Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Wednesday April 6, 2004

Members: Roz Minaji, Marie Patenaude, Kaywana Gargarello, Mary Finstad, Susan McClure
Frank Torelli, Tracey Cseresnyes
Regrets: Deb Doody
Guests: Yolanda Czyzewski-Bragues, Ruby Banebridge, Julie Mowbray, Sean
Crockett (member of CPF Ontario's Advisory Committee)

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

1. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of March 3rd were approved.

2. UPDATES

Treasurer's Report:
Carrie made the following corrections to our financial records when completing the year end:
Deposit May Book Sale $344.55
Deposit Course Fees $300.00
Deposit Interest $ 2.63
Expense Photocopies $ 18.40
Expense Membership Refund $ 50.00
When these changes were added to the closing balance from January 21, 2004, the opening balance for the month of April 6, 2004 is: $5,964.80

Revenue:
CPF daycare mailing rebate = $50.00
Interest = $1.06
Expenses:
Stamps = $8.20
Photocopies & Tabs for Level 1 Course = $37.58
French Books for concours prizes = $173.76
Keys to French, balloons & CPF pins = $205.00
Balance: $5,591.32

Membership:
Sean reported on behalf of Carrie that we have 105 total memberships, 73 associated with the public board, 18 from the Catholic board, and 12 others. Of the 45 new memberships last year, only 15 renewed. She also reported that we have added approximately 55 members as a result of offering our last two Adult French Courses.

Communication:
Yolanda Czyzewski-Bragues will be the local CPF representative for St. Joseph's School. Ruby Banebridge also attended tonight's meeting for support.

The Chair requested that members who sit on School Council take the School Council Report and share it with their home school at their next meeting.

We received an invitation from ACFO regarding their ARTFO French Art Festival that was taking place April 2 & 3 /04. Unfortunately, it was too late to include it in our recent newsletter, but very pleased that our group was thought of and they were willing to accommodate.

Kaywana will make a poster for the upcoming AGM and Information Night at G.R. Allan. They will be distributed for people to take back to their home schools and ask their principals to make copies to in turn, be distributed to their grade 6-8 students.

Kaywana approached Redeemer University College and McMaster University regarding interest in starting a French Summer Camp for kids. CPF Ontario will offer a $1000.00 grant and provide an umbrella insurance policy to cover our liability. Requirements for the camp include: a minimum of 50 campers enrolled for 2 weeks, and the parents have to be CPF members. Kaywana is still waiting to hear a response from both.

As well, Kaywana approached the Spectator for some publicity for our chapter.

3. CHAPTER UPDATE

Le Concours
On Mar. 23/04 the Public board held an inter-school French public speaking competition. Dalewood, G.R. Allan, and Norwood Park participated. In total, nine students (Core French and Immersion) advanced to the Provincial contest at Glendon College in May.

On April 15/04, the Catholic school board will hold its first inter-school competition involving students in grades 4 to 8. The two schools that participated this year were St. Eugene and St. Joseph's.

Roz purchased books as prizes for the participants on behalf of the Chapter.

April 2 & 3 CPF Workshop
Marie, Craig, Roz, Yolanda and Kaywana attended the workshop at the Valhalla Inn in Toronto. They had an agenda full of guest speakers, including several students (Core French and FI) expressing the benefits of French language and the values of exchange programs, etc. Topics of the various speakers included: the advantages of French language learning, advocacy for Core French, and CPF Ontario's promotion of the multimedia kits available to members.

Roz reported some of the ideas that she found other executives and chapters were doing for their members. CPF Toronto holds skating parties, complete with French music. CPF Halton arranged a French tour of the CBC, visit a French restaurant, and stop in at Librairie Champlain.

4. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - APRIL 22
The list of speakers for the AGM includes:
Rose Handy: Bilingual Careers-Jobs and Carrieres Infos
Ian Thompson: Trustee & French Immersion Graduate
Lorraine Hamilton: Representing Heritage Canada
John Pusztay: Cathedral High School
Anne Klaus: Westdale High School
Rachel Pound: Summer Work Student Exchange
Each speaker will give 10-minute presentations except the two from the two secondary schools, who will have 20 minutes each.

Four vendors will set up tables in the gym. (Turtle Pond, Scholar's Choice, Usborne Books, and Poster Pals)

CPF Ontario sent a video showing a broad range of ages and benefits of French language.

Roz will present our Annual Report.

Marie will arrange for the equipment (screen, podium, microphone, etc.), tables, chairs, gates, and door arrangements at G.R. Allan. Mary will bring activities and arrange the children's table for any children that may be present. She will also arrange and bring cookies from Room for Dessert (Dundas), and food donations from Fortino's (juice, water). Frank will ask his daughter, Lori-Kate, if she will be willing to help look after the children's table during the evening. Roz will bring tickets, cooler, baking, and directional signs. Lori will arrange and bring the Tim Horton's coffee urn, cream, sugar, cups, and stir sticks.

The Annual Report and Financial Statements that Roz drafted was reviewed. (Awesome)

5. SPECIAL EVENT FOR MEMBERS-MAY 16

Any suggestions for an opening act would be appreciated, since one has not yet been determined.

Marc Tardif, the magician has been booked to perform at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts. The center was generous and rented us the space at a discounted rate. The event will be held on Sunday May 16/04 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Kaywana will make an invitation for this event to hand out at the AGM.

6. PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES

Roz was at The French Immersion Advisory Committee (FIAC) meeting was held March 31/04. Marie presented the CPF Report on French Second Language Education in Canada 2003. Members expressed disappointment with the lack of Ontario data in the report and would like a follow-up on this issue. It did, however, provide a good source of ideas about what other provinces were doing. They also discussed the French as a second language certificate that teachers get subsequently after acquiring their teacher's certificate. They would like to see teachers earn the French as a second language certificate along with their teacher training.

On Thursday May 13/04, Glena Noad, has arranged to have a potluck supper at Westdale for all FI families. She is hoping to encourage networking within the FI community.

A debriefing of the FI information nights was also discussed. Generally, a greater attendance was seen this year compared to last. It was decided that next year the Board would hold information nights at the five local FI schools.

Roz provided an update to the FIAC on our Chapter's activities and involvements.

The Toronto's Board of Education published a financial report showing where and how their FSL funds were being used. The FIAC requested that the HW Board produce a similar set of numbers.

7. SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES

Kaywana reported that as a representative of our Catholic School Board system, she attended the CPF Conference in Toronto earlier this month. (See Chapter Update- CPF Workshop).

Kaywana and Yolanda have organized an Information Night for April 22/04 at St. Joseph's School. They have invited Cathedral High School representatives to come to speak with concerned parents regarding the FI program at Cathedral High School. Many parents are dropping out of the FI program rather than sending their children to this location.

8. OTHER BUSINESS

Volunteers for the following positions were approved.

Chair-Roz Minaji
Vice Chair-Kaywana Gargarello
Treasurer- Deb Doody
Membership Secretary-Carrie Crockett
Recording Secretary-Susan McClure
Mary Finstad (back-up)

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Next meeting will be the AGM at G.R. Allan 7:00 p.m.