Simon Fraser Elementary
Parent Advisory Council Meeting
Date: Monday, February 27, 2012
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Agenda:
1. Chair’s Report – Clint Burnham
Not a lot to report from the chair’s perspective this month. Please note that as a result of the job action today, the of our SMART board demo for tonight’s meeting is cancelled. Teachers did a informational picket today from 3:15-3:45.
Potential legislation possibly being introduced tomorrow (Bill 22).
Childcare is potentially available via the Our House after school program (run out of Mt. Pleasant community centre). 24 spots are available from 9am to 3pm to cover the potential disruption.
2. Fundraising Report – Karen Nicolay
Direct Donation:
Reviewed the direct donation letter that is planned to go out next Monday. This program was proposed to asking families for donations directly to the school. Further discussion was had regarding the historical success of this type of effort (in past raised $2,200) vs. the huge fundraising potential of the walkathon. The walkathon is typically held early in the year and raises over $12,000 – a major source of funding for school activities and events.
Q: Should we run the walk-a-thon on our own?
A: PAC Exec spoke with Ruth in the fall, at which time the decision was to wait until later in the year, possibly in May. The decision from the PAC was to mention the walkathon in the direct donation letter and move it forward for later in the spring.
Eat for Education program
Karen met with a parent from who runs BC Foodies
Last year they organized “Eat for Education” – where 10 local restaurants (including 2 from the Cascade Group) raised funds from 10% of food sales.
The program raised over $2000 for Mt Pleasant with a share to BC Foodies, even without significant promotion and only 10 restaurants.
This year the event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 2nd – 60 restaurants are now onboard
15% of proceeds go to BC Foodies, the rest of proceeds divided up between participating schools.
They have offered to include Nightingale and Fraser schools as potential recipients of the fundraising for this year, and potentially Strathcona.
What’s required from us?
- It could require some volunteers from grade 7s
- Need to sign a contract about what we may spend the money on
- Could be some good promotion at no cost to us
Q: What’s in it for the restaurants?
A: Wednesday is typically a slow night for restaurants; it’s to generate business, good promotion; being part of community
Q: How can we promote it?
A: Add to our website, post posters in the school, on the door, send info home, posters locally
Q: Are all restaurants in our area?
A: Yes, if Strathcona signs on, they could do it in that area; money raised would be split evenly 3 ways amongst the schools participating
Decison: Karen to pursue this fundraising opportunity and provide an update at the next meeting.
Special lunch program
Just a reminder that Leslie is stepping down this year and we are looking for volunteers to support the special lunch program next year. Jamie and Steph are interested in taking on the lunch program (together with Karen and Melody); they will discuss the transition offline with Leslie.
Online ordering for hot lunch and fundraising:
Karen reviewed Munch a lunch: an online tool to organize hot lunch program and other fundraising offerings; Mallory also had some discussions with a parent from Cavell who offers a similar service, but based on a percentage of sales rather than flat fee.
What’s required from us?
- a one time fee of $300
- a test drive of the application to see if it’s feasible for 2012/13 school year
A vote was held and passed to:
- Evaluate Munchalunch and decide if we want to go with it or try the Cavell
- Identified an event (spring family dinner night or possibly Sports Day lunch since almost all families order)
Next steps: passed, Karen to follow up at the next meeting
Q: How would we handle offline orders for people who can’t afford it, aren’t online?
A: Could have support on given days to input orders; get volunteers from the grade 7s; could use it as an opportunity for support parents in computer literacy
Comment: Noted that based on experiences with lunch program, the simpler the better, less choices is better not only for end users but also for admin/support (i.e. not having to go to 4 different stores for every possible options) while still keeping the offerings as inclusive as possible
Q: How have we dealt with bursaries in the past? How does the school choose who to provide bursaries to?
A: In the past, it has been left to the discretion of Lori Eppler/administration
Spring Fling:
What is it? This is our year-end event, typcially held in June. It includes events like a bouncy castle, cake walk, dunk tank, games, food, etc. The PAC will start talking about it at the March meeting, coordinating a team and setting out tasks
Q: Could the Spring Fling be coordinated with walkathon?
A: Likely that this would be too much in one day
3. SMART Board demo – David Murphy – cancelled due to teacher job action
4. Treasurer’s Report – Richard Neal
Revenue
$520 choir surplus (thru march & april)
$738 Lunch program
$330 from card program
Expenditures
$2000 from gaming spent on the recent dance performance, sexual health seminars
$830 Uniforms for school
$2300 for smart board (for Ms. French’s grade 6/7 class)
Q: What’s happening with the funds held back, awaiting assessment of spending by the gaming commission?
A: The hold back is still in place; gaming branch will let us know in May.
