School Council Minutes - September 22, 2025

Doncrest PS School Council Meeting Minutes

Date of Meeting: Monday, September 22, 2025

Parents Present:

Welcome and Introductions

• The Council meeting was called to order by Sherry Jazayeri (Chair of the 2024-2025 School Council) at 6:00 pm.
• The minutes of the last meeting were approved as circulated
• The Land Acknowledgement was read

Information Items Shared

• Meeting Norms:
  • Begin and end meetings on time
  • Speak and listen to one another respectfully
  • Be open-minded and objective
  • Recognize and value the diversity of opinions
  • Individual students, parents and staff are not discussed
• Financial Update:
  • School Council account balance: $3094.79
  • This balance was carried over to this school year so that Doncrest can participate in Cost Sharing as soon as it becomes available.
  • In 2024-2025 Doncrest spent $4376.53 to purchase 21 Chromebooks

Motion:

• Sherry Jazayeri, Chair of the 2024-2025 School Council, moved that we dissolve the 2024-2025 School Council.
• Arushi Lakhanpal seconded the motion.
• CARRIED

Overview of School Council

Role of School Council

• School councils play an important and valued role with a school’s improvement and with student achievement, well-being and mental health.
• School councils work collaboratively to build partnerships that encourage involvement of all members of the school community to provide input into relevant Board and school-level decisions.
• Partners work together to co-create and implement actions that meet the needs of students in diverse communities.

Roles and Responsibilities 

Roles and responsibilities of Council positions were reviewed.  

A YRDSB video was shared.

The following parents volunteered to take on the roles of responsibility:

• Co-chairs:  Geoffrey Barrow and Simpson Chan
• Treasurer:  Akshath Prakash
• Secretary: Jasmine Shears
• Fundraising Co-ordinator: Seama Koohi
• Translation Co-ordinator: Sousan Danaii

School Council Forum

• Where: Richmond Hill High School (201 Yorkland St. Richmond Hill)
• When: Wednesday, November 3, 2025 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Two representatives attending from the Doncrest PS Council: Erin Kelley and Fatemeh Barzegar

Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants for School Councils

• The Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants program provides funding to district school boards and school authorities to lead projects with a focus on the identification and removal of barriers that prevent parents and families from participating and engaging fully in their children's learning.

School Council Handbook

• Policy Procedure # 262 School Councils
• School Council Handbook

Staff Update

• Cross Country Team and Intermediate Volleyball Teams
• September 25 - Terry Fox Run/Walk (pm)
• September 25 - Curriculum Night 6:00 pm
• September 26 PA Day
• September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
• October 6-10 Scholastic Book Fair
• October 7 or 8th - Newcomer Family Engagement Night
• October 17 - Photo Day
• November 5 - School Council Forum
• Feb 3 Paul Davis presentations - tentative date

Principal’s Update

• Fantastic start to the school year
• Wonderful, supportive staff team
• School enrolment has increased - this resulted in a reorganization that impacted many classes
• Caring and Safe Schools presentations have been completed with with each class
• Week of September 22 - Safety Week (many drills this week)

Meeting Dates for 2025-2026

• Sept. 22
• Oct. 6
• Nov. 10
• Jan. 5
• Mar. 2
• May 4

Next Meeting

• October 6 at 6:00pm

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15pm.