In Attendance: Dirk Larsen(President), Pauline Attle-Billey(Vice President)

Elphinstone Secondary School PAC Meeting

Monday, February 20th, 2017

In Attendance: Dirk Larsen(President), Pauline Attle-Billey(Vice President),

Heike Horn(Treasurer), Maria Hampvent(DPAC Rep), Miyuki Shinkai(Secretary),

Drew Murphy(Vice-Principal), Greg Russell(Trustee),

Patrick Bocking(SD46 Superintendent), NickWeswick(SD46 Secretary -Treasurer), Dianne Paulus, Jill Shatford, Melissa Christian, Ian Thomson.

Approval of Minutes from last PAC meeting: Approved by Dirk, and seconded by Pauline.

by Nick Weswick

Special needs students’ high enrolment in our district– allocation of budget is double compared to the provincial average.
Strategic Plan – focus on students, staff, and community base development. Funding towards Technology, Social Emotional Learning, Staff Training, Students Choice & Careers, and increase Elementary Counsellors.
Unrestricted surplus $538,000 in 38 million budget.
Transportation funding – additional $380,000 in ongoing funding to improve students transportation. Planning in purchasing five 24passenger buses. Discussion around what parents would like to see transportation dollars directed, for example, reducing ride times, wait times, walk times, or extended experiences. (More info:

Semester change over
Hiring of 1.0 LAC/Special Education teacher
We Day presentation – January 18th
Anti-Vaping Campaign: Class Visits (February 14th-17th), emails to parents, and canvasing hallway posters. Vaping in school washroom and property is a subject to suspension.
Administrating Emergency Prep/ Lock Down workshop – February 15th
Spoken Word Poetry Presentation by Grade 8 students. – February 20th.
Community Health Scavenger Hunt – February 22nd.
Grade 8’s Science Fair at Library – February 22nd.
MVP (Mentor Violence Prevention) – Grade 8 – February 23rd
Course Planning is under way.
Library Renovation is nearly completed – new furniture and computers.
Japanese Students Visit – February 28th -March 6th
Winter Formal – March 3rd
MVP- Grade 10’s in March.
Bathrooms and Office Renovation are next.

Gaming Account Balance $8,735.88

Saving Account Balance $1,214.36

Spending Approval of $2,000 towards 4 bursaries in amount of $500 each – The motion moved by Dirk and approved by Pauline and seconded by all.
PAC is welcoming other funding proposals including our school based sports club activities and other special engagement. Please write us a letter.

Received a letter from School District 46 Board of Education, the Trustee Liaison for our PAC is Greg Russell for 2017.
Letter from Elphinstone Secondary, request of Bursaries and information.

Substance Abuse – drug culture affects all of us.
Fresh Grade- summative information from schools implemented. While some schools are responding in favour of the platform, parents are welcome to send comments to the district.
Two-week spring break survey was conducted to solicit public feedback. Draft calendars for the next two school years were drafted based on feedback.
Next DPAC meeting: February 23rd at 7pm in the Elphinstone Secondary. All parents are welcome to join in. (info:

Jill from the F.O.R.C.E Society provided an information about her ‘in the know’ a monthly networking and information sharing session. Next meeting is at Chatelech Secondary School Library – ‘Invite a Conversation with your Teen about Drug Use’ on February 22nd from 7:00- 9:00pm.

PAC Meeting Adjourned: 7:30pm

Next PAC meeting: March 27th, Monday 6pm at ESS New Library

Everyone is welcome. Door prizes!

Please LIKE Elphinstone Senior Secondary PAC on Facebook!

PAC Fundraiser continues – IGA Gifts Cards are available at school office for ESS families.

Contact PAC Executive via email: and/or come to a PAC meeting. We would like to see you all there!