Pleasantville School Council October 2025

DATE: Monday, October 6th,2025

LOCATION: School Library

TIME:6:30-8:30pm

RECORDER: Natasha & Robyn

• Robyn Reid welcomed returning and new members of council
• Robyn reviewed Purpose of School Council

• Executive positions confirmed: (Chair), (Secretary), (Treasurer)
• Co-chairs: Marisa P and Monique C
• Treasurer: Aram D
• Co-Secretaries: Shirin S, Shannon H and Rachel D

Sub-Committees:

• Graduation Committee
• Staff Appreciation Lunch - Soha A
• Family Fitness Night - Laura N and Shirley L
• Lunchtime Programs - Armita A
• School BBQ

Council members confirmed executive positions and a few subcommittees.

Confirm sub-committee chairs at next meeting

• Robyn confirmed the following council meetings to be held this year. All are encouraged to attend in person or hybrid moving forward

• Dates: October 6, November 10, December 1, February 2, March 2,

  April 13, May 4, June 1

• Those interested in attending virtually will need to register vialink provided in Parent Weekly Newsletter every month
• New Staff: Ms. B Alizadeh (New grade ¾); Ms.J McDonnell (Primary prep mostly music)

School Improvement Goals discussed

• School improvements continued from2024-2025 (Enhance the work already in place)

1. Incorporate observations and conversations into a body of evidence of student learning -not just grades and tests e.g. participation in group discussions

   Not a modification to the curriculum, the idea is to have a full somebody of evidence of a student’s learning

2. Create identity-affirming spaces and learning experiences
   • How we assess
   • How we plan programs and plans
   • Aligned with Board initiatives
3. Plan events and initiatives that affirm identities of students
   • Community is changing e.g. 10 years ago 90% were English speaking whereas now we are 50% English speaking in the home - we need to ensure our initiatives are serving the current make up of our community

PROGrant

• Robyn asked for any suggestions from parents on which workshops they want to see?
• Robyn mentioned the “Raising a Resilient Child” workshop
• Ideas from parents included: AI presentation, social media and safety, seeking out speakers (might be expensive)

• Aram shared that 2024-2025 council finished with strong financial results $52,900 approx.  of reserve has been carried over to 2025-2026
• Great Financial finish to the 2024-2025 school year
• Opening Balance: $43,500
• Funds raised: $47,000
• Funds invested: $37,500
• Closing balance: $52,900

• Pre-approved allocations:
  • $8K for playground upgrade (climbing wall - installed)
  • $8K for fall classroom field trips

• With a strong opening balance, council can:

  • Support fieldtrips

  • Continue with playground upgrades

  • Technology needs. chromebooks - we have plenty but we need extra chargers to be purchased

  • Support a stoplight installation - get the word out, we need a crossing guard, we can try to promote and recruit for a crossing guard

Sources of funding remain the same e.g.hot lunch programs

Robyn mentioned/reminded us about the specific requirements that we are allowed to fundraise for

E.g. School generated funds can be used to supplement extracurricular items as “extra” → can purchase additional instruments for the afterschool music program

Requests for Funds aligned with Trustee and Board Improvement Plans

1. Student Achievement
   • $150 Wipebooks - Dry Erase portable posterboards
   • $3000 Music Program
   • $500 Online Subscriptions (whole school)
   • $500 Ipad chargers and power bars

2. Human Rights and Inclusion

   • $4000 - Classroom library books - 10-12copies of books for each classroom; ensuring that we are providing a wide-span of identity affirming texts and exposing children to a variety of identities

3. Health and Well-Being
   • $7500 Field Trip Subsidy ($20/student)
   • $550 Cross-Country Bus
   • $1000 Recess Equipment - Balls, ropes, etc - needs to be replenished each year + indoor recess games/cards
   • $2000 Flexible seating - exploring stationary bike options, additional bean bag chair and/or wobble stools

• Discussion surrounding the identity-affirming books for the classrooms
• Some notable points brought up included:
  • There is a board-approved vendor

  • Member asked if there was a book list that could be previewed before purchase so we can provide feedback.

    However, titles don’t provide much information

  • Robyn mentioned that every book purchased with school $ will be viewed under the scope of the identity-affirming perspective;
  • We need more access to books and balance in the books that have various experiences, different voices→ adding to the richness in selection for students and different perspectives

• Armita will be organizing the programs again this year
• Currently we are looking at Engineering Kids, Chess, Alegra Dance and Act 1 (winter session)

• Lunch options will be offered in 5 or 6-week increments
• Session 1 - October6th to November 14: Monday: KidsKitchen

Tuesday: Pizza Wednesday: Astoria Thursday: Yamato Friday: Booster Juice

• Voted to keep as is for Session 2 (November 17 to January 9)

• Grad Committee is running smoothly and fundraising has begun
• Fundraising: Cookies, Booster Juice and MacGregor’s Meats