5. Principal’s Report – Bonnie Kent
Loves being at the school – will be here until the end of the school year. Ms. Christie hopes to be back in the fall.
We had a good basketball season this year.
Bonnie bought some Lego robotics kits for the grade 6/7s as a problem solving technique/builder. She score keeps for Lego Challenge program (team building) – in the past, she has bought kits and donated them to the school she’s working with, and is donating one to Fraser. She recommends purchasing more building kits for next year to get groups of kids working together (ages 8+)
Bonnie purchased an iPad for the resource teachers to use with student with special needs.
Earliest the teachers could be legislated back by Friday. Regarding the escalation: there are a lot of unknowns. Today was day of protest by the teachers.
Q: The class of iPad/carts (10-15) – has it been requested? [there is a VSB program where a class set of iPads can be requested for free]
A: Not yet as Bonnie hasn’t been able to work with teachers to find out if there’s a teacher that could anchor the program. However, if parents are interested, Bonnie could take parents or teachers to one of the participating schools to see how they are being used.
Q: Is there iPad training by the VSB?
A: Bonnie is doing a program offered by VSB and Apple.
Q: Can students bring their own iPad in if we get the class rental?
A: VSB trying to get wifi throughout the district – not fully wireless yet; primary a bit ahead of secondary schools.
Nathan: is very interested in helping with technology committee (when it can be struck) and helping with an iPad program next year (could be a good direct fundraising opportunity; Nathan is keen to approach organizations like Apple for a direct donation – he also has good connections within Apple). This is great considering his son will be leaving Fraser – thank you Nathan!
6. Melodie Yong – Fresh fruit program
Melodie is a Dietician at St. Pauls. She heard about the BC School Fruit and Vegetable nutrition program. There’s an opening for 50 schools to join, sponsored by the Ministry of health, agriculture – promoting healthy eating in classes. Applications are open now until April – is Fraser interested in participating?
What’s involved?
- The program involves delivery of fresh fruit and produce (from local farmers) 13x during the year; focus is on in-season fruit and produce.
- Need a Committee at the school that will work to distribute the food
- (note: program requires that the fruit distribution has to be part of classroom time – not lunch or recess, but doesn’t have to involve instruction)
- The program is free and the school would get a stipend of $250 to set up, buy containers or supplies
- Need access to a fridge
- Needs someone with Foodsafe certification
- Applications now until April then ongoing
Melody would be happy to be the coordinator and will speak to the teachers; Nigel Pike could be the foodsafe volunteer if no one else is available. She needs support of the teachers and to have a contact at the school. It was discussed that this program could share the same volunteer resources as the folks who support the lunches.
There was general support for the program and it was seen as a positive thing for Fraser.
Next steps: Melodie will move the application forward and report back at the next PAC meeting
7. Garden Update – Lori W. (by proxy)
Snow, wind, sun, rain, crocuses and bees: it must be February!
Spring is coming and we are thinking about seeds. At this time of the year you can start your snowpeas inside and plant more cold-loving greens like kale. Please check out the post on the school website about our work with Ms Rudland’s class on eating kale and loving it too! We made kale smoothies and planted kale seeds to take home and transplant.
We owe a BIG thank you to the folks at Evergreen for giving us money to buy seeds and garden supplies for our raised beds at City Hall and to fund gardening workshops for interested teachers. Helen Beynon is the City Hall Garden co-ordinator and she is just fabulous. I can’t wait to get out students planting again this spring.
Folks, we need your help! Some soil will be arriving on Friday for our garden beds next door at Mount Pleasant Community Garden. We have been given two wheel chair accessible garden beds! There is a work party for shoveling soil into beds on Friday, March 2 afternoon at 4 pm. Please show up in suitable work clothes. for further details, send a message to Lori via the PAC e-mail.
I will also be looking for help from students to take our tools to be stored in the new lockable tool chest on the site of the Community Garden. They are also going to be building a storage shed for larger items like wheelbarrows. They will store our tools in exchange for sharing them. This is a great deal which benefits us all.
We are still looking for someone who loves gardening and all things green to take over the position of Eco-Chair. Most of all we need someone enthusiastic and committed. You can make the SF Garden program whatever you want it to be.
8. Other business:
Family Dinner night: April 19th, Mediterranean theme
Q: Any other fundraising to coordinate for that evening? The Silent auction was a very successful fundraiser last year at the Christmas dinner.
A: It was suggested that it would be better to do it at the spring fling when more families come – but Dean is willing to work his local contacts to pull together the silent auction items again. (Thanks Dean!)
Q:what about a choir performance? could this happen at the family dinner?
A: Timing could work out
Adjourn to next meeting: Monday, March 26 @ 6:30pm