School Council Minutes - April 2025

Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 

Location: Hartman Public School

 

1. Academic Updates 

EQAO 2025 

  • Scheduled for the last three weeks of May.
  • Grade 6 team will meet in mid-May to prepare.
  • Communication will be sent home to parents. 

Ministry Screener (EMPOWER Program) 

  • Data collection took place in September.
  • Focus on Grade 1 and 2 reading levels.
  • 25% of students are faced with reading challenges.
  • The Empower program (developed by SickKids) supports students who are experiencing difficulty with reading and may have a learning disability.
  • Teachers currently using UFLI; corrective reading tools are being explored.
  • Updated data expected with the next report card (focused on decoding and comprehension).
  • Teachers are triangulating their data using other diagnostic tools.

 

2. Staffing and Enrollment

  • Enrollment down by approximately 60 students.
  • Limited growth in kindergarten registration.
  • Lower numbers in Grades 1–3.
  • We will be in a situation of reduced enrollment for 2025–2026

 

3. Extracurricular Activities 

Sports 

  • Boys’ basketball practices are held three days a week.
  • Track and Field events begin in May. 

Lunch & Snack Programs 

  • Superstore’s “Everything Gives” program supplies juice boxes, granola bars, and apples (noted as too large for younger students).
  • New term launched for Hero Burger and East Side Mario’s lunch offerings.
  • Extra lunches are available for students without lunch.
  • Papa John’s lunches are popular among students.

 

4. Fundraising & Event Planning 

Ramadan 

  • Iftar dinner was hosted at the school. 

Family Fun Night 

  • Rescheduled from May 22 to a tentative date of May 28.
  • Vendors being finalized, including:
    • Photo booth, activity inflatables (no bouncy castles or mazes etc)
    • DJ
    • Martial arts activity (wood-breaking)
  • • Silent Auction:
    • Seeking vendor donations and community contacts.
    • Proposal to sell bracelets for $9-$10 to keep costs accessible. (students only, parent no cost)
    • Volunteers will be needed.

 

5. Financials 

  • Approximate available budget: $18,000 (confirmed by Gigi).
  • Technology:
    • Budget increase requested.
    • $6,500 spent on projectors.
    • Most Chromebooks will not be repaired; ratio currently 1 device per 3 students.
  • Graduation Dinner:
    • Budget of $3,500 allocated.
  • New Initiatives:
    • Principal shared students have expressed an in interest in a coding club– potential need expenses to launch a club need School Council support.
    • Interest in Spirit Day T-shirts for all students on the first day of school next year. 

 


Next meeting; Monday, May 5th 6:30 pm in Library