Victoria West Elementary School Parent Advisory Committee General Meeting May 14, 2014 General Meeting Agenda 1. Introductions (if new members) (4 min) 2. Acceptance of the agenda (1 min) 3. Principal’s Report (10 min) 4. Executive Reports a. President’s Report (away) b. Treasurer’s Report (5 min) c. VCPAC Report (Coral) (5 min) 5. Business/Action items arising from previous minutes: a. Vic West Fest report (Aaren/ Amy/ Carolyn) b. Mural (?) c. Wifi Survey (Amy) d. Playground ‘team’ status (Aaren) e. Communication Board (Carolyn) f. Growing Chefs update (Carolyn) g. Quilt Raffle update (Aaren?) h. June Fun Fair i. Wild and Wacky Walkathon (Carolyn) j. Election plan 6. New business a. Request from Sue Cottier b. Video games at centers c. Information regarding Rockheights Middle School
Attendance: Amy, Ahna, Carolyn, Maria, Jana, Aaren and Coral 1. Introductions (if new members) (4 min) ‐ Not necessary 2. Acceptance of the agenda (1 min) ‐ 5.k. Monks orders added 3. Principal’s Report (10 min) ‐ The mural is coming along well thanks to Misha and the students. Hopefully it will be ready for the June assembly. ‐ Gr. 3, 4, 5s are heading to a track meet on Tuesday. 32 students will be running at UVic. No long‐ distance runners. ‐ Four cedar planters have been donated to the rain garden and Jana is hopeful that any growing projects can happen in them as it is too hard for seedlings to get established among the footprints of the kids. Can anyone pick them up? CM will speak to Shelley ‐ Mr. Edward’s class (Gr.4/5) is working on a play called Persephone to be performed in the Gym on June 4th from 6‐7:30pm. Open to everyone (free). Amy will post info on FB page ‐ The Achievement Contract needs PAC feedback (as well as Administrator and a Teacher) Maria will look it over, suggest edits and return it to Jana by next Wednesday
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A Grade 1 Reading Recovery program will be in place by September to help struggling readers catch up to their peers. Students will be assisted four at a time to give them a good start, prevent frustration and maintain as interest in literacy. ‐ There will be 9 Divisions next year: 4/5 4/5 Three/four 3 2 One/two 1 K K ‐ Teachers and Administrators look at the overall make up of the class to determine which students will go in which division. ‐ Priority is given to healthy socialization not necessarily keeping grades together. ‐ Curling will happen next November thanks to gaming money from this year; Jana and CM to verify dates ‐ Teachers and Parent Calendars are released at the end of May. PAC decided that we’d like to keep the Movie Night and Parent ED Nights flexible and so we will not be adding them to the calendars ‐ PAC asked: Why are the students playing non‐educational video games at school? (i.e. Friv online) Jana answered: In the computer lab there are educational games and games that are bookmarked for the students that have been approved by the District. Any other games that they are playing is at the discretion of the Teachers and so the question should be directed to them. Other options might be suggested. ‐ PAC asked: Can we have more information about Rockheights? Jana answered: Check their website for the best info: https://rockheights.sd61.bc.ca/ The school has approximately the same number of students as Vic West (~200). Because our school is so centralized, our students go to Rockheights, Shoreline, Central, Colquitz, etc. The hockey academy allows for specific students to have more ice time during the school day at Archie Browning while also focusing on the students giving back to their community. The students in the academy do not have to be the best hockey players but they do have to maintain their grades. Maybe the PAC should host a Parent Education Night and invite Rockheights to speak? The Principal and Leader of the Academy could be invited. 4. Executive Reports a. President’s Report (absent) b. Treasurer’s Report (5 min) ‐ General: $1124.99, Gaming: $2629.52, Emergency fund: $282 ‐ The Authors visit (Diana Bonder) will cost approx. $452 and the mural will still cost around $1500. Both costs will be coming out of the gaming account.
