2020-2021 Bayview Secondary School Council Minutes
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2020-2021 Bayview Secondary School Council
Minutes
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Place: Zoom Meeting
Co-Chairs: Rev. Philip Der (Chair), Ben Schu
Co-Secretary: Helen Teng, Sharon Wang (Minutes taker)
Attendance:
Administration: Arlene Higgins-Wright, Stacey Sadacharan (VP)
Teacher Rep: Lara Joffe
Student Rep: Nathaniel
2020-2021 Council: Philip Der, Ben Schu, Maggie Deng, Helen Teng, Sharon Wang, Rob Chen,
Ian Kallmeyer, Jennifer Fang, Jennifer Shen, Joanna Yu, Joanne Pan, Lida Moradkhani,
Patton Su, Sherry Zhang, Sophia Su, Tom Zhuang
Absent: Janet Deng, Jennifer Hsieh-Chung, Farida Kafaei, Jennifer Shen, Mike Xie, Ed Zhai
Other Parents: Wael Safwat, Peter Qu, Pearl Zhou, Leyla Ejlali, Bita Javid, Julie Lee, Flora
Wang, Christina Liu, Christina Ng, John Li, Sharon Li, Lilly Li, Jack Shen, Shanna Ladak,
Jane Zhang, Edward Zhang, Nariman Arnsari, Arash Kazemian,, James Wong, Hanson
Liang, Neil Punia, Steven WJ Liu. Total 22 other parents at the peak time. (The names
listed here were the names provided at the chatting window to Helen.)
Minutes
1. Attendance
Phil asked school council members to provide their names on the chatting window. Phil and
Ben also mentioned a couple of times in the meeting, the names provided by parents in the
chatting window will be showed on the meeting minutes.
2. Welcome
Before the meeting started, principal Arlene Higgins Wright confirmed whether the meeting
invite link was sent to all parents or just the school council members. Principal Arlene
Higgins Wright made sure the link was sent to all parents.
3. Approve Agenda
Rev. Philip Der welcomed everyone and asked if anyone would like to add anything to the
agenda. No new agenda items added. Approve agenda item: Patton Su motioned to approve
the agenda; Joanne Pan seconded.
4. Approve Last Minutes (December 08, 2020)
Rev. Philip Der asked whether all members received the last meeting minutes and if there
were any questions on the meeting minutes. Confirmed no issue. Patton Su motioned to
approve the last minutes; Joanne Pan seconded.
Page 1 of 95. Student Council Report
Nathaniel provided the student council report. BSS student council had been very busy in the
last month. There were 4 main projects they were working on.
The first one was the social event (for all students) happened on the last day before the
winter break. Total about 90 students attended the social event, in which was grouped
to 4 different groups to do online games together. Everyone had a good time. It helped
students to socialize when we are mainly doing online classes.
The second thing was a website student council was working on. The link is
bayviewstuco.com. But it won’t work until it’s ready. BSS student council had been
working on the website for few months. The purpose of the website was to have the
resources for students, such as the dynamic calendar to have the cohort and rotation
schedules, the school events and holidays. It would have the guidance information, the
different departments of the school, how to get additional information on different
curriculums, and different contact info. The website would be available on Friday,
Jan. 22. ( https://www.bayviewstuco.com/)
We had been creating serials of learning modules for students, like how to use Google
Meet, how to use School Cash online etc. There were 12 videos on the Instagram page
on Bayview Stucco. And they would be on the YouTube channel as well. (Search
“Bayview Stuco” on YouTube.).
A student mentorship program was at the planning phase. The mentorship program
was designed for the general knowledge on high school, like course selection, how to
get involved in clubs, how do I take my courses, how to response to the emails and so
on. Hopefully we will be able to assign the senior students (grade 11/12) to help the
Grade 9/10 students.
Rev. Philip Der thanked Nathaniel and the student council’s hard work. Philip mentioned and
Nathaniel confirmed, all student council’s work would be on the website. Philip also
mentioned that a school at Scarborough also had the mentorship program that the higher-
grade student pair with the younger-grade student to help each other.
