Etobicoke Collegiate Institute

School Council Meeting – March 26, 2008

Minutes & Business Arising:

 Minutes of the December 4, 2007 meeting were passed

Student Council Report:

 General: Adam Springer introduced the new Ram’s mascot (costume recently
purchased) called Rukus. The ECI musical this year, Anything Goes, was very
successful and made a profit of approximately $800 which will be put towards
purchasing a piano. Some Grade 10 students attended an Engineering Idol
competition and were successful in winning the Bronze medal and the most original
idea category. The ECI Fashion Show will be held on Friday, April 18. The Grade 8
leadership camp will be held the weekend of May 10 – 11th at Albion. The ECI
robotics team is competing at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga the week of March
24. The Sherman Tank restoration project has submitted a proposal for a grant to the
Trillium Foundation.

 Charity: Maddie Westocott’s update included the Valentine’s Day event, I-Flirts,
which was successful. The 30-hour famine (World Vision) is being held on April 10
-11th with approximately 150 students signed up to sleep over at the school. A new
event will be hosted this year to replace the 12-hour Run. It is called FAME to
highlight the charities designated to receive the donations (Free the Children, AID’s,
Megan’s Walk, Environment – People for the Planet). This will be held on April 25.
The grade 11 leadership class will be running the FAT (the spring school carnival) in
May.

 Athletic Executive: Meagan Brown confirmed the athletic banquet will be held on May
30th. The curling team advanced to OFSSA. The boys’ hockey team are City
Champions and also advanced to OFSSA. The ECI swimming team were Regional
Champions, placed second at City Championships and many swimmers attended
OFSSA. The spring sports include track and field, varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer, co-
ed volleyball, boys’ lacrosse, girls flag football (first offering at ECI), waterpolo and
ultimate Frisbee.

 Social: Rob Dart reported that the Battle of the Bands will be held April 11 from 5 to
9:30 pm. Survivor week (grades compete against each other in fun events) was a
success. There will be an event on April 16th at ECI presenting a hypnotist.
 Music Executive: Meagan Brown, on behalf of Lawrence Kwok, shared the following:
the music trip this year will be to Malta, Greece and Italy and will be leaving on
March 27th. Opus, the year end musical event, will be held on May 7.

School Council Chair Report: Sandy Brown

 On January 26, ECI hosted a parent information night on Underage Drinking.

Invitations were extended to the Martingrove, Richview, Silverthorn, ESA, and Bishop
Allen school communities and the event was very well attended and informative.
Presentations were made by representatives of Parent Action on Drugs (PAD), the
Toronto Police and a Social Worker from the Hospital for Sick Children.
 John Campbell, Trustee, hosted a Ward 2 meeting where he discussed the School
Safety Advisory Panel Report (Falconer), Afrocentric schools, the General Asset and
Program Planning Work Group (looking at underutilized schools – school closures).
There was also a presentation by Join the Dance, a non-profit group focussing on
self-esteem building (presently running a pilot project in 9 TDSB elementary
schools).
 The School Council agreed to donate $100 to the FAME executive to support that
charity initiative and encouraged parents to also donate to the event. For students to
participate, they must bring $35 with 2 canned goods or $40 without. It will run on
April 25 from 2:30 to 11:00 pm.

Teacher Representative Report: Jim O’Reilly

 Grade 9 and 10 science exams were held this year in January.

 The teachers attended a PA day presentation by Dr. Umesh Jain on Behavioural
Disorders in Children which provided them with very practical advice.
 Teachers have noticed a general improvement with the addition of a Hall monitor to
the school since January.
 Students organized a motivational activities event for the teachers which included
dancing, a scavenger hunt, cheers etc. to help demonstrate what the White Pine
experience is like.
 Mr. O’Reilly reviewed that all departments have common assessments for their
students (ie. Write the same tests and exams). The school moved to this model 2 to
3 years ago.

Principal Report: Gordy Stefulic

 Staffing for 2008 – 2009: The staffing committee is planning for next year. It is
important that all students return their option sheets as this will determine programs
for next year and staffing. Support staff have lost 1 secretary position, and
caretaking previously lost 1 position in the fall. The hall monitor allocation for next
year will be up to 2.
 Use of electronics: Students are not allowed to use any electronic devices while at
school (cell phones, I-pods, videophones, etc). They present problems with security
issues, cheating and getting stolen. Police have been called in for suspicions of
photographing illegal activities and have frozen facebook accounts and tracked down
cell phone to view images.
 The Character Education survey information has been reviewed and the TDSB has
selected the top 10 characteristics selected by staff, students and parents. These
are: Respect, co-operation, responsibility, teamwork, honesty, kindness/caring,
empathy, integrity, fairness, perseverance. This initiative is integrated throughout the
curriculum.
 Survey re: School Safety Advisory Panel: There is presently a survey being
conducted among teachers within the board.
 Provincial Budget from Queen’s Park: Ministry of Education has announced new
funds to be provincially distributed which include: $10M for ESL, $67M for special
needs, $32M for student nutrition programs, $750M for new schools and repair,
$10M for arts, music and physical education programs, etc.
 Reports going home on April 14th at the time of the university download (for Grade 12
students) which will include marks only and no comments.
 Exams are from June 9 – 20th with a moratorium on assignments the week prior to
exams
 ECI formal – June 20th at Arcadian Court
 EQAO: Grade 10 literacy March 27th ; rest of school 12:40 pm start and Grade 9
math will be Thursday, June 5th in the morning and will count for 10% of the final
math grade

Next Meeting: scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 7:30 pm in the School
Library.