PanoramaHeights Parent Advisory Council

General Meeting Minutes. Monday 24th of November 2008

Chair: / Helen Rapin, Georgette van de Bovenkamp
Minutes: / StephanieChung, Editing: ArchanaNicholas


Attendance
PAC Executives
Helen Rapin /  / Georgette van de Bovenkamp /  / GayleHuffman / 
ArchanaNicholas /  / PanteaPezeshkfallah /  / TammyNelson
StephanieChung /  / SerenaShaughnessy /  / CarlaRosa-Smith
GillianLa Gambina /  / GingerNasser /  / Dawn Parkins
AnhHoang /  / Ban Leung /  / AmtulSiddiqui
PAC Members
MelissaHolt / CharmaineNickason /  / JulieKeeton / 
KatherineVanlerberg /  / MinaDifrakhsh /  / ClaudiaLopez / 
DeniseAffleck /  / HengamehDarowel /  / Grace Le / 
SheilaKorrani /  / TraceyYuruk / 
Principal / Vice Principal / Other Invited Guests:
Mr.BillCousineau /  / LisaRinke / 

1.Introductions

HelenRapin called the meeting to order at 7:41 pm.

This is a reminder for everyone to sign the attendance sheet please.

Everyone introduced themselves.

SerenaShaughnessywill be tonight’s timekeeper.

The next PAC General Meeting is on Monday, January 26th 2009 at 7:30pm.

Motion to approve minutes of Second General meeting held on Tuesday, 28thOctober, 2008. Moved by SerenaShaughnessy. Seconded by JulieKeeton. Carried.

The agenda and minutes are available on the school website:

2.Chair report – Georgette van de Bovenkamp & Helen Rapin

2.1.ESL Night

It was very well attended. Georgette van de Bovenkampexplained about the PAC to the parents. All parents are members. It went well, most people understood.

2.2.Updated Contact List

There is an updated Contact List on the back of the tonight’s agenda. It is also on the school’s website and on the school’s front foyer PAC bulletin board. It was posted up by Georgette, thank you.

2.3.Teacher Enrichment Fund

There was a letter sent out to the teachers telling them about the $10 per student of PAC funds available from the Teacher Enrichment Fund.The teachers can use it for curriculum based activities. The teachers apply by sending in a request, it gets brought to the PAC meetings, voted on as to whether we think it is a suitable curriculum based activity. If it gets approved, then they will get the money. The teachers have until March to submit their application. The amount that is allotted to the teachers is based on the number of students they had as of Sept 30th, 2008.

3.School Report: (Mr.Cousineau):

3.1.Staff Changes

Grade 2 (Div 6) Ms. Andruski will be absent for a prolonged period of time. Ms.Ballam has been appointed to replace Ms.Andruski through the first part of her absence. Other changes will occur in this classroom due to the pending maternity leave of Ms.Fisher.

3.2.Christmas Concerts

They are scheduled for Tuesday December 16th and Wednesday December 17th. A silent auction will be run by the PAC in the foyer prior to the concerts.

3.3.Ministry Initiatives

Some parents were wondering about all-day kindergarten happening this year. As of now, there has been no announcement by the government regarding this. Mr.Cousineau pointed out that there are some significant challenges to implementing all day Kindergarten to PanoramaHeightsSchool presently. Full-time kindergarten, even if implemented in the district, is only likely to be on a pilot basis in a few schools.

3.4.Great things happening:

  • Grade 5 volleyball program happening at lunch
  • Division 12 (French Emersion Grade 4) class at the aquarium this week.
  • Choir practicing for Christmas Concert and did a fabulous job as our Remembrance Day assembly
  • Hamper Drive being “run” and coordinated this year by our Challenge students and Ms.Rinke

3.5.Comfort Kits

Ms.Rinke showed to PAC the Comfort Kits purchased for all students and the carrying cart too. She acknowledged TammyNelson and GayleHuffman for their help.

3.6.Student Health Board

Ms.Rinke also told parents about the new and improved Student Health Board in our medical room. She acknowledged Ban Leung for his assistance on this board.

4.Ask the Principal/Vice Principal:

4.1.Ms.Rinke was asked what her position is about “Mindfulness”

She talked about “Social Responsibility” has been the cornerstone of her career.

It is a part of developing the whole child. There was a discussion about The Hawn Foundation program at Panorama. For more information, go to the Hawn Foundation website:

4.2.Odyssey of the Mind – Projects for Challenge or Gifted kids

5.Old Business:

5.1.Cancellation of Fun Bowling Night:

Due to very low ticket sales (only 8 ticket sold), unfortunately the Fun Bowling night had to be cancelled.

There were items donated and they will be used at the silent auction on the days and nights of the upcoming Christmas Concert.

We were able to get our $100 deposit refunded from the facility.

The gaming license $25 was not refundable.

5.2.Walking School Bus:

MelissaHolt is organizing it. It has been successful so far.A signup sheet was sent to all parents explaining the benefits including decreased traffic flow. More incentives for the participants may be following. The day may change. The class last month that had the most participants (Mrs.Fisher/Ms.Andruski) is buying chickens through UNICEF and donating them to children in Africa.

