Minutes of St. Dominic School Council Meeting October 17, 2012 ...

Minutes of St. Dominic School Council Meeting
October 17, 2012
Attendance: Barbara Werkman, David Westacott, Roxy Sidorchuk, Maureen Merkosky, Olga Dos Santos,
Nadine Emsley, Janelle Kochan, Candice Quinlan, Nicole Tchir, Stephanie Chorney, Clint Tomanek, Kelsi
Eckford, Charlotte Zawaduk, Yvette Smethurst, Cathy Kaup, Eileen Loughlin, Sheri Tomanek, Fatima
Grzyb, Silvana Poplawski
Meeting called to order at 6:59pm. Motion by Candice Quinlan to open the St. Dominic School Council
Meeting and seconded by Janelle Kochan.
Opening prayer by Sheri Tomanek.
Review of previous minutes. Approval of September 26, 2012 minutes motioned by Stephanie Chorney
and seconded by Roxy Sidorchuk.
Old Business:
1. Welcome and introduction to New Executives: The new executive introduced themselves. Chair
– Sheri Tomanek, Secretary – Barbara Werkman, Vice Chair – Yvette Smethurst and Treasurer –
Charlotte Zawaduk. Introduction by those in attendance.
2. Life Touch: Barb from Life Touch was to contact the principal in regards to signing the contract
for next year. This has not occurred. Maureen Merkosky questioned whether our package
design can be changed as other schools serviced by Life Touch have different packages and
pricing. Principal Kaup suggested to have a group of individuals meet to decide on which
package design the school will use in the future. Sheri Tomanek is to arrange a meeting with
Barb regarding these package changes. School photo retakes will be on October 26, 2012.
New Business:
1. Coats for kids: Runs from the end of October to the end of November. Maureen Merkosky has
agreed to volunteer for this campaign.
2. Hot Lunch: Charlotte Zawaduk and Olga Dos Santos are attempting to acquire a Christmas
dinner hot lunch through M.E. LaZerte for December 14, 2012 at a cost of approximately $6 per
child. Other future hot lunches may include Donair and KFC. They requested volunteers to
assist in the October 18 th money count as well as individuals to help with distribution of hot
lunches to the classroom on October 26 th .
3. Christmas Hampers: Sheri Tomanek asked for volunteers to shop for perishable items for the
hampers. Next meeting, this will be formalized once the numbers of hampers are known.
December 17, 2012 was decided as the day shopping and sorting of items will take place.
Maureen Merkosky and Roxy Sidorchuk will look into gift cards for the baskets and if any have
been ordered. Collection of non-perishable food items will start the beginning of December.
4. St. Dominic School Council Bylaws: Sheri Tomanek stated our bylaws are outdated and need to
be redone. We will not meet quorum as they stand at present. Requests need to be made at

the AGM to change bylaws, therefore, we will have to use the existing bylaws until such a time.
We will start working on the new bylaws now for both Student Council and Parent Advisory so
they can be passed at the September 2013 meeting. Nicole Tchir, Maureen Merkosky, Roxy
Sidorchuk and Sheri Tomanek volunteered for the new bylaw committee. We will also need
classroom reps for voting purposes. Silvana Poplawski motioned to reinstate room reps and it
was seconded by Roxy Sidorchuk. A letter will be sent out in the Friday envelope outlining the
role of room reps to parents and asking them to volunteer as room reps to fill the outstanding
positions. The following individuals have volunteered tonight as room reps:
� Kindergarten A – Janelle Kochan, C – David Westacott, B- Candice Quinlan
� 1A – Clint Tomanek
� 2B – Stephanie Chorney
� 4B – Silvana Poplawski
� 5B – Maureen Merkosky
� 6A – Roxy Sidorchuk, 6B - Nicole Tchir
5. Anti Bullying Awareness Week November 12-17: Sheri Tomanek inquired if we have any
activities planned for this week. Principle Kaup states there are no plans, but Constable Rick
Cole would be willing to do a parent presentation about bullying. A parents evening out format
could be arranged if it is something the parents are interested in. It would probably not occur
within the week of Nov12-17, but later in the school year. Sheri Tomanek presented
information on anti bullying wristbands that can be purchased. A motion was made by Candice
Quinlan to purchase 600 anti bullying wristbands and seconded by Janelle Kochan. Principal
Kaup will mention the anti bullying campaign idea to the teachers at the next staff meeting. We
will wait to hear back from the teachers if they are willing to incorporate the anti bullying theme
into their lessons. The motion to purchase the wristbands was suspended until feedback from
the teachers could be obtained.
6. Terry Fox Run Report: Principal Kaup states she does not know the exact amount of funds
raised, but the final total will be in the next newsletter. Maureen Merkosky raised concerns why
the children were not allowed to run and had to walk for this event. Asst. Principle Loughlin
stated it may have been due to safety concerns since there were diverse ages for the event.
Maureen Merkosky suggested perhaps we can incorporate running back into the event.
7. Other New Business: Maureen Merkosky mentioned concerns from other parents regarding
pulling aids from kindergarten classes. Principal Kaup stated it was an early learning based
decision after the two large classes were split into three smaller ones and that further concerns
regarding staffing should be directed towards her. Yvette Smethurst stated parents came to her
with concerns that their children have not started using computers, IPads or netbooks. Principal
Kaup encouraged these concerns be raised with classroom teachers. Kelsi Eckford explained
that technology is often embedded in the curriculum in different ways and technology is being
utilized. Sheri Tomanek asked if there is a milk program this year. No there is not. Nadine
Emsley stated that the demand has decreased and often milk was thrown out in the past since it
would expire before being consumed. Recycling of juice containers from lunch time is currently
performed by custodial staff. Olga Dos Santos raised a concern about individuals being able to

