Minutes June 7, 2021 Minutes

LPCI School Council Final 2020-21 Meeting

7:30pm – 8:30pm

School Council Attendees:

Liz Hanson, Chair; Kristen Glenister, Vice Chair; Anne Marie Armstrong, Fundraising; Jennifer Tse, Secretary; Ian Aukema, Co-Treasurer, Special Treasury Subcommittee Vice-Chair; John Hiddema, Co-Treasurer, Special Treasury Subcommittee Chair; Lori Rosenberg, Marketing Co-Chair; Karen Barasch, Wellness Committee Chair; Erika Boone, Ward 8 Rep; Robin Conliffe, Community Member; Lucy McSweeney and Pamela Wilansky, French as a second language Representatives; Suzanne Duras *New Welcome Committee Chair; Leigh Felesky, Communications Co-Chair; Aiman Flahat, Principal; John W, Alyssa D – Student Liaison Reps+ Parent Participation to 45 Total attendee

Dates to Remember:

  • Wednesday, June 9th 2020 Grads – last day to collect 2020 Grad diplomas & yearbooks
    • 2020Grads can go in June 8th/9th
  • Friday, June 11th 2021 Grads – last day to submit 2021 grad photo via selfie app
  • Sunday, June 13th 2021 Yearbooks – last day to donate via School Cash Online for yearbook contribution. All students will receive a 2021 Yearbook.
  • Friday, June 18 @ 6:00 pm Class of 2020 Virtual Grad
  • Thursday, June 27th Music Council Awards – 3:45-5pm – Music Council awards
  • Tuesday, June 29 @ 3:30 pm Class of 2021 Virtual Graduation

April Meeting Minutes:

Motion to approve: Lori Rosenberg, Seconded: Kristen Glenister

Council Portfolio Updates:

Kristen Glenister, Vice Chair – 2021 Grad lawn signs available via https://stickeryoustore.com/collections/lpci2021

Anne Marie Armstrong, Fundraising – yearbook (school paid for yearbooks with donations accepted via School Cash Online, currently at $2,360.00) – see School Cash Online website for donation link which will close June 13th; Goal is $4,000.00

John Hiddema, Ian Aukema, Co-Treasurers –expenses were mainly for mailing list and website; spent $769 this year; balance is $5643 primarily frozen to pay cc bills; no fundraisers due to Covid, website costs much lower than usual b/c every 3rd year we pay renewal fees for website

Karen Barasch, Wellness – Wellness Council was instrumental in helping students with Relay for Life fundraiser in support of the Canadian Cancer Society – lots of posts and participation from students and their enthusiasm made this event happen; fundraising goal was achieved but not closed yet.

Student Liaison Reps – John W, Alyssa D

  • Link to all school clubs & Councils: https://sites.google.com/student.tdsb.on.ca/lpclubscouncils/home
  • School Council Thanked John & Alyssa for their leadership skills, and keeping us up-to-date all year
  • final update from John and Alyssa before 2 new reps take over for next year
  • election results were released in mid-May; 30 students ran campaign through Instagram
  • Adam Barbour and Simeon Xiao taking on the roles of student liaison reps for 2021-22 school year
  • LP Games Night (week of May 10) – one night per grade via Zoom
  • LP-themed Kahoot trivia with prizes, general trivia with breakout rooms so students would socialize with each other, online games, 20-30 students showed up each night, good participation levels
  • LP Relay for Life – fundraiser with 4 weeks of different themed events in support of Canadian Cancer Society and Cancer research; began with Spirit Week (week of May 10) with IG stories using blue/yellow colours, Fitness Challenge (week of May 17) with IG photos of students getting active (running, cycling, etc.), with raffle entries for prizes; May 28 Luminary Challenge with posted photos to those affected by cancer; June 2-6 Silent Auction with sports personality meet and greets, artwork donated by Jennifer Tse (parent council secretary)

Donate HERE to LP’s Relay for Life – Canadian Cancer Society

  • June – event hosted for mental health support via LP Wellness IG account
  • –Equity Conference – Change: Standing Together (May 26-27) Equity Council held event with keynote speaker (Gene Augustine) with 2 x 45-minute workshops (climate justice, mindfulness, etc.); debrief session with learnings from session; plans for continued event next year
  • –Thurs June 27 3:45-5pm Music Council awards, see music IG and website for more info
  • Grad2021 Valedictorian process began start of May with nominations – 6 candidates were shortlisted; announcement was posted – Nour Barsoum selected as 2021 Graduating Year Valedictorian
  • Grad – final year events will be 2 separate online events for classes of ‘20 and ‘21 – today texts returned, grad caps and gowns collected; remaining 2020 grad diplomas and yearbooks can be picked up June 8
  • 2021 grad photos due on Friday, June 11th via selfie app – in cap and gown in front of neutral background (LPCI yearbook IG)
  • Friday June 18 6pm 2020 virtual grad
  • June 29 3:30pm 2021 virtual grad
  • Student Council initiatives:

