Victoria West Elementary PAC General Meeting Minutes May 11, 2016
In attendance: Principal Deb Courville, Incoming Principal Marla Margetts, Vice Principal Ramy Gerber, Communications Director/Acting Secretary Amy Bronee (AB), Treasurer/Acting Chair Carolyn Morris (CM), Training Treasurer Maria Montgomery (MM), Ahna Holland (AH), Chantelle Easton (CE) Regrets: Chair Aaren Madden (AM), Secretary Coral Forbes (CF)
1. Acknowledgement of Territory performed by Acting Chair Morris.
2. Greeting from Incoming Principal, Marla Margetts As the current Vice Principal at Gordon Head Middle School, she is excited about the new school year as Principal at Vic West. She has worked for 17 years in the Greater Victoria School District, half in elementary and half at the middle school level. She acknowledged the PAC as an important partnership, working side by side with the school. She is a family person, so expect to see her own family around the school. She is also meeting with Vic West staff to introduce herself.
3. Presentation by Sachen MacDonald of S&B Boardgames Postponed to future meeting.
4. Acceptance of the Agenda Accepted with no additions.
5. Principal’s Report
Principal Courville is retiring at the end of this school year. It was a difficult decision to retire earlier than expected, but feels the school is being left in good hands with incoming Principal Margetts and current Vice Principal Gerber. Following up on a previous question about school water lead testing, Ms. Courville said David Loveridge at the school district confirms random testing has been done in the past. Currently, there is a plan to test water in schools over the next month, and he is putting into place regular systemic water testing going forward. On behalf of all the staff and students, Ms. Courville thanked the PAC for the walkathon on May 6th. It was a great event and teachers are already planning what they will spend their classroom money on – field trips, special projects, etc. Ms. Gerber reported that students enjoyed the fundraising and are taking ownership of the playground project. Due to increasing enrollment, 2 new divisions are being added next school year. Previous Vic West teacher, Mr. John DiCicco, is returning to teach grade 3. Leah Clifford will teach a kindergarten/grade 1 class. With enrollment projected to continue increasing in coming years, possible space for new divisions includes the learning support room, the computer lab and the annex that is currently leased to Victoria Montessori. The school calendar for 2016/17 is finalized and went out in the last school newsletter. A finalized date is requested for Welcome Back BBQ (see item 8a). The district has finished the rain garden rehab. Improvements include new soil and new plants appropriate for the space. Ongoing maintenance will be done by the district. Staff and students are enjoying the changes and using the garden a lot. The district Track and Field event is coming up on May 27 at UVIC. Vic West is sending 67 students to participate in the 800m, 100m, and/or relay events. Parent volunteers are needed. Please contact Ms. Gerber if you can help out on the day. The Spirit of Alliance program is moving from Wolf to Salmon. The message of Salmon is that even when things are hard, you have to keep moving forward and persevere.
There will be a lockdown drill the final week of May with Constable Mark. A letter to parents will be going home. The drill is not scary, but serious.
6. Executive Reports a) Executive voting to be put off to June or September. AB and CM felt an executive meeting is needed soon to discuss this item. b) Treasurer CM reports the following account balances: Gaming:
$4,019.78
Playground:
$1,535.78
Walkathon Net Total:
$8,136.54 after prizing expenses
c) VCPAC elections were held at the recent Annual General Meeting. Audrey Smith continues on as Chair while Norm Tandberg takes over as Vice Chair. VCPAC Awards are coming up on May 24th. AB is on the selection committee again this year.
7. Business/Action Items Arising From Previous Minutes a) The spring book fair almost reached the goal of $3,000, just $200 shy. It was felt the layout was better this time, more welcoming and spacious, and the debit machine was handy. The school will use the money raised to purchase some classroom items such as a play kitchen for the new K/1 division being added. AB will communicate this to parents when meeting minutes are published to Facebook. B) Ideas to add to Walkathon notes for next year: - Shelley can print name labels to put on each child’s fundraising bag before it goes home. - More incentive levels for next year. - More water needed if it’s a hot day.
c) A school parent told CM he knows of a school that replaced their playground through insurance. Ms. Courville confirmed this is not possible. Those in attendance unaware of other steps currently required on this topic. d) Planning for who brings what to staff appreciation lunch to be established at requested executive meeting or by group email exchange. e) Gaming night decision postponed until future meeting with presentation from Sachen MacDonald of S&B Boardgames. f) AM has permission from admin to take banner paper from school supply room for Vic West Fest “School is for…” project on Saturday, May 14 from 11-3. A call for volunteers has gone out in the PAC newsletter and the Facebook page. CM to bring tent and help set up from 11-noon. AB will help out from 1-3. 8. New Business a) Welcome Back BBQ date is tentatively set for Thursday, September 15 th from 4-6 p.m. AB told Ms. Courville someone (AM?) would email her to confirm this date works for the PAC. Last year’s event felt like it went too long. Ending at 6 p.m. is preferred. Food donations need to be established, the Optimist Club needs to be booked, and a call for cupcakes for the cupcake walk will have to go out the first week of school. Members request AM schedule an executive meeting to discuss this item further.
Thank you for joining us! Next PAC meeting is June 8, 2016.