Minutes from RAPT meeting, Feb 1

Minutes Subject to Approval at Next RAPT Meeting                                                                                      Feb. 1, 2016

2015-2016 Council:              Vanessa Appleton, Co-Chair

                                                Krista Sevdalis, Co-Chair

                                                Kelly Pellegrino, Secretary (not present)

                                                Hanna Kamal, Exec Council Member (not present)

                                                Jessica Tinkler, Exec Council Member (not present)

                                                Georgia Panagiotopoulos, Exec Council Member

                                                Christine Shin, Treasurer

                                                Amran Abocar, Exec Council Member

1)    RAPT Welcome

Call to Order at 6:17pm                                 Location: Rippleton P.S. Staffroom

a)      Welcome to all parents and staff.

b)     Georgia motion to approve Nov 25, 2015 minutes, Amran approved

2)    Principal’s Report – Ms. Chadder

●    School Connects operational last week after maintenance for much of January

●    February Activities: Lots of activity planned for February and winter months including the many lunch time programs being run by teachers

●    Report cards go home Feb 10, including for JK. SK will not get one this term. All parents are encouraged to set up interviews with teachers

●    Grade 3: Ms. Tam has taken over Grade 3 till end of school year while Ms Trusca is on medical leave. Report cards for this class will be delayed to before March Break

●    Music Teacher: Ms. Morelli is the new ESL/music teacher, potentially till end of school year

●    Kindergarten registration is Feb 24 & Feb 25; 40 pre-schoolers coming from Childcare to JK, additional 20-25 expected from the community. Rippleton is closed to optional attendance this year due to high current intake

●    New PA Day mandated for April 15

●    Staff Meetings: Monthly Principal and Staff meetings to resume in February

3)    Budget /Treasurer Report

a)      Everything going according to budget plans

b)     Some teachers can still utilize their $500 class allowance, if they wish

c)      Wish list on its way for additional iPads for some classrooms

d)     Danceathon fundraising will be used toward STEM material

4)    RAPT Report

a)      Thank you - On behalf of all parents, RAPT is pleased and grateful to see so many clubs, sports, activities outside the classroom. A big thank you to the teachers and staff

b)     Artists in Classroom - $250 is available for each classroom and if more needed, please ask parents for an additional $2, for example, for the activity

c)      Arts Performance – vote passed to have a capella group Cadence perform two shows on Monday March 7 for the second Prologue Performing Artist Group, after Duffle bags Theatre in December. The cost, $1,586, has been allocated

d)     Safety

●       Every staff member now has a walkie-talkie in the classroom and all doors are buzzered so the Main Office as well as Daycare can let in visitors

●       Key Swipe System - Ms Chadder advises that all teachers have been approved for a potential key swipe system

●       Because of proximity to Leslie St, back door must be kept locked but children can buzz to be let in

e)      Lunch, after school activities

●       There are many new lunch time and after school activities, including guitar. In previous years, RAPT purchased guitars for the school which are being used in the Tuesday program and the kids love it. RAPT also helped some of teachers running clubs purchase some of the supplies needed (puzzles, chess sets, markers, etc.)

●       Volunteers for afterschool programs – RAPT is looking for volunteers to run lunch and afterschool programs. Proposal to poll parents on programs they would like to see in the Fall 2016 and set up a committee of parents to organize and run the activities. Proposed to send notes to parents in Spring about the committee and invite them to attend planning meeting

f)       Fundscrip  - has raised $214 so far. RAPT may keep Fundscrip active for parents to purchase gift cards until the end of the school year, at which time the funds will be collected from Fundscrip. 

g)      Holiday luncheon recap – very successful with a great turnout; leftovers went to a homeless shelter and fed additional 50+ people, thank you to all who participated

h)     Mitten Tree – donations went to New Circles which used them to help new Syrian refugees. Suggestion raised to consider class sponsorship of a family through New Circles or to have the school adopt three families. Tabled for future discussion

i)        Valentine’s Dance-a-thon – Volunteers needed for the day, Feb 11, and to help count donations and issue tickets on Feb 17 afternoon. The top fundraiser from each group gets $50 Indigo gift card from RAPT http://vols.pt/bqfuJc

j)        PROGrant – parent presentation on topic of “Self-Reliance and Resilience” will be Feb 24, 6-8pm in the gym. Event includes coffee, meet & greet time and teachers are welcome to attend. Babysitting available for school age kids

k)      Loveable Labels – fundraiser to begin in April, Rippleton gets 20 percent of all orders

l)        New April 15 PA Day means Friday Sub Lunch is moved to Thursday April 14. If you volunteered that day, please note change in your calendars

m)   Mail Chimp – account has been cancelled and RAPT has switched to Zoho. Experimental blast coming shortly

n)     BBQ – will be held June 4, with a rain date of June 11. All the entertainment we had last year will be paid for by Ecko Jay Realty this year, except for the Photo Booth which will be paid for by RAPT

o)     Grade 6 Fundraising

●       Last movie night raised $250 from Gr 1-3. Tentative date for next movie night is April 14 for Gr 4-6

●       June 20 is graduation, students have rented Breakout Studio for the after party. RAPT paid $500 deposit and fundraising expected to cover remaining $1,000

●       $750 had to be paid to Rippleton Public School for supply teacher to cover Grade 6 trip to Camp Muskoka as school sent third staff member due to numbers

●       Students and staff had a terrific time, enjoying both outdoor and indoor activities

p)     Other Business

●       TDSB Anti-Bully/Pink Day is April 13. Proposal to use $1,500 Prologue funds to stage something around anti-bullying. Group would have to be TDSB approved.

●       It was agreed suggestions would be sent to RAPT council for discussion/selection

●       Lunch Lady feedback – parents aren’t impressed with offerings and suggestions sought for an alternate provide.

●       Pela will email Halpert Catering which supplies Daycare and liaise with RAPT

q)     Items to be tabled until meeting

●       Organizing planning committee for afterschool programs and getting more participation

●       Lunch Lady

●       New Circles sponsorship proposal

Next Meeting Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 6 pm

Meeting adjourned at    7:28 pm

Contact Rapt

●     raptrippleton@gmail.com     Blog: raptreport.blogspot.com       

Facebook: Rippleton Association of Parents & Teachers