GRAHAM BRUCE PAC MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, September 14, :30 pm to 7:45 pm

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1 GRAHAM BRUCE PAC MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, September 14, :30 pm to 7:45 pm In attendance: Dave Lambert, Rosanne Lambert, Lani Morden, Danica Hendry, Melanie Cheng, Melanie Hussin, Samiul Haq, Melvin Lee, Tammy Lee, Jitesh Rana, Kim Nguyen, Anjula Joshi, Vince Sharma, Jen Yong. 1. Call to order time: 6:36PM 2. Introduction of 2015/2016 PAC Executives and members in attendance: PAC Chair Dave Lambert PAC Co Chair Treasurer Danica Hendry Secretary Rosanne Lambert Fundraising Committee Carnival Committee 3. Adoption of previous meeting minutes: June 2016 ( Dave adopted, Jitesh seconded.) 4. This year a vote will be had at the PAC AGM meeting SEP28, PM, to elect &/or re elect for PAC Executive positions is the Lambert family's final year at Graham Bruce Elementary. If Dave is to continue as Chairman this year, the hope is to share the role with a co chairman who would continue into the 2017/2018 school year. 5. Thank you to Melanie Cheng and the Bruce Parent Action Group for their determination and hard work in the fight to keep our schools OPEN. (Jitesh, Danica) There is one general PAC which assumes the broader mandate of a Parent Advisory Committee as described here info/what is pac Ideally, parents voluntarily form sub committees within PAC, to focus on specific/ timely needs/events/issues, e.g. Fundraising Committee, Carnival Committee, and since late JUNE 2016, the Bruce Parent Action Group which focuses on the fight against the proposed school closure. 1

2 6. Principal s Report: Mrs. Morden Staff worked hard to place students into their new classrooms quickly. Current enrolment: 227 New students arriving from Carleton Elementary: 2 There are a number of students who came to Bruce from other areas of the city or the world. New classroom teachers: 3 Other new staff: 50% primary literacy teacher Full time SSA behaviour worker Youth & family worker, additional 1 day SEP21 Meet the Teacher night. OCT12/13 Parent Teacher Student conferences As Bruce is designated by the VSB as an Enhanced Services School, we've received increased offers of After school Programming: MON: Learning Buddies (Community Partnership) MON: Peer Education for Gr.6 7 (CNH) MON: Physical activity games for kids from newly settled families (CNH Robert) TUE: Arts Umbrella drawing & painting for Gr.3 5 (grant) WED: Sports (grant) WED: Boys Club & Girls Club (YWCA partnership) THU: Cooking, Reading Lego, Math Academy (WCP) FRI: Fastbreak Sports (WCP) JAN2017: Game On for Gr.5 6 boys (BigBrothers) 7. Process of Long Range Facilities Plan : Mrs. Morden SEP13/ 2016: Administrative Reports on Potential School Closures, released on followed by continued advocacy efforts SEP26/ 2016: VSB to release shortlist of potential school closures. (Melanie C If Bruce is included in this list, a report must be written by PAC Executives in response, with comments to identify "gaps" in the reasoning.) Consultation then begins. 2

3 DEC/ 2016 Final list of closures to be released. Consultation process continues. JAN JUN/ 2017: Process of closing schools on closure list. 8. Treasurer s Report : Danica Hendry VanCity Financial Accounts General account #1 Community Service $11, After earmarked $9, Temporary Sub account #2 Playground $0.00 Gaming Account #3 $9, After earmarked $4, Earmarked amounts include: $400 for buses, $2, for computers etc. Leftover funds from last year will be released into the General account. Gaming funds to arrive this school year: 227 students x $20 (Lani) From General account: DROP amounts earmarked for microscopes as interest in them seems to have waned. (Danica) Still need outstanding invoice from last year's author visit. (Lani) For next meeting: What amount needs to be spent, by when? In the event of school closure, funds left in PAC account could be given to another PAC, e.g. to the PAC of the school where Bruce students would be transferred, if Bruce is closed. (Melanie H) Last year there was a letter sent home with students, saying, Band would now cost a student $500 for a school year. (Lani) Unfortunately the band program is now closed, district wide. We'll explore any possibilities for other band programs, i.e. Costs and, if/ how much funds PAC could contribute. 9. Business Arising SEP21 Meet the Teacher Night (only front doors open) Must be SIDEWALK setup only, in order to display &/or give Save Our Schools signs. 3

