2024-25 School Year:
Chair: Amy Guenette (Radojevic) OPPSCouncilChair@gmail.com
Vice Chair: Dina Ghafir
Volunteer Coordinator: Patty Georgopolous OPPSVolunteers@gmail.com
Parent Involvement Committe: Teena Agarwal, Pallavi Bhargava
Treasurer: Peter Brzezinski, OPPScounciltreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary: Jen Murray OPPScouncilsecretary@gmail.com
Teacher Rep: Isabella Hammond, hammondi@hdsb.ca
Administrative: Principal: Melissa Proctor, proctorm@hdsb.ca
VP: Poonam Gahunia, gahuniap@hdsb.ca
Meeting dates for 2024-25
We will be doing a hybrid model for our council meetings this year. The November, January, February and June meetings will be held virtually. A Google link will be sent the Monday of the meeting. The September and May meetings will be held in person in the school library. All meetings will be 7pm till 8pm.
Monday, September 23rd, 2024 (Last meeting for the 2023-2024 school council - all welcome!)
Monday, November 11th, 2024 (First meeting for the 2024-2025 school council - all welcome!)
Monday, January 13th, 2025
Monday, February 10th, 2025
Monday, May 12th, 2025
Monday, June 9th, 2025
Council Roles and Responsibilities
Membership
The composition of the council will be consistent with the Education Act and Regulations. Members of the council will include representatives from each of the following categories:
Parent/Guardian
There shall be up to twenty (20) parent/guardian representatives who will be elected according to the inclusions in the Elections Section. The number of parent/guardian members specified shall ensure that parent/guardian members constitute a majority of the total members. A person is qualified to be a parent/guardian member of the school council if he or she is a parent/guardian of a student enrolled in the school. HDSB employees are eligible to run as parent/guardian representatives if they are a parent/guardian(s) of a student enrolled in the school, provided they do not work at the school. Employees must disclose their employment with HDSB on their nomination form prior to the election.
Four (4) executives shall be elected from the successful parent incumbents to the new council during the election held at the beginning of the school year.
One (1) Chair
One (1) Vice-Chair (or two (2) co-chairs for the chair and vice positions)
One (1) Secretary
One (1) Treasurer
Council shall have one (1) chair and one (1) vice chair or two (2) co-chairs. A chair or co-chair(s) must be a parent/guardian member of council and shall be elected by the voting members of council. The vice-chair is to be elected by the voting members only if a chair is in place. Should there be more than one nomination; nominees shall be allowed to make a short (1-2 minute presentation) regarding their candidacy for the position. The executive election will be by ballot voting only.
Committees
Council may establish committees, for specific or general purposes, as it deems appropriate to achieve its mandate and to make recommendations to council. The committees may include but not be limited to:
Fundraising
Communication
Special School/community Events
School Ceremonies . Volunteer Training and Recruitment
Community Outreach/Parent Engagement
A committee may only act in accordance with the authority provided to them by the council.
Roles and Responsibilities of Members
Chair
To attend executive and school council meetingsTo act as a liaison between the school administration and school councilTo prepare agendas for council meetings in consultation with the PrincipalTo oversee the general activities of the school councilIn cooperation with council members, set the monthly meeting dates for the yearTo facilitate resolution of conflicts within the school councilResponsible for distributing agenda forms, and adding to the agenda if deemed necessary.Responsible for presenting information/reports on behalf of the members who are not ableto attend a meeting.Co-Vice Chairs
To attend executive and school council meetings.To work closely with the Chair.To chair meetings in the absence of the Chair.To take minutes in the absence of the secretary.Secretary
To attend, record and distribute minutes of all school council meetings.To ensure that the school community is notified of council meeting dates.To be responsible for receiving, sharing and responding to correspondence under thedirection of the Chair.To maintain the minute book and constitution, and bring both to every meeting.Update the office copy of the minute book.Treasurer
To attend all school council meetings.Responsible for distributing and collecting expense requisition forms (7.B), and presentingthem to the council.To maintain financial records.To receive and distribute school council funds.To present monthly financial statements at council meetings and on the web.To work closely with any accountants appointed by the school council to verify and auditannual financial statements.To prepare in consultation with a school council approved accountant if necessary, yearendfinancial statements as required by the Halton District School Board and/or the OntarioMinistry of Education.