September 8, 2009

Dear Parents:

On behalf of the staff of St. Joseph-Scollard Hall I would like to welcome you to another school year.

Each school year presents many opportunities for both parents and students to become involved in school life and taking part in your son or daughter=s education will be a contributing factor in his/her success. We encourage participation in its many forms: daily communication with your son/daughter about his/her progress, ongoing communication with his/her teachers and promotion of your son=s or daughter=s extra-curricular involvement, to name but a few.

This letter is to inform you of another way in which you can become actively involved in the educational process. The St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic School Advisory Council is established each year under the guidelines of Regulation 612/00 of the Education Act of Ontario. This regulation outlines that the council functions in an advisory capacity to provide interested parents with the opportunity Ato represent the general views of the school community and the best interest of all students in the school@ in order Ato improve pupil achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents.@ School council members are elected at the beginning of each year and meet on the last Tuesday of the month. We have a minimum of four meetings, with the potential of having eight throughout the school year.

Any listed parent of a student enrolled at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall may be a member of the Catholic School Advisory Council. You may put forth your own name for nomination or may nominate someone else. As part of the nomination process the nominee will be asked to fill out a brief biography, outlining the reasons they wish to be a part of the council. If you are interested in nominating either yourself or another parent for candidacy, please contact the school at 494-8600, ext. 3289 in order to receive a faxed nomination form or come into the main office between 8:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m. and pick up a form from Mrs. Caya. This process must be completed no later than Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.. By Wednesday, September 16^th, parents who wish to obtain candidate information may pick up a candidate information list from the main office. Since all parents are eligible to vote for election of council members, this list will allow you to learn about those parents who have chosen to be candidates.

Enclosed you will find details regarding the process to be followed for the election which will take place on Friday, September 18, 2009. Please do not hesitate to call the school at 494-8600 if you have any questions.

Yours respectfully,

Mrs. D. Piekarski

Principal

St. Joseph-Scollard Hall

St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic School Advisory Council Election Process

Nominations:

Call Mrs. Karen Caya at 494-8600, ext. 3289 to request a Nomination/Candidate Information

form by fax or pick one up in the main office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

You may nominate either yourself or someone else. **If you are nominating someone else,

please confirm with that person that they are willing to have their name stand before submitting their name for nomination.**

You must fill out a Nomination/Candidate Information form and return it to the main office.

Deadline for nominations is Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.

Candidate Information Sheets:

Any parent wishing to learn more about the candidates who have put forth their names

may pick up a Candidate Information List in the main office after 1:00 on Wednesday,

September 16th.

Elections:

Friday, September 18, 2009 - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Main Office - ask for Mrs. Karen Caya (Mrs. Foisy after 4:00 p.m.)

Each parent of a registered student at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall is eligible to vote.

(Parents must be listed in our records.)

Each ballot will list the potential parent members.

You will vote for a maximum of seven (7) parent members.

Votes will be cast and returned to Mrs. Caya.

Voting will be by ballot only.

Only those ballots returned to Mrs. Caya will be counted.

Notification of Results:

All candidates will be contacted on Monday, September 21, 2009 and notified of the results.

Results will be posted on the school=s website by Tuesday, September 22nd.

First Meeting:

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 7:00 p.m. - Library

Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe.