What is a School Advisory Council (SAC)?

School Advisory Councils bring together school stakeholders and individuals from local communities who share an interest in promoting student success. They provide parents/guardians, school staff, community members and when appropriate, students, with a voice to influence decisions that have an impact on student learning and well-being. As advisory bodies, SAC’s bring partners together to provide principals and regional centers of education (RCE’s) with advice that reflects the best interests of students from the point of view of the school community. 

If you wish to join our SAC team please email us at mmmms@gnspes.ca

Next SAC meeting: TBA 

SAC DOCUMENTATION:

SAC Handbook Guidelines 

EDUCATION ACT 

SAC Bylaws

SAC Agreement

SAC Meeting Dates 2024-2025

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Next meeting date: Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30pm (if needed)

SAC Agendas/Minutes

SAC Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Members in attendance: Lori Williams (SAC chair), Stephanie Campbell (Principal), John Pierre (Custodian), Troy Podetz (Vice-Principal)

Meeting start time: 6:30pm

Meeting end time: 7:30pm

1. Review of by-laws

   • No community member in several years

     1. Community member needs to in our catchment area

     2. Community member can’t have a student in our school

2. SSP updates

   • Math

   • Literacy

   • School Climate

     1. Keeping up with SSP goals as per our last meeting

3. Cafeteria update

   • Principal informed the SAC that the school lunch program will be institute some in the fall of 2025 according to Debbie Madore who is in coordinates the school lunch program

   • More work required to update our cafeteria kitchen that they originally thought

   • Hoping to start required work to the kitchen before the end of this school year

4. Safe School Strategy/School Code of Conduct

   • PD for all staff employed by our RCE (NSTU/CUPE)

   • Connected to the new Nova Scotia Provincial Code of Conduct to begin in September 2025

     1. About creating positive interactions and connections with students

     2. Laying groundwork for a new vision statement for our school as well as a school matrix

Next meeting date: Wednesday, June 11th at 6:30pm (if needed)

School Advisory Council

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025

In attendance: Stephanie Campbell (Principal), John Pierre (Custodian), Rhyan Coleman (Vice-Principal), Marie-Lou Hamilton (Teacher) and Lorianne Williams (Parent)

Meeting Minutes

1. Review of by-laws

   1. To be reviewed prior to next meeting
      
      

2. SSP updates

   1. Math

      1. Explanation of the conversation/observation process

   2. Literacy

      1. SRSD (Self-Regulated Strategy Development) initiative presented to all Grade 6 students by the English coach. It is about being able to read and take the main idea of the text as a writing prompt.

   3. School climate

      1. Student survey on mental health (gr. 6, 7, 8)
         
         

3. School supplies for September

   1. Stephanie (Principal) is not in favor of charging a fee to families for consumable materials.
      
      

4. Cell phone policy

   1. Overall working really well

      1. 1st offence phone takes, 2nd offense parent/guardian needs to come and get the phone, 3rd offense is a suspension and 4th offense is a parent/guardian meeting and a two day suspension
         
         

5. Cafeteria update - School lunch program

   1. Supposed to be in place next year

   2. Lots of uncertainties about the cafeteria being repaired or not

   3. More info to come
      
      

6. Food and nutrition policy

   1. To be put on school website
      
      

7. School code of conduct

   1. New code coming soon
      
      

8. Next meeting date:

   1. Wednesday, May 7th at 6:30pm

SAC Meeting Agenda/Minutes - September 18, 2024

1. Welcome/Introductions

2. Elections of Officers

• The role of the chair is to set up the agenda in consultation with the principal, attend a meeting in Halifax, prepare/review the annual report, be a parent's voice.

• Meet a minimum of 3 times per year + the district wide meeting

3. Review of Bylaws

4. Return to school up updates

• Curriculum Night Overview

  • Numbers of enrollment are down by 20 students 

• Documents: communication, code of conduct

  • The school board is in the process of reviewing and updating the code of conduct

• Assessment

  • New vision: 10%-15% of the mark is now based on observation, and conversation data. Will now be a component of Grade Book.

