Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Thursday October 23, 2003

Members: Rosalind Minaji, Mary Finstad, Carrie Crockett Lori Prevec, Kaywana Gargarello, Marie Patenaude, Craig Sproats, Susan McClure, Frank Torelli, Tracey Cseresnyes
Regrets: Deborah Doody

The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 7:15 p.m.

1. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of September 25/03 were approved.

2. UPDATES

Volunteer hours:
Total = 39 hours

Treasurer's Report:
Opening Balance: $1,828.48
Revenue: none
Expenditures: $ 50.00 CPF Conference
$ 40.00 new posters for schools
$ 90.00 Total Expenditures
Balance on hand: $1,738.48

Memberships:
There were 36 new memberships enlisted in our local chapter, as a result of the Adult French classes this fall. Carrie will be sending out "welcome" letters and a complimentary copy of "Keys to French 1" to our new members.

Communications:
Roz be sending out a press release regarding the cheque presentation to the Hamilton Public Library on Wednesday November 19, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Library's Wentworth Room. This will involve a presentation of a $2,500.00 cheque to the library to use for the purchase of French materials in our local libraries for public use. This was a result of a program initiated by CPF Ontario.

3. French Book Sale - November 26, 2003 at St. Joseph's School
Marie will be going to Champlain on Nov. 20/03 to pick out materials. Kaywana will arrange for the availability of at least 15 long tables and possibly book racks to display videos. Roz will make up posters. Marie will contact the Francophone community to see if an advertisement can be submitted into their newsletter. Again, the set-up for the sale will be from 1-3 p.m., 3-8 p.m. for the sale, and 8-9 p.m. for clean up. Craig and Marie have already volunteered for the clean-up shift. Roz will distribute a shift sign up sheet via e-mail. Outside volunteers welcome also.

4. French Course
Roz sent off all membership applications to CPF national. As well, she negotiated for 50 free copies of "Keys to French 1" in exchange for our revised copy of Course 1. CPF was also going to forward a copy of Course 2. Lori and Marie will review the material. Our present instructors will ask their classes if their participants would be interested in taking Course 2 and when it should be offered? Since Annette was our first instructor, she will be asked if she is interested in teaching the second level first. Tentatively, we are considering the Winter of 2004 for Course 2 and the Fall of 2004 for both Course 1 and 2.

5. French Concert- Feb. 11/03
Gisèle Portelance has sent a notice to teachers at the local FI schools to see the interest level regarding a potential Étienne concert for students in grades 3-8. Thus far, it was estimated that approximately more than 500 students would attend. Gisèle has also sent a notice to all French core teachers and will await the response. In the meantime, Roz has e-mailed Étienne, asking if he'd be willing to perform one day performance and one evening performance. (Originally, he proposed to do two daytime shows.)

After speaking with the principal, Kaywana reported that Cathedral was willing to host the evening performance free of charge in their amphitheatre. We will be required to hire two students to run the lights and sound equipment during the performance. A cordless microphone may also need to be rented. The amphitheater has a capacity of 450 people. It has three stadium-style levels, where students usually sit on the floor. (Chairs will cost $.50 each to rent.)

The opening act puppet show was estimated to take approximately 15 minutes. Kaywana will check with her friend to ensure she is still interested in performing.

6. Fall Newsletter
Kaywana received a letter from the Separate School Board stating that the principals of each FI school in their board must review the submitted newsletter initially before deciding whether they will distribute it to their FI students.

Roz has drafted the Fall newsletter. It includes an advertisement for our Book Sale, articles on: the Story Time program at the Central branch library, the CPF Conference, Le Concours competition last spring, and the adult French courses that have commenced this Fall. Kaywana will submit a photo of the participants in the Norwood Park class. Other features include website references for parents, help-wanted advertisement for our local Chapter (to achieve some representation and communication avenues from parents at Glen Echo, Glen Brae, Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Eugene, and Cathedral), and upcoming events. It should be ready for distribution the first week of November.

6. Public Board Issues
Lori informed us that all kindergarten to grade 3 FI teachers were receiving training using the DRA, a reading assessment tool which helps students learn to read in French. Core English teachers were also receiving literacy training.

As of Nov. 1/03, Mr. Jim Murray will no longer be the appointed School Board Supervisor, however, there are no immediate plans to change any of the decisions that were made while he served his term.

As well, our Chapter meetings will no longer be held at Norwood Park School, because of an insurance coverage policy with the Board. We would be charged a rental fee to use a space in the school. Our next meeting will be held in the Community room in Fortino's supermarket on Mall Rd. (across from Limeridge Mall) on Nov. 20/03 from 7-9 p.m.

7. Separate School Board Issues
During Kaywana's contact with the principal at Cathedral, she was encouraged to contact the Chairman of the Separate School Board in order to make more headway with promoting CPF etc.

Carrie also knows some parents in the French course whose children attend schools in the Separate School system. She will see if she can recruit and stir some interest in these parents to attend our next meeting and help promote CPF to FI parents in the Separate School Board.

8. CPF Ontario Conference: Oct. 17 & 18/03
Marie informed us of the terrific conference that took place in Toronto. She spoke about the presentations she and Craig attended. Highlights included presentations by Dr. Cher Harvey (and Jaquot) on Error Prevention, Error Correction in French, Tony Malica on the evolution of French language, and new CPF posters which were purchased to distribute to all of our FI schools. Marie was so impressed with Tony Malica's presentation that it was proposed to find out if he'd be interested in being our guest speaker at our AGM in the spring. Marie also learned of other resources: www.fireflybooks.com in Toronto for educational supplies and books.

A "Scouts About" program has been developed, aimed at 5-10 year old girls and boys. Parents must be CPF members for this 12 week program ($65/session, 1-11/2 hrs per evening once a week). Help is provided to help find French instruction in your area and your child participates in the "Scouting" experience but in a French-speaking environment. We thought this would be a great initiative to pursue for Hamilton. CPF also has Associate Member Organization (AMO) Kits available for loan for 4 weeks. The French resource kit contains CD's, videos, and activities with an approximate value of $800.00. The Chapter is responsible for it and must ensure the safe and careful care of its contents during the duration of its loan.

Regarding the adult French language courses, CPF Ontario has developed levels 4 and 5. Levels 1 to 3 are already available. On TVO, there is a television program called "Paul and Suzanne", which is appropriate for grades kindergarten to grade 2. It can be viewed in the evening (or taped for daytime viewing.) The Library program fund, which we participated in, has now been depleted. No further applications for these funds can be granted. The McGilivary Award was given to a deserving high school teacher in northern Ontario. The Mlacak Award was awarded to Fran Sutton. Marie Patenaude was also elected to CPF Ontario's Board of Directors. Congratulations Marie! It is a two-year term position, with promises of personal and professional growth.

9. Other Business
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday April 29/03 in a west end location that is still yet to be decided or confirmed.

Next meeting will be held on Thursday November 20/03 at Fortino's on Mall Road in the Community Room upstairs from 7-9 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.