c. VCPAC Report (Coral) (5 min) M’s email Amy and Coral are attending the meeting on Tuesday, May 27th at Spectrum 5. Business/Action items arising from previous minutes: a. Vic West Fest report (Aaren/ Amy/ Carolyn) ‐ Poor weather, but decent turn out ‐ need to have a tent next year! Chess and rain do not mix ‐ Next year chess and Lego might be a good combination ‐ Great chance to talk to the neighbors especially those wondering about the school b. Mural (?) ‐ see Principal’s report c. Wifi Survey (Amy) ‐ The school is on the list to receive wifi. Two free access points will go in but the school will need to pay for 5 more. The school will also have to budget for the cost of having the services of the IT department. Aaren to talk to Kim about her possibly writing the grants for more Smart Boards – see Jana for more information d. Playground ‘team’ status (Aaren) ‐ Lots of interest at the Vic West fest thanks to the great education board ‐ The PAC will be presenting at an upcoming Community Association meeting and then will leave the board for display at the center. ‐ The board will also be on display at the June Fun Fair e. Communication Board (Carolyn) ‐ should be up by Friday!! f. Growing Chefs update (Carolyn) ‐ 4/7 classes have been completed. ‐ Great feedback from the students and teacher (Ms. Carrico) ‐ The cost for the school has been around $400 and Island Health is covering the rest Our school was chosen as the pilot location in Victoria due to our lack of green space CM to gather more feedback from the students and send AM the link to the pictures g. Quilt Raffle update (Aaren?) ‐ All PAC members agreed to sell tickets and will try to sell at the school when possible Amy to send a poster to Ahna Post to fb if you will be selling tickets at the school that day so that parents bring money when picking up kids h. June Fun Fair
‐ PAC would like the sports event to be provided by an organization that is active at the community center (PISE) CF will ask Kate for a contact ‐ Jana suggested that the PAC should invite the teachers to the event Amy to draft a letter i. Wild and Wacky Walkathon (Carolyn) ‐ Nothing to report until next year (can be removed from the agenda) j. Election plan ‐ Voted at last meeting to hold the election in June, however, PAC is concerned that incoming members may feel excluded Amy to check that we are correctly following the bylaws. k. Monks (Carolyn) ‐ Not all forms are in (including Carolyn’s!), somehow they have gotten lost between home and school ‐ Worried about the lack of checks in place—is it possible for Monks to post a list of the order forms that they have received so that parents can confirm that the form is in? ‐ A couple money balances (and therefore) cheques are wrong CM to talk to Monks and send out confirmations to parents 6. New business a. Request from Sue Cottier ‐ asking for Hygiene Kits for Maturation classes previously taught by Island Health but now taught by Teachers. ‐ Jana recommended asking other PAC’s if they are now covering these costs PAC voted to reject the request based on the Mandate and Values of the PAC. Aaren to notify Sue Cottier b. Video games at "centres" (free time) ‐ see Principals’ report c. Information regarding Rockheights Middle School ‐ see Principals’ report NEXT PAC MEETING/ Parent Education Night: Wednesday, June 11 2014, 6‐8 pm The Approachable Adult: Jennifer Gibson of Island Sexual Health www.vicwestpac.com vicwestpac@gmail.com FB: Vic West Elementary PAC
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June Fun Fair Planning Wednesday, June 25 , 4‐7 p.m. Tasks and volunteers: ● Dunk tank borrowing and filling – CM ● Letters to grocery stores – MC ● Soccer – PISE/ other – AM / CF ● Contact Coast Capital re: face painting team – MC ● Organizing BBQ and refrigeration of dessert through Optimists – MC ● Face painting with Kate Longpre re: participation – AB ● Baking cupcakes for cake walk – other PAC members ● Picking up the dunk tank – CM? ● Coordinating volunteers ‐ CF ● Selling tickets for raffle – everyone! ● Selling tickets for food on day of – AM/ JAN ● Music on day of – MC will double check with Jaime ● “Quiet corner” with Heidi ‐ AM Other details: ● Tables will be set up beside the food truck to hand out the chips, drinks and apples ● AM/ JAN will sell dinner and dessert tickets (2 different colours) at a separate table possible away from the line up. ● The area for the food distribution will be delineated with chalk lines and drawings. ● Dessert will likely be quality fruit popsicles which will be kept either in the food truck freezer or in the school staff room. ● The Optimists will only cook hotdogs and veggie dogs. ● The price will be the same as last year: $10/family, $3/person ● A “quiet corner” with sidewalk chalk‐ location? ● PAC considering buying a gift for the Colts to recognize all of their years of service (AB to make a Weak Patrol and Colts poster)