Home and School Summer Newsletter 2018

Budget Meeting

It is the end of the year, we have worked hard and had fun! As a community, we raised an incredible $44,196 this year! Wow! Our annual operating expenses total $12,900, of which $5000 will be earmarked for the eventual replacement of the friendship. After accepting proposals via an online form during the month of May, we created a survey that allowed for over 160 families to vote on how they saw best to spend our money.  We tallied these answers and they are listed below in order of preference.

Home and School will be funding:

1. Library Revitalization and STEM $8500
2. Art Programming $5000
3. Garden Educator’s Salary $5300
4. Technology $5000
5. Robotics $1500
6. Music Programming (Steelpan Drum) $2700
7. Lunch Seating $2000
8. Playground Equipment $1296

Motions were put forward and voted upon unanimously to make two amendments to our Operating Expenses for 2018/19:

• Change the amount allocated to “Community Dance” to be available for other “Community Building Events” such as a few school movie nights for the year.

• Reduce the amount allocated by $500 for the “Choir Accompanist” and use this to buy a new upright freezer for the Home & School room.  It is used to store food for many of the HS events such as the Welcome Back BBQ and the Fun Fair and needs replacing.

Meeting Discussion Topics

• The gardening community has asked that a fulsome discussion on funding for the garden educator take place during the first Home and School meeting of 2018-19.  The garden committee would like Withrow to start to think about setting aside funding in 2019-20 to fund multiple school years.

• There is no shade in the kindergarten playground. Their proposal for $1500 for tents wasn’t funded, but it is a health and safety issue. Elaine Alexander (Acting Principal in Mr. Parravano’s absence) will follow up on whether this is a TDSB responsibility, as shade was never considered in the plan for the new playground.

• The Welcome Back BBQ has been a free event since its inauguration and sadly, is becoming more expensive. So, next year we will introduce a pay what you can bucket in which you can throw in a few coins or even 5 dollars to help cover the cost.

• At this time of year many people ask if we can share some of the monies raised with less fortunate communities or organizations.  Now we don’t have the exact figures but when we think of all we do throughout the year that gives, we not only cover our responsibility, we set a good example for the children.

• Terry Fox
• Jump Rope Heart
• Camp Ooch
• Books with no Bounds
• Camp Erin (children suffering from bereavement)
• Me to We
• Withrow Cares – food for our communities

Don’t Forget Lost and Found!

Lost and Found is looking pretty pretty full, take a look before the year is out and it all gets shipped away. As well as the usual Lost and Found inside the Bain St entrance, there are items outside the office.

New Co-chair 2018/19

And, finally, we will be looking for a new co-chair for the Home and School Association. If you think this is a roll for you, considerations will take place during the first Home and School meeting of 2018/19.

 

Have a fantastic summer everyone!

 

Your Home and School Team