RAPT Meeting Minutes for February 9, 2012

Minutes
Subject to
Approval at Next RAPT Meeting

February 9, 2012,
6pm
Library

Council
Present: Lucy Nussis,
Co-Chair
Brenda Yabrov,
Treasurer
Janin Robertson, Secretary

Staff
Present: Susan
Adaskin, Principal
Erin Miller, Teacher
Theresa Ryckewaert, Teacher

Absent: Anthony
Chien, Co-Chair (attending PIAC on behalf of RAPT)
Kim Proud, Co-Chair



1.
RAPT Welcome
Call to Order at 6:08pm
Minutes of from January 10, 2011 approved


2. Principal
Update

a) Ongoing activities
·
Sports
o
Grade 5/6 boys basketball
o
Grade 6 girls volleyball
·
Lunch activities
o
Dance with Judy
o
Games club
o
Mad science Chess
o
Eco Club


b) Facilities
·
Ms. DeCeasere has been painting inspirational quotes
in hallways
·
Parking lot doors were replaced because they
were rusted and rotting
·
Currently investigating increasing lighting for
the back parking lot
o
Finding a location for lighting could be an issue
given location of power
·
A break-in occurred at the school
o
Three computer projectors were stolen along with
a Mac laptop.
o
Insurance will not be covering the loss as it
does not meet the deductible
o
Everyone is becoming much more diligent about
locking procedures

c) Grade 6
·
Students currently on their trip to Ottawa with
Owen PS
o
They are experiencing tobogganing, hockey game
and seem to be having a good time
·
Spirit Days raised $821.55 for their trip,
scarves raised $284
o
$20 was provided to each student and gift cards
provided to the bus driver.
o
Excess funds used to provide a subsidy to assist
students when necessary

d)
Staffing
·
Mrs. Zahoor is on medical leave. Ms. DiFonte is filling in until her return

e)
Other
·
Gr 4/5 students continue to take part in an
integration project with developmentally disabled students from Park Lane PS. Our
students have experienced 3 visits and have responded well
o
May be looking for volunteer drivers to take
some of our students to experience Park Lane


3. Budget /
Treasurer Report

·
We have $23000 in revenue
o
$1800 was raised through QSP magazine sales
·
We have committed:
o
$1700 for Prologue performances (Mar 2 and Apr
17)
o
$8000 for Scientist in the School

DECISION RAPT will support the Grade 6 graduation
by providing $500

·
Class of 2011 had a surplus of $380 which they
recommended be put towards the purchase of a freezer
o
It was agreed this was needed and the
recommendation that it be a frost free upright was accepted
o
Lucy N will take over pricing of a frost free
upright freezer


4. Fundraising / Events Update

a)
Grade
6 Fundraising
·
Spirit days are over and raised $821

b)
Dance-a-thon
·
Lucy N and Janin R gathered info regarding the
Dance-a-thon from Owen PS and presented what they learned
·
No one at the meeting volunteered to lead this
event
·
Given the amount of work involved and the lack
of volunteer support it was felt that a Dance-a-thon would not be viable at
this time

DECISION The
Dance-a-thon not proceed this year but should be revisited in the fundraising
plan for next year

c)
Cookbook
·
Anthony C and Janin R researched publishing
costs
·
A fundraising cookbook publishing company out of
Winnipeg: Gateway Publishing
o
Gateway is sending a sample for review
o
Recipes are added by each contributor on
Gateway’s website so no one would need to type or layout the recipes, it would
be completed via Gateway’s website
o
Production cost would vary depending on the
number of cookbooks ordered and number of recipes included but would be less
than $10 per book
o
Turnaround time from the time recipes are
submitted to cookbook delivery is generally 4-6 weeks
·
Janin R proposed a theme of ‘quick weeknight
meals’. This would allow to do a cookbook in subsequent years with different
themes
·
It was felt that we would need 80-100 recipes to
make it successful. If we did not
receive that commitment from parents then it would not need to go ahead
o
Delivery in time for Mother’s Day or the BBQ cannot
be guaranteed
·
Janin R will continue to look into this project

d)
Jump
Rope for Heart / Read-a-thon
·
Discussion was initiated as to whether our focus
this year should be on the Jump Rope for Heart (what we have traditionally
supported) or a MS Read-a-thon
·
Ms. Miller indicted that as this year is the 50th
anniversary of Jump rope for Heart, all participating children will receive a
jump rope
·
As Jump Rope would need to be outdoors the event
would have to be held in May or June, not March as indicated on the fundraising
calendar

DESCISION RAPT will move this event to May or June in order to support
Jump Rope for Heart on their 50th anniversary. Ms. Miller will investigate further.



5. By-law
update

·
Janin R presented
a draft of the by-law
·
Most items in the
by-law are dictated by the Education Act and the TDSB
·
Key points
include:
o
All parents and
staff are automatically members of RAPT
o
RAPT parents
members will elect seven member to RAPT Council
o
RAPT Staff
members will elect 2 staff members to RAPT Council
o
Voting Members of
RAPT will be limited to the Council (seven elected parent members and 2 elected
staff members). The principal is a
member of RAPT council but is non-voting
o
The seven parent
members of Council will decide on the Officer positions of Chair, Treasurer and
Secretary
·
Draft will
continue to be edited for clarity and presented again at the next RAPT meeting
with the goal to approve the by-laws at the April meeting.

6. Other

·
Hanna K (parent volunteer) presented options for
consideration for After School programming
·
These included:
o
Ukulele
o
Dance
o
Magic
o
Sports
·
All options have a cost of approx. $100-$150 per
student
·
Discussion occurred regarding space
considerations. Ms. Adaskin advised that the gym is unavailable due to day care
permitting. She will investigate
further.
·
Hanna K expressed desire to add in a sports
program but it was discussed that with gym availability uncertain perhaps we
should avoid programs that would need this space for the first session as we
are trying to determine if After School programs will be successful.

DESCISION RAPT will move forward with Ukulele for Kids and Magic
Camp. Hanna K will continue to work with
Ms. Adaskin to set this up.

 

7. Goodnight -
Next RAPT Meeting: March 7, 6pm

Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm