Present:

See list attached (“Attendance”). This list will be attached to the original Minutes, as kept in the Secretary’s binder, and available to Quilchena parents on request.

 

January 2005 Quilchena PAC Meeting

 

John M., PAC Chair, called the meeting to order at approximately 7:15 p.m.

 

The Agenda was distributed at the meeting. A copy of the agenda is attached to these Minutes in Appendix A.

 

Motion: To adopt the agenda and to approve the Minutes from the November 2004 PAC meetings.

Moved, seconded, carried.

 

Ms. Coopersmith informs that a teacher meeting was held to work on setting up a student Student Council.  They will work on formalizing the process of selecting the student Student Council soon.

 

Events – Cross country skiing was cancelled this Friday but a new date will be added in February.  The Valentine’s Dance will be held February 14 for intermediate students, with a small band performing. 

 

Two assemblies are planned.  On January 31^st, Division 1 and 20F will host the assembly, with a “Taking Care of Others” theme.  Then On February 18, divisions 15F and 5 will host a “Love & Friendship” themed assembly.

 

The school is circulating a satisfaction survey among the Grade 4 and 7s to assist in the preparation of the school growth plan. 

 

The staff is contemplating a Science Fair or two.  The intermediate students are planning to host a fair on the evening of May 12 and Mr. Pack is planning a fair for the day of May 13.  Both are non-competitive.  Preparation will begin after Spring Break.  

 

School Planning Council – The school completed an assessment test with the Grade 3 to 7 students, and will do another one in late April.  The test was in English, and did not include the French Immersion Grade 3.  The test also included ESL students, and learning disabilities students.  The comparison will be made as to the expectations at the end of year for each level.

 

Three performances are planned for this term, as follows:

 

Hansel & Gretel         put on by the VSO   - February 10

Gremlin                       put on by Carousel Theatre - April 9

Dance group             not yet scheduled

 

Class meetings will be implemented on a monthly basis in order to focus on problems as they arise.  They will be conducted with the Student Council.

 

The English Grade 1 class attended the Taiwanese Cultural Centre and found it an amazing experience.  Thanks are extended to Jennifer T.

 

The final tally for funds raised in the Annual Quilchena Appeal (“AQA”) is $22,625.  The hot lunch program is projected to net the PAC $1,200 this school year.  The lunch hour programs are also successful and are projected to net the PAC $1,200 for the school year.  Cathy and Marisa are to be credited for spearheading this initiative into a viable program. Others will be needed to run it next year. 

 

Jean A. noted that PAC needs to determine a policy regarding bursaries for the lunch hour programs. 

 

ACTION ITEM: To put together a bursary policy for lunch hour programs.

RESPONSIBILITY: PAC Executive.

 

ACTION ITEM:  To find volunteers for the hot lunch program.

RESPONSIBILITY: PAC.

 

Discussion ensued with respect to amalgamating the school funds that are required at the beginning of every school year so that there is only one payment, to include things such as the cost for the agenda, other school fees, and field trips. 

 

ACTION ITEM:  To ask the teachers to consider the idea of amalgamating the school fees to one payment at the start of each term of the school year.

RESPONSIBILITY: Principal and PAC Executive.

 

Jean A. announced that the PAC’s past approved expenditures of $125 for each division teacher were paid out as of October 2004. 

 

The PAC Executive queried what the teachers had planned in more specifics (than the divided allotments to categories of needs) to use the AQA funds.   Mrs. Coopersmith replied that the teachers were spending time on their spending plans so that there is continuity between the years.  Next week, in particular, information technology meetings were planned in order to discuss the best use of the funds for all classes. 

 

Riser estimates were procured by Mrs. Ballantyne.  For 3 sections the cost is estimated at $2900, while 4 are probably more appropriate for the school’s needs.  Modular risers are planned as they can be added to and are easier to store and put together.  The PAC requested that the teachers inquire about other school’s experiences.

 

MOTION: That PAC Executive be authorized to spend up to $4500 for the risers.  

Moved, seconded, carried.

 

Heather K., PAC Fundraising Chair, announced that the AQA achieved 62% participation, which is approximately double from the previous years, and remarkable compared to other school’s achievements.  The fundraising committee is working on a report and personal letter with tax receipts to be sent to all those who participated. 

