Board Highlights November 9th
Board of Trustees Meeting – Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Opening Prayer
The trustees started their meeting with a Service of Remembrance led by Adult Faith Animator Sherry Chapman. She spoke about the importance of being voices of peace and to pray for peace. Superintendent Darren Schmidt provide musical ministry for the service. Sherry also shared a short video created by the students of St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School in Bracebridge with the trustees. It also focused on being the voice of peace and was built around the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, a document that forms one of the foundations of our faith-filled education.
Presentations
EQAO Assessment
Superintendent Jane Dillon-Leitch introduced Elementary Program Co-ordinator Jonathan Rajalingam and Secondary Program Co-ordinator Perry Cavarzan who administered examples of the EQAO assessments of Grade 3 reading and Grade 9 applied math for trustees to complete. They explained the complexities of the assessments and shared the expectations of Grade 3 and 9 students. They walked trustees through the exercises explaining how students are assessed – e.g., it isn’t always about the right answer, it is about the knowledge and understanding that the student is able to demonstrate.
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Partnership Initiatives
Superintendent Jane Dillon-Leitch introduced Carol Yandreski, the board’s Public Health Nurse liaison. Carol provided a very comprehensive report and she highlighted many of the key initiatives that are taking place in our schools that support healthy lifestyles for students. Her report highlights the many and diverse programs and services that are available for students and families to achieve optimal health.
Reports
Architect Selection – Capital Projects
The trustees approved the recommendation to establish an Ad Hoc Architect Selection Committee for full day Kindergarten projects for St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, St. James Catholic School, Monsignor Michael O’Leary Catholic School and St. John Vianny Catholic School. Chair Clayton Ferguson asked trustees Carol Corrieveau-Truchon, Maria Hardie and Jeanny Salmon to be part of the selection committee that he will chair. The trustees accepted.
Monsignor Lee Catholic School and Guardian Angels Catholic School Amalgamation Date
The trustees approved the consolidation of the Guardian Angels Catholic School students with Monsignor Lee Catholic School for September 1, 2012 at the temporary facility that is currently serving the Monsignor Lee school community.
Supports For Students’ Wellbeing
The report highlighted the diverse programs and services that are provided to elementary and secondary school students to ensure that every student succeeds. It was noted that students succeed when they have a supportive, healthy learning environment.
Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, Prince of Peace Catholic School and Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School – Transition Plans
Options regarding the transition plan for bringing these three school communities together were presented to trustees for consideration for future discussion.
Student Trustee Selection
The report highlighted the process that is undertaken for students to elect the next student trustee, known as the student trustee elect. The Student Senate will elect the next student trustee on December 1, 2011 and a future report will come to the trustees in December.
Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship Students
The list of the many students who recently graduated and who received this scholarship was provided to the trustees.
Patrick Fogarty Awards
The list of the students from our nine Catholic high schools that received the Patrick Fogarty Awards was presented to the trustees. Details on the award was also provided.