STOUFFVILLE DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING - MINUTES
Monday, November 17, 2025 @ 7:00 pm
Virtual Link: https://meet.google.com/xkn-anke-hsn
- Welcome and Introductions – Melissa Schmidt, Principal
- Student Council Report - Student Council Presidents
- Aleena co-president
- Spirit wear up for sale until Saturday, Nov 22 - only time of the year it is up
- Variety Show coming up - last day before Winter Break
- Auditions are Dec 2, 3, 4 after school
- Pyjama day on Thursday, Nov, 20 - hot chocolate for all who participate
- Still planning second semester events - like Spartan Fest
- Club Hub display by drama room in foyer with meeting dates and staff advisors - all clubs are open for everyone and anyone can still join any club
- Teacher Report – L. Taccone
- Please keep checking Spartan Speaks (Parent Bulletin) sent out every Friday
Drama:
SDSS just acquired the legal rights to Beetlejuice Jr. The drama club will be meeting 2-3 times a week to rehearse, and our anticipated show dates are in early May. The cast has already been determined after 3 days of auditions. If anyone in the community is eager to get involved, we are actively looking for any Beetlejuice themed costumes and props, and are also looking to source lighting, fog machines, etc. People can reach out via email to haylei.cockburn@yrdsb.ca
History:
SDSS marked the occasion of Remembrance Day with a massive cross-curricular effort.
Ms. Eaton's history students created displays of giant paper poppies in halls. In the center of each flower was a QR code where people could go to a link and learn about Canada’s veterans. Her student also helped by taking the actual poppies from room to room, collecting money for the Legion.
At the actual Remembrance Day ceremony,Ms. Ross conducted the senior band, who performed O Canada plus two other musical selections. We also had a student performing The Last Post live on the trumpet to conclude the assembly.
Ms. Cockburn and her drama class put on a tableau performance with an original student-written script.
Ms. Webb's art classes created Remembrance Day-themed collages of their individual art works, which decorated the cafeteria and were displayed in frames on easels outside the cafetorium.
A student of Indigenous Studies/English teacher Ms. Rajkumar read the land acknowledgement.
The tech team and Ms. Burman, their advisor, did great work with the audio-visual needs.
The student audience was great as always - very respectful.
At the end of our ceremony, the caretakers, the office staff and the administration all pitched in to help set up chairs and tables for the cafeteria lunch service.
Music:
The winter concert (“Sleigh Ride”) will take place on Thursday, December 11 at 7 pm. This will feature both repertoire courses (the grade 9 Concert Band and the senior Wind Symphony) as well as the Spartan Swing Jazz Band, a student directed saxophone quartet, and some small grade 9 chamber groups.
ESP
Youth S.P.A.C.E. Symposium 2025:
On November 20th, students from ESP (Empowered Student Partnerships) will go to the Youth S.P.A.C.E. Symposium, presented by the YRDSB Central Mental Health Team. This event celebrates youth voice, creativity, and mental health leadership in schools. The day will feature an inspiring keynote speaker whose work explores identity, resilience, and healing through art. Students will also take part in interactive workshops such as Hip Hop 4 Healing, Unmute: Poetry, Story & Truth, Rhythmic by Nature, and Unity Charity’s Intro to Street Dance & Leadership. The symposium encourages students to connect with their communities and empowers them to bring these lessons back to their own school community.
Visual Arts:
Senior Art show " The Window Within" opens at the Latcham Gallery Dec 10-- all are welcome 7-9 pm
SDSS painted the town business windows-- check it out and search for mouse in each store front
Artists will travel to the AGO-- Nov 25 to see the latest exhibit to inspire and enhance their creativity.
Student Council:
Importance of paying the Student Activity Fee to support student clubs and teams that are supported through student council
Advertising the Europe Trip one last time: March 30 to April 7, 2026. Here is the link to the enrollment page for the trip: www.eftours.ca/2788206mm
OSSLT
Tomorrow/Wednesday for all grade 10s and those re-attempting this year.
Guidance
- Semester 2 timetable changes are happening NOW
- Meeting with grade 8 students this week to start the thinking around HS
- Community Hours for all students, but 12s in particular, by the last day of semester 2 classes
- Midterms out this week
- Admin Report – Melissa Schmidt / Jennifer Thom / Neil Press
- Grad photo update - Dec 1 - 10
- Gr. 8 Open House Nov 27
- OSSLT this week
- PD Day on Friday Nov. 21
- Mandatory Training on Addressing Hate and Discrimination
- School Improvement Planning time - whole school, then in individual departments (Instruction and Assessment, Equity, and Mental Health and Well-being goals)
- Multi Language Learners - training on and time to update information on the system about our English Language Learners’ needs and also adapt materials to suit these needs
- Principal Profile – Melissa Schmidt
- School Council Forum Report - Rhonda Clements
Wednesday October 29, 5:30 - 8:30, Dr. Denison (Newmarket)
- AI - Board wants to do something more secure - a platform that allows students to think critically and be accountable -
- Gemini is a bit different than Chat GPT as it guides the students’ thinking - asks for more prompting - doesn't just give answers
- Co-Pilot will also be available to students
- Both are not putting information out the the internet in general - student and staff privacy will be protected
- As parents - check that your child is checking for bias and accuracy - think critically for answer
- Keep open communication around the use of AI so that it is used safely as a tool not a replacement for student work - it is not a terrible thing when used appropriate
- Pathways - so many different programs for students to explore - Co-op, SHSM, OYAP, A-OYAP, YRSC, EL Grants, PAE, SAL, Student Success, EOP, SWAC, Dual Credit = all different programs and supports to help all students be successful
- Other Business
- Graduation
- Send email to Mrs. Schmidt to share feedback
- Is a staff committee run event
- Grad Breakfast where the students get instructions and celebration
- No parent committee
- Cell Phone Usage in classes
- Still too permissive?
- Many students are getting text messages from their parents
- Teachers are telling students to stay off and have a variety of ways to help with that - but students do hide phones in their pockets, or use their computers instead
- Many students are also using their phones as organizational devices
- Are paper report cards an option
- Report cards are found on the Family Dashboard. If that is a problem, reach out to the school
- Sports teams are always missing period 4
- Yes - we have no input as to the time of games. They are set by YRAA (York Region Athletic Association) for both the Public and Catholic schools
- We are a later start school in the morning, and further east than many schools which means students do miss most of period 4
- Teachers do know when teams will be away, and who is on each team - they do help to support students on teams
- Graduation
- Next meetings - February 18, 2026 & May 19, 2026