6. Teacher Rep Report
Rev. Philip Der welcomed Ms. Joffe. Ms. Joffe mentioned no particular information to report,
would like to answer the questions.
Question from a parent: For the students decided to switch from the adaptive model to the
virtual school, how the shift would work for these students? (The second Semester would
start on Feb.02, the school is closed until Feb. 10.) How would this work?
Answered by Ms. Joffe: They will begin their online classes beginning on Feb.02. (The
school will start the virtual school on Feb.02.) The students at the adaptive classes will get
emails from their teachers, they will also be online. BSS is still the home school for the
students, who chose the virtual model. The first semester report cards will still come from the
BSS school. The first point of contact is the student’s teacher. If the student needs guidance
support, they can contact BSS guidance.
Page 2 of 9Principal Arlene Higgins Wright would like to postpone the principal updates to the later
stage to allow more parents joining the meeting. Philip agreed to move the Financial report to
the next.
7. Financial Report
- Please see the attachment at the school council meeting agenda.
Rev. Philip Der asked Maggie to share the updates. Maggie gave the updates on the financial
report for the last month. $500 YRDSB Funding was received in GL account. There were two account
payables (purchase switches and student awards $300). The budget for 3 Student Achievement Awards
was $600, actual payment was $300. Philp added that we had two accounts at the report, one is $500,
the other is $4,233.47. We have total revenues of $2,583.47.
Philip asked whether anyone had any questions on the financial report. The answer was no.
8. Parent Engagement Group Update
Rev. Philip Der asked the group leader Lida to provide the updates. Lida mentioned that she sent
the emails to the group members but didn’t get replies. Lida said they would ask for help from
the York Region Family Services to provide the seminar, but the contact person for the parent
engagement group was off. She would contact Lida once she’s back to work. Lida contacted a
person who worked at the York Region Public Health for another seminar. Unfortunately, she
had not responded. Lida wanted to plan seminars for the topics of Covid 19 and the vaccine etc.
Lida would share all information with the group members. No dates set for the outcoming
seminars yet.
9. Co-chair report – Submitted PRO (Parent Reaching Out) Grant
Ben (Co-chair) confirmed we submitted the application for the funding from the district. We
submitted on Jan. 11. We proposed 5 seminars in the coming months. The highest amount for the
grant is $500. Hopefully by the next meeting, we could provide you with the updates.
Philp expressed the concern, we only had 5.5 months that we needed to work ahead of the
schedule. Also let all parents know the coming seminars.
10. Parent Support Group Update
Rev. Philip Der provided the updates on behalf of Jennifer Hsieh-Chung.
Philip mentioned the group members are Jennifer Hsieh-Chung (Chair), Tom Zhuang, Patton Su,
Jian Hua Li and Rev. Philip Der. So far, 7 group leaders signed up.
Jane Zhang Mandarin (or English)
Jian hua Li Mandarin (or English)
Weining (Clara) Zhai English (or Mandarin)
Feng “Fannie” Lu English (or Mandarin)
Michelle Ho Mandarin, Cantonese and English
Lida Moradkhani Farsi
Jennifer Hsieh-Chung English
We tried to recruit more leaders, ideally two persons per group. We tried to work with
community agency partner(s) to support our gatherings. If we couldn’t find an agency to support,
Page 3 of 9we will combine the engagement seminar with Parent Support Group. Then we can have 30-45
minutes presentation, then break into small group based of the language of preference. At the
end we could have 10 - 15min Q & A.
We were trying to recruit more parents to be small group leaders to facilitate groups in various
languages, such as English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Farsi, Korean etc. 10 people attended the
January 14 orientation, including Ms. Higgins-Wright. If the engagement group still cannot find a
speaker, we will discuss the following topic on Thurs. Feb 18 at 7:30 pm:
“How to balance work/parenting, physical exercises, and life as a family?”
- We will care for parents’ health first, ie. self-care.
