CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL COUNCIL (CHISC) - MEETING MINUTES

Centennial High School Council (CHiSC)
Meeting Minutes
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Time: 7PM
ONLINE MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING

Attendees:
Cari Mathews (Chairperson)                Michael Pack
Chris Bleier (Vice Chairperson)           Karen Torstensen
David Jones (Council key communicator)    Sheila Swan
Jody Vriend (Treasurer)                   Joanna Gardner
Linda Carter (Secretary)                  Debbie Pollon
Joe Sturgeon (School Principal)           Lorena Dohan
Jayne Nowicki (Guidance Counselor)        Rhonda Gjosund
Mx. Mead Satnaum (Guidance Counselor)     Cynthia Smith
Lynda Hunter (Student Aid/Support)        Gina Kawata
Brian Clark (Teacher Representative for   Jennifer Bridle
Student Council)
                                          Janet Dover
Sheryl Kent
                                          Deonne McCausla
Rebecca Gates                             Caroline Frame
Katrina Fraser                            Carol Bacon
Michelle Lindsay                          Andrea Buchana

1. Called to order - Cari
Welcome and Introductions.
Attendees are reminded that the meeting is being recorded to turn off camera and on mute if
preferred not to be recorded. A chat feature is available to participate and ask questions on side
screen. Attendees are asked to sign in with their name, phone number and email address.
2. Approval of Minutes of January 20, 2021.
- Tabled by Cari.
3. Presentation
CHS Guidance Counselors
Mead Satnaum – in charge of students with last names A – G (T wing of building)
Jayne Nowicki – in charge of students with last names H – N (P wing of building)
Lynda Hunter – in charge of students with last names O – Z (T wing of building)
Jayne Nowicki (Student last name H – N)
-   Works with Assistant Principal, Monica Crane.
-   Ensure students achieve their High School Diploma.
-   Also a crisis counsellor as needed.
-   If a student needs crisis counselling and need longer support, they will be referred to the
    Alberta Association. Students think they can fix themselves.
-   Teenage problems are still present even with Covid-19.
Mx. Mead Satnaum (Student last name A – G)
-   Advise students with post-secondary education options.
-   Sit with students to choose courses.
-   Assist students with a long term plan.
-   Counsel with students, mainly grades 11 & 12. Where do they see themselves in the future?
    Academic Achievement, have a plan, goals and timelines.
-   It’s important for teachers to look at grades and then place student where they are going to
    have success.
-   What is student’s area of interest? Where is their skill set at?
-   Help students figure out what to do after high school.
-   Diploma requirements – need a 30 level in English and in Social.
-   If students need assistance for more than 15-20 mins with a guidance counsellor, then they
    will need to book an appointment, come in during a spare or would require a guidance slip.
-   At the end of the day, students ultimately make their own decisions.

Lynda Hunter (Student last name O – Z)
-   Biggest job is Post-Secondary.
-   All universities have virtual open houses.
-   Help students choose courses for universities
-   Everything is virtual.
-   Ensuring students have what they need.
-   A 60% – 75% grade to get into a university is not entirely true. Each university have
    different requirements.
-   Need English 30-1 to get into a university.
-   Grade 11 applying to university will get pre acceptance if their grades are 90% - 95%. And
    even then the university will still check their Grade 12 grades. So they are encouraged to
    apply later in Grade 12.
-   Scholarships are available to apply to on school’s website.
-   EducationMatters campaign will be available at the end of the month.
-   Calgary Foundation – online applications are available.
-   A PowerPoint presentation of scholarships that are available to students will be on school’s
    website by April.
-   Alexander Rutherford Scholarship is available to Grade 12s only or year going into post-
    secondary.
-   Student loan Government applications will be available to apply for from May to June.
-   A downside of getting a student loan from Banks is that students need to make a weekly or
    monthly payment once in University. Most students don’t have jobs to make this payment.
-   Independent students who are struggling but still want to attend school can apply for
    Government funding as long as they stay in school.
-   Burdens Foundation – help students with Bursary.
Summer School
-   Applications for summer school will begin March or April.
-   It is really meant for students with grades of 40% or better or failed.
-   Summer school is cramming a whole semester’s worth of work into 3.5 weeks so doing
    subjects like Math or Science is discouraged.
applyalberta.ca
-   Students applying to Universities should create an account on applyalberta.ca it is like a
    Facebook profile account. Your transcripts, etc. can be uploaded to here.
Student Volunteer
-   Find something where there is consistency.
-   Volunteering for church is discouraged as it is not a choice you made.
-   Need contacting references.
-   Leadership skills.

