Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Thursday August 28, 2003

Members: Rosalind Minaji, Marie Patenaude, Kaywana Gargarello, Carrie Crockett,
Susan McClure, Tracey Cseresnyes

Regrets: Lori Prevec, Julie Senecal-Tremblay, Mary Finstad, Deborah Doody, Frank Torelli, Mike Lalich

The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 7:20 p.m.

1. FRENCH SUMMER CAMPS
Carrie sent her daughter to Ballon Rouge and was very pleased; however, parents need to be eligible for the francophone board to have their children attend. Petite Naviere sent an e-mail to thank H-W CPF for the ad in our Chapter newsletter. They had a few enrollments this summer as a result.

2. FRENCH COURSES
Two courses will be offered: Monday nights at G.R. Allan, and Tuesday nights at Norwood Park. To date, both courses are at approximately half capacity for enrollment. Revised notices to all students regarding the course offerings, will be distributed within the first week of school. Marie, Craig and Lori reviewed and revised the course material during the summer, and Lori is re-typing it with the revisions. Copies were to be forwarded to each instructor (Annette and Tanya) and made for the anticipated course participants. Binders were also to be purchased. Roz will send out letters to all class participants to confirm the time, place; etc. of the course they have enrolled in.

3. STORY TIME
The French Story Time program offered at both the Central and Westdale Public Library branches was very successful. Brian and Julia Minaji attended the program at the Central branch, where approximately 60 people participated in crafts, songs, stories, games, and sometimes snacks. Handouts and a free French book were also distributed for participants to take home. CPF will be presenting a $2500.00 cheque to the Hamilton Public Library in the near future for running the program. Kaywana will investigate the opportunity for media coverage at this event, and arrange an interview of Brian and Julia regarding their experience with the program.

4. LE CONCOURS
Marie will present the idea of the public speaking contest at the Public School Board's French Immersion Advisory Committee meeting to promote more involvement of other local schools at this event. Kaywana and Roz will also raise this idea to the Catholic Board. Winners of the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional competition would be asked to present their speech at our AGM in the spring (April 2004).

4. NEW PAMPHLETS
Roz showed the new CPF pamphlets designed to promote French Immersion, titled "Stay in French" and "I'm Learning French". Roz will call Barbara to get more pamphlets to have ready for the "Meet the Teacher" events at the schools, etc. New posters were also designed and printed.

5. BOOK SALE
Tentatively, November 26/03 was set for our annual Book Sale, in order to take advantage of holiday season shopping. Kaywana will check with the principal of St. Joseph's School, regarding permission and availability of the site. Marie will check with Champlaine to see if we can use our previous request lists of materials to place orders for the event, instead of making a personal visit to the store to choose materials.

6. CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Roz and Kaywana are to make a brief presentation to introduce the CPF organization to the Catholic School Board. They will also request permission to distribute our local Chapter newsletter and seek approval and date confirmation for the Book Sale at St. Joseph's. The meeting will be held on Tuesday September 9/03.

7. EVENT PLANNING
September will host "Meet the Teacher" nights at all the schools. Executive members are to e-mail Roz the dates of these events at their respective home school so that the CPF information display board can be utilized and shared. The French courses will also commence.

October is when the CPF Conference will be hosted in Toronto on Friday the 17 and Saturday the 18, 03. An agenda of various guest speakers and events has been proposed. Marie has volunteered to attend, if no one else is able. Our Fall newsletter will also be drafted and distributed at this time. It will include an update on the French courses, a Book Sale ad, an article on the Library Story Time during the summer, Le Concours, and tips and website references for parents to seek for extra support.

Next meeting will be on Thursday September 25/03 at 7:00 p.m. at Norwood Park.