Oct 2019 JO PAC Minutes

• By JO pac
• Posted in Meetings
• On October 23, 2019
• 1 Comment.

October’s PAC meeting is the time when we hear about projects and vote to allocate the nearly $20,000 from BC Lottery Grants. Meeting began 7pm October 16 2019.

Present:       Sheril Gelmon (PAC Chair), Jo-Ann Gordon (Co-Secretary), Michelle Koski (Treasurer), Sheri Wiwchar (Co-Fundraising Coordinator), Suzanne Smythe (DPAC Rep), Damian Wilmann (Principal), Nancy Palejko (Psychology and Spanish teacher), and 25 parents.

The meeting began at 7:00 pm with approval of minutes from September 25 meeting by Sheri Wiwchar and seconded by Ramandeep Kaurminhas. Introductions were done by all present.

1. Principal’s Report – Damian Wilmann

School Update –

– Netherlands delegation visited JO again

– Superintendent of Halton School Board in Ontario talked with 6 students from Digital Immersion

– curriculum implementation – 4 pillars of school plan; how to assess students in the classroom? – focusing on the relationship between students and teachers – shifting away from letter grades for K-Gr. 9; letter grades remain for Gr. 10-12

– “Essential Assessment” book by C Erkens, N Vagle and T Schimmer is being used (Sheril given a copy to loan out to parents)

– JO Reads – promotes literacy

– Oct. 25 – Pro-D day (no school)

– Oct. 29 – School Dance

– Oct. 31 – Interim Reporting – update for parents (no marks given in this student report)

– Nov. 5-6 – Numeracy testing for Gr. 11 and 12 who need to complete it

(April 2020 Numeracy and Literacy exams for Gr. 10) – students need these exams to graduate – levels are not seen by students, however some colleges/universities may use them as part of entrance criteria

2. Teacher Liaison – Nancy Palejko

Update to public education

– teachers are bargaining with NDP government for a new contract (expired June 2019)

– as there is a blackout in the media about the negotiations, teachers need parents to show their support by writing to local MLA’s asking the government to increase funding

– education funding is $1,900/child less than across Canada

– as of September there were 500 unfilled teaching positions – teachers’ salaries are 7th lowest in Canada, so attracting and retaining teachers is difficult

– many school districts have not got class composition in their contracts

– GDP spent on education in BC was reduced from 3.7% to 2.7% by the Liberals; Canadian provinces average 3.3% of GDP’s on education

– visit bctf.ca to find out more about Education in BC (click “For the Parents” tab)

– visit leg.bc.ca and enter postal code to find your MLA contact

1.  Treasurer’s Report – Michelle Koski

– Balances in accounts as follows:

Gaming Fund (government lottery funds with special spending criteria) – $27,918

Consultative Fund (PAC raised money with no restrictions on spending) – $4,657

Legacy Fund (money raised in 100 Yr Anniversary, for legacy projects) – $2,952

School-Held Consultative Account (online donations to PAC) via School Cash Online) – $60

4. Fundraising – Sheri Wiwchar

– Purdy’s Chocolates – 25% of money spent goes to JO – If you’d like to support us through purchasing some very sweet Christmas gifts for friends, family and yourself, please click the link below:

https://fundraising.purdys.com/812265-68957

After you’ve signed in you can buy our amazing chocolates or invite others to join and support our Fundraising Campaign. Deadline for ordering is Wednesday November 27; pick up at the school Friday December 13. Every order will also receive a 25% privilege card (valid from January – Oct 31, 2020) to be used at the Purdy’s Factory Store on Kingsway.

5. DPAC – Suzanne Smythe

DPAC is where all PACs in the city meet to discuss common issues and policy actions. One such action affecting schools this year is seismic upgrading but issues of support for special needs students, indigenizing schools, ant-racism, appropriate funding for education, problems of vaping and concerns about substance use in communities, are all discussed. If JO parents have any concerns they would like me to bring up for discussion at the District level, they can contact me via the PAC email or at suzannesmythe41@gmail.com. They can also read up on DPAC activities in the latest newsletter.  http://vancouverdpac.org/generalannouncements/2019/10/20/october-2019

6. Presentations by Clubs and Groups for Gaming Grant money:

Grad Committee (Anne Alvares, Sandra Birkenhead – sponsor teachers)

– asking for $1,500 (Grad Breakfast) and $4,500 (Dry Grad) – agreed to give $6,000

– Grad Breakfast includes Celebration of Excellence and Gr. 8 letter reading

– Dry Grad includes Mystery buses (220 grads taken to different fun venues), dinner and inflatable games in the gym (costs between $10,000 – $12,000)

JO Athletics (Pat Lee – sponsor teacher)

– asking for $8,000 – agreed to give $6,000

– registration fee of $2,000 to be covered by alternate source

Creative Writing Club (Wendy Beamish – sponsor teacher)

– asking for $750 – agreed to give $750

Fitness Club (Don Jabillo Ben Aprim – sponsor teachers)

– asking for $1,575 – agreed to give $1,575

Robotics Club (Ailin Wong – sponsor teacher)

– asking for $3,000 – agreed to give $3,000

– Girl Powered Team Grant of $1,400 also awarded

Here4Peers (Richard Edge – sponsor teacher)

– asking for $500 – agreed to give $250

– also will receive CST/Link Grant of $250

Grade 8 Welcome Week (Richard Edge – sponsor teacher)

– asking for $1,000 – agreed to give $500

– happened the 2nd week of school

– also will receive CST/Link Grant of $500

Life Skills  & LALS Music Club (Tim Ao, Dave Hamar – sponsor teachers)

– asking for $1,200 – agreed to give $800

– also will receive CST/Link Grant of $400

Student Council (Irving Lau, Varsha Sharma – sponsor teachers)

– asking for $1,000 – agreed to give $1,000

– team building retreat and year end school event

Total PAC Gaming Funds awarded were $19,875 with around $3,000 reserved for requests in the new year. Mr. Wilmann was able to find funds (CST/Link Grants) for the following Clubs who initially submitted requests for PAC funds, so it was helpful for him to review the requests with Michelle (Treasurer) before the PAC meeting.

• Chess Club – asking $203
• Safe Sapce – asking $100
• Filipino Club – asking $400
• Life Skills Breakfast & Cooking Club – asking $200
• LAC Class – request for computer – asking $1,000

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm, with the next PAC meeting to be held Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 7pm in the Library.

If you have meeting feedback, ideas or need to contact Sheril Gelmon please email her at sherilgelmon@gmail.com.

Stay in Touch/Follow:

To stay in touch and help learn about/share the happenings at John Oliver, please:

1. Read the WAAG that comes in your email each week!
2. Get your child to pay attention during announcements!
3. Visit John Oliver website: http://johnoliver.vsb.bc.ca – new! Check it out!
4. Visit the PAC site: http://blogs.vsb.bc.ca/jo-pac/
5. Follow:
   1. FB: facebook.com/john.oliver.secondary
   2. FB for Mini: facebook.com/johnoliverminischool/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/johnoliverminiparents/)
   3. Twitter: twitter.com/JO_School
6. Sign up for PAC Email: https://mailchi.mp/84a856a6e2d1/jopac

You may be interested: JO Writing Club: https://jo-canvas.com/  https://www.instagram.com/jowriting/

JO Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicjohnoliver/