Simon Fraser Elementary
Parent Advisory Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Agenda:
1. Introductions – Clint Burnham (5 min)
- Clint outlined the roles of the PAC executive, election process, and members at large
- The executive (Chair: Clint Burnham; Secretary: Mallory O’Connor and Treasurer: Richard Neal) serve for a term of a year, elected in June for the following academic year
- PAC meetings run once per month (except December)
2. Fundraising update – Karen Nicolay (5 min)
- Simon Fraser PAC fundraising efforts have raised $18,000 in the past 3 years
- Funds were raised in school socials, licensed family dinner at christmas, bake sales, quiz nights, spring flings, after school ice cream sales, reloadable gift cards and hot lunches
- Funds have been used to purchase SMART boards, booster seats, camping trips, supplies to classrooms, sound equipment, movie making programs, computers and gardening
- All funds raised this year go towards next year’s spending initiatives (and as such we are spending last year’s funds this year)
- Karen is looking for volunteers to support fundraising initiatives for 2011/12, such as:
- ideas: adult only fundraiser off school grounds, pub night in the gym, spring fling, christmas craft sale, etc
- If you are interested in volunteering, contact the PAC at PAC2011(at)simonfraserelementary.com to get connected with Karen.
3. Alvin Ram and Andy Beh – Tenth Church after school programs (5 min)
Alvin and Andy run two, free of charge, non-religious after school programs available at Tenth Church (at Ontario
The Zone: for kids grades 1-5 after school on Tuesdays
- Activities include: sports, games, out trips like swimming, laser tag, science world
- The goal is to have fun and provide a safe place for kids to go after school
- This is a registered program, which requires parents to register their child
- Tenth has a licenced van that will pick up at the school
Live Wire: for kids in grades 6-7 after school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
- Activities are similar to the Zone, include games, and sports and arts & crafts
- The program is on a drop-in basis
- Snacks are provided
Information about the programs is located on the parent notice board outside the library or by contacting alvin@tenth.ca or andy@tenth.ca.
4. Treasurer’s report – Richard Neal (10 min)
Where does PAC funding come from:
- Fundraising (see above)
- BC Gaming commission grant
- this funding is based on our grant application, submitted in June each year, and amounts to $20/student
- The funding has specific conditions that determine how it can be spent
- i.e. we can purchase computers but can’t purchase anything that specifically relates to classroom study
- Our allocation for this year is $4100
Budget overview:
- PAC spending is typically in response to requests from teachers and suggestions from parents, as well as events or items historically supported by the PAC
- This funding helps with events such as the cost of fieldtrips not covered by ministry of education, special events or performances, a $100 per classroom discretionary fund for each teacher to help with supplies, etc.
- In addition to funds from last year, and the year before, we have approximately $12,500 to spend
- Typically we receive a “wishlist” from teachers in the school and the PAC votes on how to spend the money
- Because of the labour dispute, the wishlist may come in a bit late
- Wishlist items received from teacher so far include sports uniforms (which have been passed over for several years)
Note for PAC spending:
- All expenses expected to be covered by the PAC (school or parent) need to be approved up to a set limit.
- Expenses that go over an approved budget will not be reimbursed
Process of allocating funds:
- Next month we will be voting on all ideas presented about how to spend the PAC funds
- If parents have suggestions, please contact the PAC with your idea and specific cost to have it added to the voting agenda.
- Each idea will be briefly presented and discussed at October’s PAC meeting and voted upon
- Bring a description of the program: budget and details to provide choices
- Email the PAC at PAC2011(at)simonfraserelementary.com with your suggestion, budget and any related details to get on the agenda for voting.
Question: Does the PAC typically fund Grade 7 grad?
Response: Ms. Rudland: she has taught the kids to budget and plan for grad events and fundraised specifically for the grads using a specific account. She is not teaching grade 7 this year, so this support will have to be transitioned.
5. Communications update – Mallory O’Connor (5 min)
One the goals for the PAC this year is to transition most of our paper-based communications to the school website. This will help us reduce paper consumption and distribution overhead and allow us to provide updates as soon as they happen.
We will continue to include a brief update in the monthly school newsletter, but will only distribute paper notices when necessary, such as to complete forms. Important notices will also be posted on the Parent Notice Board outside the library.
Positive feedback was received from attendees with regard to both the shift to the website and use of the notice board.
Question: Could we sign up for alerts to changes to the website?
Response: We are actually working on some enhancements to the website at the moment that will do just that. We can also publish an RSS feed for those who are comfortable with using an RSS reader. General consensus was that email alerts would be a very positive thing.