Planed monthly gathering dates:
Thurs: Feb 18, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 20, Jun 10
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Philip reviewed the “Bayview Secondary Parent Support Group Leader Covenant” and the
“Bayview Secondary Parent Support Group Guidelines”. He went through the details line by line
in which was also attached at the meeting agenda.
Nariman A. (Parent) asked the question that how these groups were chosen. Whether based on
language or based on religion? Philip answered it’s based on the language of preference. We hope
that parents could speak other languages can come forward. For instance, we would like group
leaders who can speak Hindi etc. Nariman Ansari mentioned she could speak Urdu (similar to
Hindi). She volunteered to be part of the parent support group.
Helen T. asked whether the same person could attend different parent support groups (different
languages.) Philip said one group had different discussion and the discussions would be
happening on the same day/same night. You could stay at one group and move on to another
group if you like.
Joanna Pan volunteered to join the Mandarin, Cantonese and English group with Michelle Ho.
Pita volunteered to join the Farsi group. Lida welcomed Pita to join the Farsi group. Philip asked
everyone who would like to join the parent support group to provide his/her email to him.
Ms. Joffe asked to have this opportunity to be included in the bulletin, thus all parents would get
informed.
Philip asked for approval of “Bayview Secondary Parent Support Group Leader Covenant” and
the “Bayview Secondary Parent Support Group Guidelines”. Helen moved; Tom seconded. All
approved.
11. Principal Updates
a. Welcome / Overview – presentation by Principal Arlene Higgins-Wright
b. BSS stats: Students 1600s– adaptive 1300s; virtual 300s, both are BSS students.
c. School Climate:
Page 4 of 9 Some clubs are still running virtually for both students in the adaptive model
and the virtual school model. Several volunteers of teachers and staff member
are continuing to support clubs. If any question regarding clubs, students can
reach out to the club advisor teachers.
Clubs and volunteers’ staffs are doing some activities, like psychology club
and math club had speakers in. There is a computer contest coming. The
information was posted on the school cash online.
For parents, our school council has the parent support group. There are
opportunities for parents to get engaged. If parents have any question/doubt,
feel free to reach out to the staffs and the admin team. (Ms. A. Higgins-Wright
/Principal, Mr. S. Ishiguro and Ms. S. Sadacharan /Vice Principals)
From the student’s perspective, as Nathaniel went through the student council
activities, they are very busy.
From the staff’s perspective, we want to continue boost their spirit. We had
some activities like trivia play on a Friday. It was nice to engage staff in a fun
way.
d. School Model – “Adaptive” & “Virtual”
We are trying our best to keep our moral up. Working with the children at
home, you may be experiencing up and downs. We want to continue to
provide the support. As Ms. Lara Joffe mentioned, we are servicing for all
students includes the virtual school students. If your students at the virtual
school, please advise that you are not alone. We are still here to support you.
Please feel free to reach out.
e. Health & Safety Measures
In terms of wellbeing, about a year ago, flight 752 was down. It has the
tremendous impacts on our community. It still impacts students and parents.
Recently the event happened at the U.S. capital highlighted the impact of the
racism and highlighted so many different issues on politics and economics etc.
Watching that has the impacts on our communities as well. We continue to see
the evidence of racism.
It’s so difficult not to be able to be in the building face-to-face for both
students and staffs. I just want to highlight this that we are here to help. Please
reach out if you have any concerns on your children.
f. School Curricular Activities
Next week is the last week of the first semester.
For the Grade 10-12 students, usually now is the “exam season”. They are getting to
the exam mode. For this semester, we don’t have exams. Jan. 29 is the last day of
the first semester. Students are finishing up the last assignment. Connect with your
children and ask them if you could do any support.
Page 5 of 9 Ms. Lara Joffe also mentioned the first report card will be distributed at the first
week of February.
Ms. Lara Joffe also mentioned we will be starting the 2nd semester in the virtual
mode. The school are slated at this point to reopen on February 10th.