Student Aid – Lynda Hunter
   -   Still in need of new backpacks.
   -   Also, grooming items like deodorant.
How do students know crisis counselling or support is available to them? – Jayne Nowicki
   -   Cards were made with website on it.
   -   Online chats or texting.
   -   Connect teens with trained teens.
   -   Support is available depending on the student and each individual situation.
   -   A trusted family or friend or person is contacted where a safety plan has been set up in
       case a student needs to get out of the home.
   -   Guidance strategies are set up.
   -   South Calgary Clinic have psychologists on 2nd floor available to students.
4. New Business
Key Communication update, David Jones
- No new business.
- No new funding update from Jody (Treasurer)
5. Principal’s Update and Q & A
Joe Sturgeon
   -   A Special Speaking Event is usually held once a year. Principal Sturgeon and Cari
       Mathews mutually decided that Mental Health is a big issue and so Educational
       Consultant, Kathy Jarrell, will be speaking.
   -   Principal Sturgeon thanks parents, grandparents, guardians and the community for their
       support.
   -   2020 Graduates – unfortunately there are no plans for a celebration. It was hoped that the
       pandemic would wane but it didn’t and so celebration plans have been tabled and
       shelved.
   -   1 on 1 counselling are available to students and in more serious cases, students are
       referred to proper help.
   -   Covid-19 update
            2 positive cases are wrapping up.
            128,000+ students in K-12, CBE.
            34,543 members of CBE have been in isolation since September 2020.
   -   2021 Summer School
            We are hoping in-person summer school will be held in some south locations such
               as Centennial High School or Lord Beaverbrook High School.
   -   4 Year of High School – Grade 12 students can apply for a 4th year in Centennial High
        th

       School as long as they are under the age of 19. Deadline for an application is March 15,
       2021. At least 2 courses for part time students and at least 4 courses for full-time

students. This is for returning Grade 12 students only and not for students from other
       schools.
   -   High School Engagement.
            Tuesday February 23 CBE will present scenarios.
            Educate ourselves as there will be a lot of information that will come out.
            There will be changes in school boundaries.
            Decisions will be made by December, 2021.
   -   February – Black History month - What to move forward?
   -   2021 Graduation Ceremony - An in-school celebration will be held at Centennial High
       School on May 19. Some students are included in the brain storm. There is a Plan A, B &
       C for if we are still in Phase 1 or 2. If Phase 3 or 4 then loved ones will be invited for
       each Graduate.
   -   Students will get ready in their home rooms with gown, graduation cap, etc. And there
       will be photo booths set up all throughout the parking lots.
   -   March 17 – our next School Council meeting will be replaced by a Mental Health
       Speaker. Principal Sturgeon is part of a Critical Response Team. There is a fine line
       between providing support and too much pampering on a student.
            Ask many questions.
            Make sure everyone gets support.
            Ensure students are in good spirits.
            School needs to be a place where students feel safe when all else falls apart.
   -   Due to Covid-19, any fees that need to be refunded will be followed up with the School’s
       Business Manager.
   -   Sports – There is no sports update. Sports will be revisited on February 28. Sports teams
       are on pause.
   -   Any changes to Covid-19 school isolation protocols will need to be taken up to an MLA.
6. Meeting Adjourned at 8:52pm by Jody and all were in favor.
Next month’s meeting will be replaced by the Mental Health Speaker, Kathy Jarrell, on
Wednesday March 17, 2021.
Any questions or concerns not addressed in this meeting, email:
centennialhsparents@gmail.com
Meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Remaining meetings scheduled
March 17, 2021 Replaced by Speaker
April 21, 2021
May 19, 2021