interim reports canceled but phone calls went out to parents of those students perceived as struggling
• Grade 7 literacy assessment Oct 19-22nd
• Halloween Dance held October 29
• Drugs confiscated from several students at the school
• Intramurals are working well
• Swimming on Mondays
• Math Mentor 2 x 2 month periods
Call for Agenda Items/Approval of Agenda

Proposed Agenda:
• PSSC Budget 2009-2010 [Mitch]
• Update School Website re: PSSC & Meeting [Mitch]
• Vending Machines [Tracy]

Action Item: Alan will look after updating the PSSC information on the school website

All agenda items carried forward to next meeting.
Next Meeting/Meeting Adjournment

Next Meeting: December 7 @ 7:00pm
Meeting was adjourned at 8:35pm

No comments: