MOTHER TERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR
Dear Parents and School Community: Your Mother Teresa Catholic School Council had a very rewarding 2007-2008 school year. Throughout the year, School Council met and committed to initiatives and worked on issues including: • School Fundraising – Christmas Poinsettias, Dance-a-thon, Bingo, School Milk Program • Welcome Back Family Pizza Evening • Implementation of School Milk Program: Profits towards Classroom Incentives, Intramural programs , Purchase of Sports Teams Uniforms • Ministry Parent Involvement Grant: Purchase of Baking and Cooking Items and Materials for Theme Days: Pancake Tuesday, Life Skills Education • School Improvement Initiatives: School Improvement Plan: December 2007- June 2008; EQAO Provincial Assessment Results; Support of Materials to support Primary, Junior and Intermediate Literacy; School Library Improvement; Early Reading Intervention Program; Strong Start; Subsidization of Student School Agendas and EQAO Support Materials; Sacramental Programs in Grade 2 and 8; Support and Acquisition of Student and Teacher Classroom Resources; • Periodic Review of School Safety Measures; Review of School Safety Audit, Support of Waterloo Regional Block Parent Program; • Support of Community Service Projects: Christmas Shoebox Campaign, Firefighters Christmas Basket, Junior Teddy Bear Campaign, Support of Waterloo Catholic Charities Lottery and Waterloo Region Catholic Schools Foundation Grants, Terry Fox Run, Cake Walk, Jump Rope for Heart • Support of Guest Speakers and Authors Visits: Literacy Week • Support of Guest Speakers and Performers to support Year Two of “Imagine : A School Without Bullying” Initiative: Anti Bullying/Character Education Initiatives • Support of Faith Formation and Sacramental Programs: First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion; Holy Confirmation: Instructional Resources and Gifts • Support of Grade Eight Graduation Activities and Honour Roll Recognition Plaque • Support of Mother Teresa Catholic School Lottery Activity: “Bingo in May”: Acquisition of Guided Reading Programs: “Scholastic –Moving Up With Literacy”: Grades 3 and 4 • Support of Classroom Incentives and Character Development: Classroom and Student Rewards and Incentives Programs • Commitment / Approval of Funds for Marginalized Students and Families in Need to Participate in All School Activities/Excursions • Mother Teresa Catholic School 10th Anniversary Celebration : Dinner-Dance /Silent Auction: Fundraising of Tech Materials and Resources for Classroom and Library to support instruction of Language Literacy and Media Literacy These meetings were open to the public to encourage input from parents and other members of the school community. Minutes of the meetings, tentative agendas for future meetings and financial records are available for public inspection at the school office and foyer. Minutes of School Council Meetings are published in each monthly school newsletter. The purpose of School Council is to support student achievement and school improvement, support the faith development of our students and to recognize and enhance accountability in the education system through a regular review of existing and emerging school and board policy. A School Council’s primary means of achieving its purpose is by advising and making recommendations to the Principal and the School Board. Mother Teresa Catholic School Council, with the participation of the students, families and staff engaged in a major fundraising project in February of 2008. The Dance-a-thon fundraiser was a success and thanks to all, after expenses, raised $11,400.00. These funds were applied to a variety of initiatives described above. Our School Council also held a Dinner/Dance Silent Auction to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Mother Teresa Catholic School. The approximate amount of $9,400.00 raised was applied to the purchase of state of the art tech items such as LCD Projectors, Electronic Document Readers, Digital cameras, 2 laptop computers and 12 Panasonic Boom Boxes. As of September 1, 2008, our Mother Teresa Catholic School Council for 2008 -2009 has an approximate Opening Balance of $15,000.00 in funds. During the 2008-2009 School Year, our Mother Teresa Catholic School Council has committed to the new and continued support of the following initiatives… • • • • • Subsidization of School Agendas and School Trips for Students Welcome Back Pizza Night Early Years, Primary, Junior and Intermediate Literacy Programs: Purchase of Literacy Place : Grade 5 and 6 Guided Reading Program, Intermediate Nelson Language Programs Year 3 of Safe School and School Renewal Initiatives:” “Imagine”- Anti-Bullying Program” Guest speakers & Author Visits
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Purchase of Resources for First Holy Communion & Holy Confirmation Programs, Graduation Programs i.e. Confirmation Retreat Waterloo Region Block Parent Program Subsidies for Classroom Expenditures which Support Student Spirit, Morale and Character Development School Renewal Initiatives Library Resource Acquisition: High Interest Reading Materials and Physical Shelving Units School Fundraising Initiatives: Dance-a Thon and Bingo to support a variety of initiatives and Guided Reading Literacy Instruction Support of Waterloo Catholic Charities Lottery and Waterloo Region Catholic Schools Foundation Initiatives Continued Management of School Milk Program- Profits to go towards supporting Classroom Initiatives, Intramural programs and Acquisition of Basketball and Volleyball Team Sports Jerseys
We wish to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the many individuals who volunteered their time to contribute to the success of our School Council last year. Special thanks are due to the following members: Executive: Leo Pellizzari – Principal, Chris Eaton –Vice Principal; Andrew Bagley – Co-Chair, Doug Leusink – Co-Chair, Walt Milani- Co Chair, Christine Patton – Secretary, Tracey Robb – Treasurer School Council Members: Bob Westhaver, Cathie Romeo, Cindy Durnan, Diane Polski, Diane Winiarz, Jennifer Staats, Jill Corkery, Julie Posocco, Kent Lee, Patricia Di Schiavi, Peter Reitmeier, Kathy Sousa, Shaena Twolan, Ken Robbins, Jennifer Staats, Lisa Jenkins, Ivan Zahra, School Council Staff Representatives: Jackie Hurst, Jamie Noonan Thank you for your continued interest and support in our Mother Teresa Catholic School Council. The Income Statement of Actual Revenues and Expenditures for 2007-2008 and the Plan for School Council Generated Funds 2008-2009 is attached for your review. We would like to wish the best of luck to our School Council Members in the 2008-2009 school year.
Sincerely,
Doug Leusink School Council Co-Chair
Andrew Bagley School Council Co-Chair
Walt Milani School Council Co Chair
Tracey Robb Treasurer
Christine Patton Secretary