KPS Council Minutes - January 13, 2025

Children’s Market

• Profit: Year 1 ~$1000; Year 2 ~$2000; This year - $3368
• There were purchase limits in place for first day; students could return to buy more the following days
• Profit increased as no tickets to get a $1 item were distributed, as was the practice in past years; this meant that students who came on the first day without money returned another day with money to purchase
• KPS tracked number of items purchased and costs for each student in order to ensure accountability
• Students who hadn’t bought anything from the market throughout the week (didn’t bring money) were invited to return on the last day to choose something
• More volunteers needed for crowd control at recess; there was an altercation in the hall during recess which required staff support; need to reduce the number of people in one area; need volunteer at the beginning and end of line
• Volunteer “floater” needed to help make sure students don’t play with items that they haven’t purchased
• They held market during recess due to concern that a student may not ask their teacher to go, or teachers may not ask class
• More education would be helpful for primary students to help them determine what they can afford to buy (e.g. intermediate student paired with primary student); some primary students took many items to the cashier but couldn’t afford them all
• The first class to visit was determined based on a draw; student/class names were put into the draw when they were observed walking quietly in the hallway; Mr. Braund’s class won the draw
• Question raised as to whether items could be split into different spaces to reduce crowding
• Some items were held back on the first day to make sure there were items available the next day
• Items did not need to be replenished

 Food Drive 

• A company delivered truckload of items
• Students wrote their names on list when they made donation
• Daniel would likely be willing to organize another food drive later in the spring

• Holiday market profits earmarked for nutrition program; this should be enough to cover costs for the rest of the year
• Accounts currently have about $10000 (family assistance, school lunch, general)
• About $5500 still needs to be paid for outstanding costs, including pizza and primary school play
• Grade 4/5s were supposed to see Mary Poppins at the Stephen Leacock Theatre but the show will take place on the same day as the spring electives, so the trip is cancelled; $15/student will be given to classes so that the teachers can plan an alternative activity
• Grade 8s may sell other items rather than cookies and popcorn to help increase student interest; they may also sell candy grams - students can purchase items, then pick up and deliver items themselves, rather than having items delivered
• ‘Poke a Hole’ fundraiser was very effective; participants paid to poke a hole in paper and get the surprise treat in the hole
• There will be a band trip to Canada’s Wonderland; a bake sale fundraiser will be held at the spring BBQ to support this trip; Mme. Richmond (music teacher) will return in the spring

Electives 

• Winter electives will be on January 27 for grades 4 - 8
• There are many options, including Snow Valley (tubing/snowboarding), MURC, and activities at the school
• There will be spring electives as well 

You’re The Chef 

• You’re the Chef is a hands-on cooking program for students in grades 5 - 8; staff and parents can sign up for training to be program leaders through York Region Public Health
• KPS teachers were unable to sign up due to having to miss class for training, but Alicia went to training sessions instead; any adult can sign up free of charge
• Need to register for program one month ahead; next training sessions are in the fall
• Alicia plans to run program on the spring electives day; needs eight parent volunteers to help supervise (vulnerable sector check not required); You’re the Chef trainers are willing to come help as well
• Alicia will send the link to register for next year 

Mental Health Month 

• One of the school’s mental health goals is supporting mental health by supporting students with technology use (e.g. education about effects on mental health)
• Screenagers is a 45-minute long movie that gives solutions for helping students to navigate the digital world; the school purchased a screening license using the Pro Grant money (see below); the license comes with lesson plans for teachers; Jessica and Mme. Hamilton screened the video; information is presented logically without scare tactics
• Need lead and volunteers to plan initiatives for this month

Pro Grant Activity Evening (Tentative Date - March 27) 

• $800 grant money should be received soon
• School is looking to do an activity by April
• Last year almost 200 people attended BINGO night (6-8 p.m.)
• There was a DJ last year but that cost money; Mr. Braund would be willing to DJ
• Cannot have a BINGO night at the MURC as it is gambling; event must be at school; cannot raise money from the BINGO, but can raise money from sale of food
• For BINGO night, people can come eat dinner (e.g. pizza purchased on School Cash Online) and watch Screenagers; they get seat reserved for BINGO which will follow the movie; could have multiple BINGO sessions
• Pairing BINGO with the movie will help bring people into the building to watch the movie
• Jessica suggested that primary students could have different mental health activities at the same time as the movie, as the material doesn’t apply to the primary students
• Prizes can be given out as long as PRO Grant money is not used to purchase prizes (e.g. prizes are donated)
• Students could bring cushions to sit on, wear pajamas, etc. to help make it a fun evening
• Suggestion made to separate BINGO from movie because the BINGO night was so well attended; discussed the fact that we need to draw people into the building to see the movie
• Suggestion made to offer BINGO at the spring BBQ as well

Spring BBQ (May 29) 

• Helena volunteered to lead
• Budget is $1000
• A lot of items can be used from last year
• Dunk tank was very successful last year; donations were collected; Mr. Braund volunteered to participate, instead of Mr. Davison

Graduation 

• People have signed up to help with decorating, etc.
• Jessica will connect with grade 8 teachers to ask that they give feedback to parents who are inquiring about volunteering to help

• Alicia will send the link to register for You’re the Chef fall training.
• Helena will lead the spring BBQ.
• Jessica will connect with grade 8 teachers regarding contacting parent volunteers.

• Lunar New Year parade for primary students on January 30 at 10 a.m.; families are welcome to attend
• Grade one information night is this week on January 16; Ashley volunteered to attend to speak to parents
• A parent went to the local sushi restaurant Wind Pho and asked them if they were interested in participating in the lunch program; they gave a printout of options available, which include many vegetarian sushi options (items must be free of shellfish and seafood due to allergies); there are also a variety of other dishes available (e.g. mango salad, dumpling, wonton soup, chicken with rice, pad thai, udon, chow mein)
• Black Students Association created shared art project; will be shown at the Old Town Hall Art Gallery in Newmarket for Black History Month; students will go on a field trip to the opening of the exhibit; reception will be held on February 1st
• Helena - hot dog sale on January 22; there could be two dates in February, but they are only available to do it on Wednesdays; Helena is generally not available on Wednesdays so they will need staff/parent volunteers to assist
• Question of Community Safety Village field trip in Stouffville for primary students; parent can email teacher directly