KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE - A FREE PARENT INFO SESSION FOR PARENTS

In partnership with the Burnaby RCMP and Burnaby DPAC, the District is hosting a free info-sesson for parents, "Keeping Your Kids Safe from Bullying, Harassment & Intimidation."

The session will take place on Wednesday, February 29, 7 pm at Burnaby Central Secondary and will include presentations by Burnaby School District's Youth Services Manager, a district counsellor, and the Burnaby RCMP. There will be limited seating so please RSVP to 604-664-8338 or communications@sd41.bc.ca with number of guests and the school your child attends.


Burnaby School District

PAC meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6, 2012

Hello Parents and Guardians,


Further to the notice in the newsletter, this is to confirm the meeting our next PAC meeting. We look forward to your attendance.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the school library and babysitting will be available.

The following is the draft agenda and we welcome your additions, ideas and input!

Welcome & Introductions
Reports:

1. Principal’s Update

2. Head Teacher’s Update

3. Financial/Treasurer’s Report

Business:

1. Approval of December minutes

2. Outstanding volunteer roles

3. Lunch Program update

4. Movie night

5. Educational Workshop

6. Photo Night

7. Other

Chaffey-Burke Elementary School PAC Meeting Minutes of Monday, December 5, 2011

Roundtable/Introductions: Ranjit Bharaj, PAC Chair

The PAC Executive meeting was opened by Ranjit at 7:05PM. Staff Michael Nielsen and Claudio Bortolussi and 9 parents (Victoria Su, Vaishali Barve, Mary MacKillop, Ranjit Bharaj, Elaine Dun, Jean Wong, Diane Yip, Antonella Sanders and Wendy Yu) were in attendance.

Principal’s report – Claudio Bortolussi

School population is 554

Last day of school is December 16 (full day), and the school reopens on January 3 (Tuesday)

On Tuesday, December 13th the primary grades are having an afternoon Christmas activity, with the Grade 5/6 choir and band

The school webpage is being more update with more information

Claudio was able to find a translator from Moscrop. Postings for parents like resources on facebook use and reading with children make the webpage more interactive

For future correspondence the school will use the school based listserv, Claudio will arrange for Sunny to have access for our PAC materials as well

On January 19th, there is a parent information session at Moscrop for grade 7 students

Elaine asked if teachers are still doing field trips; and if not, why are we allocating money to field trips in the budget?

Claudio and Michael advised that field trips are still happening, within the confines of the current job action (ie during school hours)

Elaine asked who is currently collecting donation cheques for the school?

Claudio advised that teachers are collecting, and that there is a drop box at the office. Ranjit will collect and prepare a spreadsheet of the amounts received.



Head Teacher Report – Michael Nielsen

Cup stacking competition went well

Volleyball wrapped up with students versus teachers game.

Wednesday is Santa hats and antlers day. Claudio will be dressing up as Santa.



Treasurer’s Report – Ranjit Bharaj

Nothing major to report, small revenues to date of vending and recycling

Elaine advises that $250 donation from Coast Capital will not be coming, to remove from budget

Elaine noted that we had allocated money in the budget for ‘school cultural event’, and she asked what would an example of a cultural event be?

Claudio responded that cultural events would encompass dancers , drummers, and other performers who visit the school. PAC has sponsored these events in the past



DPAC Report

Given that we have no current representatives, Mary recommended that we will simply circulate the minutes from the DPAC website on our school blog, rather than have an individual attend each meeting. This is an interim suggestion until we have someone volunteer for the currently vacant DPAC role.



PAC Reports



MOTION: To approve the October 2011 minutes as presented.

Moved: Elaine Dun, Seconded: Jean Wong CARRIED



Ranjit advised that there were some errors made on the November budget minutes in the number of projectors and laptops.



MOTION: To approve the November 2011 minutes as amended.

Moved: Antonella Sanders, Seconded: Mary MacKillop CARRIED



Claudio said 9 wifi access points will be activated in school public spaces this year (ie library, resource rooms, etc.)

