Ventura Park School Council Minutes- September 29, 2025

• What are we about?

• We use our vision to guide us

• Included in the weekly blog and positive feedback has been received. 

• Looking at a consolidated visual to add to the Vision.  “Curriculum and Kindness”

• Welcome to our co-chairs, Danielle Plax and Sheva O. Thank you to all for coming and seeing new and old faces.  

• Sheva appreciates the office and admin for a smooth start to the school year. Appreciate the caretakers who have been spot on and attentive.

• Pam, happy our VP stayed. 

• Christine thanks Sheva for the appreciation and great start to the school year and appreciates the community she has gotten to know. 

• A parent appreciates coming to the council meeting. 

• Leave the minutes at the table

• Looking for grade 7 & 8 students to start initiatives in the school (i.e tech team, announcements, assemblies, fundraising) 

• Asking parents to speak to their child about getting involved if it is something that they would push towards. 

• 12 Voting Positions

• Executive Positions (Roles and Responsibilities)

• Christine speaks of expectations, if elected for a voting position then we would need those people to attend.

• Parent questions if the meeting days would rotate? Jordan and Christine are offering different days to accommodate everyone. 

• Anjali, Danielle, Michelle, Geetha, Mike, Zarina, Tammy, Naomi, Sheva, Emily, Yogeeta, Inna

Chair/Co-Chair: Sheva, Yogeeta

Communications Officers: Geetha 
Is there training on how to refresh the blog and site?

Treasurer: Inna Vol

Secretary: Tammy

Fundraising Officer: 

Grade 8 Grad Lead: Naomi and Emily

Side notes: 

• If there is a vacancy with a position then we can speak to those in the school community.

• We cannot hold positions

Constitution 

• Zarina

• There is a YRDSB School Council Handbook that is more specific and detailed.

• Monday September 29th, 2025

• Tuesday November 4th, 2025 

• Wednesday February 4th, 2025

• Thursday May 7th, 2025

Virtual Link Available

Rotating week days (M-Th) to maximize community participation

• Teacher Wish List
  • Tent Repair - $210. Approval to fix the tent.
  • ACF (streaming service that is legitimate) - $625
  • Sport foam equipment - $1000. Approval to purchase this. 

Fundraising plan has been provided to each table based on the SIP (School Improvement Plan). 

• Where the funds should be allocated, we are focused in terms of the school’s needs. 

• We want to have a good idea of what our community is looking for and being transparent with our families at VPPS. 

• Asking for council to add any fundraising goals to the document provided. 

• We currently have $8,000 carried over from last year

• Mike asks, is there a multi-year plan? Do we plan on carrying over or continuing an initiative? 

• Discussion about the projectors in the classrooms and replacing them with the “tv projector” which is similar pricing to the projector. 

• School lunches and the time frames that have been organized for this session.  It is longer this session, which is more expensive  so we can always go back and shorten it next session. 

Pizza: Naomi sharing her research based on pizza profits from Dominos, Pizza Nova and Pizza Pizza. Naomi is presenting the options if we should continue with Mo’s pizza and earn a little less profit or another vendor (see table below).

Perhaps we should see if Mo can negotiate pricing?  

We can also look into purchasing plates and napkins from an alternate source than Mo for additional cost savings.

• Terry Fox Run 2025 for Mme Morrison
• Marla's daughter was here
• Sheva wanted to dedicate a bench or tree in her memory
• The plaque is around $100 - $150 and we are looking into refreshing the bench
• Sheva proceeds with a motion for the bench to request up to $1000. 

• Launch of Ventura Voice
• Reorganization and Staffing Updates. Once change was a straight grade 3 class.
• 531 students at VPPS, we are happy to have four grade one classes to help keep the growth at VPPS.
• School Council Forum November 12th at Westmount C.I. (2 people invited to attend)
• Learn more about the community, YRDSB initiatives and get to know other people in similar positions.

• Geetha, will we be hosting Lego Robotics this year? (No, we will not be hosting the event)
• Simon, Waterloo Math Competition (GAUSS)
• Zarina, First day of school confusion of who the teachers are. Perhaps we can add pictures or information about the teachers. Jordan suggested sharing a map of the tarmac and specifies where each teacher is standing.