Free workshop on smart watering and composting

We will be hosting a watering and composting workshop on July 2th 2014, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at  2603 Adanac St, Vancouver.

What can you expect during the workshop?

    Catherine, the City of Vancouver’s expert garden consultant, will spend about an hour and a half with us in the garden looking for ways to use water efficiently to grow healthy lawns and plants.  Together we’ll take a “hands on” look at our plants’ health, lawn structure and examine the soil.
    Catherine will provide tips on how to improve your lawn, what types of plant to select for different areas of your garden, how to water to have the maximum impact with the least wastage, and how to trouble shoot your compost.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by e-mail to jana.ronne@gmail.com or by texting to 778-991-9180.

Hope to see you soon!

Jana

VSB letter regarding labour disruption

June 23, 2014

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with an update on some of the matters that may be of concern to you as a result of the current labour disruption.

As you are aware, the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) have reached an impasse with regard to negotiating a new contract and, as a result, on June 17, 2014 the BCTF escalated to a full-scale strike. Unfortunately, it appears that the two parties are not making progress and the possibility of schools reconvening before the end of the school year seems very unlikely.

Report Cards

Grades K-7

The strike action will not allow for the completion and distribution of report cards for students in grades K through 7. The information that we need in order to produce report cards is not available due to the strike and therefore, we are not able to produce an accurate statement of your child’s progress. Unless you have been notified otherwise, your child will progress to the next grade and no report card will be issued.

Grades 8-9

The strike action will not allow for the production of complete report cards for students in grades 8 and 9. The information that we need in order to produce report cards is not available due to the strike. We are unable to determine an accurate final grade and will therefore assign a grade of “No Mark” (NM) for grade 8 and 9 courses. The report cards will not include comments or a description of work habits.

Grades 10, 11 and 12

The Labour Relations Board has ruled that final marks for students in grades 10, 11 and 12 will be submitted by teachers. However, the strike action will not allow for the production of complete report cards for students in grades 10, 11 and 12. Students in these grades will receive report cards, which will include final course marks. However, the report cards will not include comments or a description of work habits.

Summer School

At this date, the district does not have information from the BCTF about plans to continue the strike with picket lines through the summer. We recognize that this uncertainty is difficult for everyone. We will make a decision regarding the operation of summer school later this week and further information will be posted on the district website: http://www.vsb.bc.ca

Year End Routines

We are planning to distribute secondary report cards by the end of next week. Individual schools will make arrangements for students to pick up yearbooks/other belongings and drop off textbooks /library books later next week. Your school will provide more information about this.

Communications

Parents are encouraged to review information posted on the following websites:

BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA): http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/

BC School Trustees’ Association (BCSTA): http://www.bcsta.org/

BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF): http://www.bctf.ca

Vancouver Teachers’ Federation - local (VTF): http://vesta.ca, http://vsta.ca

Ministry of Education: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/education/

Vancouver School District: http://www.vsb.bc.ca

If you have specific questions about school-related matters during the labour disruption, please contact your school principal directly.

I am sorry that I do not have more positive news for you. I am proud of the hard work and support provided by all staff in this complex school district. It is my hope that the labour dispute is resolved at the bargaining table and that our school district can soon return to normal operations.

Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.

Sincerely,
Dr. Steve Cardwell
Superintendent of Schools
c. Vancouver Board of Education.

Still looking for help with watering in during weeks Aug 11-17 and Aug 25-31

Thanks to all who agreed to help!

For all other weeks we have found 2 families each, so you can back each other up (I will be sending the tentative schedule + contatcts to those who signed up).

I am still looking for 2 families for Aug 25-31 and 1 family for Aug 11-17.

Please e-mail jana.ronne@gmail.com, if you can help.

Wood chip work party postponed to Wednesday, June 25

We will meet between 10 and 12.
Please, bring wheelbarrows. The more wheelbarrow we have, the faster it will be done!

Let's make Mr. Scott happy and move the wood chips in between the garden beds:) If you can and want to, you can come in a do a bit before next Wednesday. I might pop in this Sunday around 2pm for a bit.

See you at the BBQ!

Jana

PAC BBQ this Wednesday

The annual PAC BBQ is going ahead on Wednesday June 18 at Clinton Park - 4:30-7:30. 

All are welcome - students, staff, families, friends.  Please bring a side dish,dessert or drink to share as well as your own plates, cups, utensils and blankets. PAC will provide buns (gluten free option) and sausages. 

Daycamps at Hastings C.C. for end of June

Registration for the day camp at Hastings Community Centre for next week is now open.  Pools, water parks, bouncy castle fun, bowling - detailed calendar available at HCC, 3096 East Hastings Street.  Phone:  604.718.6222 ext. 2

DETAILS

Ages: 6-12

Week 1: June 16 to June 20, 9am to 3pm – 26003.201HS
Week 2: June 23 to June 27, 9am to 3pm – 26003.202HS

Where: Meets in Arts and Crafts Room

Costs: $100/5 days

REGISTER IN-PERSON ONLY – due to the nature of the camp’s start date, we will require everyone to come in to register to fill out a waiver. Please advise parent/guardian to have child’s BC Card Card.

The leader is Fondie Cheng.

Eric Yu
Community Youth Worker
Hastings Community Centre
604-718-6231

Helpers needed to wheelbarrow woodchips into the school garden

We need to move the pile of wood chips in between the garden beds to suppress the grass and weeds for easier maintenance in the future.
The weather is not likely to cooperate this weekend, so we are planning on meeting on Wednesday, June 18,  from 10 am till noon. If you have a wheelbarrow and a large (snow)shovel, please bring it along to speed up the process.
Your help is really appreciated! The kids really enjoy these kind of jobs:), so bring them along!

Fun Fair

Hi friends!

Our little church community is having a funfair this coming Saturday to raise money for our low income families to go to camp this summer. You can see (and hopefully share:) the attached poster.

10am - 4pm in the parking lot and front lawn of the Salvation Army building (the brick building on 1st Ave next to the Royal Bank parking lot)

We will have:

- a bouncy castle

- face painting

- balloon hats

- mega cyclone ball

- indoor play area for babies and toddlers

- hot dogs

- lemonade

- cotton candy

- games and prizes

lots of fun for everyone!

Also our community has been given our notice by the Salvation Army and we are looking for somewhere to meet. Ideally it would have office space and classrooms too, and have room for a Sunday morning gathering but we're flexible. if you have any ideas or leads, please email me off list.

Thanks and hope to see you Saturday!

Joanna

Mama to Sophia, Eleanor and Pax

Volunteers needed for summer garden watering

Volunteers needed for summer garden watering

Do your kids love spraying water? We have a job for them and for you!

Our fabulous school garden cannot thrive without water on hot summer days, so we are hoping to find enough volunteers to share in the fun of drenching the garden and keeping it lush:) We will show you how to set up our two sprinklers, so you can play while the garden is getting its drink.

Besides all that fun, you will get a first-hand chance to harvest whatever you need and will be available at the time.

Anyone in the community is welcome to harvest from our garden during the summer - let all know!

If you can help out, please open the form below and mark all the weeks you will be available to help. We will assign you one of them. If there are enough volunteers, we will pair you up, so you can help each other out, if life gets in your way of watering.

*****Summer availability for watering*****

You will be given an access code to the shed and shown all the know-how at a time that works for you.

We are eternally grateful for your help!