PRESIDENT'S JOURNAL

Membership in Canadian Association of Principals

At the meeting with the Council of District Representatives (CDR) in November 2008, the Executive Council through the President’s Report and Treasurer’s Report announced that a decision had been made to suspend CPCO’s membership in the Canadian Association of Principals (CAP) for the remainder of 2008-09. We also indicated that a restricted reserve fund was set up to address the one-time expenses in the budget relating to succession planning and website redevelopment. These decisions were made in an effort to balance the budget.

We have had a number of inquiries regarding CAP student awards to which our students are not entitled. Currently CPCO does not sponsor student awards or scholarships. Our Political Action Committee is investigating CPCO’s political and charitable contributions policy and will consider and provide input to the Executive Council on all CPCO contributions.

The Executive Council has reviewed all memberships in an effort to streamline our budget and align it with our members’ needs and the services we can provide. We have discussed the pros and cons of belonging to CAP at length for a number of years. The Finance Committee has drafted a budget for next year and has once again recommended suspension of CAP membership (an approximate saving of $27000). The draft budget was presented to the CDRs in February for input and terminating CPCO’s membership in CAP was again discussed and supported by that group.

Of note, the Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC) has also decided to end their membership in CAP effective 2009-2010.  I have discussed the issue of Canada’s Outstanding Principals with Veronica Lacey, executive director of The Learning Partnership, (TLP), the sponsor of those awards. It is not the intent or desire of TLP to exclude Ontario from Canada’s Outstanding Principal awards.

Some other organizations you may wish to access for student awards are:

• The Father Patrick Fogarty Awards are non cash awards for students who best exemplify the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations. Contact the Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario, 80 Sheppard Ave E , Toronto ON, M2N 6E8 416-229-5326
• The Fr. Fred Colleton Scholarship Program is open to Grade 11 and 12 students. Three awards of $1000 are presented annually based on an original essay. Contact Dan Rocco at 104 Bond St. Suite 306 Toronto, ON M5B 1X9 416-204-1687 www.theinterim.com
• The Fireside Catholic Publishing Essay Scholarship is an essay contest open to all senior secondary religious education students. Five $1000 US cash scholarships are awarded annually. Contact Mark Broscz at Fireside Catholic Publishing, PO Box 780189 Wichita, Kansas 800-676-3264 X 1850 www.firesidecatholic.com/essay.htm
• The Loran Award is sponsored by the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation. This award offers four years of funding for undergraduate studies awarded on the basis of character, service and leadership potential. www.loranaward.ca
• The Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarshipis awarded each year to two student athletes that will be continuing their post secondary education at a Canadian college or university. One male and one female are awarded separate scholarships in the amounts of $5,000 each. www.ofsaa.on.ca

Upcoming Events

March 6 - Meeting with Minister of Education
March 10 - Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy | The Learning Partnership
March 11 - Visit to Waterloo Elementary and Secondary P/VP Associations

If you would like to comment or provide feedback on the President’s Journal, please contact Joan Duckitt at president@cpco.on.ca.