The fourth Donagh Regional Home and School meeting of the 2009/20010 school year was held on Wednesday, January 20, 2009 at 7pm with approximately 30members in attendance.

Patti Shea welcomed all present and called the meeting to order.

The amended agenda was submitted by Patti Shea.

A motion to approve the agenda was submitted by Theresa Mitchell and seconded by Danny Murnaghan.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read by Laura Downey.

A motion to approve the minutes with one amendment was submitted Michelle Byrne and seconded by Kim Proux.

Eddie Baird reported that we had $3186.86 as of November 30, 2009. We paid $25.00 to Amanda Pineau for a cake and received $632.00 from our Christmas concert special seating fundraiser. Our new balance is $3158.26 in our regular account and $632.00 in our special fundraising account.

Gym Roof: This has been repaired.

Christmas Rocks: Most students attended this event and the students were very well behaved.

Christmas Concert: Jason thanked the community for their support. The costs for the concert were $676.00. $62.00 was received in donations at the door and $410.00 was raised from fudge/sweet sales.

PD Day: The teachers participated in a PD on November 20th with some attending a session with a literacy coach and some with a Language Arts specialist.

Heritage Fair: Students in grades 5-9 have begun work on this. The date for the fair is March 10th with a storm date of March 11th. More info will be sent home. Some concerns were raised by some parents regarding the guidelines surrounding the Heritage Fair and the broadness of the projects.

Hot Lunches: Jason thanked Paula for organizing this services and the rest of the volunteers for their work on this.

Haiti Relief Fund: A PJ day is being held with a minimum $1 donation for each student who wears PJ’s. The funds will be donated to the Red Cross and the Federal Government will match all donations to that organization.

Winter Carnival: February 12th is the tentative date for this and it will probably be a half day event. The Student Council is organizing this.

Old Business:

Playground Fundraising Meeting: One meeting was held in December and another is being planned. Everyone is welcome.

Hot Lunches: A meeting of the lunch volunteers was held before this Home and School meeting. Their plan is to have a hot lunch served once a week starting the first of December. All meals will be $2 and they are hoping to be able to put menu items in the newsletters two weeks in advance.

Rezoning: Edna Reid, our trustee, was to attend as a guest speaker but was unable to do so. Patti reviewed what the situation is. In 2001 and October 2009 we requested rezoning. In response to our latest request, as well as the rezoning requests of other schools, an ad-hoc committee of trustees was set up to look at rezoning. There was a meeting last week. Some requests are related to last year’s school closures. The ad-hoc committee voted to deny our request based on the fact that we didn’t have enough detail. That reason for denial was not valid because details were not required at that point, only the fact that we wanted rezoning. Edna argued against this denial and included in her argument was the fact that Dr. MacDonald’s report recommended we be rezoned as well as the fact that curriculum requirements for our junior high students need to be met whether we have 1 or 100 students. It was decided at this meeting that a consultant would be hired to look at rezoning. The president of the Home and School Federation has requested that the process slow down as the date for finalizing this was to be January 31st. The new deadline will probably be March 31st. Edna suggested we take a look at our zone and determine exactly how and where we want to be rezoned. We need to prepare to argue our case at the meetings where public input is permitted. We will hold a special meeting to discuss only rezoning and create a plan of action.

Grade 9 Update: There will be a draw on tickets for a night in Moncton as a fundraiser for the Grade 9 year end trip around the end of February. The Human Rights group is bagging groceries at the COOP on Saturdays for donations and will be at Superstore at some point.

Parent Engagement Fund: Patti was unable to attend the information session but she consulted the website for information. Ideas from other schools: family literacy days, game night, Canada Games fun day, family fun nights. We need to think about what we want to do.

Christmas Concert Expenses: Lisa Murnaghan made a motion to donate $300 toward concert expenses. The motion was seconded by Andrea Murnaghan and passed. Danny suggested that we send a card of thanks to staff for their work on the concert. Patti had a card with her that those in attendance signed.

New Business:

PEI Home and School Annual Meeting: This is being held April 17th and we can send up to five people.

Teacher Appreciation Week: This is February 14-20. Patti has a list of parents who indicated they would be willing to help with this. Last year Home and School did treats one day and parent volunteers did things the other days. February 26th will be the dinner for staff that parent volunteers prepare (it’s a parent-teacher interview day). Danny will purchase a $10 Tim Horton’s gift card for each of the bus drivers as they aren’t in the school to partake of the treats.

Parent Participation Program: Grade 5 was the winner of the cake.

Fundraising Guidelines: The PEI Home and School has created a draft of guidelines for fundraising. They are looking for feedback by January 31st.

School Busses: Our busses are currently at capacity. With kindergarten coming in to our school and the possibility of rezoning we need to look at lobbying for a 3rd bus. Paula made a motion that we should write a letter to Catherine Mackinnon regarding our bussing issues, especially in light of the kindergarten students, with copies to be sent to Sandy MacDonald and our former principal Ann. The motion was seconded by Louanne Good and passed.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 24th at 7pm.

Kim Trainor made a motion to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Danny Murnaghan.

Submitted by Laura Downey, Secretary

Donagh Regional Home and School