May 2006

Oct/05:  

EXECUTIVE ITEMS:

 We are still looking for a Treasurer.  If you can help, please let us know.

 PLAYGROUND NEWS:

 The maintenance and repair report for the playground is in.  We will need to spend about $17,000 on upgrades.  Parent Council is exploring our options to raise the funds.  If you would like to help us or you have any ideas, please contact Tanis Blocka at 849.6924 or via email at: jtblocka@telus.netl

 READING PROGRAM/SCHOLOSTIC ORDERING:

 The Teachers and staff are gearing up for the Reading Program again this year.  The theme will be Ancient Egyptian “Wrapped up in reading” and will be a lot of fun.  This year Parent Council is asking teachers to send a “wish list” home each month with the Scholastic order forms and we are asking parents to consider ordering one or two items each month for their child’s classroom.  Scholastic also offers many free resources for classrooms based on the number of orders received so we get a good return on our investment.  Watch for the orders to come home.

 INFRASTRUCTURE:

 The letter writing campaign is underway and is generating a lot of media interest.  The Scope Newspaper has already published our concerns and The Lakeside Leader will be doing an article in the next couple of weeks.

 Also, The Honorable Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Learning will be hosing a reception for parents, teachers, and administrators at the St. Alberta Inn this Thursday (Oct. 27/05) at 4:00 p.m.

 This could be an excellent opportunity to speak directly with the Minister if anyone wishes to attend.

 FUNDRAISING:

 A big thank-you to all who participated the Christmas Card fundraiser.  We raised a little over $1,100.00 that we will be using towards incentive prizes for the House League Competitions, The Reading program and Spirit week.

 NEXT MEETING:

 The next Parent Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov.14/05 at 7:00 p.m. in the school library.  Please join us.

 Lisa Meyer

Chairperson

St. Mary of the Lake Parent Council

Sept/05:  A New Year!!

It was great to see so many people at the first Parent Council Meeting.  I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the new faces on the executive and thank the old executive for all their hard work this past year.  It is with regret that we say good-bye.  The new executive is listed below: 

As you can see, we still need to fill a few positions. 

We are hoping that we will get our Casino this school year.  Also we need to make playground repairs and improvements and we have committed to spending $2,000 on the reading program so it is very important that we find a qualified Treasurer.  If you can help, please contact either myself, or the school office and let us know!

The Alberta Government recently announced approvals for new schools and school modernization/improvements.  We were very disappointed that there was no announcement concerning our school.

Parent Council is dedicated to getting this issue resolved and to that end we are initiating a letter writing campaign.  We are asking any concerned parents to write our local MLA (Hon. Pearl Calahasen) and to c.c. the various other departments involved.  Click here for a list of contacts.

It was understanding that the portables we received to replace the Jr/Sr high school were a temporary solution and were not intended for more than two years.  Besides the issue we had with mould in the old Jr/Sr high, we are also concerned with space. 

In 1999, Alberta Infrastructure indicated that we had inadequate Science Lab space, CTS space, Administration space and Bathrooms.  The replacement portables do not address this issue.

Please take the time to write a letter expressing your concerns.  If you need more information, feel free to contact us.

We are looking forward to a GREAT year and are hoping to see you at our meetings which are scheduled for the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the school library.

Lisa Meyer

Chairperson

St. Mary of the Lake Parent Council

Aug/05:  A New Year!!

Well, another year is upon us and it looks like things are shaping up nicely.  The portables for Jr/Sr high should be ready to move into shortly.  Yes, things are a little cramped for them right now but we did get resolution on the infrastructure issue.  We still have not received a formal announcement/approval for a new school but are confident we will hear something shortly.

Parent Council will be holding the first meeting of the year on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the school library.  We will be dissolving the old council and holding elections for this years Parent/School council.

If you re interested in being on the executive this year, please contact me by email (pmeyer@telusplanet.net) and let me know the position you wish to run for.  The council has the following positions:

§                  Chairperson

§                  Vice-Chairperson

§                  PAC (Fundraising) Committee           

o       Chairperson

o       Vice-Chairperson

o       Treasurer

o       Casino Committee

§         Chairperson

§         Member

§                  Secretary

§                  Outreach School Parent Representative

§                  ECS Parent/Community Member

§                  Senior High School Student

§                  Playground Committee

o       Chairperson

o       Vice Chairperson

As well, we always need help on the various projects we take on.  

Please join us for our first meeting on Monday, September 19/05 at 7:00 p.m. in the school library.

Jun/05:  Year-End

As we end the year, we should all be very proud of ourselves.  We worked hard this year and made a REAL difference.  It was such a pleasure to work with all the parents who choose to get involved this year – and what a lot of us there were.  I hope that next year the Parent Council will enjoy the same support we had this year, which has been phenomenal. All in all, next year looks like it is shaping up to be a very good year.

