Panorama Heights Parent Advisory Council 5th General Meeting Minutes - draft. Tuesday, the 10th March 2009. Chair: Helen Rapin, Georgette van de Bovenkamp Minutes: Archana Nicholas
Attendance PAC Executives Helen Rapin Georgette van de Bovenkamp Gayle Huffman Archana Nicholas Pantea Pezeshkfallah Tammy Nelson Stephanie Chung Serena Shaughnessy Carla Rosa-Smith Gillian La Gambina Charmaine Nickason Amtul Siddique Anh Hoang Melissa Holt Dawn Parkins Ginger Nasser PAC Members Malia Heale Mandi Sellers Ayeh Heshmati Julie Keeton Caroline Macctaant Christina Purnomo Sheila Korrani Invited Guests Lisa Rinke Bill Cousineau
Helen called the meeting to order at 9:09 a.m. and reminded everyone to sign the attendance sheet.
Serena assumed the role of time keeper.
Schedule of upcoming General Meetings Monday, April 6, 2009. Monday May 11, 2009(Annual General Meeting-Elections)
Motion to approve minutes of fourth general meeting held on Monday, January 26th, 2009. Moved by Ayeh. Seconded by Anh. Carried.
1. Chair Report No report
2. School Report
2.1. Ms. Rinke
Ms. Rinke put forward a proposal to purchase sports equipment. These include Floor Hockey kit, Tether balls, Frisbees, Pinnies, red balls and tape for track and field. All of which amounting to approx. $1735 plus tax and shipping.
31 March 2009 1 Panorama Heights Parent Advisory Council 5th General Meeting Minutes - draft. Tuesday, the 10th March 2009. Motion to purchase any sports equipment listed in the proposal(excluding the measuring tape) not to exceed $2100.00. Moved by Caroline. Discussion ensued on how to monitor smaller equipments such as red balls during recess. Money will be withdrawn from the grant given to PAC. Seconded by Ginger. Carried.
Ms. Rinke also explained that school ran into a problem with implementing new generic comfort kits this year. Beginning of the school year too many notices were sent out at once and teachers had hard time keeping track of what was handed in. Next year onwards school will be collecting money only from Kindergarten parents and parents of new students. Since PAC wisely set aside money for replenishing current supplies, some of this money can be used to help school offset the cost of $1220.00. Will be discussed in the Executive/Budget meeting held in June.
Kilometre/running club will be held on Wednesdays after school. Kids will be rewarded with a ribbon on reaching a goal of 5, 10 or 15 kms. Parents are encouraged to join the club. Parent volunteers are welcome to time the kids as they complete their laps. Some teachers may stay back to help out. The primary objective is to get the kids to run and enjoy such physical activities.
Kids are encouraged to donate a small amount, e.g. a quarter, for each time they run. Proceeds will go towards helping kids from our community suffering from cancer.
Our school also participates in Como Lake relays and fields the biggest team. Ms Ballam is also training the students willing to participate in the Shaw Mini Run every Monday and Thursday during lunch hours.
2.2. Mr. Cousineau
Highlights are as follows: Mrs. Loss raised approximately $1000 towards Project Cuba. Hoops for Hopes basketball tournament raised $1600 for Crossroads Hospice Foundation skills assessment test was conducted. Grade 4 satisfactory survey will be conducted. A notice will be sent home explaining how parents may fill up online. Kindergarten registration went well. We have 44 children in French and 25 in waiting list and 32 children in English and 20 in waiting list. Closed to all cross boundary transfers.
Mr. Cousineau put forward a Technology Plan for the next 3 years. The aim of this plan is to access wireless technology throughout the school. By accessing wireless, using laptops and LCD projectors, teachers should be able to use the internet on a regular basis in the classroom.
For the short term, access will be from an LCD projector. Students may probably start using their own micro laptops in the not too distant future. Another important aspect of this plan is to ensure that teachers receive professional training opportunities and can share successes as they explore the new technologies in the classroom.
