Message from the Chair

DEAR CLAIRLEA FAMILIES…

Well we are off to a good start.  We are deep into the planning stages of the Halloween Howl event coming up on Friday October 30^th from 5:30-8:30pm.  Thank you to all that came to the planning meeting as well as those who couldn’t make it but have confirmed that they will volunteer at the event.  We are still looking for more adults to help out on the night so if you find the time it will make all the difference to help keep the rooms open that are favorites year after year.  Please email us at clairleacouncil@gmail.com to let us know you are available.  Please also see below other ways you can help your school make the Howl a great success!

 OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

1.       DECORATION DROP OFF: We need Halloween decorations to get the school ready for the Halloween Howl!!  Starting this week there will be a large blue bin in front of the main office of the school where you can drop off all items.  Spend $5 dollars in the dollar store and drop it off in the bin.  We are looking for:
-  Spider Webs – many of these
-  Black plastic dollar store Table Cloths – many of these

-  Large Candy Lollipops for the Lollipop Pull Room

2.      HALLOWEEN CANDY:  We need peanut free Halloween candy to be used as prizes in various rooms.  Please pick up a bag of candy and drop it off in the blue bin in front of the main office.

3.      PERSONAL AND/OR CORPORATE DONATIONS:  We are always looking for gift donations that we can use as prizes or raffles during the Halloween Howl.  If you or your company would like to donate a prize or gift to be used as one of our prizes during the event please contact us at clairleacouncil@gmail.com.

4.      HOME MADE CANDY JARS/BAGS:  We need many mini candy jars/bags to be used as prizes for the Lollipop Pull room.  You can help by filling any sized jar or little baggy with (nut free) candy and bring it to the school office anytime between now and the Halloween Howl.  The more jars we have the longer this room will be able to stay open and it is definitely one of the favourite rooms.  In past years we have needed approximately 400 jars/bags to have this room open for the entire event.  Feel free to decorate your jars as well.   

5.      CRAFT MATERIAL:  This year we need QTips, Coloured Construction paper, glue.  Spend $5 in the dollar store and drop it off in the blue bin in front of the office.

6.      VOLUNTEER: Help out on the night of the event.  We need adult volunteers to help run the rooms and that will enable your kids to experience all the planned activities that are favourites year after year.

HALLOWEEN DINNER we will be offering the option of purchasing a pizza dinner in advance of the event so there is no need to make dinner.  Make things easier on yourself and leave the dinner to us and you just need to enjoy the event and pick up your dinner in the gym. Check the backpacks over the next couple of weeks to look for a preorder dinner envelope along with a map featuring all activities for the night.  Submit the dinner preorder form on the due date specified on the envelope and you can pick up your dinner at the event on the 30^th after 6:00pm in the gym.  NOTE:  This is not to be confused with our regular monthly pizza lunch event held in the school.

WHAT IS THE HOWL? It is our very popular yearly School Council fundraising event that is loads of fun for all age/grade levels (JK to Grade 8).  Bring your family, bring your neighbours and bring your friends, all are welcome.  Save the date and come out for a fun time on Friday October 30^th from 5:30-8:30pm.  We encourage the children to dress up in their favourite costume so that they can participate in the contest at the end of the evening!  Bring your own loot bag/recycle bag to the Howl to enable the kids to collect all their goodies when they travel from room to room and partake in fun activities – featuring our very popular “HAUNTED LIBRARY”.  Entry is only $5.00/per child and adults are free.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?...

ONLY 3 MORE DAYS!!!!!

NORCARD…  (DUE FRIDAY OCTOBER 9^TH)  There are only a few days left to hand in your orders!!  Over the last couple of weeks you should have received a Red and White Holiday Magic Norcard Fundraising Catalog.  This shopping catalog is filled with items you can order such as; calendars, greeting cards, stationary items,  jewelry, kitchen items, phone charge cords, USB adapter wall chargers and much more just in time for the holiday season.  The Ordered Items will arrive approximately at the end of November 2015 (perhaps sooner).  All money (cash or cheque) and order forms (with completed legible contact information and order details) must be returned to the school no later than FRIDAY OCTOBER 9^TH 2015.   Cheques must be made payable to “Clairlea School Council”.   If you have not received the Catalog or need an additional order form we have extras in the Main Office.  This fundraiser enables Clairlea to receive up to 50% of all orders made.  Late orders will not be accepted and will be returned back to you.

WHEN DO WE MEET AGAIN…

School Council meetings take place every 3^rd Wednesday of each month.  The next school council meeting is on Wednesday October 21^st from 7pm-8:30pm. Free child minding is available.  All are welcome and we hope to see you there!  Please take a moment to read through the minutes from the September 2015 meeting.

The Agenda for School Council meeting usually follow this format:

6:50 – 7:00pm Sell 50/50 tickets (optional)

7:00 – 7:10pm Introduction and voting in the past minutes (Irit)     

7:10 – 7:35pm Administration Report (Mr. Mcgilvray and Ms. Karsh)

7:35 – 7:45pm Treasurer’s Report (Russ)

7:45 – 8:00pm Fundraising Report (Joanne)

8:00 – 8:25pm Open Discussion (All)

8:25 – 8:30pm 50/50 draw

MEMBER OF SCHOOL COUNCIL VS. NON MEMBER OF SCHOOL COUNCIL

In September everyone received a Clairlea School Council self-nomination form that was sent home.  On this form you were given the option as to whether you want to nominate yourself to be a member of school council or run for an executive position.  If you chose to nominate yourself as a member of council that means that when we choose to have a vote on any topic, you, as a member will have your vote counted.  As per the bylaws we are required to have 50% plus 1 of the members in attendance for the meetings or a pre-determined number for quorum in order to be able to have a vote be deemed valid.  That is why we encourage everyone who is a member to make every effort to attend all council meetings.

If you chose not be a member and just want to attend the meetings, that means that you are welcome and encouraged to come to each meeting and participate fully.  When it comes time for a vote only members can partake but member as well as non-members can all be present.  Should you still come to the meetings even though you are not a member?  Absolutely, your opinion is important and coming to the meeting and being part of the discussion is always beneficial to all involved.  If you decide that you want to change your mind and become a member of council you are still able to do so as there are spots left.  Our bylaws state we can have up to a maximum of 50 members.

HOW TO REACH US…

If you would like to subscribe to the School Council emails or you know someone that would like to be added to the distribution list please send a request to clairleacouncil@gmail.com.  We would like to hear your feedback and suggestions.  If you are not able to come to the next meeting and want to contribute ideas please email them to us or drop a note in the council box in the office and we can bring them forward to the meeting.   

You can contact us via email at clairleacouncil@gmail.com, on the blog at http://clairleacouncil.blogspot.com, or have a look at our bulletin board outside the office for the latest news.

Best Regards,

Irit

Chairperson, Clairlea School Council
2015/2016

clairleacouncil@gmail.com