1. Diploma receival video – all grads submit video receiving “diploma” from household/family member (ie. your dog!) in cap/gown or neutral clothing; horizontal, neutral background, 10 seconds in length

2. Memories Montage – Daphne compiling grad lookback from past 4 years from student submission of LP / friends videos (school appropriate only)

3. 2021 Grad Slide Show photos from grade 9-12 (first day of school, Halloween, school photos, etc.)

-SC will put together a card for parents and staff send grad class messages to be compiled by SC into a Canva card to be sent to all graduates, send-off messages to be presented at graduation

(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxMJ_gUsdCgO5ZiUGla6n-2cTaxrQN-PuGxjchwRK6TkqMOw/formrestricted)

  • STEM – general meeting took place Friday June 4 @ 1pm for general info about the STEM council, opened application for various positions
  • All other councils in interview process or have already selected councils and clubs for upcoming year (ie. LPAC, business council, etc.)

Chair Update – Liz Hanson

  • -Apologies for the late start due to Zoom link issues; delayed to 7:30pm start time
  • -Thank you to each Council member for their roles this year
  • -Motion: Suzanne Duras as Welcome Committee Chair Motion: Jennifer Tse; Seconded: Karen Barasch; Motion Passed – thank you, Suzanne, for coming forward
  • -Always looking for new parents to join and for new roles with equal and fair opportunity for everyone to participate; each role available every year and process go to co-chair or vote
  • -Liz has one more year at LP with a student graduating next year, looking for replacement for Chair, and will continue on as Past Chair to support incoming Chair
  • -Congratulations to Principal Flahat who has been promoted to Superintendent of Education at the Halton School Board; Principal Flahat has been at LP for 2 years and it has been a pleasure to work with you and has made this role easy for me (Liz)
  • -Principal Flahat strives to call each student on their birthday or bring them into the office to speak with them; always thinking about students post-LP / globally; Principal is always thinking beyond the school; took storage space and turned it into a ‘maker’ space which was ready March 2020 when Covid hit; a space for creation and innovation – legacy from Principal Flahat

Principal Report – Aiman Flahat

  • -Felt emotional coming to this last council meeting
  • -After 28 years with TDSB working across the entire system, including as Principal Coach, from private to public schools, LP is a school that has made an impression and this is an extraordinary school, referring to the students, their confidence, level of engagement from students and libraries, desire to be better, number of leaders, students who come forward with new council suggestions, emails of congratulations from students with understanding and maturity of students recognizing that we are all carrying the dreams and hopes of our ancestors who sacrificed so much so that we can do better
  • –Covid – disappointing we were unable to do better for our students due to not reopening before the end of the school year – they deserve so much better
  • Parent Question – If parents wanted to do something on their own outdoors for grad, could they use outdoor space at LP?
  • No, unfortunately those are private spaces, not open to the public (permits required, etc.), no social gatherings allowed at this time, restrictions yet to be lifted (gown collection had to be done on a schedule with only 2-3 students picking up at a time over the past few days)
  • –Alumni Association – for those who want to give back to LP and remain connected to the school (build website, list of alumni, alumni careers), build a network of contacts (about 3K people are on LP Facebook page – how do we bring these numbers to this new organization?)
  • -30-40 people attended inaugural meeting to discuss this idea, have started building the website
  • -“Legacy is not what you leave FOR people; legacy is what you leave IN people.”
  • –OSSLT – no updates or indications for next year; no EQAO testing taking place this year; decisions being held off until later in August; so much work has been done for timetabling for next year
  • -Everyone wants students in the school in the fall, full-time.
  • -Superintendent Howard is working on process of finding new Principal for LP; currently researching candidates; nothing to share at this time
  • -“Principal Pins” to be given as a symbol of gratitude for leadership to graduates and all Council Executive members around the end of June – arrangements to be made to meet in person, if possible
  • Jennifer Dobson – LP alum and parents of Grade 9, 11 boys
  • Kids In The Halls TO Initiative – High Schoolers need to return to normal this fall
  • Approach Minister of Education Lecce and Premier Ford with feedback from medical and education professionals to get kids back to school full time – asking all parents and Principal Flahat to speak up and get your voice heard
  • @KidsINSchoolTO     ki****************@gm***.com

Motion to adjourn: Ian Aukema

Seconded: Karen Barasch

Meeting Adjourned @ 8:50 pm