Welcome Principal Rita Gallippi Vice Principals Avi Mani

Welcome Principal: Rita Gallippi Vice Principals: Avi Mani & Cathy Macina-Ciardullo Teacher Reps: Jane Blondie and Jason Hames (they will take turns)

Present Rita Gallippi, Cathy Macina-Ciardullo, Avi Mani and Jane Blondie Elliot Lariviere Somayya Moollabhai Mazhar Ul Islam Nisha Adama S. Baig Helen Chartofylax Naziy Oomariec Raihana Sattar Nilgun Dundar Yagei Ian Mac. Pherson E. Dela Cruz Starr Wilks Samia Zapar Monika Dimitryeuska Mohamed S. Limbada Aamena Makda Kaleem and Juveria Abdi Yousuf

Feedback Forms • So Far feedback form about time seem to indicate 9: 30 am to 11: 00 as the preference. Dates: • Thursday September 22 nd (this meeting will begin at 1: 30 pm) • Thursday October 20 th • Thursday November 24 th • Thursday January 19 th • Thursday February 16 th • Thursday April 20 th • Thursday May 18 th *** June 15 th is optional

What is the purpose of School Council? The purpose of the council is through the active participation of parents, to improve pupil achievement and enhance the accountability of the education system to parents (Reg. 612/2. 1).

What is the Role of Councils? • An advisory body, that make recommendations to the principal of the school or the Board on any matter (Reg. 612/20) • Consult with parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school about matters under consideration by the council. (Reg. 612/613) • Develop By-laws that govern election procedures, filling vacancies and a conflict resolution process. (Reg. 612/5. 2) • Keep minutes of meetings and keep financial records for a period of four years (Reg. 612/16). • Produce an annual written report of the council activities, including financial activities, to be submitted to the principal and the Board. (Reg. 612/24) • Focus on improved learning for all students • Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues • represent and communicate the views of the school community

What is the Membership of Councils? Elected parents, teachers, support staff, appointed community representative(s), a representative from the Ontario Home and School Association, if such a group exists in the school and the principal/vice-principal. (Reg. 612/5. 1 -4)

What is the Responsibility of a Council Member? • Attend and contribute regularly at all school council meetings • Act as a link between the school council and the community • Participate in information and training • Fulfill their duties • Follow the operating rules/guidelines as agreed upon by the council including the guidelines for resolving differences of opinion • Encourage others within the school community to participate in the activities of the council • Communicate with various communities in the school and work towards removing any barriers to the participation of all members of the school community

What is the Term for Council Members? • An elected and appointed position on the council is one (1) year. Elected and appointed members can seek additional terms.

What are the positions on a Council? • A chair selected by the council from among the parent members on the council who will chair meetings, establish a schedule, link with the principal and speak on behalf of the council. The council can also choose to elect a co-chair, vice-chair, secretary or treasurer. *** I would ask that the chair connects with me at least 2 weeks prior to a meeting to discuss the agenda

What is the Council Election Process? Elections Committee : • Each school may form an Elections Planning Committee chaired by the principal and with representation from parents, teaching staff, support staff, and in secondary schools, students. This committee is responsible for planning and holding elections for parents, teachers and support staff representatives. The planning committee's roles include: • choosing a time and location for the election • preparing election information • distributing election notices to the school community • developing acceptable campaign procedures

Election Procedures Principal Role • The principal shall publicize the Election Day proceedings at least fourteen days prior to the election on the behalf of the council • Information about candidates shall be made available to the school community at least one week before the election. • The principal shall conduct a lottery to determine the ballot position for each candidate. • The principal shall supervise the election day proceedings • Voting is done by secret ballot • Ballots shall be counted by the principal in the presence of at least two parents who are not election candidates

Election of Parent/Guardian Representatives • Parents/guardians of a student enrolled in the school can vote in a school election and run as a parent representative. • Parents can nominate themselves by completing the nomination ballot and returning it to the school. • Candidates should be prepared to summarize their reasons for running to represent the school community • Parents/Guardians must be present at the school on the election day(s) during the preset hours for voting (to include both daytime and evening hours) • Parents/Guardians can cast one vote for each candidate. • If there is a tie for the final position, the winner will be determined by lot. • If the number of candidates is less than or equal to the number of positions, the candidates will be acclaimed. • If all elected positions are not filled, the council can appoint additional people or choose to operate with vacancies. • Appointments are by majority vote. • The school council chair will be elected within 30 days of the parent representative elections.

