HANDSWORTHSECONDARY SCHOOL PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (HPAC)

HANDSWORTH SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (HSSA)

MINUTES

January 19TH, 2015

Present: Caroline Ramsay, Katy MacLellan, Kathy McGrenera, Elly Safari, Lori Wheeler + Sylvia Sanchez

Administration/Staff: Mark James + Justin Wong

Members in Attendance: Irfan Zafar, Duncan Dow, Alex Graham, Josee Martel, Patti Cross Bishop, Andrea Nelson Lee, Cathy Paterson, Dorli Duffy, Robert Penrose, Quinn Cashion, Andrea Thon, Shannon Elliott, Robin Woodbridge, Xiaodona Meng, Gloria Chao, Olga McBean, Richard Douney, Alan McCulloch, Saira Irfan, Judith Brain, Christina Duncan, Carol Parsalash, Marina Charmin-Woods, Lindsay Lal, Elena Fleming, Michael Fleming, Duncan McBean, Dianne Speranza, Andrea Campbell, Launi Kraus, Lili Molari, Rob Brandreth-Gibbs.

Welcome, Call to Order + Introductions: at 7:04 pm by Katy MacLellan

Approval of Agenda: Motion to Approve with the addition of the DPAC report by Sylvia Sanchez, seconded by Elly Safari, all in favour

Approval of Minutes from November 17TH 2014: Motion to Approve by Elly Safari, all in favour

Vice Principal’sRemarks – Justin Wong

Introduction + background. Ex Handsworth student, lives in the community, past job as VP @ Argyle Secondary School + social’s teacher.

DPAC Report – Elly Safari

At the January meeting a presentation was made by Carmen Farell and Wendy Holton from Social Emotional Empathy Development Society. Their topic was: "Friendship groups for everyone" and introducing "Club G". The focus of these groups is to integrate special needs kids in the social circles in the school through play and interaction. The groups have been successfully running at HighlandElementary school and have just started at LynnValley school as well.They can be reached at: .

Another presentation was by the management staff at ChekamusCenter(North VancouverOutdoorSchool). There have been many changes in the way it is being managed and they are opening their doors to many other schools and events. This will not replace the time and space allocation for the north shore schools. Many opportunities for grade 9-12 students to volunteer as counsellors- special training that they would offer to the volunteer counsellors. Handsworth students’ outcome in numbers in the program.

Principal’s Report – Mark James

Important upcoming events: planning + programming nights

Guest Speaker – Jesse Miller:

Meeting Adjourned: 8:45 pm

Next Meeting Monday, February 16TH– Handsworth Library

Employed Teens: What Parents Should Know

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