6. Lunch program update – Leslie Wilkes (5 min)
Leslie reviewed the lunch program and the shift last year to pre-ordering lunches in batches rather than one at a time.
- This approach significantly reduces the overhead for administration, collection of funds and organizing
- A notice just went out today for lunches from October through to the end of January
- The menu rotates between sushi, pizza, smoothie and wraps
- The food is mostly prepared ahead thus avoiding the overhead and preparation required
- Looking at the possibility of online ordering for next year
Leslie has run the food program for several years. Her son is in grade 7 this year so this will be her last year. She is looking both for volunteers and to transition the coordination role by year end.
What’s involved?
- Coordinating student ordering
- Ordering/purchasing the food
- Buying drinks, pudding, etc.
- Coordinate distribution for classrooms
- We have student volunteers who assist with classroom delivery
- Most of the effort is day-of, and can be prepped an hour before
If you are interested in getting involved, contact the PAC at PAC2011@simonfraserelementary.com to connect you with Leslie.
7. Principal’s report – Ruth Wrinch (15 min)
- 203 students registered this year
- 9 full divisions with 2 full kindergarten classes
- All primary classes are full, with some space in intermediates
- Class size ranges 22-25 per class; largest is 27 students
- She has contacted the school planning council as there are 2 classes with more than 2 special needs students
- According to the school act, the school needs consultation meetings with the council discuss learning needs in the classes when the composition gets to this point.
Sports Update:
- Terry Fox run this Friday, September 30 at 11:00am
- XCountry: Tony has 31 students participating with practices Tuesdays, mini meets Thursdays at Douglas Park and the District meet October 20th at Trout Lake
- Volleyball
Impact of teacher job action: Ms. Wrinch anticipates that goal setting conferences, bookfair and walkathon will be post-poned due to job action.
Wishlist items:
- Ms. Wrinch has spoken to each teacher but haven’t received a list each; hopefully by next PAC meeting she can bring them all up together
Question: What can parents do to support teachers like last year’s cutbacks?
Response: It’s a different situation from last year’s cutbacks in that this is a labour dispute rather than budget cutbacks. It’s also complicated by the union relationship what parents can do.
Question: Does the school get special/educational pricing on equipment like computers?
Response: The School board does research on specs for machines, vendors and pricing; best policy is to go thru VSB and to get service and support from the VSB.
Question: What are Fraser’s sports programs?
Response: Reviewed Fraser’s sports: basketball and volleyball (teams for grade 6/7s), X country grades (grades 2-7), track: grades 2-7
- These programs run after school
- The teachers give their time and the school is happy to have parents volunteer with sports; often need help with transportation.
- Intramural sports run at lunchtime: Tony will be organizing teams towards mid-October to give younger grades opportunity to get involved in sports
8. Parent volunteer sign up – Mallory (5 min)
There is a sign up sheet for all attendees – please include your name and contact information, your child’s name and any area of interest for volunteering.
We will look at adding volunteer opportunities to the website and parent notice board.
9. Other business
Job Action: Grade 5 teacher Ms. Laura Rudland spoke on the job action as a teacher representative
Came to the meeting to share what teachers are doing and what phase 1 job action means
There are 3 main areas to focus on with job action:
- working and learning conditions: proper and adequate support based on class size and composition
- fair and reasonable increase in salary and benefits
- restoration of local bargaining (from provincial bargaining)
What teachers are still doing during job action:
- teaching
- assessment and evaluation
- set up meetings with parents if there are concerns
- field trips – but can’t collect money (this is being done by Ruth Wrinch)
- extracurricular activities like sports and activities
Parent Question: what happens if job action continues?
Response: If job action continues through report cards, report cards won’t take place but teachers will be available for ongoing communication with parents.
Gardening: Lori Weidenheimer
Lori looks after the gardens including our veggie plot at city hall and here at the school in the back garden
Need to “put it to bed” – in the compost, TBD whether it’s a field trip or a parent organized event
Outstanding:
- Received a grant last year but funds couldn’t be used for the labour for school board labour
- Need to determine how garden fundraising can be applied
- Lori will need to meet with the treasurer to work out financials and report at the next PAC meeting
Looking for new chair for gardening projects or team/volunteers. Contact the PAC if you are interested.
10. Next meeting:
The was announced for Thurs., Oct 27, 6:30 pm but this will likely be rescheduled for another day in the same week due to a conflict with the Chair and uncertainty with the parent conferences that were slated for that week. Look for an update on this in early October.
Meeting adjourned: 7:30pm