Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Wednesday June 25, 2003

Members: Rosalind Minaji, Marie Patenaude, Lori Prevec, Julie Senecal-Tremblay, Mary Finstad, Kaywana Gargarello, Carrie Crockett, Deborah Doody, Frank Torelli, Tracey Cseresnyes
Regrets: Susan McClure, Mike Lalich

The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 8:35 p.m.

1. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of May 15, 03 were approved.

2. UPDATES

Volunteer Hours:
Total = 103 hours

Treasurer's Report:
Opening Balance: $1,266.99
Revenue: $ 400.00 rebate for French course
$ 100.00 newsletter grant
$0.53 Interest
Expenditures: $ 294.98 photocopies
Balance on Hand: $1,472.54

Revenues from French course registration (Fall 2003) and book sale will be included in September's report.

Membership: one new membership since April, 03, from the public board

Communications:
The Chapter newsletter was distributed to Public FI schools in May, this issue included an advertisement for the CPF Book Sale at Earl Kitchener.

Attempts to distribute the May newsletter to Catholic elementary FI schools were rebuffed. Roz and Kaywana attended the school council meeting at St. Joseph's in May to request that the newsletter be distributed on a one-time basis.

Roz & Kaywana plan to approach the trustees at the H-W Catholic school board meeting in September, to have a process for the distribution of future Chapter newsletters approved. Extra time will be required to allow Board staff to read and approve newsletter contents. Separate School Board officials have expressed concern with the lack of separate school content in the newsletter, but this should change as more parents from the separate Board join CPF.
The Chapter website has an Acrobat link to the recent newsletter, registration for the Fall French courses, and information regarding the Library's French Storytime offered at both the Central and Westdale branches.

3. FRENCH BOOK SALE
Revenue from the sale totaled $344.55. Unfortunately, it was approximately $300 less than last year. A lower percentage of the proceeds from the sales granted by Champlain and a lower volume of sales were the contributing factors.

It was suggested that next year's sale be held the last week in November (closer to Christmas). As well, look into "mirroring" the order of books from the previous sale instead of having volunteers making an annual visit to the store to select books etc. Look at either Earl Kitchener or St. Joseph's as the location for next year's sale. Marie is to get the cheque from Champlain during the summer.

4. FRENCH COURSE (FALL 2003):
10 registrations: 6 - Mondays at Norwood 4 - Tuesdays at G.R. Allan
Another reminder for the courses will be sent out during the first week of September.
Both instructors (Annette and Tina) will have a minimum of 15 students enrolled per class. There is also a third potential instructor for future courses, who has supply taught at Westdale.
Lori sent rental and insurance information to the Board. A decision regarding approval will not be known until September, however both principals have agreed to host the course. Karen Arnold is the new Board contact for facilities rentals.
Revisions of the course material will be made jointly by Marie, Lori, and Annette over the summer so that it will be ready for printing in the Fall. Roz will purchase binders during the summer and continue to monitor course registrations.

5. PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES:
Regarding school catchment reviews, the East End schools settled smoothly, whereas the West End schools had difficulty. The recommendations do not affect French Immersion schools.
In the French Public School Board, they are moving students from Dundas to an east mountain location (Sherwood Heights). Parents are fighting the relocation.

6. SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES:
Kaywana has found that there are 42 Grade 8 graduates from the Separate Board, and 25 of these students will continue their FI education at St. Mary's in the Fall. Enrollment numbers in the lower Grades seem slightly higher than this. Exit questionnaires should be distributed to track, account for, and explain the attrition rate of students. Kaywana spoke to the principal of Cathedral regarding the idea of having the Grade 8 graduates tour Cathedral to ease their transition into high school. Roz and Kaywana plan to attend the Trustee's meeting in September to inform them about CPF.

7. EVENT PLANNING FOR 2003/2004 SCHOOL YEAR:

September: Meet the Teacher Nights
Level One French Courses

October : CPF Ontario Conference in Toronto
Fall Newsletter (Mike and Kaywana)

November: Book Sale

January: Level Two French Courses offered
Winter Newsletter (Mike and Kaywana)

February: Kindergarten Information Nights
Bilingual Concert at Westdale

March: Kindergarten Information Nights
Spring Newsletter (Mike and Kaywana)
Le Concours -Hamilton Competition

April: AGM & Parent Information Night

May: Summer Newsletter
Le Concours -Ontario Competition

NOTES:

Bilingual Concert: consider Etienne (French rapper) or Jacquot. Have an opening act -possibly a puppet show featuring Kaywana's friend (1/2 hour). Sell water, pop & chips at intermission and ask Poster Pals if they would be interested in a display booth.
Investigate shared funding with CPF Ontario if the principal of Westdale donates use of the auditorium. She agreed verbally to this at the May FIAC meeting.

AGM: Have change location to west end or mountain for next year and think of potential guest speakers. Announce local winner of Le Concours public speaking contest and have the student deliver the winning speech at the AGM.

8. OTHER BUSINESS:
Sunday July 6, 03: H-W CPF Executive Family Potluck B.B.Q. at Roz's
(55 Athens, Hamilton) 12 - 5 p.m.

Next meeting: Thursday August 28/03 at 7 p.m.