Milliken Mills High School – School Council
Minutes
Meeting Date: Monday, March 23, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: MMHS, Library (In Person)
Prepared by: Jeet Panchal, Secretary
Land Acknowledgement
The meeting opened with the formal YRDSB Land Acknowledgement, recognizing the treaties with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Williams Treaties First Nations. Council reaffirmed its shared responsibility to honour Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and stewardship of the land.
Agenda
- Norms
- Welcome
- Inclusion Activity
- Student Council Updates
- Student Reps
- Teacher Representatives
- Admin Updates
- PRO Grant
- Future Meetings
Meeting Norms
Council reviewed the established norms:
- No recording or screenshots
- Notes may be taken
- Respectful dialogue
Listening with the intent to understandWelcome & Introductions The Chair welcomed all attendees. Attendance was recorded (Name + Email). Administration confirmed that Google Sites will no longer be publicly accessible, and all School Council information will now be posted on the MMHS School Website.
2025–2026 Council Executive
Chair: Anuraag Sharma
Vice-Chair: Rupal Panchal
Secretary: Jeet Panchal
Treasurer: Chris Lee
2025–2026 Staff Representatives
- Student Council President: Steven
- Student Council VP: Tristin
- Yearbook Editor: Tristin
- Staff Reps: Kamla Reid and Danny Rego
- Vice-Principals: Vanessa Wonnacott & Karen Schuur
- Principal: Mark Melnyk
Approval of Minutes
The minutes from January 19, 2026, were reviewed and approved.
Inclusion Activity – Your TED Talk Topic
Council members shared what topic they could deliver a TED Talk on without preparation. This activity generated genuine connection and humour, revealing the diverse passions within the MMHS community.
Highlights from the room (summarized from live discussion):
- Dr. Reid: Reflected on whether her TED Talk would be shaped by nature or nurture — she playfully “deferred” choosing.
- Danny : Shared he could easily speak about restaurants across Ontario.
- Another Teacher: Getting good deals, money‑back strategies, and smart shopping.
- Rupal: Thriving in multicultural environments as a newer Canadian.
- Nada: Reflections on evolving parenting styles.
- Anuraag: Generational shifts - from grandparents to today’s tech‑shaped youth - and how values evolve.
- Shandy (SAC): Turning “bad food into good food, with broccoli as the example.
- Mark (Principal): Global politics, genocide awareness, and the impact of social media on Gen Z.
- Jeet: Preventing geopolitical conflict by addressing ego, ambition, and resource‑driven motivations.
- Rupal (second share): Immigrant survival and flourishing in Canada. The activity set a warm, inclusive tone for the meeting.
Student Council Update (SAC)
Presented by Steven, Tristin, and Shandy .
Recent Events
Recent Event:
“SAC-entines” Valentine’s celebration featuring free popcorn, drinks, face painting, photo booth, and candy booth—high student engagement and positive feedback.
Battle of the Schools:
MMHS proudly won a recent multi-school event, fostering school spirit and collaboration.
Upcoming Events:
Pep Rally
- April (Friday). Expected participation: ~250 students.
- MAC Hours – Continuing.
- School‑wide Merchandise
Carnival – “Milliken Crossing” Theme
- Tote bags, stickers launching in March/April.
- Games, food, club promotions, and community‑building activities.
Recognition:
Student leader Shandy was specifically commended for exceptional leadership and creativity.
Key takeaways:
Student Council continues to play a critical role in building school culture and belonging. Their events are increasingly inclusive and community-oriented, aligning well with broader mental health and engagement goals.
Teacher Representative Update – Dr. Reid
Dr. Reid attended as the Teacher Rep for the evening.
She also responded to a parent question regarding IB assessments , explaining:
- 20% of the grade involves a 10-hour-long paper with experimentation and statistics.
- Teachers mark internally; IB randomly selects 5–10 papers for external moderation.
- Some students are sent abroad (e.g., Panama) for experiential components depending on the course.
Department Updates
Music Department
- All three MMHS bands earned Silver or Silver+ at the Ontario Band Association Festival.
- All ensembles received invitations to Nationals.
- Kevin Gao (Grade 11) won 1st place in the University of Western Ontario High School Composition Competition.
- Spring Concert: April 15 @ 7 PM (Cafeteria).
- Music Awards Night: May 21 (semi‑formal dinner + awards).
Tech Department
Robotics Competitions:
- March 13–15 at Durham College
- March 27–29 at Georgian College
Drama Department
- Mentorship program with MMPS culminating in a performance on April 22 @ Flato Theatre.
- Drama Factor 6.0 showcase on April 23 at MMHS (evening performance open to families).
- Collaboration with Tarragon Theatre Company for an inter‑generational performance on May 16 at UTSC.
- 10 students qualified for the TAEA National Theatre Festival on May 9 at Brock University.
- Contact: naguib.keval@yrsb.ca
HOSA – Student Leadership Conference 2026
MMHS competed in 11 medical clusters with 81 delegates against 1000+ participants nationwide.
Achievements:
- 4th Place: Biomedical Debate: Nikiita Kumar, Markus Yui Hei Chan, Sahana Kajendran
- 8th Place: Veterinary Science: Sana Sekar
- Finalist: Sports Medicine: Claire Huang
- Appreciation extended to student trainers Kasturi Kesavan & Hellen Ge and the supervising teachers.
- Dr. Reid noted the chapter’s Montessori‑style mentorship model, where senior students support juniors.
What this means:
MMHS continues to demonstrate excellence across arts, STEM, and experiential learning. The breadth of participation reflects a strong culture of student engagement and mentorship (including senior-to-junior learning models).
Vice‑Principal Updates
Karen Schuur
- OSSLT Practice: March 27
- OSSLT Test Days: April 16–17
Upcoming Academic Events:
- Math Contests: March 31 & April 1
- U of T National Biology Competition: April 2
- Graduation Seminars: April 7–10
- Cultures in Action Show: April 13
- Spring Music Concert: April 15
- IB Exams: April 28–May 20
- Music Banquet: May 21
- SAC Speeches: May 22
- Prom: May 28
- SAC Carnival: June 5
- Athletic Banquet: June 8
- Math EQAO: June 9–10
Vanessa Wonnacott - Interim Reports: March 23–24
- Parent‑Teacher Interviews: March 26
- Midterm Reports: April 29–May 1
- Course Verifications: March 27
Additional academic competitions and cultural events were also highlighted.
Highlights:
The school calendar is increasingly dense, requiring proactive communication with families. The introduction of a centralized Google Calendar for families is a positive step toward improving visibility and planning.
Principal’s Update – Mark Melnyk
- School population: 1725 students, projected 1850 next year.
- Portables are increasing from 4 to 8 to reduce congestion.
- MMHS recently hosted the YRDSB Special Olympics — major success thanks to Phys Ed, caretakers, EAs, and staff.
- Leadership focus this month: Indigenous Connections.
- Families encouraged to use the Google Calendar on the school website for key dates.
- Graduation Ceremony: June 23, 2026
- Prom: May 28, 2026
- Graduation sign‑up will be on School Cash Online.
Notable observations:
Rapid enrolment growth presents both opportunities and operational challenges (space, resources, student experience). Leadership appears proactive in addressing these through infrastructure and community-building initiatives.
PEAC Regional Symposium
- April 15, 2026, at Richmond Green Secondary School
- MMHS representation: 1 Admin + 3 School Council Reps
PRO Grant Discussion
Grant Criteria Overview
Projects must support:
- Student Achievement
- Health & Well‑Being
- Human Rights & Inclusive Education
- Board Strategies (Anti‑Black Racism, Indigenous Education, Mental Health, Mathematics, Modern Learning)
Ideas from Working Groups
Group 1:
- Cellphone distraction, burnout, competitiveness, empathy
- Suggested speaker: Angela (psychology‑based educator)
Group 2:
- Screen time management
- Parent modelling
- Impact of multitasking on mental health
Additional Ideas
- Celebrating MMHS cultural diversity
- Marketing + collaboration with neighbouring schools
- SAC involvement (e.g., reels, student‑led segments)
- Food/refreshments (within 10% funding limit)
Proposed Event (April 30, 2026 @ MMHS):
- Community-building activities
- Video and discussion on youth mental health (“Anxious Generation”)
- Student-led presentations
- Interactive Q&A and takeaways
Principal Mark emphasized: - Strong emphasis on student voice in planning and presenting
- Cross‑school collaboration (PET, MCI, MDHS, MMHS)
- Target to increase parent participation beyond last year’s 75 attendees
- Flyers will be prepared and distributed at school events with a dedicated SAC table
Highlights:
The PRO Grant initiative is evolving into a high-impact community engagement platform. The shift toward interactive, student-led, and mental health-focused programming is timely and aligns with current educational priorities.
Future Meetings
PEAC: April 15, 2026
PRO Grant Evening: April 30, 2026
Next School Council Meeting: May 19, 2026
Council Discussion Highlights
These points emerged organically during open discussion and are included for completeness:
- Members reflected on generational differences, technology’s influence on youth, and the erosion or evolution of traditional values.
- Several parents and teachers shared personal experiences related to multicultural integration, parenting challenges, and leadership.
- SAC’s event planning was praised for creativity, turnout, and student‑driven execution.
- Dr. Reid elaborated on IB assessment rigor and external moderation.
- Principal Mark highlighted the importance of student voice in PRO Grant programming and the need for strong parent turnout.
- Council discussed strategies to promote the April 30 event, including flyers, SAC‑run tables, and cross‑school collaboration.
Closing Reflections
This meeting reflected a strong alignment between students, staff, and parents in advancing a holistic educational environment. Key strengths observed:
- High student engagement and leadership
- Strong extracurricular and academic achievements
- Growing focus on mental health and community
- Increasing diversity and inclusivity in dialogue
Opportunities Moving Forward:
- Enhance parent participation and communication
- Continue addressing technology’s impact on student well-being
- Support infrastructure planning amid rapid enrolment growth
Meeting Adjournment
The meeting concluded with thanks to all attendees for their contributions and ongoing support of the MMHS Community