4 Have blank letter templates to fill & submit Petitions Invite parents to SEP28 AGM Playground plaque : Ordered March 3. Will look into the delay 10.Fundraising Updates : Campbell's soup labels: Must locate labels which were formerly stored in staffroom. Lani re: help from Project Smile or? Purdy s chocolate bars fundraiser: Mid late Nov After Halloween but before Xmas. 11. SPRING CARNIVAL (MAY??, 4 8PM): Set Date What worked well? What improvements could be made? Assigned co ordinators for each department Rainy day plan Organize volunteers from signup sheets including parents/teachers Start Carnival prep in November 12. Fundraising Goals Water bottle filling station/ fountain: Machine is not expensive, but installation IS. Revisit in January. (Danica) Lani confirmed that engineer is flushing water daily as per recommendation. Popcorn machine. Revisit in January. Idea to raise money to pay for seismic upgrading. 13. New Business, questions or comments (Danica) A parent liaison from each class is needed to attend PAC meetings. A form letter was sent home with students today, inviting parent involvement. Also received printouts of "Yes" reply s from parents who consent to give their address to PAC. (Rosanne) Every "Yes" reply could be forwarded to rather than printed on paper This is an environmentally friendly option, as well as more accurate/ time efficient than re typing data into distribution lists. 4

5 (Melanie C) would like to look at a constitution of bylaws. Has there ever been a School Planning Council? (Lani) Historically, members of the PAC have fulfilled the role of School Planning Council as needed within a smaller context. Bruce Parent Action Group Connection with Westbank developers is positive. They penned a public open letter to Mike Lombardi, Gregor Robertson published in Metro News. They also increased their building plans to accommodate 65% family suites. Door knocking works well for gaining signed petitions. 11,600 petitions and counting. Standing at popular spots like the liquor store, Safeway, with a clipboard of petitions and a couple of pens, and maybe a Save Our Schools sign... works very well. Tomorrow night VSB Trustee Meeting at Charles Tupper School. "Save Our Schools" chant. There will be a petition station at the Moon Festival Help is needed with sign distribution ; call MLA Adrian Dix's office to offer your assistance. At a summer DPAC meeting re: school closures, we learned that a small group such as the BPAG, linked with other stronger partners like CCPC, Greek Fest, Westbank Developers etc... becomes a bigger, more effective network. Before SEP26 VSB Trustee Meeting Secondary): Campaign every Bruce parent & child, to draft personal letters to Mike Lombardi, Mike Bernier, Ministry of Education "What does Graham Bruce Elementary mean to me? 227 student (from classes) Dave to ask Lani about this. Jen to proofread/edit draft letter template. Translations: Chinese, Vietnamese? Could Lani send this type of message to entire school distribution list? "Please check this important message at " Letters to be deposited in (new) PAC letter dropbox in the Bruce office. (Dave) 5

6 Also have blank templates available to fill out at SEP21 Meet the Teacher night. At least 75 parents with signs, are needed in a strong show of support at this VSB Trustee Meeting SEP26. Technical report needs to be critically analyzed for gaps. (page#,section, comments ) Melanie to share in an editable Google document. 14. Meeting adjourned: 8:20PM NEXT PAC MEETING: A vote will be had at the PAC AGM meeting SEP28, PM, to elect &/or re elect for PAC Executive positions. Come and get more involved in Graham Bruce PAC! 6

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