Minutes of Garibaldi PAC Meeting – February 26th, 2014

Minutes of Garibaldi PAC Meeting – February 26th, 2014

Attendance:
Lorraine Baker
PAC Board (3)
General PAC Members (3) including 1 Home Learner Parent

1.     Update from our school VP;

• Gymnastics a huge hit with the kids, thanks to Lord Nelson for the loan of the mats
• Pink Day and trip to VSO a success
• Home Learners raised $127 for the SPCA from their cupcake sale  
• “Ready, Set, Learn” pre-school introduction spearheaded by Laura Moino, connects kids to Garibaldi community
• Literacy Event was really positive, but not well-attended. Lorraine would like to invite her back, perhaps for an evening session
• District/ministry-wide updates:

• new piece of curriculum mandated to be in place next year, regarding food and sale of food in schools (Lisa will research website to find out what this entails, re: food safety and implications)
• Curriculum changes – move away from ‘content’ to ‘concepts’ – lends itself to more project-based learning

Questions

• Question about kindergarten registration – approx. 15-16 registered, taking crossboundary applications for waitlist

2.     Committee Update

Movie Night Committee:

• Dance instead of movie in February
• Raised $261.85
• Great time for everyone. HUGE thanks to Wade, Joanna and everyone who helped out for making it a success.

Garden Committee:

• Manure sale March 8th
• Garden signs will be coordinated with the tree planting – to be announced when the ground warms up.
• Hanging basket sale – notice and flyers will be distributed (Canceled)

Fundraising

• Selected for $2500 Hastings Track fundraiser grant along with Hastings Elementary. Thanks Julie for applying. Details to be sorted out. Julie will update us with more information as it becomes available
• Fundraising committee will help brainstorm ideas of how to raise additional money at the event
• Hot lunch coming March 6th! (Hopefully will host 2 or 3 more by the end of the year)

3.     Financial Update and Budget

• Updates: PAC - Savings $4414.87; Gaming - $1484.86
• Cameras purchased - $650 spent for 9 cameras ($709.33 with tax)
• Both accounts charged monthly fee of $3.75 on Feb. 3rd.
• $25 taken out of petty cash for PAC meeting babysitter
• No other issues to be approved.

4.     New Business/ PAC Activities

Question about time allowed for kids to eat lunch. How does it work?

• Lorraine Baker – children allowed to eat outside when weather permits (eg. Early Fall/Spring)
• K/1’s get 30 minutes to eat. Other grades get 25 minutes to eat. Usually kids are outside by 12:30. Kids who haven’t finished our encouraged to sit on the benches to finish
• Lorraine will give an update in the newsletter so parents know how to encourage their kids to eat on the bench if they are having a challenge eating their lunches during the allotted time.

Home Learner Update – Eventful couple of weeks. Joanna and Lilia really appreciated the support from parents. Home Learners parents and children expressed mixed feelings about the move.

• Joanna raised the concern that since the Home Learners saved Garibaldi, this might impact Garibaldi’s future. But Joanna heard from the VSB representative Scott Robinson that this is not on the agenda and he has had no discussions on closing Garibaldi.
• Decision from Home Learner parents: “Let’s just do what’s best for everyone”

Class photos – When should class photos be taken? Can they be taken with the individual photos at the beginning of the year? Need to follow-up so we can have someone come back in September when we are booking photographers for this year.

5.     Next PAC meeting

April 9th, 2014 at 6pm