The Social Media Generation- a presentation for parents

Garibaldi PAC BBQ Friday June 21st

Please join the Garibaldi PAC in celebrating another successful year of education and community building at the PAC end-of-year BBQ on Friday June 21st.
The gathering will start around 5pm with dinner starting at 6pm.
Further details will be posted in the coming weeks.

Garibaldi Selected for BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program

Dear Principal of Garibaldi Annex Elementary:  May 2013                                

Congratulations and Welcome to the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program!

We are pleased to advise that your application has been accepted and your school will start receiving fresh BC fruits and vegetables as of September 2013!

There will be a more detailed e-mail sent before the end of June that will describe in greater detail the things that you will need to do to ensure successful implementation of the BC SFVNP in your school. 

We look forward to working with you to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to your school, as part of the provincial government’s Healthy Families initiative designed to improve the health of BC’s children and families. 

Sincerely,

Laura McKenzie

Program Coordinator: School Liaison & Communications

BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation
Abbotsford Office 1.604.854-6064
BC Toll Free FAX: 1.877.825-6068

BC Toll Free Phone: 1.866.517-6225

www.aitc.ca/bc

                                                                                                 

http://www.sfvnp.ca/for-parents.php

Summer Kids Program Guide 2013

Looking for a summer activity for the kids?
PDF Link
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1cxJpKUH3BNWDEtYjN1cHpPS00/edit?usp=sharing

Random acts of weeding are greatly appreciated!

With the warm weather and nice rains, the weeds (as well as our trees and our wanted plants:) are doing really well!
So if you are enjoying the company of other parents, while the children are playing after drop off or pick up, feel free to simultaneously pull out some dandelions or grass from the garden beds. Just put the weeds into the composter, so they do not become eye sores to the neighbours.
If you desire the help of a tool, there is a trowel hidden behind the tool shed underneath a plank of wood:)


Thanks to all spontaneous weeders!!!

The Future of Nanaimo Street

The Future of Nanaimo Street

The City of Vancouver is in progress of completing a Grandview Woodlands Community Plan and is looking for input from residents for the future of Nanaimo Street from Grandview to the Burrard Inlet.

If you can, please fill out the questionnaire linked below before May 22nd.

 http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/grandview-woodland-community-plan.aspx

Minutes of Garibaldi PAC Meeting - May 2013

Garibaldi PAC Meeting - May 2013

Parents Attending: Lisa, Joel, Angela, Jocelyn, Julie
Teachers/Admin attending: Lorraine Baker, Shannon Hobson

1. Motion to adopt Minutes from April PAC meeting and April Agenda – Angela (Seconded by Joel)

2. VP Update (Lorraine Baker):

• Ready Set Learn event last month – 7 families attended; this in combination with Welcome to K is a great way to introduce kids to the school environment. Thanks to Ms. Uzelac for doing much of the work for these events
• Dental Screening – pre- check in Kindergarten; screening reports sent home if there are concerns.
• Class Photos – done last month; panorama postponed to later date; better weather
• Big One at 2:00 – Earthquake Drill; trained radio operator; communications check; various scenarios given out; Garibaldi was simply – no structural damage/ all accounted for; kids got out as fast as possible and were quiet.
• Distributed Learning Audit – Lorraine compensated for her time spent on this; 3 days of sub time was then given to the teachers providing extra prep blocks for teachers
• Pro D day is coming up on Friday
• McQuinna – Blues Berry performance going ahead in June
• Sports/fun day - June 7th
• BBQ and appreciation Tea to be held separately this year – June 13th? In the morning
• Audit moving ahead
• Opera is in preparation – Mr. Delong
• Home learning exploring having their own PAC – done previously and meshed will with regular PAC; Joel noted that there are limited resources and having two organizations is less efficient-- HL could have their own subcommittee as an alternative;Shannon – indicated that in the past it worked well to have meetings on same day.
• Staffing has taken place – Garibaldi slated for 3 teachers; One teacher to be surplused
• ESL # is up slightly
• Distribution of Ms. Baker’s time changing from 60/40 % Resource teacher/Admin to 70/30 % for next year.
• VLNE relocated to John Oliver
• Drive to expand HL program by VSB

