Minutes of the Hamilton-Wentworth Executive
Tuesday October 7, 2008

Members: Kaywana Gargarello, Rosalind Minaji, Danusia Burdyk-Husak, Christel Elliot, Frank Torelli

Regrets: Myra Malley, Andrea Johnson, Debbie Edwards; Kyra Paterson; Dianne McKenzie

1. SEPTEMBER MINUTES REVIEWED

2. CHAPTER UPDATES

2.1 VOLUNTEER HOURS: Total 40

Roz Minaji 10 hrs
Kaywana Gargarello 10 hrs
Danusia Burdyk-Husak 2 hrs
Christel Elliott 3 hrs
Frank Torelli 15 hrs.

2.2 MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Tabled
Action Items:
" Myra to report on membership at next meeting.

2.3 TREASURER'S REPORT
" Attached
" Cheques not yet cleared - School rental, National CPF Conference registration, colouring books, SEVEC expenses from Deborah Doody.

2.4 COMMUNICATION:

.1 Website:
New domain cpfhamilton.ca has been reserved for 5 years.
School interactive links to be updated, old webpage will 'bounce' you to the new page.
CPF Ontario is requesting that all Chapter websites to have a similar layout, which we will follow
Action Items:
" Roz will produce CPF standard look as information is available.

.2 Book marks:
We will be printing a new and updated bookmark with the following revisions: new web address, & remove French courses. 5000 copies
It was agreed to try and use similar colours as the activity/colouring book produced by CPF Ontario.
We will continue to use the Hotmail account as a point of contact
Action Items:
" Dianne to update or re-design bookmark
" Roz check if College Boreal still offers CPF members a discount

.3 Newsletter:

Articles for the Newsletter:
AGM/Survival Nights advertised Roz
Article on French Exchange Students Kaywana
Book Sale Announcement Roz
Concert Notice Kaywana
French Xmas Tour Christel
Public Board Transportation Update Roz
Catholic Board Accommodation Review Kaywana
Contest for new members Roz
Homework tips Roz
Action Items:
" Articles to be submitted to Roz, by 5:00pm Friday, October 10, 2009.
" Dianne to edit and print for early next week
" Distribute immediately - in time for Survival nights
" Next Newsletter will be early January 2009 to promote concert.

.4 Other Promotional Items:

Tent: Prices were presented for a tent with our logo and web address. It was agreed that it was too costly and that we would look for a new tent in the spring and see if we could stencil our logo on it.

Table cloth with logo- Prices were presented, again too costly.

Action Items:
" Look for new tent (preferably a solid colour) in the spring
" Danusia to make or source a black table cloth for an 8' x 30" table, and a teal runner (or a black 'iron on' logo.

3. UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

3.1 NATIONAL CONFERENCE (OTTAWA):

.1 Attendance:
One Chapter member will attend (Kaywana Gargarello) - it had been decided to send one member since our account was not yet settled in August -because of the failed SEVEC exchange, and there had only been interest from members from one school board.

.2 Guidelines for Selecting:
The following was decided as guidelines for selecting members to go to future National and Provincial conferences:
- If money is available 2 members may attend (1 member from each board)
- Where 1 member attends then the next time an alternate board member will attend
- In the event that more members are interested in attending then priority will be given to new members who have not attended a conference before - this is to encourage and educate successive executive officers.
- Where funds are available and there is no interest from members of a particular board, then it may be decided to send 2 members from the same board.

Action Items:
" Kaywana to report back on National Conference at our next Executive meeting.

3.2 FRENCH STORY TIME IN WATERDOWN:

- 12 Families are attending this program at the Waterdown library branch
- Storytime Grant application has been made to CPF Ontario.
- CPF Ontario grants to be announced in December

Action Items:
" Roz to continue to follow up on Storytime Grant application status

3.3 SURVIVAL NIGHTS:

The 4 planned Survival nights are moving ahead:
Dundana - wants to present on Reading Strategies
Guy Brown - wants to present the French Immersion curriculum.
Lawfield - Giselle Portelance will make the presentation on helping with homework.
St. Eugene - has provided a date, and will let us know if there is a teacher available to present.
Hamilton Public Library is reviewing schedules and available personnel and will let us know if they will be able to present - Helen Kelly (HPL) may provide the power point and allow CPF to present the information if they are unable to attend.

Action Items:
" Roz will present at all 4 nights (Kaywana will assist at St. Eugene, Kyra at Guy Brown).
" Roz to arrange photocopying of handouts for the survival nights, and produce flyers for each school

3.4 BOOK SALE:

- Beaux Books - Thursday, November 20, 2008, Earl Kitchener Gymnasium, 3 - 7 pm.
- The book vendor will set up tables for each grade, and CPF will receive a percentage of sales.
- Some volunteers will be needed.
- Depending on sales at this event, Beaux Books might be willing to return in the spring and have another book sale in the east end

Action Items:
" Roz will check to see how many tables are required.
" Roz will investigate what percentage of sales we will receive

3.5 XMAS TOUR:

Looking at possibility of Whitehern this year rather than Dundurn Castle to provide variety
Action Items:
" Christel to contact Whitehern Museum

3.6 FRENCH CONCERT:

- Etienne is only has 18 days to tour, as a result requires a 1000 seat venue.
- We have booked Mohawk College - $2,000 - Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - 2 concerts
- We have found a sponsor for $1,000
- Ticket price $7 -$8- depending if another sponsor is found or if Etienne helps with cost of rental.
- French Stock - 2 Performers - Beebo & Etienne
Action Items:
" Kaywana to find out if Etienne will contribute to the theatre cost.
" Kaywana to investigate cancellation insurance.
" Frank to investigate possible major sponsor.

4. PUBLIC BOARD

4.1 NEW CONSULTANT: New French Consultant: Christine Reese.

4.2 STATISTICS:
- Total of 2,129 FI students in the Board
- Enrollment levels are healthy at the three FI school sites started in 2007
- Norwood Park enrollment continues to climb -now adding a third portable

4.3 ANCASTER SITE:
Currently only 11 students in one SK class. If enrollment does not increase the program will close - Daycare pulled out over the summer which may have affected parent's decisions. Status will be reviewed later in the spring once Grade One and SK 2009 enrollment is projected.

4.4 DUNDANA:
The Dundana FI program started with 2 SK classes and a small Grade 1 class of 12 students in 2007. Over the summer, 4 of these older students left the program and due to reduced numbers they have rolled the remaining Grade 2 students into a Grade 1/2 split. This happened in September and parents are upset, however a class of 8 students is not sustainable.

4.5 TRANSPORTATION:
Following a budget review, high school students who live more than 2.4 km from Westdale school will now receive city bus passes if they apply for them.

5. SEPARATE BOARD

5.1 FRENCH RESOURCE TEACHER:
Mr. Dan Crandall has been appointed to the position full time.

5.2 ACCOMMODATION REVIEW:
An e-mail was sent to Mr. Ciapanna (Superintendent of F.I. Schools) asking about the status of the French Immersion Accommodation Review - no word to date.

5.3 FRENCH IMMERSION PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT:
An e mail was sent to Mr. Ciapanna (Superintendent of F.I. Schools) asking when the next meeting would be held - no word to date.

6. FRANCOPHONE NEWS

Centre Francais is advertising the following activities:
- Adult French Bookclub starting in October.
- French Conversational Meetings on Tuesday evenings.

Action Items:
" Roz and Kaywana to contact Centre Francais to introduce CPF to their Board.

Next Meeting January 7, 2009