Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party - Norfolk County - News Centre

Norfolk County : Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party

They did it for Holy Trinity - now a local parent wants county council to waive rental fees for another event. A parent from St. Cecillia Elementary in Port Dover has written to council asking they donate the use of the Port Dover Community Centre for an official graduation after party for students, parents and friends. In the letter, Leisa Dann says she's prepared to organize garage sales to help pay the cost but says it wont be enough for the full fee. Staff is recommending council deny the request.

Note - The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board & St Cecillia Elementary are not endorsing this event.

To read the letter directly from St Cecilia's click "Read More"

January 21, 2010

Dear Parents,

Each year, as a school community, we look forward to the grade 8 graduation during which the students celebrate their academic achievement and many positive interactions with teachers, staff and most importantly, with each other; all of which spanning from a few to many years at St. Cecilia School.

This year’s graduation will take place:

Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010
Location: St. Cecilia Church
4:45 p.m. Graduates arrive at Church
5:00 p.m. sharp Mass
6:00 p.m. Graduation Ceremony & Gr. 8 Slideshow

As in previous years, the school will be responsible to prepare the students for the mass and graduation ceremony. Any event(s) following the graduation ceremony are at the discretion of the graduates’ parents. Although the school greatly appreciates parent enthusiasm to celebrate the occasion, it is not in the position to endorse any options under consideration. Parents are encouraged to approach any decision-making in a respectful collaborative manner sensitive to all the grade 8 students’ interests and needs. It is suggested that all information sharing or garnering of should take place during meetings outside of school hours involving all the parents and graduates.

Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference.
~Arie Pencovici

I ask that we join together as role models demonstrating respect for one another to help our grade 8’s focus on the daily things that will make them successful and on what is truly important in order for them to be able to make a difference; that each of our grade 8 students clearly understand and represent the Catholic Graduate expectations:

To be a:
A Discerning Believer Formed in the Catholic Faith Community
An Effective Communicator
A Reflective and Creative Thinker
A Self-Directed, Responsible, Life-Long Learner
A Collaborative Contributor
A Caring Family Member
A Responsible Citizen

Therein lies a true celebration!

Sincerely,

Mrs. A. Sroka, Principal

on 2010/2/9 6:30:00 (854 reads)

Attached Files: norfolkcounty-logo.jpg

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Poster	Thread
123bb	Posted: 2010/2/9 10:06 Updated: 2010/2/9 11:43
Just popping in Joined: 2008/10/21 From: Posts: 9	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Here we go again something else tax payers will probably have to pay for. Let one go and another wants the same. Why not hold the graduation celebrations at Holy Trinity???????????????????

MT100	Posted: 2010/2/9 12:58 Updated: 2010/2/9 13:02
Quite a regular Joined: 2009/8/31 From: Posts: 68	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party great suggestion. they can go to Holy Trinity. If the board wants to cover the costs, then go for it. Otherwise, stop asking us for money.

citizen21	Posted: 2010/2/9 13:04 Updated: 2010/2/9 13:10
Home away from home Joined: 2009/6/21 From: Posts: 170	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party What's wrong with this picture? I've been overseas and seen the lack of facilities that many communities lack. They'd think they won the lottery if they had the space available in both the church and school. Why go to the community centre? If this is a packaged deal for, "A Discerning Believer Formed in the Catholic Faith Community" let them pay their own freight or use their own faith based resources. Thanks to former Premier Bill Davis, the catholic school system gets lots of money.

Vaioschick	Posted: 2010/2/9 13:22 Updated: 2010/2/9 13:24
Just popping in Joined: 2007/9/3 From: Norfolk County Posts: 8	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party I say use your own Gym and if you dont have one use your Local High School. Even the high school uses their own facilities. Why are you so special. If the township does not charge they still have to pay the people who take care of these centres to clean up after your young teenagers. So if they do not charge you who pays for this? In catholic faith you actually should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking the way you thought? "Holy Trinity got some for free so we should as well". ( Shame Shame) Have it in your own Gym. County workers could be laid off as it is with the economy the way it is. What a terrible request.