31 March 2009 2 Panorama Heights Parent Advisory Council 5th General Meeting Minutes - draft. Tuesday, the 10th March 2009. 3. Ask the Principal/Vice principal
Would you consider a corporate donation? School District 43 has standardized the equipments that can be purchased and used. Some peripherals like printers are not standardized. Accepting a corporate donation may therefore be difficult.
IT is moving so fast it’s better to upgrade to highest standards possible. School district stipulates standards and also provides service to maintain equipment etc. that adhere to such standards. It may therefore be difficult for just a school to be an exception.
Does school disctrict fund teacher’s training in new technology? Designated personnel from the school district come around to assist teachers to learn and explore.
4. Old Business
4.1. Constitution and Bylaw. A committee has been formed to review the bylaws. Anyone interested is encouraged to sign up. Sign up sheet was passed(as in the previous meeting) again.
4.2. Year-end BBQ. A signup sheet was passed around(as in the previous meeting) for parents to sign up to help. BBQ will take place on Friday, 5th June. Amtul being the fund raising co-ordinator will be incharge.
4.3. Muffins for Mom. Anh volunteered to take charge of organizing the Muffins for Mom.
4.4. Donuts for Dad. Ginger volunteered to take charge of organizing Donuts for Dad. Even though the event is on the day of Grade 5 water slide trip, Grade 5 kids will be invited to join early.
5. New Business.
5.1. Funding requests from teachers
Mrs. Ellis, Ms. Ballam, Mrs. Bernicki, Ms. Cawsey, Mr.Spira, and Ms. Vander Baaren(various classes) requested $30 per class towards “Kindness Counts” – BC SPCA.
Ms. Cawsey has already used her budget.
Motion to approve request for $30 per class for Mrs. Ellis, Ms. Ballam, Mrs. Bernicki, Mr.Spira, and Ms. Vander Baaren. Moved by Serena. Seconded by Carla. Carried.
Mme Piggot, Mme LaRiviere, Mme Bever, Mrs Ellis, Ms Ballam, Ms. Hetherington (Various grades)requested $10 per student towards Grouse mountain -- snowshoeing and social studies.
31 March 2009 3 Panorama Heights Parent Advisory Council 5th General Meeting Minutes - draft. Tuesday, the 10th March 2009. Motion to approve funding for Mme Piggot, Mme LaRiviere, Mme Bever, Mrs Ellis, Ms Ballam, Ms. Hetherington not to exceed $10.00 for each student for the academic year. Moved by Ginger. Seconded by Anh. Carried.
Ms. Vander Baaren and Mrs. Bernicki(Grade 1, 1/2) requested $12.00 per student towards Vancouver Aquarium – water wonders.
Motion to approve request of funding not to exceed $10.00 per student for the academic year Ms. Vander Baaren and Mrs. Bernicki. Moved by Caroline. Seconded by Serena. Carried.
6. Treasurer’s report (Read out by Carla)
The current balance in the general account is $23,563. Committed from this total are the expenses for March & April’s hot lunches which will be approximately $5,400. Therefore, we actually only have approximately $18,163 with which to fulfill our budgeted amounts for the remainder of this school year. Without additional fundraising this year, that will leave next year’s PAC with only $2,883 (our C&B requires that a minimum balance of $1,000 be left for the following year’s PAC). This would mean that next year’s PAC will have to either dramatically reduce their budget or raise approximately $18,000 to fulfill our average yearly expense from the general account of $20,000.
The current balance in the gaming account is $9,065.85 leaving sufficient monies available to fulfill the balance of this year’s budget. Lisa Rinke is proposing the purchase of some items for the school and most of these items could be purchased from the gaming account. The gaming account is applied for every year and PAC receives $20 per FTE student in September. This year the amount was in excess of $9,000. These monies must be spent within 3 years and can only be spent on very specific items that directly benefit the children. The budget items in our general account would not qualify to be paid out of the gaming account (with the exception of possibly the teacher enrichment fund, but those requests would have to be looked at on an individual basis to ensure they meet the gaming commission’s requirements).
Balance information is as follows: The general account balance less outstanding cheques as of March 10, 2009 is $23,563.09. The gaming account balance as of March 10, 2008 is $9065.85. The term deposit, which matures on June 30th 2009, has a balance of $17,618.57.