3. Joel – Cross Boundary discussion

• In touch with various VSB contacts including Ken Clement and Scott Robinson
• VSB enforcing “old” law more stringently with regard to x-boundary registrations
• Doing this to fill up classes and reduce number of teachers to save money
• Not specific to Garibaldi although impact here is greater
• Extra teachers have been given out but mostly to inner city schools where need is greatest
• Garibaldi boundaries don’t make sense – placed on edge of Lord Nelson catchment Previously did not enforce the x-boundary rules so the catchment boundaries were not as critical
• Need to fix boundary but this would take a minimum of 6 months
• One way to approach it is to create new catchment boundaries for all annexes that are more similar to those for French Immersion (i.e. larger areas overlapping several other boundaries)
• Need to approach other Annexes that may be having similar issues.
• Politically more likely to be taken up as a case if it is not just one school
• Another issue is VSB not allowing siblings to register – odd considering French immersion and other programs guarantee kids access to same school as sibs.
• If room – on wait list – then sibs and childcare take president.
• Currently Garibaldi not allowed any x-boundary.
• Uncertain how big the wait list is.

Iraj (DPAC) – spoke to the idea that taking this issue to Shane Simpson MLA is a good idea

• As well, offered to take this issue up at a VSB trustee meeting - he can help get us on the agenda via DPAC or otherwise
• Iraj spoke to the idea that it is not Parent’s job to fundraise
• Our job is to be parents; not to raise money
• Parents constantly absorb the loses
• More closure days next year – 14 days instead of 10
• Asked for signatures to petition the Ministry of Education to invest in education for the future
• Gave Garibaldi a DPAC banner
• May 15th – DPAC BBQ to celebrate PAC accomplishment and learn what other PAC’s are doing.

4. Committees
Garden (Julie):

• Kids garden club going on Friday’s lunch.
• Garden is doing well
• Cherry tree was replaced
• Garden plots of each class are being developed

Sustainability – Bike Swap (Jocelyn)

• Went very well
• Lots of kids participating
• Would be a good event to do again next year
• Decorating and games a big hit
• Not sure how many bikes were exchanged.
• Great weather

T- Shirts (Kerry)

• Kerry spear-heading new design
• Kerry not here to provide update

Movie

• Will go again this month
• Not sure of date

Budget

• Chequing account (gaming): $1477.06
• PAC account: $4577.80
• Yet to come out of account: $150 for Blues Berries
• DPAC account and PAC account need to updated with info from Rita.
• Field trip to aquarium will take place; Possible that PAC would consider subsidizing part of the cost. Didn’t have time for a full discussion of what might be possible/necessary. The trip is currently going to be a cost to parents for each child.

Angela made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Joel

Next meeting: 2nd Wednesday of June

Minutes Garibaldi PAC Meeting - April, 2013

Garibaldi PAC Meeting - April, 2013

Parents Attending: Sandra, Brenda, Joel, Carol, Angela, Jocelyn, Julie, Jana
Teachers/Admin attending: Lorraine Baker, Shannon Hobson, Ian Delong

1. Motion to adopt Minutes from March PAC meeting and April Agenda - Jocelyn (Seconded by Sandra)

2. Opera, May 30th performance - Ian Delong
environmental theme, similar to last year's performance of The Lorax
co-written by all divisions. Div 1-4 kids working on it in music class; Home learners working on their portion with their teacher and amalgamating into the whole.
Main roles limited to grades 3 and 4, assigned based on interest and comfort level.
Orchestra will be made up of grades 3 and 4.
Mr. Delong is requesting parents to volunteer. Will send a group email to interested parents to schedule a meeting and assign responsibilities.
Sandra recalled last year's popcorn fundraiser and donations at the door for The Lorax last year being successful.
K, 1 and 2 are forming the chorus
Discussion around amount of money needed: ~$150
Donations were taken at the door

3. VP Update (Lorraine Baker):
back after Spring Break
Length of break  - some back and forth in the media; some love it; some find it difficult to find child care
Preliminary budget from the VSB is out; anyone who would like to see it or have more info can contact Ms. Baker
Projections are not great – 7.8 million shortfall
Ready, Set, Learn – taking place tomorrow; parents and toddlers invited to come to the school to get more familiar; visit to the Kindergarten; Nadine Uzelac key and making this event go forward.
Performance – “Clean Up Your Act” – coming to Garibaldi in conjunction with Earth week
April 19th – Pro D day – kids out of school- there will be an invite going out for parents to participate in this day which is a goal setting exercise for the teachers and the school; one of the goals has been delivered by VSB/Province toward First Nations as part of the curriculum
Provincial Audit – Vancouver and Nanaimo selected
Performance at Begbie School – pick up at Begbie or kids returning late to Garibaldi; notices will be sent home
Question was asked about why last year a teacher was generally present at all PAC meetings but this has not been the case this year; Teachers are invited and welcome to attend but it is entirely voluntary.
Teachers more apt to attend during the job action last year.
With a small staff – harder to get ongoing participation
Staffing and numbers – will come out at end of month; currently enrolment about 70 children; need 73 minimum to keep all of our teachers. Currently no cross boundary enrolment being allowed as per our last PAC discussion

4. Committees

Garden (Sandra):
Manure sale raised $1835
This money is going to general PAC funds
No additional funds to garden other than that approved last meeting for some signage for the garden
Baskets – not going forward but can buy through Tillicum and support them
Garden Club starting – Jana and Sandra – noon hours every other Friday.
Seeds provided by Ms. Baker
This month kids planting seedlings
Will develop edible play garden
Each teacher will have a bed – coordinate with teachers; have it so bed moves along with kids

Sustainability – Bike Swap (Jocelyn)
1 day afterschool
Likely April 30th (Tuesday), Now May 7th.
Asking for working bikes or those that require only minor repair
1 day only
Jocelyn working on a place to take unwanted bikes – possibly Ride-on-Bikes – good organization that uses bikes to give back to those without etc.
Bike Rally at same time – obstacle course; longest skid; Bike decorating; Joel asking for help to set it up or ideas of what to do.
The idea of letting the VSB know and inviting Gregr Robertson to attend was brought up

Bike Rodeo (Jana)
New grant
PAC to apply
Looking to find out what interest level there is among teachers
Ms. Baker talked about inviting friends who have developed bike power projects that can power iPods etc. to attend or for an event next year.

T- Shirts (Kerry)
Kerry spear-heading new design
Something that kids and parents think is cool to wear
Kerry not here to provide update

Fundraising
No coordinators in attendance
Angela talked with Denise regarding the idea of a carnival in September that would need to be organized before year end in lieu of the Soiree which may have run its course
Weather dependent
Check with other schools to see how successful as fund raiser

Budget
Chequing account (gaming): $1879.81
PAC account: $5006.03

Yet to come out of account: $425 Microscope
$105 goggles
$120 hockey sticks

Discussion around some money $150 for possible performance Blues Berries if it is on a day that Garibaldi students can attend (Joel referred this to new business)

April 23 performance $350

Also a DPAC account that we didn’t realize had money in it. Need to confirm amount
Rita – indicated about $700-$900

A motion was made by Jocelyn; Seconded by Angela to approve the following expenditures:
$150 – for additional performance if it goes ahead
$300 – for the Opera

Other items that were identified as potential purchased for the school that should be considered include:
$3000 smart board
$1000 bike rack
New laminator since old one may or may not be able to be fixed.

Discussion around the idea that smart board would also require money to install; not considered best use of money
Laminator extends life of library books etc. new would mean you know it will work at least for some time.

Movie
Next Movie night with Pizza April 24

Sandra brought up that she has connection to Olympian Brent Hayden – who does motivational speaking to school

Jocelyn made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Angela
Next meeting: May 8th

Bike Swap Tuesday May 7th