School Council Meeting Minutes Sept 28, 2016 Library Council Members: Present: Jan Farquhar – Vice Principal, Scott Pritchard – Principal, Chris Wilson – Chair, Delia Bucknell – Fundraising Chair, Melanie Kerr – Secretary, Denise Sisson, Terri Puckerin – Staff Representative, Jennifer Brokenshire, Jennifer Cooke, Linda Bisbee, Colleen Black, Margo Shuttleworth, Nicole Steward-Seekins, Renee McIntosh, Jaime Dawson, Heather deHaan, Alicia Holloway, Ryan Visser, Simon Stafford, Brenda Johnson, Janice Currie, Kendra Mulhern Absent: Staff Representative (Non-Teaching), Keelie Young – Treasurer, Liz Willis

Others: Quorum Present (10)?: Yes Proceedings: • •

Meeting called to order at 6:34 pm. By Chair, Chris Wilson. Motion to approve last month’s (June) meeting minutes from Margo. Motion seconded by Colleen. Motion carried.

Executive Council Members •

The following roles were acclaimed • • • • • •

Chris – Chair Delia – Fundraising Chair Melanie – Secretary Keelie Young – Treasurer Alicia Holloway – Parent Volunteer Coordinator Margo Shuttleworth – HDSB Parent Involvement Committee Representative

Administration Report •

Scott’s provided a number of updates and a presentation which accompanies the minutes

Approved November 22, 2016

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

• Has been a busy three weeks • Lots of great things happening and talent at Pineland Enrollment is 761 Did not get reorg’ed (shuffling kids and classrooms as dictated by Ministry) Open House was a success; heard many positive comments Cross country was a great success – 200+ participants Volleyball tryouts underway Field was revamped over summer so drainage much improved; still working on a couple spots with contractor Staff very committed to extra-curricular Have been 3 Assemblies so far; at the end of year Scott wants every student to stand up and say they have been involved Student Senate – 9 applicants who would represent the school at the board level; we are going to create our own Senate at the school level Intermediate students will be moved back to classrooms for lunch starting Monday; this leaves space in gym for extra curriculars Staff are creating wish lists at present New this year volunteers have to do annual declaration which are available in the office There is a in Edsby to online Police Criminal Background Check and Vulnerable Screening

Council Operations Update Treasurer Report (Chris for Keelie): • Proposed Budget was shared (Attached) • Pizza Days: 30 Fridays beginning October 14 • Dance-a-thon: Friday December 2 • Pantherama: Saturday, May 27, 2017 • Coffee Program: • Motion to approve the proposed budget from Margo. Motion seconded by Delia. Motion carried. Pizza (Delia) • Pizza forms are in and Mary-Ann and Delia are sorting orders and doing money counting tomorrow at 9:30 if anyone wants. Julie will set up a Gluten-free Pizza program; Gino’s will be supplier (different supplier to prevent cross-contamination) • Parent Involvement Committee will be reviewing volunteer sign-up forms to see about volunteers to assist on Friday for organizing and distributing • Delia will create an on-line volunteer sign-up list as 5-6 people are required each Friday Nutrition Programs (Denise) • Halton Food for Thought is down in funding to $3750 • Healthy Baskets and Breakfast Program HDSB Parental Involvement Conference • 450 people currently registered • Craig Kielberger is speaking • On HDSB website • Childcare is available • October 15 in Milton from 8-2:15

Approved November 22, 2016

•

Lunch and breakfast is provided

Upcoming School Council Meeting Dates • Council meetings will be held on the following dates Tuesday, November 22, 2016 Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Tuesday, June 13, 2017

New Business: Outdoor Classroom Project (Nicole Steward-Seekins) • • •

Nicole shared a presentation which accompanies the minutes Proposal is to construct outdoor learning opportunities and nature infused play zones Administration to consider further and Nicole to connect with Chris in a couple weeks on next steps.

• • •

Motion to adjourn from Denise. Motion seconded by Jen Cooke. Meeting Adjourned:8:23 pm Meeting minutes submitted by Melanie Kerr

Approved November 22, 2016

PINELAND SCHOOL COUNCIL September 28, 2016

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE…. What would be a successful school year ? How would we know?

https://padlet.com/pritchards/sgf1m0iwx7e1

AN OVER-ARCHING QUESTION

How can we continue to build more student capacity to achieve their best as learners and hopefully members of the school and society?

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED…….. Synopsis of the Article

WHERE ARE WE HEADING?