Combined value of all of the above is $50,247.51
7. Committee reports
7.1. SPC SPC meeting was held on Feb 10th 2009, Carla and Julie met Mr. Cousineau. The school district budget for 2009/2010, enrolment in the school and FSA testing was discussed.
31 March 2009 4 Panorama Heights Parent Advisory Council 5th General Meeting Minutes - draft. Tuesday, the 10th March 2009. 7.2. DPAC Gaming Branch Director meeting will be held tonight at Terry Fox secondary school at 7:00 p.m. Workshop about raising cyber citizens will be held in Westwood Plateau golf club on March 10th between 11:30 a.m and 1:30 p.m. Entry will be $35 for members and $40 for non-members.
7.3. Fund Raising. Serena informed that Purdy’s Chocolates orders were distributed yesterday.
7.4. Safety, Health and Emergency Preparedness. No report
7.5. Class Liaison. No report
7.6. Traffic. City Bylaws Supervisor and RCMP personnel were at the school around dissmissal time last week. Supervisor suggested that the “right turn when the traffic is blocked” may be changed to right turn only.
7.7. PAC communication. Last day to submit entries for newsletter is Friday, 27th March.
7.8. Parent Education. Melissa will be discussing Saleema Noon’s visit to school with Mr. Cousineau.
7.9. Multicultural Liaison No Report
7.10. Hot Lunch February hot lunch was Donair. It was well received. Kebabs may have to be cut in two pieces for classes with younger children. Menu for April/May/June has not yet finalised.
7.11. CPF 1) Maple Sugar Man (who visited our school on January 27th), was well received by the different schools. He tailored his performance according to the group's age, etc.
2) Francophone Week: March 6 - 22nd: Canada's National Film Board distributed, via CPF, French "shorts" to all the French Immersion schools.
3) Festival du Bois: Held in Maillardville's Mackin Park the weekend of March 7th/8th. Prior to this, many schools had "Festival du Bois" presentations and the children received goodie bags which included CPF magnets. Festival du Bois was well attended; many Panorama families went. CPF would like to have a booth and a banner in next year's Festival.
4) Vancouver Children's Festival: May 14th (Vanier Park). CPF may be sponsoring a show this time, if they can guarantee the required ticket sales, as they would like to have a presence in this year's Festival.
31 March 2009 5 Panorama Heights Parent Advisory Council 5th General Meeting Minutes - draft. Tuesday, the 10th March 2009.
5) CPF now advertises its meetings in the "Coquitlam Now" community newspaper. All parents are welcome to attend these monthly meetings, held on Mondays at Kwayquitlam Middle School's library (in Port Coquitlam).
6) There is a "Verbathon" coming up for French Immersion students, Grades 2 - 8. This is an optional event, similar to a "Spelling Bee". It is held on Friday, May 8th, at Winslow Centre in Coquitlam. CPF awards medals to first place winners.
7) There is a high attrition rate in French Immersion, the first peak occurring after Grade 5. CPF reps distributed pamphlets to all French Immersion Grade 5 students encouraging them to stay in French and explaining the many advantages.
8) Numerous studies show that the French Immersion students who struggle in school would also need learning support in regular (English) classes. They still benefit from learning a second language. Furthermore, all students, but especially learning assitance students, benefit enormously from after-school one-on-one tutoring, which is more tailored to their individual needs, and more conducive to concentration (less distracting than a room full of peers, classroom noise, etc.)
In many cases, parents provide the additional support; but if they are uanble to, or their children benefit more from non-family help, there is help available to children in the community. These range from free one-to-one reading help (sponsored by our local public libraries), to private tutoring in the home, music lessons (which also benefit math and reading skills), etc.
7.12. SEP No report
7.13. Historical No Report
7.14. Other Helen informed that according to BCCPAC brochure PAC may use their Direct Access Grant monies (i.e. gaming funds) to purchase booster seats, as they have been deemed an eligible use of Gaming funds by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. As PAC had already purchased booster seat at the beginning of this academic year, the cost may be withdrawn from the gaming account.
Meeting adjourned at 10:52 a.m.
31 March 2009 6