6.New Business:

6.1.Vacant Positions (Information in Contact List):

  1. As no one volunteered for the post of Class Rep Coordinator, during the September 29th PAC General Meeting, Mr.Cousineau informed that PAC might appoint someone at a later date. Tonight we are appointing Melissa Holt as Class Rep Coordinator, as she has been acting in that position, just not officially appointed. She couldn’t be here tonight.
  1. Motion to nominateCharmaineNickason as Canadian Parents for French (CPF)Coordinator. Nominated by GayleHuffman. Unanimously Carried.
  1. SPC – School Planning Committee

4 meetings a school year with the principal and vice-principal to discuss: school goals, school action plan, school organization plan, and budgetary meetings. How the district and school is run. Advisory role between PAC and School offering advice and learn a lot.

- CarlaRosa-Smithis currently the only SPC rep, we need 2 more.

Claudia Lopez and Julie Keeton volunteered to do it.

We discussed using a secret ballot, but due to time constraints we unanimously voted them in without using a secret ballot.

  1. No one volunteered to be the Student Enrichment Coordinator, so that position was left vacant. This is for running lunch hour programs, like running or chess club.

6.2.Formation of Committee to review the Constitution & Bylaws:

HelenRapinpassed around a signup sheet for those that may be interested in forming a committee to review the Constitution & Bylaws (C&B) and simplify it. It tells us how to run the meeting. A lawyer has volunteered to help.

We have a core executive of 5 positions and a lot of other positions. It has been difficult in the past to get a quorum (a certain percentage of people) to the meetings to be able to take a vote. The others could just be on a committee. A committee has been formed.

6.3.Funding Requests from Teachers:

  1. Mme.StewartMmeTetrault (French Grade 1) requested $10 per student from the teacher enrichment fund towards an Aquarium Workshop at the Vancouver Aquarium.

It would be on April 20, 2009. 40 total students going, requesting $400.

Motion to approve request for $400 funding from Mme.Stewart/Tetrault

SerenaShaughnessymade the motion, ClaudiaLopezSeconded. Carried.

  1. High Touch/High Tech Mrs.Robinson (Grade 4/5 English)

requested $180 from the teacher enrichment fund towards this Human Body in-class

Workshop. It would be on December 3, 2008. 30 students going, requesting $180.

Motion to approve request for $180 funding from Mrs.Robinson.

KatherineVanlerbergmade the motion, AnhHoangSeconded. Carried.

  1. Mme Beaver (Grade 3 French immersion) – wants to bring in a visiting artist, LindaArkelian. Requested$132 from the teacher enrichment fund.

It would be onNovember 28th. 22 students going, requesting $132

Motion to approve request for$132funding from Mme Beaver

GingerNassermade the motion, DawnParkinsSeconded. Carried.

6.4.PAC Christmas Party

Wednesday December 10th, 2008 at the Frogstone Grill. Anh Hoang toorganize, more details to follow. Start time 7 or 7:30pm. Posters will be put up in the school.

Any parent whether on the PAC executive or not, is open to come. It is a chance to meet new parents and have something to eat and/or drink. Each parent will pay for their own bill, no PAC funds will be used and this is not a fundraiser. Meet some new people and have fun.

7.Treasurer’s Report

GayleHuffman reported that the PAC has not spent much money this month.

Balance information as of November 24, 2008is as follows:

General account balance less outstanding cheques / $17,179.86
Gaming account balance less outstanding cheques / $ 11,349.19
Term deposit balance, maturing June 30th 2009 / $17,618.57
Combined value of all of the above / $ 46,147.62

A question was raised about the number of fundraisersas itseems excessive. It was explained that the donation request letterhas beensent out for the last3 yearsto try to get the funds we need without doing a lot of nickel & dime fundraising. However if we don’t make enough from the letter, we do have to do more fundraising to cover the amounts we havecommitted to in our budget.

Mr.Cousineau added that there were a lot of requests for money coming from the school and the PAC at the same time in a short period of time. Next year it will be spread out more.

8.Committee Reports:

8.1.SPC (School Planning Committee) – CarlaRosa-Smith– No report

8.2.DPAC-GingerNasser

DPAC has a new president, Heidi Gable

Ginger went to the Orientation and regular meeting in Sept and Oct.

Let Ginger know if you have any questions you want her to bring to the next DPAC meeting.

Next DPAC meeting is Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 7 pm. at WinslowCenter.

All parents are welcome.

8.3.Fundraising –AmtulSiddiqui (read by HelenRapin)

  1. Silent Auction on the days/nights of the Christmas Concert, Dec 16-17.

Items include: Hotel night stay, Grouse, Chocolates, Trolley around Downtown Vancouver, Gift Baskets, Spa Packages and many more. Tables will be set up, people will bid on items,and some things may have a minimum bid on them. The auction will close at the end of the second night of the concert or Friday morning. Write the person’s name phone # and bid on the list. Suggestions included opening the auction open 8:45 to 9:00am on the Friday morning to give everyone a final look and chance to bid. Volunteers required on the day of auction. Sign up sheet was passed around.

