• setting up and running the alternative lunch and milk programs with the help of student lunch monitors. Every day a parent volunteer came to the school to distribute milk into class coolers!
• coordinating and helping out at school events such as Christmas Shopping Day, the Used Book Sale, TalentFest and Fun Night, and coordinated fundraisers like MacMillans, Entertainments Books, Senators Tickets, Samko Toy Sale and QSP magazines
• coordinating and helping out with tulip planting in the Fall with 4 CVES classes
• reading with students in the JK/SK Early Literacy Program and the Parent Supported Literacy Program for students in grades 1 to 3  
• helping coordinate the Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS) program
• introducing the Roots of Empathy Program to our school this year
• enticing Majic100 to present their *No More Bullies* campaign at our school in April! 
• initiating Crazy Hair Day to support CHEO  
• inviting Tina Daniels to spend a day at our school educating our students, teachers and parents on how to create a safe and caring school  
• coordinating Family Volleyball Night 
• helping supervise students on field trips and during Terry Fox National School Run Day and Jump Rope for Heart
• driving students to and from various special events such as music concerts and sporting events
• initiating the purchase of a full set of ukuleles for the school  
• assisting classroom teachers with photocopying and the preparation of classroom materials
• maintaining the emergency telephone network
• helping out with registration and child care at our parent information evenings  

 This year, CVES Council achieved the following: 

• welcomed 29 voting members and approximately another 15 non-voting members
• on average, had about 20 people attend its monthly meetings, including our principal and a teacher representative, and also had special attendees like our school trustee, Mark Fischer, our music teacher and our librarian, etc. 
• maintained an email database for school-wide emails, and sent out a variety of both Council-related and school-related throughout the year
• used monies raised to fund many items and activities that are no longer in school budgets. This year, we committed to funding over $11,000 in ad hoc requests! These included the Intermediate Stock Market Challenge, replacing phys. ed equipment, library book replenishment, Mathletes, the purchase of Ukuleles for our music program, purchasing listening centres and leveled readers for Grades 1-3, purchasing outdoor play toys and funding field trips.  
• financed the classroom teacher & staff resource fund
• put on 6 parent information sessions: Literacy at Home, Internet Safety, Bullying Awareness and Division Transition Sessions. These were funded by the Parents Reaching Out Grant, which Council has applied for (and has been awarded!) the last 3 years!
• Maintained the Parent Class Rep system, with a parent representative for each homeroom class to create a more informed and engaged parent community
• Hosted the Staff Appreciation and Student Volunteer Appreciation Lunches 

CVESC is a committed group of parents who strive to create a positive learning environment. You probably know someone who's on School Council or who volunteers at the school, and we're always thrilled to welcome new parents - either as Council members or to help out in another way. There are many ways to contribute - while some people are able to commit to a larger role, others come to a few meetings and help out when they can, doing things they enjoy. We know everyone is busy and appreciate each and every volunteer hour!  

We're making a few changes to Council next year and are hoping you'll join us! If you are interested in joining Council, helping out, or would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact anyone you know on Council, visit our website, or you can contact me! 

Thanks!

Leslie Segal

Council Chair

• designing posters, flyers, brochures and other publicity pieces for Council information and Council-related events, programs and initiatives (versions of these exist and copy has already been written, we just need the materials updated and/or re-designed)
• receiving requests from, and coordinating with, our Chair, Vice-Chairs and/or the Coordinators of specific events throughout the 2012-13 school year
• may or may not choose to be a voting member of Council and attend meetings next year
• some availability between now and the beginning of the next school year required

• We continue to offer on-line discounts through our website on QSP magazines - even throughout the summer - they make great gifts! When you order your QSP magazines, please make sure you use our code: 10727.     

• Need labels? Don't forget you can order Mabel's Labels directly through school council. By clicking on the Mabel's Labels widget on our website (in the right column), we automatically receive a portion of your purchase. Thanks!

Organizations and Associations that our School Council receives information from:

Canadian Parents for French (highlighted in our October newsletter)

Ottawa Carleton District School Board (highlighted in our January newsletter) 

OCDSB - Parental Involvement Committee (highlighted in our November newsletter)

People for Education (highlighted in our February newsletter)   

OCASC - Ottawa Carleton Association of School Councils (highlighted in our March newsletter) 

If you know of an organization that has helped you support your child's learning, please let us know!

Thank you to the CVES family businesses who have supported CVESC by being part of our Business Directory. You can find the complete Business Directory here (with a new design!) with contact information and links to their websites. Please support our community!  

Avon - Heather Wyche

Emerald Home Improvements - John Dagenais 

Millenium Roofing Inc - Earl & Christina Brazeau   

La Pierre Law Office  - Michelle La Pierre 

Mortgage Alliance - Windy McCarty  

Oriana Financial - Susanna Penning

Produce Depot - Danny Docksteader

Shaklee - Melanie Bennett

VSP Printing - Jane Desrosiers

Wilson Law Partners LLP - Andrew Wilson

If you own a family or home-based business and would like to be included in our directory ($25 per year), please contact Jen Danby-McDonald (or phone 613-821-7967). Funds raised go towards supporting School Council initiatives.