- Welcome
- PAC leadership next year (Nathan) (5 mins)
- Nathan reminds us that he (chairman) and Chris K (treasurer) stepping down.
- Pizza/sushi lunches (Claire) (5 mins)
- First pizza day went well, positive feedback a little negative. 7th graders involved in distribution. The easier it gets, the more we can do. Melodie will try to get involved with delivery/shopping.
- Eco club and Green Zebra book (Lori) (10 mins)
- The Eco Club got $1,500 from Evergreen, which is good but only half what need. The Green Zebra fundraiser has been deemed a failure by Lori. It is noted that some parents would prefer to give a direct donation as the GZ book does not suit their needs. Lori will approach Vancity for “community grant” of $500. Chris, Danika’s dad has volunteered to help. He is a landscape architect. Lori will be meeting with Milana and John, new groundsperson to talk about scaled back plans and Chris’ role.
- Chris wonders is there a committee in place for the garden’s down time in summer months. Lori: yes, and daycare will help. She is also going to ask master gardeners to help with planting mid May. Chris asks “Is a compost bin being built? Lori says it will be in the future
- Ms Christie mentions that Laura Rudland’s class is going to be looking at composting in a sustainability project. The school is also working with daycare so they can use grounds when school not in session.
- Chris hopes to get donations from suppliers.
- Spring Fling (Leslie) (10 mins)
- Leslie is organizing the spring fling this year. What she is planning is: not BBQ but pizza, ice cream, bouncy castle, dunk tank, games courtyard – some games but no prizes and not selling tickets. Would some parents organize a baseball game? Debate pros and cons of potluck vs. bbq etc.
- Claire says the event needs to be broken down into parcels so people can organize one part.
- The conversation turns to the necessity of fundraising for the garden vs. plans to focus less on fundraising in this particular event.
- Karen mentions she still intends to offer fundraising gift cards one more time this school year.
- We agree we will talk about the PAC contingency money and spending it this year on garden.
- Principal’s report (Milana) (15mins)
- Nathan talked with staff about website and how it can be made better. More classes adding stuff now. VSB supportive of tech initiatives.
- VSB redirected anyone looking at official VSB website to our new address.
- The library has been renovated, computers moved, work completed. The library has been updated. The school keeps setting conduisive to learning. Smartboard connected in Mr Murphy’s room. The staff is excited. They want to develop a purchase plan with PAC: Smartboards cost $1500, projector $1500 plus ca $500 installation.
- Enrollment: registration deadlines moved up to end of Jan by VSB, so budget can be planned in March. Registration is now closed and the school is working on projections, to be submitted end of Feb. Then numbers will be looked at and staff predicted (lay offs?). This is a change fro the previous deadline, which used to be June. We are currently at 205, if we stay above 200 we are good. 38 children are registered for K.
- Our house (daycare and preschool) is at capacity for next year: 120 in preschool and 65 in after school.
- If enrollment is under 200, the schoolboard may name us an annex and limit enrolment, possibilities include making us a grade K- 5 school.
- Nathan comments that this would have a negative impact on the standard of education, with admin and support staff dropping If enrollment stays above 200 we are OK.
- It is noted that Fraser is one of few wheelchair accessible on East side.
- Ms Christie goes on to say that Anti bullying day is coming up, when we are encouraged to wear a pink shirt, on 23.02. Later in the month Camp Read will be happening in classrooms: drop everything and read, come in comfy clothes or PJs and read read read.
- The Parks Board is now accepting bids for redevelopment of MPleasant park. Construction to start in May. They would be happy to come to pac mtg in May (April). Ms Christie does not know when the park will be completed.
- Agenda point:Dean
- Dean tells us that Kiddo consignment clothing on Main St, would accept donations of old clothes, then would do 50/50 split and that 50% goes to Fraser. Everyone likes the idea. They will set up a Fraser account. Everyone likes this idea and is eager to get it started.
- Nathan: Website update
- Nathan met with teachers and talked about how they can add content. Parents wishing to contribute should contact him and anything relating to children, and any pictures, should be checked with Ms. Eppler, as there are serious privacy concerns when publishing info and pictures of children.
- Guest speaker (Anna) and Julie: possibility of starting a choir at Simon Fraser (15mins)
- Anna leads the Local Vocals community choir, studied ethnomusicology and loves working with kids. She has worked a lot with kids of all ages and backgrounds. Likes moving/dancing and singing which is perfect for kids. Games, clapping games etc. She did after school program at Britannia for g 4s
- We all think the kids would love this and hope Anna will write a proposal for an after school class or workshop etc for us to discuss and vote on.
Coffee and chat 7.45 – 8.00pm