Social Engagement: School Culture

Intellectual Engagement

Students become more aware of how learning skills can support their academic skills.

Students develop their skills as critical thinkers through inquiry. Students develop their thinking skills through problem solving that promotes student voice.

STARTING POINT: GROWING SUCCESS: KNOWING OUR STUDENTS

When evidence is collected from three different sources over time, trends and patterns become apparent, and the reliability and validity of our classroom assessment is increased. This process is called triangulation.

HOW DO WE BEGIN TO ADDRESS IN-SCHOOL VARIABILITY?

A starting point….. Focus on Learning Skills •  Whole School focus: Initiative •  Grade teams: choose one other learning skill •  Each class developing student success criteria connected to each learning skill •  Classroom trackers created as a reflective tool during community circle meetings

CONNECTING THE DOTS….. HOW DO WE PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT IN ALL PARTS OF SCHOOL LIFE??

•  Create a common theme/ goal/message about what our school stands for •  Connect it to every action we take in our school •  Promoting student voice is key •  Monitoring and Celebrating Success

CONNECT THE LEARNING THROUGH ASSEMBLIES WITH A FOCUS ON MAKING A DIFFERENCE OUR MOTTO: “LOOK AFTER YOURSELF, LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER”

http://www.righttoplay.ca/Learn/ ourstory/Pages/default.aspx

WHAT DO YOU SEE OR NOTICE IN THIS VIDEO??

https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jcBjadztAK0

Where might they come from? Why would I show this? What do you notice about where they live? What are they doing?

Empathy: Be thankful for what we have?

Outdoor Classroom Project Pineland Public School

Presentation shared with School Council September 28, 2016 Presenter: Nicole Steward (Parent) 1

Proposal Using an integrated team of students, parents and champions at Pineland Public School, construct outdoor learning opportunities and nature infused play zones. Sometimes referred to as “School Ground Greening” or “Outdoor Classrooms.” ▪ Options can include: ▪ Vegetables gardens ▪ Outdoor seating areas ▪ Discovery Gardens ▪ Playground areas made from natural materials

Benefits for Children Research is showing that green space and school gardens are having positive impacts on children’s: physical wellbeing, cognitive development, academic achievement, social skill development, can contribute to reductions in stress, anxiety, and hyperactivity and can increase environmental consciousness. Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren (Dadvand, Payam. Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. Mikel Esnaola, Mikel et al. PNAS June 30, 2015 112: 79377942) http://www.pnas.org/content/112/26/7937.full.pdf Children who grow their own food are more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables – see the following studies (Canaris, 1995; Hermann et al., 2006; Libman, 2007; McAleese & Rankin, 2007; Pothukuchi, 2004). http://www.colorado.edu/cye/sites/default/files/attached-files/Gardening_factsheet_2011.pdf Growing Minds: The Effect of a School Gardening Program on the Science Achievement of Elementary Students (Klemmer, Waliczek, & Zajicek, 2005 HortTechnology JulySeptember 2005 vol. 15 no. 3 448-452) http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/15/3/448.full.pdf+html Potential Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence From a National Study (Frances E. Kuo, PhD, and Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD, American Journal of Public Health: September 2004, Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 1580-1586.) http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.94.9.1580 The Effect of an Interdisciplinary Garden Program on the Environmental Attitudes of Elementary School Students http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/8/4/579.full.pdf+html

Vegetable Gardens What’s possible: a collection of garden beds growing an assortment of vegetables – could have a bed for every grade – let the children decide what to grow

Where to begin: Recommendation for Year 1 is to grow a Pumpkin patch (easy to grow, low maintenance, fall harvest)

Vegetables growing at Central Public School

Vegetable Gardens - How To Build 8 raised garden beds (one for each grade)

Build an additional garden bed that is wheel chair accessible

Outdoor Seating Area What’s possible – outdoor seating constructed of natural materials (Chris Hadfield school, Milton)

Where to begin: Recommendation in

year 1: arrange patio stones in a horseshoe type fashion, conduce to classroom type conversations

Outdoor Seating Area – How To Sink patio stones into sod.

Consider having the kids decorate them.