  1. Campbell Soup Label program – explained people bring in labels from cans of soup that they have purchased and eaten. Someone would count the number of labels, send them to the Campbell soup company and then based on the number of labels; the school could purchase items from a catalogue, like art supplies, gym supplies etc. However, no one is interested in taking this on. So we won’t do it as a school.
  1. Year End BBQ – We will sell tickets before the event to have at the school, to know how many hotdogs, hamburgers, water, juice, pop, desserts. Have guidelines to follow.

Suggested activities: Dunk Tank (with Mr.Cousineau) –purchase tickets for, BouncyCastle (free event for kids), 50/50 draw, silent auction. It will be a family event. 4-7pm, at the end of May. A volunteer sheet was passed around. Class reps could send out info.

  1. Mabel’s Labels – There was a mistake with the order forms not including taxes on them. The orders were sent back to those that purchased the labels and they had to pay the amount including tax.
  1. Movie Tickets – suggestion was made to be able to offer these at a discount.

8.4.Safety, Health & Emergency Preparedness – TammyNelson

We have new care kits, just need to purchase new carts.

MelissaHolt(Class Rep Coordinator) should ask the class reps to please put photos on the class’s emergency tag forms.

8.5.Traffic- AnhHoang

Wet weather is a problem. Directing traffic to turn right only is a problem. Mr.Cousineau sometimes directs people. Thank you to traffic duty volunteers.

8.6.PAC Communications – Dawn Parkins

Dawn Parkins requested that all submissions to the PAC newsletter need to be given to her by January 15, 2009 for the newsletter that will come out January 19, 2009. They can be emailed to Dawn, Georgette, or Helen. A reminder notice will be sent out.

8.7.Parent Ed- GillianLa Gambina

Saleema Noon came earlier this year and will be coming back to talk to the students.

A checklist could be sent out to parents to gather suggestion of what kinds of other parent education sessions parents are wanting.

8.8.Class Liaison – MelissaHolt - No report.

There may be classes that still need class reps.

8.9.Multicultural Liaison – Ban Leung

Mrs.Loss asked Ban Leung to help translatinga letter into Chinese a letterinvitingthe respective ESL parents to attend the ESL StudentNight.

  1. MsRinke referred a Korean speaking parent whowill be able to help translation into Korean language.
  1. We can have Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin)and Korean translation has to be pre-arranged) available. For Farsi, we have a few Farsi speaking members in the PAC. Someof them had offered to help on translation.

8.10.Hot Lunch – SerenaShaughnessy

  1. Status Report

Profit Statement - these numbers are accurate estimates but not definitive amounts.

Month / Received / Paid / Profit
Hot Lunch October / $1622 / $1107.70 / $514.30
Hot Lunch November / $1740 / $931.40 / $809.35

Hot Lunch October - Sushi and Teriyaki we don’t make as much profit on, but we don’t want to charge more than $5 for items.

Hot Lunch November - Taco’s were not received well, many complaints that the taco’s were too small and or soggy;Burritos had beans in it which the kids didn’t like. We will not order Taco’s from TacoDel Mar again.

  1. Lunch Lady, CentennialSecondary School & Kids Eat

Alternate suggestions that would be run by someone in the business and not by PAC.Lunch Ladyoffered fundraising as part of their package.All would be run as a purchase lunch option instead of the parents packing a lunch. The response from all in attendance was very lackluster if not opposed to exploring any of the 3 options.

  1. Replacement suggestions for Taco Del Mar

McDonald's with Sushi and Subway, Pizza and Hotdogs.Subway was triedlast year and it was decided not to do it again as they were mostly bread and not well received.TT was suggested by one parent. We need nutritional information to see if it met the guidelines. They would also have to be able to serve 450 students.Some children with allergies can eat McDonald’s food so it will continue to be an option along with another choice, like sushi.

  1. Moving Forward

We need someone new with “Food Safe” Certification to run the Hot Lunches next year.

8.11.CPF – Canadian Parents for French –CharmaineNickason

CPF puts out a newsletter. Panorama has the highest new French Kindergarten parent membership in the area into the CFP program.

They help French students. There are member discounts at Sophie’s bookstore. They give grants and bursaries to help for France trips. They have field trips. There are French classes for parents to help their kids. Maple Sugar Farm outing is planned. They gave out Remembrance Day pins. Meetings are on Monday nights.

8.12.SEC (Student Enrichment Coordinator) - No report, as this position is vacant.

8.13.Historical – PanteaPezeshkfallah

Pantea has lots of pictures, and has posted them on the school website and in the foyer walls.

9.Miscellaneous

People that signed up for the C&B, please communicate with each other to meet.

Thank you everyone for coming. Thank you to Pantea for bringing in the homemade Apple Pie.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:42pm.

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