 This will be our last communication until next year.  Parent Council elections will take place within the first three weeks of the new school year.  Have a GREAT SUMMER - We hope to see you next year!

UPDATES

Infrastructure:

 While we are still waiting to hear about the plans for our school we are confident that the problem will be resolved shortly.

 The school board trustees and administration will be meeting again with our local MLA, the Hon. Pearl Calahasen and the minister of Infrastructure, the Hon. Lyle Olberg on Tuesday June 28, 2004.

 We are hopeful that a favourable decision will be announced soon.

2005/2006 Budget:

 Although next year’s preliminary budget is only in draft form and hasn’t been approved yet-it looks VERY GOOD - with our school receiving an additional $361,825 in funding!

 The new principal may want to target other area’s or make a few changes but  tentative spending plans include hiring more teacher’s aides (equal to approx. 3.7 full time aides) 

 As well we are hoping to spend an additional $25,000 on library resources (over and above the $20,000 we have already spent this year) and $35,000 towards technology and a new computer lab.

 In addition, the school is looking to purchase another $32,000 worth of textbooks and $56,000 in classroom materials and supplies!

Apr/05:  School Update

You may have heard the unfortunate news that our principal will be taking a teaching position next year instead of remaining as principal.  While we are saddened by his decision, we are grateful to have had the opportunity work with him for the past two years, and would like to offer our support and respect for his decision.  Our principal has dealt with many issues that have improved our school and most of all cares about our students.

School council had the opportunity to speak with our Board Trustees, Carol Lemay (Superintendent) and other division members about some of the issues our school is facing, including the need for:

• Sufficient long-term administration staff

• Increasing academic achievement

• A fair and just budget process

• Changing School perception and increasing public relations

• Increasing communication with board of trustees, superintendent, parents and staff

• Library and technology resources

• Concern for the facility and infrastructure

We also expressed the need for resolve and support from the Board and division administration and they have agreed to work with us on these issues.

To ensure our needs are met, the Parent Council Improvement Committee is seeking input from all person(s) interested in helping shape a vision for our school.  This vision will help us during the selection process for our new principal, as well as provide the School Board administration and trustees with a clear concept of what we want our school to be.

 This meeting is a proactive way to achieve the change needed to better our school.  It is an opportunity for us to voice our suggestions and concerns.

 We are continually in discussion with our division administration and trustees and feel that they are finally taking us seriously.  (They have recently given our school $20,000 to spend on library resources.)

 We urgently request you complete the survey (feel free to use a separate sheet of paper if necessary) and return it to the Parent council folder at the school office OR attend the meeting on Monday, May 2/05 at 7 p.m. in the school library.

Alternatively, you can call one of the people listed below or email your suggestions or concerns to: leighannesh@yahoo.ca.  (ALL submissions will remain anonymous.)

Lisa 849-2228               Paula 849-6424                   Shirley 849-2699

Mar/05:  Funding Update

Many parents have expressed concern about the $153,000 that was cut from our school budget in November and Parent Council would like to address this issue to update parents on what is happening. 

The school board recognizes that the cut may seem harsh in nature and have assured us that they will be watching closely to ensure that programming, staffing, plans for improvement and technology are not negatively impacted.

Since the cut directly affects our technology ever greening plans and our library improvement plans, the school board will be discussing ways that they can set the funds aside for us ($30,000 and $20,000 respectively)

As well, we have received an additional $20,000 in retroactive high school credits and another $45,000 in retroactive funding for special needs.

The board is also looking at getting an education consultant in from Alberta Learning (At no cost to us) to help us with our academic achievement goals.

Parent Council is still working to resolve this issue, but to date the only area affected will be the planned purchase of band instruments for the school (The school currently purchases and leases out the larger, more expensive instruments.)

To date, we have not received very many Parent Contact forms.  If you haven’t completed your form, please do so and return to the school office as soon as possible.  You can print the form from our website or ask you child’s teacher for another copy.

Finally, Parent Council have been working with the teachers and staff to implement a school-wide reading program.  We are very excited about this program and welcome any input you may have.  Watch for the brochure to come home shortly.

Jan/05: Hinton District

In the November municipal election, Hinton voted 52% in favor of leaving our division.  We are not yet sure how this will effect us but will stay abreast of any new developments.

Nov/04:  Funding Issues

At the October meeting of the School Board, our budgets were not accepted.  This means we will have to revert back to the last approved budget, which was in May of 2004.  Effectively, our budget has been cut by $153,000.

Parent Council has decided to take a pro-active approach to this issue.  We have been in contact with the Honorable Pearl Calahasen MLA and she has indicated her support.  She will be arranging a meeting with the Minister of Learning  for us to discuss our viewpoints on this issue.

During discussions in our meetings we have ascertained that we would like to see one of two outcomes;  We will ask the Minister to re-assign us to another division that has more in common with us OR we will ask that the Northern Allowance Funding be "envelope" funded (Meaning that the funding follows the child)