Discovery Gardens What’s possible:

Herb gardens, butterfly gardens, native species garden, wildflower garden, science experiment gardens etc. (Image of Edwards Gardens Toronto)

Where to begin: Recommendation for year 1: plant a butterfly garden in a raised garden bed

Discovery (Butterfly) Gardens – How To Purchase butterfly friendly plants – have the children plant them in raised gardens adjacent to the pumpkins patch

Nature Infused Play Zones (consideration for future years) Outdoor classrooms/playground at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Hand washing station

Natural playground Chris Hadfield Public School

Other Student Activities Related to the Gardens: Photography & Blogs

14

Other Student Activities Related to the Gardens: Seed saving program

Other Student Activities Related to the Gardens: Social research (Children conduct surveys re: ideas for the garden)

Other Student Activities Related to the Gardens: Worm Farming

Other Student Activities Related to the Gardens Farmers Market /Craft Fair

Other Student Activities Related to the Gardens: Art

The Community Connection

How do we leverage the gardens to enable better community connections?

Parental Involvement Provide an opportunity for parents to be involved in a school activity with their child: ▪ Encourage parents to be part of the design and build. ▪ Encourage parents to be part of the summer maintenance program ▪ Encourage parents to come and celebrate with the children at harvest time (come buy a pumpkin grown by your child) 21

Reach out to Local Farmers Connect with local food producers: ▪ Invite one of Halton’s pumpkin farmers to come and speak to the school on how to grow pumpkins. ▪ What are some best practices we can use?

22

Invite Seniors from the Community ▪ Invite those living in retirement homes to come and help with summer maintenance and harvest (horticulture therapy).

▪ Ask our senior woodworkers to help with the construction of bird houses, or worker bee pollinator houses. 23

Partner with homes adjacent to Pineland ▪ Consider involving in summer maintenance ▪ Share summer crops ▪ Partner on composting ▪ Seed sharing ▪ Worm sharing

Connect with other Schools in Halton

▪ What are others doing? ▪ What best practices can we share?

Connect with Local Businesses ▪ What kind of mutually beneficial relationships might we establish?

▪ What kind of sponsorship opportunities exists?

26

How to get it done (Governance and Responsibilities) School Council

▪ Approves budget ▪ Gives high level direction

Parental Garden Committee

▪ Reports to School Council ▪ Responsible for major construction & maintenance

School Council

coordination ▪ Takes a leadership role in seeking out funding sources ▪ Connects with Student Committee to understand wishes of student

Student Garden Committee ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Shares ideas with Parent Committee Responsible for minor construction, and planting Responsible for some maintenance Responsible to generating new ideas for the outdoor classroom

Student Garden Committee

Parent Garden Committee

27

Cost Estimate Expenses

Dirt

17 yards of soil 2300.00 if delivered 1000.00 if we pick up

Plants (for Discovery Garden)

150.00

Wood (Cedar boards)

800.00 for 10 raised garden beds (12x4x1) 300.00 for wheel chair accessible structure Total= 1100.00

Sod removal and disposal

400-1200.00 (depending on volunteer skills and equipment – may need landscapers)

Patio stones - for outdoor classroom or pathway

300.00

Hose (extra long)

200.00

TOTAL one time investment (without sponsorship)

Between 3150.00 – 5250.00 (depending on volunteer skill set and equipment) 28

Funding/Sponsorship Opportunities ▪ Wholesale pricing at Home Depot and Green Horizon Sod Farms (Big yellow bags of dirt)

▪ Whole Foods (Whole Kids Foundation) Opportunity remains open for 2016-2017)!!! https://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/landing-pages/school-gardens-landing

▪ Potential Funding opportunity through the MOHLTC Healthy Kids Community Challenge (may still be opportunities for 2016-2017)

▪ Funding opportunity through the Ministry of Education - Parents Reaching out Grants (2017-2018) http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/reaching.html

▪ Grant opportunities through TD Bank. (for 2017-2018) https://fef.td.com/resources/

29

Critical Success Factors

▪ Internal leadership within Pineland (admin and/or teachers) ▪ Minimal labor for teachers – external support (Parent volunteers) ▪ Summer maintenance ▪ Access to water ▪ Students involvement and ownership

30

Next Steps ▪ Soft approval from School Council to move forward (September 2016) ▪ Set up meeting between Pineland Principal, Board Trustee (Amy Collard), and the School Board Facilities Director to discuss possibilities. (October 2016)

▪ Work with our Public Health Nurse from Halton Region on funding proposal to Whole Foods. (October 2016)

▪ Students bring in pumpkin seeds (November 2016) ▪ Seek additional funding & sponsorship opportunities (November 2017) ▪ Share plan with Teachers (November 2017) ▪ Establish parental and student garden committee (January 2017) ▪ Convert Space (April 2017 )

▪ Plant Gardens (May 2017)

31

Questions