  • Communication plan: description of course, assessment, method of contact

5. SSP goals

• Math: Rhyan

• Literacy: Stephanie, with a focus on writing

• School climate/environment: Troy

  • Well being goal based on the survey completed in the Spring

6. Lunch Program Update

• Starts in elementary schools in October.  Hopefully, scheduled to start at Malcolm in September 2025

• Might affect recess time, eliminate recess? TBA

• Unsure if the canteen can be kept running with the implementation of the lunch program

7. Cell Phone Policy

• Consensus is that it is very effective, not much resistance from the students

• Needs for a discussion on the consequences of using the cell phone if it arises

8. Code of conduct

• The code of conduct will be changed at the school board level

• Currently no space in the school for in-school suspensions

• Suspension policies are becoming more and more specific, with special regards of all the circumstances, more and more difficulties to implement

9. Finances

• The finances are healthy but we still have to use caution and good judgements in our spendings

• Some money put aside for painting new murals in the school

• Grant money is targeted money and cannot be used for any other purpose

  • Cathy Nock (teacher): grant money for a rain garden, new drain installed

10. Other

• According to our custodian, the building is in good shape for an older building

• Next meeting will be scheduled for the middle of October or the beginning of November (after the regional meeting)

SAC Meeting Agenda/Minutes April 10, 2024

Present: Stephanie Campbell, Lyn McInnis, Rhyan Coleman, Marie Lou Hamilton, Lisa MacEachern and Tim Burns 

!. SSP Update

Update on Literacy, Math and  School Culture Goals: The school is now working on their third cycle for goals.

2. Staffing 2024-2025-TBA

3. Upcoming Events: Grade 8 Assessments-May 21-June 4

June 13- Honours Night-Grade 8, June 18- Awards Day, June 20- Grade 8 Party

4. Rain Garden- Plans are underway to put a rain garden in front of the school. Operations staff is supporting this endeavor.

5. Innovation Fund: Looking for input on suggestions. Will discuss with school staff as well.

6. Cafeteria: TBA

7. Finances: School trips/one per class. Money for sports uniforms TBA. SAC Funds used to support substitutes as teachers work on school Literacy and Math goals.

Malcolm Munroe Middle School

School Advisory Council Meeting 

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Present: Stephanie Campbell, Lynn McInnis, Kim Sultan

1. Welcome– this meeting is the final official meeting for the 2022-2023 school year. Two more parents, a community member and a CUPE staff member are needed for 2023-2024 school year.

2. Elections for positions

• No need for elections at this point, but will reassess at next meeting as new members join SAC.

3. Review of staffing- position that was cut in June was reinstated in September due to enrollment increase.

4. Update on SSP goals

• Three goals: Literacy, Math, School safety

• Math goal: increase sharing of data in department in order to inform practice and support student success

• Literature goal: have students write ‘gist statements’ to demonstrate meaning 

• School safety goal: will refer to results of student survey to implement change where appropriate. School presentations by SchoolsPlus may follow. There is also bystander training that Headstrong may have available. 

5. Review of cafeteria (breakfast/lunch)

   • Investigation into possible lunch providers continues. Depending on parent/community member volunteer availability, two days of lunches may be possible. Ordering meals through school-cash online as is done at other schools would be the plan. Breakfast programs will also run on certain mornings, depending on volunteer and staff availability.

6. Lunch/Bus/Grounds supervisor position

   • There is a need for 1 more person to fill this position. The search continues.

7. Community Meeting- SAC

   • Riverview will host a regional SAC meeting on Tuesday, November 21st 

   • Agenda includes remarks from SAC coordinator and Regional Executive Director of Education, discussions about collaborative work, SAC and community, the physical activity framework/ASK, and school success plans.