MEETING MINUTES
LAKE WILCOX PUBLIC SCHOOL
SCHOOL COUNCIL
DATE: 06 October 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM
MINUTES TAKEN BY: Olga Rozin Proger
IN ATTENDANCE
Nikki Andal
Julie Pesonen
Olga Proger
Christina Gianopoulas
Michael Cerullo
Jamie Bunbury
Sheza Naqi
Cathy Proikakis
Sofia Draper
Krista Crutchley
Kristina Alister
FarZaneh Jami
Samira Aslamzada
Amaar Naqi
Additional members joined virtually
Agenda item
1 Land Acknowledgement
2 African Ancestors Acknowledgement
3 Meeting norms review
4 LWPS Teachers’ Update:
Student Achievement/Engagement: Recent & Ongoing Events
• Caring & Safe School Assembly for each division
• Terry Fox Kick-Off Assembly – Sept 15
• Book Fair – Sept 29 to Oct 3
• Meet the Teacher BBQ – Sept 29
• Orange Shirt Day – Sept 30
• Photo Day – Oct 1 (Retake Day: Oct 30)
• Terry Fox Run & Team Building Activities – Oct 3
• Intermediate Co-ed Soccer – Practices after school
◦ Tournament – Oct 6
• LWPS Cross Country Event – Oct 10
• Running Club & Cross Country Practices – Tues, Wed, Thurs
◦ Area Meet – Oct 15
• Grade 7 Field Trip: Treetop Trekking – Oct 1
• Grade 8 Field Trip: Cold Creek – Oct 23
• Grade 8 Transition Planning
◦ In-class support and info
◦ Evening visits to High School Regional Programs
5 LWPS Teachers’ Update (cont.):
Health and Well-Being
Intermediate Boys & Girls Volleyball
• Intermediate Boys & Girls Volleyball
◦ Practices during and after school
• Intermediate Co-ed Soccer – Tournament Oct 6
• Running Club / Cross Country
◦ Practices: Tues, Wed, Thurs
◦ Area Meet: Oct 15
6 LWPS Teachers’ Update (cont.):
Human Rights & Inclusive Education
• Well-Being Team
◦ School-wide activities
◦ Weekly meetings every Tuesday
• Terry Fox Events – Focus on community, perseverance, and school spirit
• Orange Shirt Day – Building awareness and reconciliation
7 Admin Report:
• School Council Policy Changes (see item 8 for details)
• Schools typically undergo a re-org in late September to accommodate student changes over the summer break
• Meet the Families BBQ was held on September 29th
• School Council Forum will be held on November 2nd (two School Council members are invited)
8 PEAC Video Reviewed:
An Overview of Changes to Policy 262 School Councils
◦ Equitable access to participating on school councils for all communities
◦ The creation of a safe space to identity and respond to needs
◦ Active engagement of a diverse representation of community
members
◦ Greater fransparency and understanding within the community about the role that school councils play
Acknowledgement of both well-being and mental health
The addition of language that is inclusive of all families
The need to determine the impact of school council activities have on school improvement
The requirement that staff at all levels be responsive to conflict so all parties have a role in solutioning
Roles and Responsibilities Principals are responsible for:
◦ building an understanding with the community about the role
and the value that school councils play in improving student success in class, virtually, and at home
◦ ensuring all community members, including those who are
newcomers or marginalized, have transparent and equitable access in participating on school councils
◦ finding ways to remove barriers to improve access and engagement with school councils
School Councils:
◦ reviewing school data as an input into school council activities to
co-create solutions and to be responsive to the needs of the
student and school community:
◦ sharing lived experiences to foster an understanding of
community needs and to work towards achieving shared
objectives:
◦ collaborating together as a school council, not as individual
school council members, to make recommendations to the
Board in the development and implementation of the school
improvement plan;
◦ communicating with and providing ongoing advice to the
principal on school-related matters.
◦ collaborating with the principal to coordinate community
resources that support student learning, achievement and wellbeing
and mental health:
◦ understanding and communicating with members of the
community about the roles and responsibilities of school councils
◦ working with the school principal to reconcile the impact/
influence/ value that the school council activities have on
student success and schools
9 PEAC Video (cont.):
School Council Self Assessment Activity
• Individually complete the school council self-assessment (10 mins)
• In small groups discuss your responses to the assessment (15 mins)
• If you have not completed the assessment, finish before your next council meeting
• At your next meeting bring the discussion to the whole group (25 mins)
School Council Discussion
•Are there any questions you might have?
•What might be some areas of strength?
•What might be some areas we can improve upon?
•What might be some next steps your school council can take to bring this
policy and procedure to life in your school community?
School Council Policy & School Council Handbook Policy #262 is available on YRDSB website.
10 School Council Fundraising Plan:
Plan must align with School Improvement Plan
Plan must be drafted and presented to School Council
11 Treasurer’s Report (preliminary)
12 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Teaching Staff Representative
2. Non-Teaching Staff Representative
3. Student Representative
4. Community Representative
5. Parent Representatives (6)
6. Secretary
7. Treasurer
8. Chair/Co-Chair
13 Results of School Council Elections (held at meeting):
Secretary: Olga Proger
Treasurer: Kristina Alisted & Christina Gianopoulas (Christina G to
transition out, as this is her child’s last year at LWPS)
Co-Chairs: Sofia Draper & Nikki Andal
Additional voting members: Amar Naqi, Samira Aslamzada, Cathy Proikakis,
Julie Pesonen
14 School Council Meeting Dates for 2025/25 School Year:
November 10th
January 5th
February 2nd
April 13th
May 4th
June 1st
15 LWPS 25th Anniversary:
BBQ Tentative Date June 11th
Swag - board approved vendors will be sent to Co-Chairs
Year Books - LWPS is enquiring with staff re availability
16 Movie nights:
2 tentative dates: Jan 15th and April 9th
NEXT MEETING
10 November 2025 | 6:00 p.m. | Library