Agendas/Minutes

Date & Time 

Tuesday September 23, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. 

Attendees 

Danielle, Nicole, Ela, Emma, Athena, Mandy, Mekhal, Shannon, Jodi, Kristina, Christine, Veronica, Chantal 

Lisa – staff rep.   

Not Present 

Amber, Caroline, Erin 

Welcome 

Introduction of all council members, staff rep and Danielle  

Land Acknowledgement & Opening Prayer 

Opening prayer for school year subtheme will be introduced next week.  

Principal’s Report 

Belonging & Wellness: 

• Best start to the school year. Very positive.  

• Working hard on kind words and actions (THINK) 

• Will continue to have monthly celebration assemblies. 

• Priority is resilience and working on developing strategies for resilience – needed across all grades.   

• Full time Child and Youth Worker now on staff. Praise provided for the work she has done and will continue to do.  

• Staff working on fun things to learn about other cultures.  

• Jubilee year them is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Subtheme is On the Path to Holiness”.  

• Meet the Staff Night was great success.  

Operational: 

• Vehicles are no longer allowed in back lots for YMCA Before & After Care program.   

• Two fire drills have been completed. Additional fire drill will be conducted soon without prior notification to students.  

• Lockdown drill will take place in October. Communication to be sent to families following drill.  

• Good turnout for safety patrollers.  

• School photos October 2nd.  

• Teachers are still getting to know all learners by conducting diagnostic assessments.  

Parent Council Nominations  

Vote was not necessary. All appointments were by default.  

Co – Chairs: Nicole Callander & Kristina Corrado  

Treasurer: Christine Storoschuk 

Secretary: Emma Wynia 

Treasuer’s Report 

General Account Total: TBD (Michelle will print off statement to confirm) 

Lottery Account Total: $374.56 

• Cost of Halloween dance to come out of general account 

• Uniform cost still to come out of general account (cost is TBD) 

• Still awaiting deposit for parent grant (for parent sign making night)  

Parent Council & School Expenses 

School will now take on the cost of the following expenses previously paid for (all or in part) by previous councils:  

• EQAO snacks;  

• Dance classes (classes will continue in future years if funds are available); 

• Camp Celtic;  

• Classroom needs;  

• Entirety of Graduation costs  

Special Event Dates 

Halloween Dance – October 31, 2025 

Christmas Sign Making Parent Night – November 13, 2025  

Christmas Lunch – TBD  

Christmas Social – TBD  

Book Fair – February 10th to 13th, 2026 

Movie Night – February 12, 2026 

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Lunch – February 17, 2026 

Vendor Fair – April 25, 2026  

Track & Field – TBD 

Fun Fair – June 4, 2026 

Year End BBQ – TBD 

Gradution – June 17, 2026 

Christmas Sign Making Parent Night – 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. 

Small Christmas signs. Will take place on the same night as Parent Teacher Interviews. Request early use of parent grant. $45.00 out of pocket expense if grant not received.  

Christmas Social – Nicole would like there to be a parent council piece to the night (hand out candy canes, “stamp” for passport). council would like to have a piece of this night. Potential ways to be involved to be discussed.  

Book Fair – volunteers will be needed.  

Gradution – 3 volunteers required for set up and presentation of Parent Council award.  

Action Items:  

• Mandy to contact Gilles to book Christmas lunch once date is made available.  

• Nicole to contact Our Kitchen Brantford to book pancake lunch.  

• Nicole to book Finders Keepers for sign making.  

• Consider asking Halloween dance DJ to do more “Just Dance” videos instead of music videos.  

Minor Fundraisers 

• Harvey’s fundraiser instead of Dominos: School may already be doing this but advise Danielle before booking.  

• Hot Lunches: Only two weeks completed but it is going well and process is easier than previous years. Pizza is well organized. Pita Pit not as popular as of right now.  

• Mabels Labels: Request for advertisement in next newsletter. Approximately $150.00 was raised in 2024/2025 school year.  

Major Fundraiser: Vendor Fair 

• Would like vendors signed up before January 2026.  

• Will require vendor contracts and cash only entrance fee ($40.00) 

• Raffle at fair – each participating vendor will donate either a $25.00 gift card OR product with a minimum value of $25.00.  

• Vendors will bring their own table(s) or there will be a rental fee of $10.00 per table.  

• Tina would like a craft table for the students to sell their creations. 

• Subcommittee meeting date: October 30, 2025 

Fun Fair 

• Wish to recreate last year’s Fun Fair so there is a need to meet with Branlyn soon. Liaisons between Notre Dame & Branlyn will be Kristina, Erin and Emma.  

• $2,500.00 budget voted on.  

• “Yes” vote to use Lions Club of St. George as a food vendor.  

• Danielle will obtain a list of school family members who have a food truck.  

• Volunteers of one school to commit to set up and the other to clean up.  Volunteer group meeting (both schools) week before Fun Fair.  

• Invite face painters, Candy Clouds, Guac’ & Roll food truck and Joosie Sweets back.  

• Subcommittee meeting date: October 30, 2025  

Grants 

• Will request early use of parent grant to use for Christmas sign making night on November 13th.  

• Indigo/Coles “Adopt a School” – Emma will watch for application details and deadline 

Response of Parent Survey 

• Minimal response (est. 25). Danielle will look up the information provided and email to Nicole. 

Additional Business 

• Over the next year, there should be a focus on recruiting additional family members to council.   

• Mandy connected with Branlyn Neighbourhood Association (BNA) and they would like their rep to speak at October meeting to see how they can partner up. Danielle advises that BNA provide hot lunches.  

• Ask teachers what they need and BNA could potentially help with requests. Danielle has not put out the question to classes on their needs but will do and bring responses to October meeting.  

• Potential of hosting a community engagement night – home alone course, self-defense.   

• Request that Grade 8 fundraiser be sent out to all school families.  

Action Items:  

• Mandy will follow up with BNA President, Joe, to attend October meeting.  

2025/2026 Meeting Dates 

Tuesday October 21st  

Tuesday November 18th  

Tuesday January 20th  

Tuesday February 17th  

Tuesday March 24th  

Tuesday April 21st  

Tuesday May 19th   

*No meetings held in December or June*