Kindwords	Posted: 2010/2/9 14:33 Updated: 2010/2/9 14:46
Not too shy to talk Joined: 2009/6/1 From: Posts: 27	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Whats wrong with everyone ,,so negitive ,,no empathy at all ,and who cares if an empty space is used for some kids to celebrate something ,does everyone want to be a part of an angry mob or what

MT100	Posted: 2010/2/9 17:37 Updated: 2010/2/10 5:55
Quite a regular Joined: 2009/8/31 From: Posts: 68	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Re: Kindwords comments Is this suppose to be sarcasm or are you for real? The Catholic Board has a perfectly good, brand new, state of the art high school in Simcoe that could house these little grade 8 graduations. If the school is not adequate for their needs, then go there. If not, then have the parents pay for the event. Grade 8 graduations have gotten way out of hand. I guess Limos arriving at Port Dover community centre where all can see is a bit more high class. I do not have faith in Norfolk County to turn this request down. I have no doubt we will soon be reading where there was " an oversight" and that they will be picking up the tab. This is now offically obscene and someone at Norfolk County Council needs to step in and review all these "sweetheart" deals that the bureuacrats have made on our behalf. Let the bureaucrats who screw up and make these "oversights" pay for it out of their own pockets. I am sure that they will soon stop happening.

2tier	Posted: 2010/2/9 20:12 Updated: 2010/2/10 5:55
Just can't stay away Joined: 2009/11/5 From: Posts: 108	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Thank you Kindwords. people are so negagtive when it comes to the religious school board.

annie	Posted: 2010/2/10 8:11 Updated: 2010/2/10 8:17
Quite a regular Joined: 2008/3/9 From: Posts: 46	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Certainly the graduates will be quite happy to have their event held at Holy Trinity, their future highschool that most are quite likely very excited to attend. Since they are same board, and only a ten minute drive away it makes sense to hold it there!

Opinion	Posted: 2010/2/10 8:26 Updated: 2010/2/10 9:42
Home away from home Joined: 2009/4/12 From: Posts: 221	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party I agree with Council not approving funds for this event for a Grade 8 graduation after party. If parents want this type of venue for their children then they should pay for it themselves or have fundraising events. I personally don't want to pay for this in my taxes. I have already paid for my children's graduations myself, there was no money given by the community to cover part of the cost. A letter and an amount required to pay was sent home to the parents for each child and this amount covered each parent's share of the extra cost not collected by fundraisers throughout the year to cover the after party held in the "auditorium" of the school. Most of the money was collected through fundraising so the extra cost was minimal for each parent to pay. This covered the cost of a disc jockey, food, decorations, etc. The school knows this event is coming so why can't they have some kind of fundraiser to cover the cost or work at it throughout the year? These kids should all be part of that fundrasiser event(s) to make them aware that nothing comes cheap and it teaches them they have to prepare in advance for these special events. They should know what the target amount is that they have to come up with so they appreciate the cost of these things more. These grade 8 graduations are becoming just a bit too much over the top with limos and expensive gowns and tuxedos for grade 8, 13/14 year old kids..come on,lets get real...just my opinion.

Vaioschick	Posted: 2010/2/10 12:20 Updated: 2010/2/10 16:14
Just popping in Joined: 2007/9/3 From: Norfolk County Posts: 8	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party When I put my statement on, I was not dishing the catholic religion school. In fact I am Catholic and my Kids attended the catholic school in Langton.

DANN	Posted: 2010/2/10 13:18 Updated: 2010/2/10 16:16
Just popping in Joined: 2010/2/10 From: Port Dover Posts: 3	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party First of all most of these comments are not needed this is not a battle it is just a plea for help from our community. I"m very shocked that our community has come to this. We are arrangaging for car washes and garage sales and other ideas to help with the rest of the other money to have this memorable night. All we are asking is for help to pay for the hall is that too much to ask for a grade 8 graduation. Most of our parents worked at the US Steel plant and have shut down . I never thought people could be so cold and cruel after all these kids are our future and its our responibility to make them at least have a good ending to a wonderful start and a new begging to a new school. This should be a happy time for them leaving its a big step for alot of them, and a scarey one, leaving all there friends that they have been with since jk thats a big part of who they have become. I appoligize if I affended anyone that was not my intention to start all this for those who do not understand our situiation . I always thought the catholic faith was to help and respect each other and respect our communtiy we live in. And a parent as already asked holy trinity and there is a high cost for that also.