 

The School Planning Council (“SPC”) is a body mandated by the Ministry of Education, a tripartite team that brings to bear expertise in all areas of the school.  It includes 3 parents, including one from the PAC Executive, the Principal and 2 teachers.  The SPC has met twice this year.  The goals are to ensure that the school is meeting its educational objectives and to develop a school growth plan. 

 

Every three years the Ministry of Education begins an accreditation process involving a formal school district review by an external team.  The visits or reviews are on a random basis, so all school must prepare regardless of whether their school will be assessed.  If parents wish to have an input then they can do so via the SPC, and in particular via the parent representatives.

 

A.    VSB

 

1.     The PAC Executive held an informal meeting regarding French Immersion program with the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Chris Kelly.  The discussion involved the recent and past approaches by the VSB to school boundaries and the enrolment process.  The view of the PAC was that there needed to be a comprehensive review of the FI program to avoid structural changes (catchment and enrolment issues) that seemed to occur almost every year.  Mr. Kelly appreciated the situation, but did not expect to receive direction from his board to pursue a comprehensive strategy for FI at this time.

 

2.     The PAC Executive, together with 8 other local PACs, held a meeting with Colin Hansen, MLA, about the provincial budget surplus.  More discussions with Minister Hansen are planned.

 

B.     Colin Hansen, MLA

 

At the last meeting with Colin Hansen, MLA, a further meeting was welcomed.  It was agreed that the next meeting with Minister Hansen should cover off specific issues. One of the major issues was to advocate for a full-time librarian and support the Province in providing funding that was targeted specifically for that purpose. 

 

Mrs. Coopersmith explained that currently the librarian and resource teachers are grouped together in one category, called “incremental”.  Out of this one category, schools are allocated a certain number for all their librarian and resource demands (such as ESL, learning assistance and English and French librarian needs), regardless of the demographics of the school.  So in 2003/04 this school lost 1 day/week for the librarian, and another day in 2004/05, given both to cutbacks and to compensate for increased resource needs.

 

C.    VSB Priorities

 

The priorities the PAC wishes to raise with Colin Hansen are the same as those will be addressed with the VSB.

 

D.    Seismic Safety

 

In December 2004, the Province announced $1.5 billion in funding was promised for seismic upgrades to provincial schools to be paid out over a fifteen year period.  Quilchena rated ‘high’ from a geotechnical report as a school at risk and yet Quilchena is ranked low priority.  It was put forward to the PAC meeting whether parents want to get involved in a letter writing campaign.   There is a letter writing campaign available online on a general basis at http://www.fsssbc.org/, but this does not deal with the low ranking of Quilchena. 

 

ACTION ITEM: Make seismic web link available on the PAC web site to allow interested parents to participate in the letter writing campaign.

RESPONSIBILITY: PAC Executive.

 

Chinese New Year is being planned by the Chinese families at Quilchena. The whole family is invited to attend this day long program on February 9^th.  There will be a lion dance with real lion heads, and games, arts and crafts and many other learning opportunities provided by the Fun Fair in the gym.  As of the time of writing, the Chinese New Year was an acclaimed success.

 

March 3^rd, at 7:00pm in the library. 

 

There was a motion to adjourn the meeting.

 

Motion: That the meeting be adjourned.

Moved, seconded, carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:49pm.

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

1. To put together a bursary policy for lunch hour programs.

(PAC Executive.)

 

2. To find volunteers for the hot lunch program.

(PAC.)

 

3. To suggest to the teachers the idea of amalgamating the school fees to one payment at the start of each term of the school year.

(PAC Executive.)

 

4. Make seismic web link available on the PAC web site to allow interested parents to participate in the letter writing campaign (PAC Executive.)

 

Attachments

Appendix 1 – January 2005 PAC Agenda.

 

 

 

                                                                                                        

ESTIMATED TIME (Min.)

 

1.               Introduction

Approval of Agenda and Minutes of November PAC meeting  s

 

2.               Chair’s Report (John M.)                                                                      5

 

3.               Principal’s Report (Val Coopersmith)                                                 5

 

4.               Teacher’s Report ( )                                                                              5

 

5.               Treasurer’s Report (Jean A.)                                                                5

 

6.               Fundraising (Heather K.)                                                                      5

 

7.               School Planning Council Report                                                         5           

 

8.               Upcoming Activities                                                                           10

 

9.               Adjournment – 8:00 p.m.