ECI, let’s make one thing clear: you are the boss.  That’s right.  And you’ve been doing a great job.  The morale at this school has been the highest most of us have seen in recent years, and students seem to be involved in more clubs and activities than ever before.

I’m happy to say that your SAC has been working very hard to ensure that you have a fantastic year.  If students have wanted to form a new club or stage a new event, your SAC has given them its wholehearted support.  In spite of having so many new clubs this year, we have tried to ensure that everyone receives adequate monetary support from our limited budget.  It would be appropriate to add that at any SAC event year, making a profit for the SAC has not and will not be a goal.  We want to use all profits to finance student-initiated clubs and events, as was the case with the Battle of the Bands.  All profits from that event will assist the FAT, ECI’s big carnival in May.

Your SAC has also worked towards addressing student concerns.  An example of this would be the lunch hour issue, which was resolved by the students of ECI.  Under the direction of the Administration and the Parent’s Council, a student survey was conducted in June 2001 to tackle the sensitive lunch hour issue.  Students were heard; 74% of the more than thousand students that completed the survey opted for a sixty-minute lunch, and as a result, now we have a sixty-minute lunch.  Student parking has been another concern.  It was decided last year that as of September 2001, there would be no student parking at ECI.  We have been discussing the issue with the Parent’s Council, as well as local Councilors.  We have also requested that Ontario Hydro give permission to use a portion of their unused land by the nearby railway tracks for parking purposes.  We are working to resolve this issue.

As far as events go...  we had a Grade Nine Welcome BBQ in late August, and a Grade Nine Week in September exclusively to make this year’s Grade Nines feel a little more at home.  We have also hosted a dance and an Extra-curricular Job Fair.  The goal of the Job Fair was to show you, the students of ECI, the various ways in which you can get involved.  Approximately 600 students attended the fair, which goes to tell you that the students of ECI do want to get involved.  In addition, the Job Fair also served as a launching pad for many new clubs this year.  Furthermore, the Halloween Monster Mash and the Battle of the Bands, both held for the very first time at ECI, were huge successes too.  The Battle of the Bands gave everyone at ECI an opportunity to show off their musical talents, and what a night that was.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all teachers as well as the entire administration.  You have been very encouraging and enthusiastic about all ECI events, and just so you know, we value your support very much.  So, thank you.

For the first time ever, SAC meetings are open to everyone.  Students, teachers, and the administrative staff are all invited to SAC meetings, which are held on Mondays in Room 104 during lunch.  We now have a “Do not disturb” sign too.  Your comments, compliments, and criticisms are welcome.  Or if you just want to get your kicks by watching us...  well, that’s perfectly fine too.

Here’s to an even better second term!  I’ve said this before and I’ll willingly say it again, it’s not the SAC, it’s your SAC.