Sept 18, 2025

Date	Thursday, September 18, 2025
Time Started	7:05pm
Time Adjourned	8:28pm
Attendees	BHES Staff Heather Schreider (Principal) Georgia Petinarelis (Vice Principal) Mandy Lisagurski (Teacher) Lori Wilson (Teacher) Jane Sawchuk (Teacher) BHES 2024 - 2025 School Council Pegita Ghasemi (Co-Chair) Devika Mathur (Co-Chair) Anita Li (Treasurer) Daphne Chen (Secretary) Atty Mashatan Rick Lew Maggie Lee Mona Moineddin Karen Li Scarlett Choi Parisa Bahrampour Guests Narges Taremfard Ardalan Shojaei Maryam Dowlatshahi Farahnaz Asad Melody Farzadfar Sasan Mirkhani Qusai Kanchwala Neena Santos Zehra Haider Yam Mok Shaheen Gulamani Vivienne Lai Nazanin Noroozizadeh Regrets Raymond Chong Anabela Costa Eileen Pan
Next Meeting	Monday, October 6, 2025 @ 7pm

1. Welcome and Minutes Approval

Pegita/Devika

Pegita welcomed everyone and introduced the admin team, exec team and teaching staff. She explained briefly what the School Council team does.
June 2nd Minutes were passed by voting members

3. Treasurer Report

Anita

Finalized numbers for last year
Monday LD, Tuesday, Dominos Pasta, Wed pizza and cookies…netted 60k last year….tech updates, library books and activities within the school. Will provide final numbers.
Allocated $2500 for Multicultural Night, Dance but only spent

$1800.

Carnival allocated $6000 but once everything was collected we spent only 300$. After all is done we have 39K going into the 25/26 school year.
Extra items: movie license, updates to tech 20K, repairs for music instruments, etc. Going into this school year we have approx. 39K to start.
Atty asked about lunch programs if there was a decline or increase.
Anita advised they stayed the same but over time the new additions declined in popularity.
She also said parents had requested more programs.

3. Admin Report

-School update

Heather/Georgia

Welcomed everyone back.
Elephant in the room…. Email regarding classroom placements.
We anticipated having 70 less students but from spring to school startup we have way more.
There will be some movement and 2 new classrooms.
Some students will be in a new class as of Monday.
The staff has been incredible and didn’t want to let kids go.
2 new teachers will be starting on Monday Sept 22.
Stay positive and encouraging.
If no email, no move.
Heather spoke about the issue that some people felt a lack of communication.
She outlined the communications that will happen this year.
Heather spoke about soft entry.
We worry that students will not be supported if dropped off before 8:45am.
Georgia welcomed and spoke about 2 procedures that have slightly changed.
Field trips that are normally offsite and supervised.
Forms have to be completed before, during and after to

ensure they are education based.

Guest speakers – YRDSB affiliates to come in and speak with kids – a checklist will need to be completed.
One line that we understand is that it has to be compatible with YRDSB plan and values.
Families have to be advised 14 days prior that a guest speaker will be visiting
If anyone is interested, please let your teacher know.
Rick asked if a police check is required for visitors. YES!
MS. Sawchuk introduced herself and spoke about Terry Fox walk.
Divided up based on grade.
Walking / Running throughout the day.
Teachers have been asked to put up a link on their Google classroom for donations to Terry Fox foundation.
There is a 45 year t-shirt on school cash as well. She presented the tee.
It can be purchased from Terry Fox foundation but it is faster through school.

4. School Council Update

Devika/Pegita

Devika asked that guests add their names and email if they would like council updates.
Devika went through what the council does – strictly volunteer.
Advocating for our students and their mental health.
A happy school has happy students.
Pegita advised initiatives – dance a thon, skate night, Nawruz Dancers, carnival, etc.
Devika said that if there is not time to commit to a full time voting position to please still show up for info and what is happening within the council.
Devika went through the year end carnival, what we provide (ice-cream truck, games, BBQ, DJ, etc.)
It consists of teachers, council, volunteers…if anyone is interested to help….it takes a village.
Anita spoke about the Milk program. It is on school cash already.
It is for the full year. White or chocolate milk.
It is starting on Oct 6.
Anita spoke about lunch programs.
A lot of requests from parents as they don’t want to always think of lunch.
Programs will start after reorg to alleviate paperwork and the nightmare of kids getting missed.
Devika went through programs: LD, Pasta, Pizza & cookie, Greek and Swiss Chalet. This is our main source of revenue.
Pegita mentioned we have Lunch Lady for Thursday & Friday.