Behind the scene, it has been some changes before the 2nd semester. The model
change survey has been closed. In the meantime, it has been some reshuffling. The
master schedule identifies the courses, any period requires supports for instance the
guidance council has the period of each. In total we have lost 25% of our courses.
The reason is more students are moving to the virtual school. There are about 200
more students transitioning to the virtual school. We transferred significant number
of students to the virtual school. We have 30% of teachers transitioned, some of
them went to SVS, some of them have been on leave, retirement and resignation etc.
We have been arranging teachers’ schedules, students’ schedules and courses. Some
of students may feel stressed out because they can’t contact the guidance contact as
before to switch courses. We can’t accommodate any requests right now; it has to be
a bit later on (switching courses.)
The students may get surprised when they get their timetables. They may compare
their timetables with peers. Parents need to be prepared for the process change.
Please be patient just in case there is a mistake (of the timetable). We usually take a
month to create the timetable and schedule, now we must complete in a few weeks.
Please be patient with us.
For the parents who are new to high school, the 4 courses will be finished in one
week. The other four new courses will be started on Feb.02.
There are questions regarding parents understanding of the timetables and course
selections. We have the wonderful guidance website. Go to BSS website and click
on the guidance tab. Courses are listed. Guidance sends our weekly message with
updates regarding opportunities, what to do with courses, who to contact with etc.
Parents have access to guidance web site and Bayview website.
g. School Events
Prom is not going to happen unless the in-person event could be taken place.
Everything is TBD.
Regarding graduation, is TBD as well. If there aren’t any in person event, we will
find alternatives.
Original graduation date was Jun. 28, 2021, no information regarding whether the
date is going to change or not.
h. Questions for Principal (‘Q’ means questions from parents, ‘A’ means answers/ unless
it’s indicated answered by, it’s answered by the Principal.):
Q: Philp asked is term 2 set up same as the term 1?
A: At this point, it will the same set up. We moved from 5 periods day to 4 periods
day. It’s same for the 2nd semester.
Page 6 of 9Q: For the virtual school, the 2nd semester, they are still seeing what courses will be
available depends on the number of students and teachers are available for the virtual
school. It’s dynamic process. When is the opportunity for the virtual students to shift
their courses?
A: Usually the students had the opportunities to switch their courses between the
semesters. Not sure how the virtual school will do. They take the students original
(selected) courses, SVS will timetable their original courses. I don’t know the process.
Will find out from the guidance department.
A: Later Principal Higgins-Wright confirmed they (SVS students) were able to
request course change. The process will be communicated but changes will be limited.
Q: Jennifer Fang asked how this year’s yearbook will be different than the previous
ones? How the pictures will be taken?
A: Ms. Sadacharan answered. This year’s yearbook will be slightly different. The
yearbook committee is being as creative as possible. It’s very different year than any
other years. We want to recognize it’s a very different year. It will be slightly shorter.
Normally a yearbook is over 100 pages, this year looking at 70-80 pages. We do want
to showcase the wonderful things we normally do, such as the extracurricular
activities. We still have our clubs running, we still have stucco and other activities
students are engaging. Hopefully they are reflected in our yearbook. Sharon Wang
mentioned the yearbook club members took some students’ picture before end of the
year (for yearbook.) Joanna Pan also added that her son worked at the yearbook
committee as well. Her son said it would be a surprise (for everyone)
in this special time.
Q: For those who are at virtual school, how does this (yearbook) work? Even for those
are in school (face to face model), how are they being included in the yearbook?
A: Ms. Sadacharan answered. We are going to leave it as surprise. (Thumbs up from
Joanna Pan.) We are trying to make the yearbook as much as possible. Although some
students are not in school (virtual model), they are still be able to join our
committees/clubs. All the information has been sent electronically to all our students.
We have great Google Classroom, Instagram, website, parent bulletin, and messages
sent out to students throughout the year. We have a lot of engagements. We would
like to see them (virtual model students) in our yearbook. It truly depends on how
engaged they are. If they engaged in committees/clubs, then they will have the better
chance to be in the yearbook. The yearbook committees will be very creative like
taking some live photos.
