WVPS council meeting - November 26, 2025
In attendance: Sheryl Gray, Kelly Maggirias, Kristy Spiropoulos, Jana Jagtiani, Heather George, Annapurna P, Jackie Tom, Amy&Simon, Raji Guna, Kosta A, Natalie Chan, Jana Singh, Tanisha Chatterjee, Sarah Hathaway, Kezia Ferreira, Susie, Andrea, Laura C
Land Acknowledgement - Jana S
Meeting Norms: Jana S and Tanisha C
Approval of last meeting minutes: approved by circulation
Treasury Report - Kosta - nothing to report, balance is still 12044.11
Communications update: Sarah H
- Updating school website, including an FAQ about council
- Suggestions for what we need to include on the SC portion of the website:
- Google form for community feedback?
- Summary at the end of each year so we can see what council did throughout the year?
- Hopefully coming to the Wendat weekly soon with more info
Committee Update: Celebration of light: Kristy S
- Next Wednesday, December 3
- Many different tables and volunteers in the gym
- Looks like it will be a great event
- Poinsettia fundraiser - profit of $570.80 for the school
- Still need more volunteers if possible (need lots of floaters) - please let Sheryl, Kelly or Kristy know
- Is it possible to volunteer for a bit? - yes in whatever capacity you’d like, for as long as you’d like
- Please let Kristy know if your child is performing so the volunteers won’t miss out
- Can we share the schedule for the performances - yes once it’s ready it will be sent out
School Council Forum Recap - Jana S
- AI guidelines for families
- AI is for the foreseeable future
- Students are using it for many things, writing, reading, research
- How does it help? Personalized learning, student engagement, supports students, innovation
- Concerns? Academic integrity, reduced critical thinking, bias (AI model can be trained and our biases /mistakes may carry over), privacy concerns re:sensitive info
- Partnership between parents, students, teachers - monitor the usage and encourage critical thinking
- Here to enhance education, not to replace it
- AI tools will be coming soon as well as guidelines
- Biggest takeaway - brainstorming, proofreader
- Can we bring a speaker into the school to discuss this with our students?
- Jana is in contact with Paul Davis but we could also look into AI
Teacher Report - Kelly M
- Lots going on - Jr boys and girls volleyball, youth space, robotics, athletic council, remembrance day assembly, choir, band, STEM activities, dance club, student lunch monitors, student announcers,
Principals report
- Updates:
- Steel Drums Dec 15-Jan 16 (access in library)
- Joy Lapps Steel Pan workshop (gr 5-8)
- Youthspeak 6-week mental health and inclusion program for grade sixes - Jan 13-Feb 9
- Youghspeak Parent Presentation (mental health and inclusion) - February 11 6:30-7:30
- Tech 5 year plan - goals are $110,000 - includes projectors and classroom upgrades
- School site refresh - summer 2026
- Sidewalks are in need of repair - school is 13 years old and sidewalks are in need of repair/replacement - this will be done summer 2026
- SIP and the role of school council
- Multi year strategic plan - revised at board level this year
- Three areas: Health and Well being, Human Rights and Inclusive Education, Student Achievement
- SA is about promoting and supporting high expectations
- HWB is about building healthy environments and positive relationships
- HRIE is about learning and growing together and affirming diverse identities
- District action plan - video
- Everything gets put together and sets goals - often based on data (eg EQAO)
- In the area of SA
- Deliver responsive instruction and assessment
- Prioritize achievement in literacy and mathematics - especially those with IEPs receiving modifications that need transitions supported before they go to secondary school
- In the area of HWB
- Foster a culture of care - some students don’t feel supported with a caring adult in the building and don’t feel as if they have a connection to share challenges
- Promote mental and physical well being - eg programs like YouthSpeak
- In the area of HRIE
- Cultivate inclusive leadership and accessible environments
- Enhance community and family connections
- What role does SC have in all of this? Some examples include:
- Equitable access for all communities (hybrid model)
- Safe space
- Active engagement of a diverse community (informing, collaborating, consulting, involving community)
- Need to build greater understanding of what council’s role is
- Language that is inclusive
- Acknowledgement of both health and well bring
- SIP identifies and outlines needs and includes the goals we need to set to meet these needs - an important part is council’s input regarding the SIP
- Questions re: SIP
- how is this going to be implemented?
- Everything a school does will align with the SIP - now that we have the language we can decide what will be done to help us meet these goals
- How often is this done? Are there carryovers?
- It’s always happening and it changes as needed- goal was early literacy a few years ago, it’s no longer the focus as it’s improved a lot - now it’s math as our data shows we need to work on our math
Q&A
- Are we planning on doing more fundraising for council?
- Any new fundraising initiatives will go towards our year one goal for technology
- There is no fundraising committee - perhaps it’s time to think about more fundraising
- Technology upgrade plan - for year one it’s hoped council will get 10 000 more to go towards the tech plan (we already have 12 000)
- Can we elect a fundraising chair? Kosta puts forth a motion to elect, Sarah will second
- We have nominated Kristy, Shai and Susie, - voting member needs to be a chair, anyone else can be a committee member - Jana and Tanisha will send out an email to the voting members - Kristy will accept
- 2 more movie nights for grade 8 grad - has to be before April 26th -
- Fun Fair?
- Silent Auction and Appetizers? For parents to meet each other
Kosta moves to adjourn, Jana seconds