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WINDERMERE PAC MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 7:04 pm, Windermere staffroom
PRESENT:Tony BarucciChairman
Dana CollinsSecretary
Evalyn MatteiTreasurer
Maggie PrzyborowskaTeacherRepresentative
Rick MesichPrincipal
Student Council Representatives
Parent Community
- Welcome, Chairman’s Report and Interim Election–Tony Barucci
Welcome by Tony Barucci, thanks for coming.
The Gaming funds have now been received. We need to strike a committee to allocate those funds, as per the teachers’ “Wish List”, to meet with Mr. Mesich and Maria Johnston (school accountant). Parent volunteers: Tony, Dana, Evalyn, Grace Barucci, Bo Inthapanya, Lennea Pacilla.
A bit of new business - our Treasurer, Monica Calderwood, has a timing conflict with our meetings, they conflict with her Girl Guides meetings, so we are in need of a new treasurer. Evalyn Mattei has agreed to take on that job for us and she has years of experience doing same at the elementary school level. Grace Barucci made a motion that Evalyn Mattei be nominated for Treasurer, which motion was seconded by Bo Inthapanya and the motion was passed unanimously.
- Treasurer’s Report
Evalyn reported that there was $24,960 in the Gaming account and $10,352.14 in the General account. The funds in the General account have been largely allocated.
- Agenda and Minutes of Last Meeting
It was moved by Grace Barucci and seconded byBo Inthapanya that the Agenda of this meeting be approved. It was moved by Grace Barucci and seconded by Bo Inthapanya that the Minutes of the last PAC meeting in Novemberbe approved and they were unanimously passed.
- Student Council
There were no Student Council members present at the meeting. Maggie P. says the dance is on for December 11th. If any more parents want to volunteer as chaperones, please let us know. Some parent questions re: dance.
- Principal’s Report – Rick Mesich
-Ongoing communications – have parents been receiving the School Bulletins every day by email? Some parents say not. If you haven’t been getting them, please call the school office and give them your email address
-December Newsletter: will send electronically and will have some paper copies in the office
-Parent/Teacher Conferences – some parent questions re: scheduling; is the appointment schedule on the website easy to use? Parents say yes
-New website – we are very close to getting it live; will have a link on the old website to the new one; we are moving forward to improve communication
-November 22 was the Climate Change conference – 200 students from all over the lower mainland attended; keynote speaker was Andrew Weaver, the MLA for Oak Bay; other speakers were alumni Tessica Truong and Neelam Khare; workshops on a number of environmental issues
-Sports : Bantam Girls’ Volleyball are City Champs; Boys’ Basketball - Gladstone tournament
-Maggie P. has had her poem “I Teach Math” published in the BCAMT publication called Vector, Summer 2013, we’re all very proud of her
-Maria La Rose, a journalist (& Dalai Lama Centre) spoke to Grade 11 and 12 students about life after high school – “Generation Jobless” – skills students need to develop, collaboration, teamwork and critical thinking; it has been suggested that starting next year all Grade 11 and 12 students should take Career Prep as mandatory; talked about some post-secondary schools that guarantee after-school employment (prairies)
-“Youth 4 Tap” – we are in the semi-finals to win $50,000 for the school to install Water Fill Stations in Windermere and some associate elementary schools; voting closes December 11th and we need to be in the top 10 to win a prize; link sent out to families via email; a parent hasn’t been receiving emails – Rick will check
-November 6th was Take Your Kids to Work Day – 75% of our Grade 9 population participated
-Two festivals at Killarney and McGee for Windermere Choir
-“Music of the World” – the band teacher, Mr. Natola, played on November 14th and raised $700 for the Band program – really good turnout: 200-250 people
-Free the Children Club – canned food drive – over 300 items given to the Food Bank
-Athena and Leadership students led Parent Information Night – did awesome job; students are our best promoters
-Report Cards will be out on Monday, December 9th
-Parent/Teacher Conferences are from 6:00 – 8:00 on December 12th; online scheduling; 7 minute meetings; we will be using as a showcase with students’ work displayed
-Grad Breakfast on December 5th
-Winter Concert – evening of December 5th
-Winter dance on December 11th
-Post-Secondary Night on December 17th - Ms. Tam’s Business Innovation classes are organizing a post-secondary night where Windermere alumni will discuss their accomplishments after high school; open to all grades - we are also inviting Grade 6 and 7 students and parents from our associate elementary schools to attend
-Department Head Retreat on December 17th – all Department Heads will meet all morning to discuss:
(1)Programs/structures that already exist
(2)Improving student success and new structures/strategies; and
(3)Future vision for Windermere
-Aboriginal Students’Parent Information Night on December 18th; will discuss Mural Project; reflect on services for aboriginal students at Windermere
-School Planning Council – let Rick know if you want to join
- Teacher Representative – Maggie Przyborowska
-Monday nights is open volleyball in the gym from 7:00 – 9:00, supervised by Ms. Tam
-December 12th – Business Dept. magazine will be available
-Sylvia Tam has organized “High School and Beyond” forum on December 17th from 6:30– 8:30; event open to Grades 7 - 12
-The English Dept. logo is being chosen by students; impression should be ready for Parent/Teacher conference night; deadline to submit is this week
-New course for next year – Ms. Enthoven will be teaching Theatre Criticism 11
-Edge Project at the Roundhouse on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week
-Math Dept. – new course: semestered combination of Pre-Calculus 12 and Calculus 12; students will have math every day
-You will have noticed Mr. Lawrence’s students “stained glass” artwork across the front doors of the school
-Reach for the Top team will be playing Burnaby North
-Grad Breakfast on Thursday
-Winter Concert on Thursday – there will be staff participation
- Rick Mesich
-Parent question re: class times? – school calendar
-During the last two weeks of June the Ministry wants students structured into school time, not just coming in for exams and leaving – that structured attendance will be optional according to parents’ wishes
-Don’t have a final answer on that yet
- Tony Barucci
Tony issued an open invitation for Rick to pass on for Alison Ogden, Vice-Principal, to attend any future PAC meeting, as we have not met her yet. The Gaming Allocation Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 17th at 4:30 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Next meeting will be Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.