20110120

Simon Fraser Elementary PAC Meeting
Thursday January 20th 6.30 – 8.00pm
Minutes

12 people in attendance

  1. Welcome
  2. PAC leadership next year
    • Nathan reiterated that he will be stepping down as PAC chair next year, and that a replacement is needed.
  3. Website
    • Nathan announced that the school website is up and running.
  4. Fundraising
    • Karen summarised the fundraising events held last fall – Mexican themed dinner, JJ Bean fundraiser (organised by Shira), gift cards, and Dinner Dance and that these events raised a total of approx $4200.
    • She also said she and Claire have stepped back from their fundraising activities. Nathan thanked them for their work over the years.
  5. School Garden
    • Lori said that the VSB had asked that her original garden plan be scaled back, so the current plan was for the “core” of that plan, with benches around it. The labour costs for this are $1558, of which Lori has already applied to the PAC for, and been awarded $300, meaning $1250 is still needed to cover labour. Remaining costs, not for labour, will be covered by an Evergreen grant, should it be awarded. If the Evergreen grant is not awarded, Lori will not be able to continue with the project. She should find out whether or not we have been awarded the Evergreen grant on Feb 1st.
    • Ms. Christie intends to talk to the new VSB groundsperson about these plans.
  6. City Hall Garden
    • The same organization, Evergreen, has agreed to supply seeds for use in the school’s City Hall garden.
    • Lori and Julie are going to laminate a sign for the City Hall garden to identify which part of it is Simon Fraser Elementary’s.
  7. Fundraising ideas
    • Lori is considering fundraising ideas such as a school calendar and school cookbook.
    • She also discussed selling Green Zebra Coupon Books as a fundraiser. These books are sold for $20, on commission (i.e. you do not have to buy them upfront, you return those you do not sell) Everyone agreed this was a good idea.
    • A grant has been received for building bat/bird houses.
    • Lori is also working with an artist who makes musical instruments out of gourds and will be inviting families to grow gourds for this project.
    • Lori further wished to make Ms. Christie aware that she misses the “Camping in with books” event held in previous years and organized by our former librarian teacher Marisa and parent helpers.
  8. School lunches: Time available for kids to eat
    • Leslie drew attention to the fact that children of all grades have been eating much less of their lunch since the new lunchtime arrangements started (eating in classrooms). Most parents agreed that they were concerned about how little their children had time to eat. It was suggested that the school consider a different system whereby kids play first and then eat. Ms. Christie was happy to look into this. In the meantime it was agreed that Ms. Christie would ensure that kids are allowed to take their lunch outside with them if they haven’t finished it in the designated time.
  9. Hot lunches, proposal for new ordering system
    • Claire proposed a new system of ordering them lunches (pizza day etc) whereby children would select lunch option “packages” twice a year, fill out one form, pay one cheque and then receive a lunch approx once a month for that half of the year. This would streamline the burdensome administration of these popular lunches. Everyone agreed it was worth a try.
  10. Principal’s report
    • Ms. Christie was happy to report that many of the items funded by the PAC this year have been purchased and are at the school, including the stereo and speakers, smartboard for Mr. Murphy’s room, LCD projector for the library. The film project has been completed and was a success. Alterations to the library are imminent. The teachers are still pleased with the individual funding they received and are spending it in various ways, including materials and fieldtrips.
    • A new printer is being purchased by the school for the computer lab.
    • Hand dryers are being installed in the washrooms. Latches in the girls’ washroom have been fixed. It is not known whether the boys’ have been but if they haven’t, they will be.
    • The FSAs are going ahead with requests by parents to excuse their children being honoured. Grade 4 and 7 kids and parents will be invited by the VSB to fill out a satisfaction survey online.
    • The school growth plan is submitted at the end of April and will likely continue with the current school goal revolving around literacy.

Coffee and chat 7.30 – 8.00pm

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