Election of Staff Representative & Students Staff The principal will work with the elections committee to make arrangements for both teacher and support staff representatives to be elected. Anyone assigned to the school (full or part-time) can be a candidate. Student Representative • The principal will work with the elections committee to make arrangements to decide if there will be a student representative on the committee. In secondary schools, any student registered can be a candidate.

Appointment of Community Representative(s) • All appointments of community representatives to the school council are to be by majority vote at a meeting of the school council.

Committees • There are presently 3 school committees open to parent/guardian and school council participation. (“Caring & Safe Schools, Staffing Committee & School Improvement) • At Gateway we also require a support in other areas

Caring & Safe Schools Committee Caring and Safe Schools Committee (PPM 144, 145 & Operational Procedure PR. 703) • • The school has a Caring and Safe Schools Team, composed of at least one student (where appropriate), one parent, one teacher, one support staff, one community partner, the school positive space rep, the school equity rep, and the principal. An existing school committee can assume this role. • • The parent/guardian representative’s role on the committee is to provide input/recommendations on the behalf of parents/guardians of the school. Where feasible, it is encouraged that the parent/guardian representative be connected to the school council for the purposes of soliciting parent input and providing updates of the committee’s work to parents/guardians.

Staffing Committee • To maximize parent engagement, and to minimize parent sourced questions and concerns, it is highly recommended to elementary principals that parents/guardians are engaged in the staffing process and work toward ensuring that: • A parent/guardian group of at least two parents, identified by the School Council, have the opportunity to review and understand the staff allocation numbers and projected enrolment for the school; • Development of possible program organization models, and any such staffing models are considered by the school staffing committee in their deliberations; • The final model is discussed and reviewed with the parent group, and presented to the school council prior to forwarding to the Superintendent of Education for approval, identifying rationale for the model chosen: and, • Parents/guardians are engaged in any changes and re-organization.

School Improvement Plan (SIP) • Every school is required to develop, implement, and monitor school improvement actions that meet the needs of every learner. The SIP is to align with the Family of School Improvement Plan and the Board Improvement Plan. All parents are informed as to the requirements and purpose of a SIP, the opportunity to contribute to the plan, and the leadership role of the council on behalf of parents/guardians (e. g. , council will identify representatives to participate on the team and report back to council). • The principal leads the development of a SIP team. The purpose of the team is to organize and implement the planning process leading to the development of a SIP. • School council representative(s) are to be identified for the SIP. The role of the school council representative is to solicit feedback from council/parents/guardians and provide feedback to the team. • A draft of the SIP is to be presented to the school council for feedback. The final SIP should be presented to the council and define the role of the stakeholders in the implementation, monitoring, and review of the plan.

Gateway • VRP-Nisha Adams has volunteered and the training started yesterday • Travel Planning-Mr. Limbada? • Skating Program Help • Ward Representative - Nisha • Movie Night Help?

Executive Members *** blue is who was present • • • Starr Wilks – Sec. Nisha Adams - WCR Ledia Siemon Foteiniotou Christiana Helen Chartofylax Elliott Lariviere – Ch. Mazhar Ul Islam – Tr. Abdul Bashir Noor Ali Virani Mohamad S Limbada Samia Zafar COMMITTEE REPS Caring & Safe Schools: Elliot Lariviere, Mohamed S. Limbada, Abdi Yousuf School Improvement: Monika Dimitrijevski, Elliot Lariviere, Mohamed S. Limbada Staffing: Abdi Yousuf & Mohamed S. Limbada Volunteer Reading Program: Nisha Adams Travel Planning: Mohamed S. Limbada Ward Rep: Nisha Adams

Other News • We have had 80 more students show up at Gateway than we expected-we have had to reorganize which means it has impacted all classes in Kindergarten to Grade 4. • We are opening up a new Kindergarten Class of 15 students • We are opening up a new grade 2 class • We are now able to take all the combined classes 1/2, 2/3, ¾ and make all of our classes straight classes. • We need to do all this by Monday!!!! • We will have many students taking home letters telling them there child will be moving classes

Other News Picture Day is Tuesday September 27 th Meet-the-Teacher: Thursday, October 6 th Movie Night is Friday October 28 th Our first Pizza Day will be Tuesday October 18 th • Reminder-No School Friday October 7 th • •

Transportation • Unfortunately Gateway is still being impacted by the shortfall of school bus drivers and our families are still having to come and pick up their children at the end of the day and drop off in the morning