School Council

Lancaster Drive Public School Parent Council Meeting Minutes 

Oct. 15th, 2026 – 6:00 pm 

Chair 

Melissa Cheetham 

Secretary 

Vicki McConnell 

Attendees:    

Lindey C, Vicki M, Brooke M-G, Baharul C, Avi B, Meagan G, Elinor C, Cheryl P, Sveta V, Julie D, Meg F, Tiffany S, Sevda A, Erduana S, Amanda L, Hilary W, Erin S, Ali C, Ali A, Reid R-Y, Amy P 

Administrators:  

Principal Sara O’Hearn 

Vice-Principal Kathryn Bates 

1.Admin Items 

School Updates: 

• Raised over $6,000 for Terry Fox!  
   
• IEP’s went home today—any questions please direct to Admin 
   
• Hot lunch going really well! Concerns, please let Admin or Melissa know. 
   
• All fire drills, lockdown and hold and secure have been practiced and reviewed. Students did so well! Community police officer, Costa Spyda was also involved = positive connection. 
   
• Discussion was also had regarding e-scooters and inappropriate use of the turf in the back. Community police officer will be an additional support when concerns are reported—PLEASE report concerns to Sara. 
   

Safe and Caring School Community 

• Met last Friday and made a decision to merge Safe and Caring and Inclusive Parent Rep—Sevda Akilli, Ms. Tidman, Mr. Steele, Ms. Catermole, Gr. 7 LDPS student, Sara and Community Officer.  

• Families can share any concerns around things like bullying awareness and what can we do for our school culture and climate. Will be data driven through the school climate surveys.  

• Student voice is key! 

• Proposal for new initiative to support new families who come to Lancaster ex: peer-to-peer support. Look to run a pilot project to see if it can work.  

• Lots of checks and balances occurring at Lancaster to ensure student safety. This is of utmost priority.  
   

EQAO scores 

• Lancaster did very well. Lancaster is above board level. Writing scores were exceptional—focus last year was on structured writing i.e TIDE paragraph writing and pre-reading/planning.  
   
• Anchor charts are in the works—looking into trying to reduce the cost of printing on whiteboard material.  
   
• Math fluency will be the focus of this school year. What does math fluency look like, sound like, feel like.  
   
   
• Each student minds online account through LDSB has lots of apps to support numeracy and literacy—suggestions will be added to the Lancaster newsletter for reference.  
   
• Any questions surrounding EQAO can be directed to the Lancaster admin team. 
    

Facilities 

• Question about heating in portables. Electric heat is working but admin to provide a more detailed report. 
   
• Admin to reach out to facilities about the security of portable doors being locked from the outside during instructional time. 
   

2.0 Chair’s Report 

October— 

• Classroom Amazon Wishlist -waiting to hear back from staff from their first meeting regarding items for the primary/junior divisions.  
   
• scholastic money will be used to purchase through scholastic--$1200 remaining after the teacher wish lists have been fulfilled.  

• Family Skate is occurring this weekend—Sunday, October 18^th 12-1pm @ Invista Center. 

• Anyone who is on council, please send Melissa a ‘selfie’ so that families know ‘who is who’!  

November— 

• Purdy’s Fundraiser Will be shared the first week of November and run for two weeks. 
   
• Will need a place to safely ‘store and sort’ the orders. 
   
• “Shop and Drop”—option for families to pay to have child cared for while you go do your Christmas shopping. Purdy’s pick up at the same time. 
   
• Craft Fair—book out our gym for craft vendors to purchase a table to be able to sell their goods. Vendor fee would go to council. 

• Offer “mini-makers” option for Lancaster students at no cost. 

December— 

• Holiday show—sell hot chocolate/treats 

January— 

• “Rocks and Rings”—curling opportunity for classes. 

February 

• Family Skate 

March—nothing booked 

April— 

• Bookfair with a focus on using proceeds for literacy 

May—nothing booked 

June— 

• FUN FAIR! 
• Staff appreciation meal provided by parent council 

Division Wishlist: 

• repeated item is dry erase markers 
• water color paper/brushes 
• art supplies 

**Melissa to coordinate with Kory to see what can be purchased through scholastic.  

**Ali to create sign-up list for parents to order and contribute 

• Girls and Boys Club for opportunities for educating educators on STEM. 

• Struggling getting babysitters for council meetings—money from grant money to purchase gift cards for any student who is able to babysit. Minimum age is 12 years of age.  

3.0 Treasurer’s  

Current Budget as of October 15, 2026 was discussed

4.0 Discussions 

• Discussion around why Lancaster does not have security cameras installed. This is a process. Could discuss at PIC meeting. 
   
• Question about agendas and the cost associated with this. Lancaster school requested that parents help offset the cost of this endeavor. Agendas are not being utilized in all classes 
   
• Parking concerns—council to share information about local councillor for option to send concerns to them.  
   
• Council has approved $200 for the purchase of school-safe snacks to have in the main office for students who are without a lunch or in need of an extra snack. 

• Council will look into purchasing some new outdoor play equipment for each division including basketballs/soccer balls, tennis balls, chalk, ribbon, etc. Last year, Council agreed to $500.  

5.0 Adjournment 

7:48pm 

Next Parent Council Meeting: Thursday, November 19th