sign the volunteer book and not being questioned for their visit to the school. Asst. Principlal
Loughlin states that the secretary often will look at files to ensure an authorized parent can pick
up a child. Staff also are diligent in observing or asking individuals who they are to ensure
safety.
Principles Report:
1. Reverse lunch hour status: Reverse lunch is running for the month of October and as of yet no
decision has been made if it will continue. This Friday a survey will be going out for parents
regarding reverse lunch hour.
2. Long term and short term goals and vision of school: There are no current goals, only reviewing
of data at present. Principal Kaup is asking where you want the school to be in 5 years from
now and is inviting parents to go on tours of schools and see what other schools are doing. She
gathered a list of interested individuals.
3. Accountability Pillar: A handout entitled “Accountability Pillar Overall Summary” was
distributed and Principal Kaup briefly reviewed it with council.
4. Satisfaction Survey: A handout was distributed which contained parents satisfaction survey
results from 2011/2012. The survey was reviewed briefly and the results will be analyzed
further at the Professional Development Day on November 1, 2012. There will be no classes this
day.
5. Upcoming Events: Break the Rules Friday - The students were surveyed as to what rules they
would like to break at school if they were able to. This Friday a letter will be sent home
outlining the details to parents. The first Friday event will be “chew gum in school”. In order to
break the rule, the student will be asked to donate $1 and proceeds will go to the We Care
Challenge in support of Catholic Social Services. Artists in Residency (Hip Hop) – Will be here
for two weeks and the grades have been divided into 10 groups. Asst. Principal Loughlin gave a
brief overview of the themes for each group. Performances will be split into 2 evenings,
November 22 and November 23, based on the first letter of the last name. A-K the first night, L-
Z the second night. Tickets for the event will be available to ensure capacity is not exceeded. “A
world within St. Dominic” will be created leading up to the event.
Principal Kaup also stated that the executive met with her prior to the meeting tonight to review
the role of council. She would prefer to not have an open question forum and that all questions
be filtered through Sheri Tomanek or herself prior to the meeting so these concerns can be dealt
with by the appropriate body.
Meeting adjourned at 8:39pm, motioned by Stephanie Chorney, seconded by Yvette Smethurst.

Minutes of St. Dominic Parent Advisory Society
October 17, 2012
Meeting called to order 8:40pm, motioned by Roxy Sidorchuk, seconded by Nicole Tchir.
1. Treasure report: Silvana Poplawski stated there was no change since the last report and that a
motion needs to be made to change signing authority. Sheri Tomanek states that current
bylaws need to be reviewed in order to see what motions need to be made to change the
signing authority.
2. Casino Update: Sheri Tomanek stated a casino has been confirmed for 2014. A letter with the
new executive and casino chair needs to sent in. Sheri Tomanek nominated Clint Tomanek for
the position of casino chair, seconded by Stephanie Chorney. Clint Tomanek accepted.
3. Discussion on purchasing Net Book Carts: Council will wait on making a motion. Principal Kaup
states a technology specialist will review the school and its current technology. Within the next
two weeks feedback will hopefully be provided by the specialist regarding what the school will
need to meet future demands.
4. Maureen Merkosky motioned to spend up to $6000 for the Artist in Residency Program,
seconded by Fatima Grzyb.
Meeting adjourned at 8:49pm by Sheri Tomanek.
Next meeting November 21, 2012