School Council News

As the school year comes to an end, Devonshire's School Council extends our heartfelt appreciation to all the parent volunteers who helped support our school, teachers and kids this year. Here are some parting thoughts from our various activity coordinators and committee chairs.

School Council meetings resume in September

Our pizza and movie nights have been very popular, and will start up again in September, when school council meetings will be held on the last Tuesday of each month. School council meetings are always open to all parents and guardians interested in learning more about our school's activities, and in meeting other parents in the community.

Presentation to OCDSB Business Services Committee

After our last school council meeting in May, School Council Co-Chair Joanne Astorga and Playground Committee Chair Marni Oliver made a presentation to the school board's Business Services Committee, to request assistance in finding additional parking spaces in existing parking lots within walking distance of the school, so as not to encroach on playground space at the school. We conveyed a strong message that the Devonshire community is values our urban school, needs all of its outdoor recreational space, and believes in finding workable solutions to modern-day challenges (like parking!) with creativity and collaboration with OCDSB staff. All indications are positive as a result of this presentation.

Book Bash Rehash – Results of Book Bash 2010

The organizing committee of Devonshire's 25th annual Book Bash would like to thank everyone who contributed to another successful Book Bash.

Thanks to you:

  • We collected over 9000 books, DVD's CD's, puzzles and games and raised a grand total of $10,600 for our school!
  • We donated 370 books to Devonshire's library and classrooms.
  • We ate over $1000 of delicious cookies, cakes, loaves and treats thanks to our many talented bakers and supporting local bakeries.
  • We enjoyed $2000 of barbecue fare, old-fashioned lemonade and sticky cotton candy on a glorious June evening.
  • The silent auction raised over $2300 from items generously donated by families and our neighbourhood businesses.
  • Mostly, we had a lovely Friday evening with our kids, friends, families and neighbours!

Special thanks to:

  • All the businesses that donated to our silent auction. We appreciate their support very much.
  • Our entertainers: The Hintonburg hip hop and breakdancing troupe, Karaoke with Pedro and Sarah, The Facepainting Mamas, and the Carnival Corner!
  • Everyone who came out to set up, decorate, cook, serve, sell and clean up.
  • An extra big thank you to Hope Thexton for leading a huge effort counting and sorting over 9000 books. Thanks to Hope and her team of sorters, our Book Bash shoppers found – and purchased – what they were looking for. Unfortunately, Hope's son graduates this year, and we'll lose a driving force in our committee. Good luck in your new volunteer endeavours, Hope, and wish us luck trying to emulate your commitment and enthusiasm for organizing!

Thanks for your support everyone! We couldn't do it without you!

The 2010 Book Bash Committee: Lindsay Cullum, Laurie Setzer, Liz Boston, Adrienne Gibb, Meghan Maack, Pedro Peres, Karla Hilton, Tracey Moran, Joan Coulter, Hope Thexton, Beverly Whitelaw, Karin Tiwana, Joan Hatch, Scott Rowland, Phil Wood, Johannita Rowland, Sara Campbell, Josée Desrosiers, Jill Metcalf.



New Pizza and Subway Coordinators

Next September, we will need new volunteers to run these popular lunch programs. Our current volunteers, Hope Thexton and Kelly Serjeantson, will be happy to show you the ropes. What’s involved? 90 minutes once a week to print class lists, set up and supervise distribution of pizza/Subway sandwiches, and clean up. Please contact Hope (pizza), or Kelly (Subway), if you’d like to help continue these programs.



Playground Committee

With parents' help this year, we were able to raise $9000 toward the playground renewal project. Thanks for your participation in our many fundraisers. We couldn’t have done it without you. Over the last couple of years, we’ve raised an amazing $29,000.

In addition to the $500 donated by GT Xpress, their at-the-till fundraiser in May raised $1400. Talk about community support! Thanks to owner John Ferguson, the GT Xpress staff and customers!

Great news! We have been approved for a matching grant from the City of Ottawa for $7500. This grant is to be used towards the new play structure!

Ongoing fundraisers:

  • LOOKING FOR SOME SUMMER READING FOR YOU AND THE KIDS? Go to Collected Works and 10% of your book purchase will go to the Devonshire School Council and the new primary playground. Simply tell the cashier you are from Devonshire.
  • We are presently running a corporate sponsorship campaign. If you think your employer/company would be interested in contributing towards the playground renewal project please direct them to the playground page. Look for ‘Information for Donors’ at the right of the page. We also have packages available upon request, contact Marni Oliver.
  • The United Way campaign is still going strong. If you are interested in making a contribution, please see the link on the playground page.


Our Council

Joanne Astorga Co-chair
Stefan Matiation Co-chair
Jennifer Baker Secretary
Odette Rwigamba OCASC representative*
Christine Lloyd OCASC representative*
Liz Boston Devonshire School Age Program representative
Kerry Anderson Treasurer

* OCASC stands for Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils

All parents and caregivers are always welcome to attend School Council meetings as parent representatives: we want and need to hear your perspective!

School Council Minutes, February 2010

School Council Minutes, January 2010

School Council Minutes, November 2009

School Council Minutes, October 2009

School Council Minutes, September 2009