School Council Meeting Feb 27^th

Attended by John, Monique, Shahla, Lori, Teresa, Richard, Sherry Lynn, Robin and Geoff

· Survey discussed to give to all students and parents as assessments for all grades

· Richard-alternative revitalization-ASAC started this in fall with board staff and trustees concerned that alternative schools are not different enough-we need to show two things-we need to show how different we are and second, figure out what kind of support we need

· Presentation to trustees-survey involving parents-teachers-principals and students

· We need to craft questions now-Annette had sent already and we do not know what to do now and Ruth sent detailed feedback on it

· Lori’s report-Mar 20^th-all principals to meet-no agenda-discussion

· Last staff meeting-staff brainstormed as to what alternative education is-one teacher has been at LE for 12 years and stated that this had never been done before

· Education for All-written for Spec-ed

· Alternative education supports Education for All-next step-if you need believe in these things-need this leeway

· Assessing what students are learning and if you are teaching it-is it coming through?

· See 6 schools coming together for a Sports Day-idea would be to share a PD day with 6 schools

· When education is child-centred-more concern with teaching the child and not concerned with curriculum

· Lori-teach approach students-team teachings

· ASAC budget-multi-media

· Regarding the survey we should ask parents who have come from other schools to LE and ask why they switched

· Go to board with short shopping list

· We should look into alternative schools across the country

· The US has started essential schools-bring high school numbers down

· LE-multi-age grouping-family centred-parents, students and teachers

· Primary classes are capped next year at 20

· Cross-boundary –last week and there are no spaces now-we will have to wait until Sept to find out

· Interest in LE are Waldorf, Montessori and home schooled students

· Literacy Skills-EQAO-suggest to have students write it

· Yard-signs went up for winter on play structures –Mike put signs up

· Supervision in yard-rough play-soccer has gotten too rough

· OCAST minutes-union ok’d 80 minutes of duty a week

· Teresa-Joe sent a list of balls and Frisbees and ok’d that

· Shahla- discussed craft sale at the Main Event and it seems that we would have to give more of the profits than first anticipated-seems that we are not going to go ahead on that

· April-Green Door-Art Show

· Monique talked to Heather and Martha regarding Book Fair March 28^th

· Adult dance planning to be held March 8^th along with planning for Children’s Event

· French teachers-juniors am-primary pm-planning on going to Sugarbush in Vanier-$3 child and buses so about $2000

· Valerie Cairnie-suggested drummer-looks like dances with balls-more hands on-work through week-Peter Ryan-good body awareness

· Skateboarding, break dancing and square dancing mentioned as well for activities

· Doing great with fundraising so far this year

· Lab-where are things sitting?