Meeting Format: In-Person
Attendees
In Attendance:
Parents: Stephanie Whittamore, Jennifer Reitsma, Lang Vu, Anna Leung, Shelby Chung, Andrea Chin,
Administration: Vivienne Baines (Principal), Vanessa Colabawalla (Vice Principal)
Teachers: Aldo Barovier
Regrets:
Amanda Ryan
Agenda
Land Acknowledgement:
• Jennifer Reitsma read the YRDSB Land Acknowledgement
Approval of Agenda:
• Moved by Jennifer Reitsma, seconded by Shelby Chung
Approval of minutes of April 7, 2025 Meeting:
• Moved by Lang Vu, seconded by Jennifer Reitsma
School Report (Vivienne/Vanessa):
• Bands participated in a music festival
o Grade 6 Band got a Silver Plus rating and qualified for Nationals
o Grade 7 Band got a silver rating
o Grade 8 Band got a Silver Plus rating and qualified for Nationals
• Kindergarten Spring Concert was held and went very well. The gym was at capacity and many families attended and enjoyed the event.
• Jump Rope for Heart happened this week and the weather held out so that was great for all the participants. So far $2,500 has been raised and the students will be able to vote on a colour for Ms. Kirk’s hair to be dyed. If $3,000 is raised, the children will get to watch Mr. Bowers have his head and beard shaved.
• Eco month has kicked off and is going well.
o The classes are busy working on their Bingo cards of activities including making sculptures outside and creating artwork out of items found.
o Students are also participating in the “Big Crunch” where they all take a bite of an apple or carrots at the same time.
o Planters have been donated to the Eco Club and the Grade 8 students helped build the frames so the seeds could be planted.
o The Eco Club encourages families to bring in their batteries, milk bags, used glasses and pop tabs.
• Track and Field has started with some competitions happening and practice sessions for the event on May 13th.
• SPACE hosted a dance and games afternoon for the grades 5-8 students and it went very well.
• On the April 28 election day, election officials invited classes to come in and watch the voting process so they could understand how it works.
• Spring Concerts for the primary students will happen on Wednesday and Thursday, May 7 and 8.
• EQAO testing will be happening soon for the Grade 3 and Grade 6 students
• 4 of our students participated in SODA (Students of Differentiated Access) event day at Bill Crothers SS
• The City of Markham did a site inspection recently to survey safety around our school at pick up/drop off times. They are not approving the requests for pedestrian crossings on Cornell Centre or Shady Oaks. The City has noted that there are parking restrictions on Summerside Street – the east side is prohibited from Shady Oaks to White’s Hill. The west side is prohibited close to the intersection of Shady Oaks and White’s Hill. Parents should not be parking here. Further communication to families about where to park and cross will occur. Vivienne followed up about the request for installation of flexi-posts in lieu of the pedestrian crossings.
• Aldo, on behalf of all staff, thanked the parents for their continued support of the staff and students.
Council Chair Report (Stephanie):
• Terra Cotta cookie dough fundraiser raised $540 which will go towards the purchase of recess equipment. Dough will be delivered tomorrow (May 6).
• FlipGive raised $140 and a cheque has been requested to be issued to the school.
• Teacher appreciation lunch will be held in June – request for volunteers will be coming later.
Treasurer’s Report (Jennifer):
• Jennifer reported that the amounts approved at the April 7, 2025 to be used by the various departments have been distributed and staff are already making purchases.
• Aldo and Vivienne commented that the staff and school are very grateful for the funding!
Paul Davis & Wellness Fair
• Registration link went live May 1 and so far 22 people have registered. Further email blasts will be coming to remind families to register, specifically saying that they need to do so even if they filled out the interest survey.
• Ms. Horsley will be confirming how many students with their babysitting certificate will be able to attend and assist.
• Stephanie asked if any teachers could provide some of their mural paper for the event and Vivienne suggested she could check with Ms. Boag.
Fun Fair:
• Event is June 12, 2025 from 5-8pm. Promotions will start shortly and ticket sales will begin May 20th after the holiday Monday.
• Emails to parents and teachers who said they could volunteer will be sent at a later date confirming assignments.
• Thank-you cards for our activity partners at the Fun Fair will be completed by students to give it a personal touch.
Yearbook:
• The yearbook will be finalized shortly. Many thanks to Ms. Singh and Ms. Worthington
Next Meeting: 2025/2026 school year – date TBD