I'd like to thank everyone who attended the Parent Council on Monday night. There were updates from the committees and we shared an article on fixed and growth mind-sets that I mentioned in last week's blog. The next meeting will be in January.
This week, our IT committee met to continue planning. The committee consists of Mr. Ross, Mr. Littlejohn, Ms. Norton, Dr Grant, Mr. Iceton and myself. Schools do not have dedicated IT support staff, so the majority of the work (planning, purchasing and maintaining equipment) falls to the volunteer efforts of staff.
As you may know, we are very much supported in this area because of the funds raised at the school. Each year, we allocate around $5000 from the school budget to cover the cost of the hardware and software. Not a lot comes from the Ministry nor TDSB. In addition to the limited funds, the school has many restrictions when it comes to purchasing. We must use TDSB approved contracts. Further complications arise when trying to get repairs done quickly. Although this portfolio is not easy to manage in a school, I am really proud of what our staff has accomplished.
So far we've completed the following:
December 2014
This week, our IT committee met to continue planning. The committee consists of Mr. Ross, Mr. Littlejohn, Ms. Norton, Dr Grant, Mr. Iceton and myself. Schools do not have dedicated IT support staff, so the majority of the work (planning, purchasing and maintaining equipment) falls to the volunteer efforts of staff.
As you may know, we are very much supported in this area because of the funds raised at the school. Each year, we allocate around $5000 from the school budget to cover the cost of the hardware and software. Not a lot comes from the Ministry nor TDSB. In addition to the limited funds, the school has many restrictions when it comes to purchasing. We must use TDSB approved contracts. Further complications arise when trying to get repairs done quickly. Although this portfolio is not easy to manage in a school, I am really proud of what our staff has accomplished.
So far we've completed the following:
- Checked the working order of our two mac labs. Both labs are very old and not under warranty. The working ones have been distributed to classrooms.
- We've taken an inventory of working classroom desktops. Those not working and not under warranty have been removed.
- Four Smart Boards that were purchased with your financial support have been installed and are up and running.
- Liaised with Parent Council to see if we can purchase any of the five remaining Smart Boards required to outfit all classrooms.
- Work orders continue to be placed for broken equipment under warranty.
- Our wireless isn't working properly in the school and a work order has been placed. Hopefully things gets done quickly as it affects are programming.
- At our December staff meeting, Ms. Kim and Mrs. Perrin will be working with staff to create a "needs list". They will be working through the "I think" strategies that we learned at the Rotman workshop a couple of weeks back. These are great strategies that teachers can implement in the classroom.
- One of our parents donated playbooks to the school. They have been distributed to teachers for classroom use.
- Mrs. Norton will be writing a few grants for funds to purchase more hardware.
I'm also very proud of the work of our Mental and Well-Being Health Committee consisting
December 2014
1-Jr Boys Vball at LKS; Grade 7 and 8 Vaccines
2-Grade 1-3 visit Young People's Theatre
3-Kindergarten Trip
4-Safe Schools: Grade 4-8 Huddle Up Lunch; Girls Bball @ ECI all day
5-PA Day
9-Grade 5 Queens Park
10-Grade 1-3 Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
11-Grade 6-8 Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
2-Grade 1-3 visit Young People's Theatre
3-Kindergarten Trip
4-Safe Schools: Grade 4-8 Huddle Up Lunch; Girls Bball @ ECI all day
5-PA Day
9-Grade 5 Queens Park
10-Grade 1-3 Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
11-Grade 6-8 Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
12-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Lunch
15-Grade 8 Girls sing "O Canada" at Raptors Game
15-Grade 8 Girls sing "O Canada" at Raptors Game
16-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly; Skills Ontario presentation for grade 7 and 8
22-Holidays Begin
January 2015
5-School Begins
9-Grade 7 and 8 Madd Presentation
9-Grade 7 and 8 Madd Presentation
19-Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m; Grade 6-8 Science Fair
22nd-Scientist in School visits Grade 2 (Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Zappi, Mrs. Hoffman)
22nd-Scientist in School visits Grade 2 (Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Zappi, Mrs. Hoffman)
23-PA Day
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
28-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Seeds of Hope Field Trip to Daily Food Bank
29-Parent On-Line Interview Bookings Open
30th-Pizza Lunch
30th-Pizza Lunch
February 2015
5-Parent On-Line Booking Closed
9-Report Cards Go Home
10 and 11-Kindergarten Registration
13-PA Day
16-Family Day
19-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
23-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
March 2015
16-20-March Break
24-Kindie Sharing Assembly
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
30-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
April 2015
3 and 6-Good Friday and Easter Monday
20-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
28-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
May 2015
18-Victoria Day
20-Kindie Sharing Assembly
25-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
June 2015
5-PA Day
12-Grade 8 Graduation
15-19-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
17-Kindie Sharing Assembly
19-Grade 1-7 Sharing Assembly
24-Report Cards Go Home
25-Day 0; Student Assembly; Lunch on Lawn