Zahra asked if we can find out if lunch is halal – Devika advised we will definitely send out this info with lunch programs.
Heather spoke about Lunch Box.
It requires some navigating on a weekly basis.
We visited this last year and again this year but it seems we are happy with the programs that we have.
She welcomed feedback regarding programs.
Atty asked about the Lunch Program and if there are volunteers needed.
Heather says that it will require on site work from council or staff.
The benefit is that there is no commitment.
Devika said that this particular community seems to want to give their money and not worry about lunch.
Guest question of how we can help the community trust that vendor quality will not deteriorate over time.
Devika said that we stay on top of our vendors and give feedback.
It was mentioned that Swiss Chalet & Mr. Greek seemed to not be as great as time went on.
Maggie asked about pizza.
Anita said that it will continue with Dominos. There was feedback that some kids do not like it.
Maggie suggested Pizza Pizza or Pizza Nova.
Mona asked if we could do a sample day of vendors with the council.
Pegita said we would have to do a tight turn around.
We will send an email out to the council to see if anyone wants to come for samples.

5. New Topics/ Misc.

All

Rick spoke about skate night. The last 2 years it was pushed to the spring because of date availability.
It will be at Ed Sakfield but if not available, Tom Graham.
It cost 2$ and a canned good for the food bank.
There are no skate rentals and helmets are recommended for little ones.
You can come for as little or as long as you want.
Georgia spoke about curriculum night.
RH Library will be on site to sign up new library cards and will be bringing robotics.
Hong Fuk will be coming in for Asian identifying families.
Grade 8s will be coming in.
We also want to foster families helping families - help with tech setup / cash online / Edbsy/ etc.

We are asking for tech savvy families / persons to come around 5:30pm to help with tech and platforms as they can be very overwhelming.
Instructions will be provided and Georgia asked that interest be sent to BH email.
Any time that you can spare would be greatly appreciated.
Guest question asking if emails can be sent out sooner as families have plans already and a week or 2 in advance. This is not always good.
Georgia suggested that we send a “Save the Date” in advance.
Scarlett suggested that daily emails that are sent out in the morning actually be sent the night prior.
Guest question asked if Instagram is the only communication?
Pegita mentioned the community WhatsApp, emails, etc.
Guest stated that Instagram isn’t always something that the older generation uses.
The elder students who have phones are aware of events happening but younger students do not have access.
Guest question regarding links to Instagram in email sent out.
Heather said in the beginning she did like the idea of adding it back.
Parisa spoke about the lack of extracurricular activities.
She has spoken to parents about their interests - coding / drama/ public speaking/ debate / etc.
She has been gathering info regarding vendors.
Heather spoke about it being a lunch time initiative.
Parents pay and the kids take part at school.
The vendors are vetted, we are happy to do this at our school but we need support to make it happen.
Parisa advised she will reach out to vendors.
Karen asked if this is only lunchtime.
Devika advised it depends on the vendor. It is in available rooms within the school.
Heather said that the athletic pieces are tough, it depends on gym availability.
Devika asked that someone (Parisa volunteered), look at the vendor list and see what would be best for our students.
Heather suggested we send a list to see what our community is most interested in.
Devika said she will share the list once it's available.
Heather suggested we have a subcommittee for extracurricular activities. YES!!
Pegita spoke about Council meetings; they are once a month with the exception of March.
We have to make sure it is not a Diamond day or faith day.

It happens on a Monday.
Georgia suggested the first Monday of every month as staff are here already for a staff meeting.
Oct 6 / Nov 10 / Dec 1 / Jan 12 / Feb 2 / March (normally we skip due to Ramadan) / Mar 30 / Skip April / May 4 / June 1 / Sept (to be voted on in June).
Last item - passing of minutes for voting members. YES!!
Rick spoke about road safety. Something will be happening but we are not sure yet.
He will be sending another email to Castro Liu and will be invited to school.
Guests voiced concern about bus reliability. His student driver has been late consistently.
Heather advised that students were going home later as they were checking attendance before buses left.
Georgia said that if there are regular issues, feedback will be provided to transportation.
Heather spoke about welcoming feedback at any time. They walk around but cannot see everything.
Mona asked about the population - approx. 680.
We were projected to be 630, but growth has continued. 115 Grade 8s, 34 JKs.
Pegita and Devika spoke about nominating a new Council at the next meeting and advised the startup forms have been sent out and will need a form for voting members.
Meeting Adjourned