Q: Ben asked whether a separate yearbook for the virtual model students?
A: Principal Higgins-Wright and Ms. Sadacharan confirmed no separate yearbook.
Ms. Sadacharan said although some of student selected the virtual school, they are still
our students.
Page 7 of 9Q: Philp asked whether we will have school council picture(s) on the yearbook?
A: Principal Higgins-Wright and Ms. Sadacharan think that’s a great idea. (Philp will
reach out to them.)
Q: If the lockdown continues, all students are going to transfer to the online learning?
A: The students are in SVS school reaming at the virtual school. The students chose
the adaptive model remains in the adaptive model. They will continue to learn virtually (if
lock down continues.). The face to face school will become virtually learning (if lock
down continues.).
Q: My kids are in a different country being quarantined. They are in the adaptive
model. Can I put them to the virtual school?
A: This is a very specific question. Please contact school VP directly. For last name
A-I, contact Mr. Ishiguro. For last name J-Z to Ms. Sadacharan.
Q: My daughter is going to graduate at the IB program. I am wondering if lockdown
continues, is it still be an IB exam in May timeframe?
A: Answered by Ms. Joffe. We are working closely with the IB organization. We are
still planning for the IB exams. Depending on the lockdown continues or not, it may not
have the exams. The similar process as last year will happen this year. Last year the
independent assignment was heavily weighted. Regardless there is an exam or not, all
internal assessment will be internally and externally scored by IB examiner this year.
Bayview has the contingency plan and we got the process in place.
Q: A lot of parents have a concern on students’ activity. How school is going to
monitor/ encourage students to have more physical activities? (exercise at home.)
A: You child probably was at school last year taking fitness or gym class. A lot of
gym teacher will do that (asking them to take videos when they are doing activities.) Now
we are into a new semester, it’s possible that your child is no longer taking a physical
class. There are staff members encourage students to get up, take a break and do some
scratch. Different people are doing different ways. As a parent, I would recommend you
continue encourage your child to do some exercise, go outside and try to keep moving.
Ms. Sadacharan mentioned that you can assign some chores to your kid. Those hours are
considered as the community service hours. You can assign them some outdoor chores,
like cleaning walkway for neighbors and shoveling driveway. That can be the community
service hours and as well as the opportunity for students to move around.
Q: How to you verify the activities? (refer to the house chores.) Does it require
preapproval? Or signature from the neighbors?
A: Ms. Sadacharan answered. It’s the same form. This year only parents can sign off
when they are completed. Or you can also ask them help to make dinner.
Q: My son is in Grade 9. I noticed that he is always on the computer. He is in online
world. It influences more than school. He only chooses whatever he likes. We don’t know
Page 8 of 9what he does, since we can’t monitor him all the time. We want to know (what he’s
doing.). I am hoping school can help us. He has no playday; he only accesses the outside
world through the computer. It seems that he does not want to concentrate to complete his
task. His influence is YouTube is going to be his life. How can we get him to concentrate
on his schoolwork to make that is his priority? We are kind of stuck.
A: This is always be an interesting question. Someone posts the information on the
chatting window. (Information posted by the other parent on the chatting window is
“‘Social dilemma’, the documentary on Netflix. it’s great. Watch it and it becomes a good
way to discuss kids’ relationship to social media.”) Ben piped in that’s a good topic for
the Parent Support Group. Principal Arlene Higgins-Wright also said it’s easier to say
than done. Asking him what you worked in class today, tell me about your assignment,
tell me about class, what did you like/dislike, when is your project due. All the questions
you ask are the open ending questions. You children will response other than yes or no.
Try to ask the open-ended questions that your children are hard to just answer yes or no.
Those open-ended questions can be very helpful. And I agree this is a very good topic for
the Parent Support Group.
Ms. Sadacharan pasted the guidance website URL at the charring window:
http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/bayview.ss/guidance/Pages/default.aspx
12. Other Business
a. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 02 at 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Meeting Adjourned
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