snowball	Posted: 2010/2/10 14:24 Updated: 2010/2/10 16:17
Just popping in Joined: 2010/2/10 From: Posts: 1	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party What is wrong with you people i am ashamed to say i live in norfolk county first of all the board was asked way before it came out about them paying for Holy Trinity, second of all its suppose to be a great day for these kids and to me this is becoming a huge deal to everyone are we not suppose to be a role model for our children because this is not setting a good example. I have children that go to both schools i would like to know one thing what does the catholic school board really pay for and where does it get spent? because every time i turn around they want money for something, i am not saying that to be disrespectful to the catholic faith but i do think someone needs to speak up. As for the graduation if these kids want to get limos and where fancy gowns then so be it there not asking for the community to pay for that. only to help pay for the hall come on people we should be coming together as a community.

brent	Posted: 2010/2/10 16:27 Updated: 2010/2/10 16:52
Home away from home Joined: 2009/1/22 From: Waterford Posts: 509	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Snowball - if the parents want to pay for limo's and dresses/tux's, can't they pony up for a hall too? Maybe they should ask a Legion, or Lions club to help out, by providing the digs. The public has spent money for a facility...it is called the school. Public, Catholic, Private, Montessori - they can get their own facility, or use a public park that is rent free.

MT100	Posted: 2010/2/10 16:43 Updated: 2010/2/10 16:55
Quite a regular Joined: 2009/8/31 From: Posts: 68	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Then let one of the parents host an after graduation party. Why should I or any other taxpayer pay for a bunch of 13 and 14 years to have a party? They are having a proper graduation at the school and their church. If the parents of St. Cecilia's want something more, then have it in your backyard. What's next? Should I insist that the county not charge me for the Port Dover community because I want to have a birthday party for my grandpa when he turns 90? It's a special time in his life. He will always remember it.... blah... blah... blah. Next topic, this is old and tiring.

DANN	Posted: 2010/2/10 17:38 Updated: 2010/2/11 4:41
Just popping in Joined: 2010/2/10 From: Port Dover Posts: 3	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Hi im am a graduating student of st.cecilias and i think that this is going over board with it and if home away from home dosent like this then stop reading and posting things that are affendigng people like me cause i think its rude.

DANN	Posted: 2010/2/10 18:59 Updated: 2010/2/11 8:25
Just popping in Joined: 2010/2/10 From: Port Dover Posts: 3	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party This is getting way out of hand !!!!

Opinion	Posted: 2010/2/10 19:01 Updated: 2010/2/11 4:42
Home away from home Joined: 2009/4/12 From: Posts: 221	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Yes Dann it is too much to ask and it's not a matter of being cold and cruel or having a lack of respect for the Catholic faith. It's called "reality". If these parents work at US Steel and are out of work then maybe the money they spent on the tuxedo, fancy dresses, limos could be better used to give to the school to pay for this after party instead, and Dann, these 13/14 year old kids WILL be happy with any party, wearing just something nice as long as they can party together and I can almost guarantee they won't be tramatized for life if it is scaled down. Also they are not leaving all their friends Dann, they are taking them with them to high school. You make it sound like they are leaving the planet forever! This isn't high school graduation where friends do go their separate ways to college, work, etc. and I can see that graduation being important. Also Dann, not all of us are Catholic but that doesn't mean we won't help and respect each other when necessary and I take offense that because I don't agree with your policy that I don't respect my community.

2tier	Posted: 2010/2/11 6:14 Updated: 2010/2/11 6:56
Just can't stay away Joined: 2009/11/5 From: Posts: 108	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Its too bad that thus school does not stress spelling. The catholic schools are usually far better educationaly than the others. Help us restore faith in the school little guy.

2tier	Posted: 2010/2/11 6:17 Updated: 2010/2/11 6:57
Just can't stay away Joined: 2009/11/5 From: Posts: 108	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party Listen if we allow pride parades, and caribana, then we HAVE to allow this. In fact this should be something that we encourage. The church should be putting on a graduation party at the church.

123bb	Posted: 2010/2/11 9:11 Updated: 2010/2/11 11:39
Just popping in Joined: 2008/10/21 From: Posts: 9	Re: Local Parent Wants Council to Wave Fees for Grad Party If you let them use it for their graduation for nothing then where does it stop? Maybe Doverwood will request it for free for their Christmas concerts. Honestly people where does it stop. Maybe the school should have been working harder on fundraisers. Does the school not have a PTA. Doverwood does and the parents put on many fundraisers throughout the year.