Laura Secord Elementary School Parent Advisory Council Meeting Thursday, November 20, 2014, 9:15‐10:30am Location: School Staff Room Agenda 9:15 Mona Lu, Madeleine Sauvé} co‐chairs Call to order Welcome and Introduction of PAC Executive We acknowledge that we are gathered this morning on unceded traditional and ancestral territories of the Coast Salish peoples. Honoring International Day of the Child Welcome (attendance sheet for sign‐in) 9:20 Principal’s Report Richard Zerbe} Principal Thanks for providing addition parent options for meetings ‐Registration on the go, 4 separate enrolment processes, cross boundary complicates. ‐Queen Vic annex will be new annex for Secord as of 2015 ‐ Secord catchment will include former Queen Vic catchment, (only goes to grade 5) ‐ promoting grade 4 late enrolment ‐ Nov 27th Sir Tupper school doing kindergarten options meeting ‐January meeting for early French immersion registration: overview of French immersion enrollment (NB*Students entering Kindergarten need to register at their English catchment school FIRST before applying for any other options) ‐ getting new office clerical staff, Sandy and Karen are new office staff ‐Donna Anderson, our English resource teacher, is taking early retirement and leaving at the end of this year and Michelle Poulain will be taking over the position full time ‐ 2 pro d days next week, thanks for patience with short notice. Acknowledgement of challenges to having four days off. ‐ Pro D to include autism and brain development seminars for teachers. ‐ looking at ways to help with special needs children in school, and project chef preparation ‐ photo retakes will be rescheduled due to solar flare in pics Melissa re: book fair event summary ‐Thank you for support ‐$7300 book fair total, means $2000 in commission, $1000 to library and $1000 spread to classrooms ‐all revenue coming from book fairs are returned to school in books, not cash ‐we can carry over credit for books if teachers do not claim all funds for books at once ‐ Joel purchased Aboriginal books to fulfill goals for content ‐ Ninja Lego books are delayed from book fair: Charlotte working to track that down ‐ open discussion about trinket like toys at book fair (initiated by concerned parent, Karen Kohfeld) ‐toys and popular Barbie, Disney, Ninjago, Lego books bring in important revenue that come back to Secord in book purchasing power ‐agreed that planning for next year’s book fairs can include efforts by parents to discuss how book fair operates: this planning would need to start soon ‐ questions about wish lists children were taking home: parents helping with book fair help the children make the lists, but this is in no way encouragement to buy those books. Parents encouraged to discuss book titles and purchase choices with their children. ‐is Karen Kohfeld wiling to head this? No Scholastic discussion ‐French book fair: March 30‐April 02, 2015 Shahira re: movie night ‐$750+ raised at movie night ‐ thank you and looking for a replacement to run movies ‐ Possibility a movie committee (sign‐up sheet passed) ‐ need replacement to run movies ‐ send out class reps notification of need or movie nights will be no more Madeleine: Pumpkin Patch ‐ wonderful day of weather ‐ pumpkins were bigger than normal so fewer pumpkins delivered: parents purchased extra pumpkins at grocery stores ‐Pumpkin Patch operated at a loss of approx. $300 as a result ‐Van Whole Produce will provide discount for next year (working on getting that in writing) ‐ thanks to volunteers and great to see high participation rate and smiles on field Mike Lombardi, VSB Trustee ‐ great to be back since seismic upgrade, nice to see all the parents ‐advocate for access to public education as it represents our democratic rights ‐ was PAC chair at several schools, graduate of Vancouver school system ‐Dec 8th inaugurate new board of school trustees, following election ‐ observing schools moving on since strike ‐ roles of trustee and PACs ‐trustees role is to connect PAC to who they need to help with individual problems ‐ great part of job is seeing results happen, connecting parents to people who can help solve problems ‐ different levels of involvement varies from PACs , encouraging parents to support and be Involved ‐proud of accomplishments , 300million for upgrades of schools in Vancouver, get more funding to do all schools by 2020, new schools in Olympic Village and UBC ‐ LGTBQ policy implemented to prevent bullying, provide safe, inclusive schools for all ‐aboriginal education enhancement graduation rates up by 14% ‐ Nov 27th Options and Choices night meeting at VSB for new enrolments ‐ focus on student leadership, grade 12 student member standing on trustee meetings, only School Board in Western Canada to have student leadership on Board ‐ moratorium on school closures, please don't close our schools, schools heart of community ‐ 2nd lowest funding per student in the country, need more for our kids ‐ challenge of under funding ‐provided ‘Restorative Budget’ handout regarding the current $54.3 Million shortfall in 2014/2016 VSB budget ‐ analogy made re underfunding: giving a child an increase in their allowance but charging the child rent‐ this is what the government does with VSB by making deals with CUPE to raise salaries of support staff but not providing more money to cover the increases Q&A: Mike Lombardi ‐? How do you feel mixed board will affect goals ‐ contact trustees and let them know what you need ‐ need and demand for French immersion teachers, committed to finding solutions to find more teachers for French ‐ strings and band what can we do to keep off chopping blocks, fantastic benefits ‐ grade 4 discussion re strings enrollment in grade 5 ‐ band and strings committee ‐ shocked parent by amount of fundraising, have we looked at corporate funding options? Is school board actively looking for funding ‐yes, corporate and private donations are accepted provided no branding comes into schools. Strict guidelines keep schools commercial free Thanks to Mike Lombardi for attending PAC meeting. Other Business: ‐ Mireille: Purdy’s chocolate fundraiser $1400. First year, 2nd year $1000, and this year we raised $3000+ Chocolates order pickup Dec. 5 ‐ earth day committee has met and starting planning, next meeting is Dec 3rd, email Kate thru PAC email, more opportunities to become involved to follow ‐ staff appreciation sticky notes , food sign up, Wednesday, Nov. 26th (label dishes) Newsletter info: get into Mr Zerbe early next week for announcements Flea market ‐ 10 to 3 this Saturday in GYM: crafts, 50/50, local products 10:35‐ meeting adjourned