CONNAUGHT SCHOOL COUNCIL 2015-2016 Annual Report

INTRODUCTION

This Annual Report summarizes the activities and finances of Connaught School Council for the 2015-2016 school year. The purpose of the Annual Report is for distribution to parents/guardians of students enrolled at the school, and for reporting to the OCDSB in accordance with Ministry requirements for financial reporting.

Organization

2015-2016 saw a large group of parents volunteer with School Council-sponsored activities. A full list of parent volunteers is provided at the end of this report.

The Executive Members for 2015-2016 were: Sophia Wong, Co-Chair (EFI)

Francis Otarola, Co-Chair (English Stream)

Laura Hurst, Treasurer

Jessica Velicogna, Secretary

Amy Hannah, School Principal

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

•Communications

•Parent/Family Events

•Parent Engagement

•Student Events & Clubs

•Fundraising

•Allocation of Funds

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications with parents this year comprised the following: Monthly e-blast newsletter sent by the principal

Continuation of the Facebook group set up in 2014: https://www.facebook.com/groups/904443356235404/ Membership grew from 80 members in September 2015 to 125 members in August 2016

New WordPress blog set up by Rob Thomas: https://connaughtparents.wordpress.com/ Views on the blog peaked at 127 visitors regarding proposed board changes to French instruction

Occasional memos sent home via “backpack express”

We compiled a voluntary Family Directory that provided contact information to facilitate communications between parents. About 45% of families participated in the directory.

We tried to initiate a ‘Parent Class Rep’ mechanism to establish a more effective means of two-way communication with parents. This concept did not take off due to insufficient volunteers.

PARENT/FAMILY EVENTS

Council continued a tradition of free or low-cost community-building events for families: Multicultural Potluck on December 10

Attendance of approximately 500 people, cost neutral

Stone Soup Café on March 9 Attendance of approximately 500 people, raised $2,500

End-of-Year BBQ on June 20 Attendance of approximately 500 people, raised approximately $300

As part of the Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant funded by the Ministry of Education, we received funds to host two additional events: Parenting the Digital Generation Workshop – February 18

Attendance of approximately 30 people

Presentation by local hip hop artist Peter Joynt on Resilience – April 13 Attendance of approximately 100 people

PARENT ENGAGEMENT

Two key issues required considerable parent engagement:

Proposed Changes to French Instruction With feedback from parents via the Facebook group, we submitted a position statement about the

proposed changes to school board trustees. Connaught School Council also made a delegation at the board meeting on this topic.

Proposed Tamarack Development Adjacent to School With feedback from parents via the Facebook group, we submitted a letter expressing our concerns

about health, safety, and well-being to the city councillor, planning staff, school board trustee, and developer.

We distributed a notice via backpack express regarding a community meeting about the Tamarack Development. The community meeting on July 20 was well-represented by Connaught parents, with parents expressing concerns to the developer and city councillor.

STUDENT EVENTS & CLUBS

•Winter Walk to School Day in partnership with Ottawa Public Health – February 26

•All-day Bike Rodeo in partnership with the City of Ottawa Cycling Committee – May 13

•Chess Club – run by parent volunteers during nutrition break from Feb-April, for Grades 1 & 2 students

•Knitting Club – run by a community volunteer and two teachers during nutrition break in March-April, for Grades 2 and up

FUNDRAISINGGrants TD Friends of the Environment Foundation - $3,400 towards Kinder Outdoor Classroom

PRO Grant - $1,000 towards parent engagement workshops

Scholastic Book Fair Raised over $3,000 worth of new books for the school library.

Pizza Days As with previous years, our biggest revenue source is through pizza sales. Pizza days raised over $6,000.

Love Local Coupon Book In partnership with Devonshire School Council, we developed the first annual “Love Local” coupon book that

promoted local businesses. We sold about 90 books for $10 per book. After printing costs, the project raised $765 for Connaught School Council. (Each school keeps the proceeds of their own sales.)

Hip Hood Auction In partnership with Devonshire School Council, we helped organize a parents night out/silent auction event.

The event raised $1,700 per school.

$3,750.00

$3,000.00

$2,082.49

$1,570.26

$688.70

$580.82

$311.57 $122.85

$30.00

Kinder Play Structure Set Aside

iPad Purchase

Color Printer and Toner

Classroom Expenses

Parents Reaching Out

Yard Project

Bank Fees

Chess Club

Council Meeting

$6,145.54

$2,486.40

$1,829.00

$1,000.00

$806.09

$765.08 $67.78

Pizza Day

Stone Soup

Hip Hood

PRO (Grant)

BBQ

Coupon Book

Mabels Labels

Connaught School Council Fundraising Summary2015-16 School Year

Total $13,100

Fundraising Total Spending Summary

Total $12,137

Connaught School Council Cash Flow Summary2015-16 School Year

CONNAUGHT SCHOOL COUNCIL

Sources and Uses of Funds for 2015-16 School Year

Cash on Hand at beginning of Period $ 9,018.74

Net Funds Raised

Pizza Day $ 6,145.54

Stone Soup $ 2,486.40

Hip Hood $ 1,829.00

PRO (Grant) $ 1,000.00

BBQ $ 806.09

Coupon Book $ 765.08

Multicultural Potluck $ 5.00

Mabels Labels $ 67.78

TOTAL NET FUNDS RAISED $ 13,104.89

Expenses

Color Printer and Toner $ 2,082.49

Classroom Expenses $ 1,570.26

Parents Reaching Out $ 688.70

Yard Improvement Project $ 580.82

Bank Fees $ 311.57

Chess Club $ 122.85

Council Meeting $ 30.00

Add: money set aside for pending projects:

Kinder Play Structure (2015-16 allocation) $ 3,750.00

iPad Purchase $ 3,000.00

TOTAL EXPENSES $ 12,136.69

Cash on Hand at End of Period $ 9,986.94

Fundraising Comparison with 2014-15

$-

$1,000.00

$2,000.00

$3,000.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

$6,000.00

$7,000.00

Pizza Day Stone Soup Hip Hood MabelsLabels

BBQ Coupon Book Movie Night DevonshireTransition

2014-15 2015-16

Total Fundraising:2014-15 $13,530*2015-16 $12,100

* Note that 2014-15 included a one-off distribution from Devonshire Council as part of boundary changes / introduction of EFI to Connaught

Spending Comparison with 2014-15

$-

$1,000.00

$2,000.00

$3,000.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

$6,000.00

TechnologySpend

(ChromeBooks, iPad,

Printer)

ClassroomExpenses

Chess Club Tech Club Bank Fees Special Events(Centennial,

Multicultural,PRO)

Yard-Related Tables MeetingExpenses

(babysitting)

2014-15 2015-16

Total Spend:2014-15 $ 8,2002015-16 $12,137

Thanks to all our volunteers!

Alan McKay Jay Anderson Kristin Macey Peter van Wesenbeeck

Amanda O'Reilly Jay Rhoades Lana Fawcett Helman Rob Thomas

Andrea Serrano Varela Jennifer Jollliffe Laura Hurst Rosie Cusson

Anish Mehra Jessica Velicogna Leanne Barry Ruthanne Holmesdale

Catherine Morris JJ Rhoades Linda Whitfield Sarah Sims

Catherine Pirie Julia Cromey Mala Khanna Sascha Davis

Danica Rogers Julie McIsaac Mara O'Brian James Sejal Trivedi

Danica Rogers Julie Westall Maria Mottillo Shahbaa Shihab

Daphne Guerrero Karen Monaghan Mark Scrivens Simona Wagner

Dario Velicogna Karina Roman Melissa Black Sophia Wong

Deirdre Thompson Karla Zuniga Milisa Gardy Summer Baird

Francis Otarola Kate Whitfield Miriam Bloom Tressa Haney

Geoff McBride Kerry Barnes Neal McKegney Vicki Campbell

Heather Anderson Kristin Baetz Pat Hendry Vicky Smallman

Jason Goveas Kristin Fraser Paula Burchat Viki Holan

Zoe Lomer

and more!