Elaine asked if students in the portables would be able to access the wifi.

Claudio replied that “no”, kids in portables would not be able to access wifi until all 18 proposed access points are activated.

The school currently uses 2 portables, both of which we will keep for at least the next couple years.

Milk and juice program has been able to recruit more volunteers.



Lunch Program Update - Mary MacKillop and Diane Yip

We have been using our current vendor New York Foods 3 months so far

We have received feedback primarily in 2 areas: price point and logistics

New York Foods has been completely full service: forms collection, counting, delivery, etc.

A different vendor will only work if we can have people take on some of the service benefits that New York Foods offers. But realistically, we may not be able to recruit volunteers to help.

Mary added that we have more students participating in hot lunch now than we used to.

Diane reported that the last lunch service was completed in 15 minutes.

Claudio added that calling 1 division at a time for food distribution made the process faster.

Diane said that during the initial hot lunches, it took a long time to get kids on stage and to pick up their food. It took 10 minutes to work on getting food to the kindegarteners. Now other kids can go through quicker, though it does depend on what is being served. Foods served in a bag are much faster. There are only 1 or 2 lunch options not bagged. New York Foods looks after missing lunches, and takes care of delivering food, while parent volunteers help with putting food out and cleaning up afterwards. Furthermore, the vendor offers fruit and veggies - healthier options.

If we do continue, New York Foods has offed 12 more lunch dates – a $3,400 profit. We have made $1,700 so far with the 6 hot lunches to date.

Ranjit asked: Shall we continue with New York foods for balance of year? Diane Yip has volunteered to help on those days.



MOTION: That we continue to use New York Foods as our hot lunch provider for the balance of the school year.

Moved: Mary MacKillop, Seconded: Elaine Dun CARRIED



Hot Dog Day

Elaine and Jean will look at a day in January for a hot dog day on a Friday.



Movie night

470 is maximum capacity in gym. For fire safety reasons, we may need to do 2 shows to accommodate attendance.

Claudio will confirm dates when the gym is available for use (Loretta has the gym schedule). Once Claudio provides a few dates in June, Mary will check with Kevin for equipment availability for an outdoor movie event.

Ranjit will follow up with another company on an indoor movie event before June.



Educational Workshops

Mary will provide more information for our next PAC meeting.



Photo Night

A spring date would be ideal; maybe end of April or early May. Mary will follow up with Chris from Westcoast Photos for available dates.



Other – Funding Request

This year the Grade 7 class has only 60 students and thus are short for funds. Jean says each student has been asked to give $30 towards the cost of a yearbook. The Grade 7 class does not plan on doing fundraising, though they are considering a hot dog day or two. The grad committee predicts a shortfall of $100 - $200, and would like to ask for assistance from PAC.

While PAC doesn't normally give to leaving ceremonies, we have $550 left over from last year’s grade 7 class. Therefore, PAC is willing to donate to the grade 7 grad committee from overage last year.


MOTION: That any shortfall, to a max of $200, be taken from the overage from last year's grade 7 grad.

Moved: Mary MacKillop, Seconded: Elaine Dun CARRIED


Other – Ideas to Help Build School Community

Ranjit asked what we would like to see our PAC doing? Educational workshops and movie nights are good events to build school spirit. Events do not necessarily need to generate money. Perhaps PAC can host a social? Coffee and cookies or a meet and greet?

Elaine added that the school has, in past, visited seniors and sung to them during the holiday season. Elaine suggested that that might be worth considering next year after the job action. Plus, it’s a nice way to get parents involved. We might look at maybe doing 2 nights (1 for primary, 1 for intermediate).

Claudio suggested that a trivia night at the school might be worth considering.

Ranjit also added that the Mandarin chit chat sessions bring in the community. If anyone has any other ideas for bringing community together, please bring it up.

MOTION to Adjourn.

Moved: Jean Wong, Seconded: Elaine Dun CARRIED

Meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm