MEETING MINUTES
LAKE WILCOX PUBLIC SCHOOL
SCHOOL COUNCIL
DATE: 10 November 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 7:05 PM
MINUTES TAKEN BY: Olga Rozin Proger
IN ATTENDANCE
Nikki Andal (virtual)
Julie Pesonen
Olga Proger
Christina Gianopoulas
Michael Cerullo
Jamie Bunbury
Sheza Naqi
Cathy Proikakis (virtual)
Sofia Draper
Krista Crutchley
Kristina Alister
Samira Aslamzada (virtual)
Amaar Naqi
Additional members joined virtually
Agenda item
1 Land Acknowledgement
2 African Ancestors Acknowledgement
3 Meeting norms review
4 Multi year strategic plan overview - continued focus on Health and
Wellbeing, Student Achievement and Diversity & Inclusion
5 LWPS Teachers’ Update:
Student Achievement/Engagement: Recent & Ongoing Events
• Intermediate Co-ed Soccer – Tournament – Oct 6 (successfully
advanced to the semifinals) 16 of students participated
• LWPS Cross Country Event – Oct 10 - 51 of students participated
• Running Club & Cross Country Practices Concluded 76 of students
participated
◦ Area Meet – Oct 15 - 51 of students participated
◦ Regional Meet – Oct 15 - 7 students participated
• Intermediate Boys & Girls Volleyball—practices and exhibition games
throughout the week
◦ Boys' evening tournament - Nov 6
◦ Boys Area Tournament - Nov 12
◦ Girls Area Tournament - Nov 13
• Junior Boys & Girls Volleyball started - practices throughout the week
• Drop-in volleyball at recess - Day 2 (Juniors), Day 3 (Intermediate)
• Grade 7 Field Trip: Treetop Trekking – Oct 1
• Grade 8 Field Trip: Cold Creek – Oct 23
• Fall Ball school-wide dance - Nov 7
• K - 2 Acadience Screener Results sent home - Nov 17 - 21
• Gifted Screening - Nov 24 - 28
• Educator & Parent Conferences - Nov 20 & 21
• Report Cards Distributed Electronically - Nov 26
• Grade 8 Transition Planning
◦ In-class support and info
◦ Evening visits to High School Regional Programs
◦ Applications for Regional Programs Opened—students applied to IB, Arts & to Bill Crothers
◦ Richmond Green Secondary School Grade 8 Open House - Dec 4
◦ Grade 8 tour of Richmond Green Secondary School - Nov 5
▪ Take Our Grade 8s to High School Day
▪ During the visit, students:
• Toured the school
• Observed classes in action
• Explored a variety of program options
• Learned about extracurricular opportunities
Sample question from post-visit survey:
Did the high school visit alleviate any concerns or anxiety you may have had
about transitioning to high school?
Sample of student responses:
1. “It seems a lot less daunting now and kind of exciting.”
2. “Yes, my worries have decreased.”
3. “Made me feel less anxious because it seemed very welcoming.”
4. “Yes, it seems like a very comforting place.”
5. “Yes, because I thought that high school would feel way different
from elementary school, but there are not that many big
differences.”
6 LWPS Teachers’ Update (cont.):
Health and Well-Being
• Well-Being (equity) Team—weekly meetings every Tuesday (8 staff &
25 students)
◦ October is Learning Disabilities Month—awareness announcements & posters as well as classroom simulation learning activities
◦ World Mental Health Day Art activities, mindful moments and colouring - Oct 10
◦ Spirit Day to stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ+ youth - Oct 16
◦ Diwali classroom presentation and activities - Oct 20 - 23
◦ Samosa Sales - Oct 20 - 23
◦ World Kindness Day classroom activities - Nov 13
◦ The team is working on a collaborative project with York Public Health to apply for a Healthy Schools Grant
◦ Managing stress and anxiety informational booth
▪ Educator & Parent Conferences - Nov 20 & 21
• Dental Screening - Nov 17 - 21
• Gr. 7 Immunization Clinic - Dec 2
7 LWPS Teachers’ Update (cont.):
Human Rights & Inclusive Education
◦ Daily announcements to recognize Heritage months
◦ Islamic Heritage month display and fact scavenger hunt
• Treaties Recognition Week - November 2 - 8
◦ Honours the importance of treaties and helps students understand the significance of treaty rights, treaty relationships, and their relevance today.
• Gr. 6 to 8 FSWC Presentations in the library - November 20
◦ Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) has developed a series of programs that provide elementary and high school teachers with knowledge of historical and contemporary issues of racism, antisemitism, and other forms of hate, along with tools to help them address these topics in their classrooms.
8 Admin Report:
• Fundraising plan (draft) overview:
Fun Fair Anniversary (June BBQ)
Healthy Hunger Lunches
2 Movie Nights
9 School Council Constitution overview discussed. School Council
constitution is available to view at https://lakewilcox-ps.yrdsb.ca/schoolcouncil-constitution
10 Treasurer’s Report:
11 Co-chairs update:
Several engagement event proposed for the remaining academic year:
• November - Community Outreach event (Food drive vs Warm Clothing drive discussed in the meeting, Food Drive was selected after School Council group survey)
• December - School Council offered to sell glow sticks, etc at a school dance (payment can be made via punch cards). Jammies & Gingerbread event proposed
• January - Movie night (January 15th tentative date)
• April - Movie Night (Date to be determined)
• June - Anniversary BBQ / Fun Fair
Additional fundraising efforts were discussed in a form of a market, may need more research before it is a viable.
12 Additional points of discussion:
“Roots of Empathy” program was brought up as it was successful in the past. The program no longer offered, however the Well-Being Team has
taken up a lot of the same initiatives.
School Council inquired about status of Year Books. It was confirmed that due to privacy requirements a teacher must head up that effort other than a group of parents, and a teacher volunteer is not available at this time.
NEXT MEETING
05 January 2026 | 6:00 p.m. | Library