Minutes February 19, 2020
Present: Sheril Gelmon (PAC Chair), Jo-Ann Gordon and Wendy Sinclair (Co-Secretaries), Lara Spence (Communications/Social Media), Brent Schieman (Principal), Nancy Palejko (Psychology and Spanish teacher, and Teacher Liaison), and 6 parents.
Regrets: Michelle Koski (Treasurer)
The meeting began at 7:00 pm with approval of minutes of January 22nd meeting by Lara Spence and seconded by Sue Bains. Introductions were done by all present.
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Teacher Liaison – Nancy Palejko
Nancy showed a quick view of the BCTF website, including the Bargaining page (b/c the BCTF currently does not have a valid contract) – see https://bctf.ca/Bargaining2019/. A great resource for parents/others. Includes shareable, attractive graphics that convey important issues about underfunding (lower salaries in BC mean it’s hard to retain qualified staff).
In another area, there has been some good news: the government has dropped the ‘prevalence model’ (a population average) they had intended to use to determine numbers of special needs students at schools. Instead, they will stay with the “measure each district and apply funding as needs are determined”.
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Principal’s Report – Brent Sheiman.
Staffing: There are two new staff members: Samuel and Kevin.
Events: LALS – recent hand ball tournament at JO. Great to host it!
Numeracy for Grade 10’s: The required Gr 10 Numeracy assessments went fairly well. We have Gr 10 Literacy assessments next. The likely way we’ll run them through it is to cancel Gr 10 classes for 2 days (so it’s fair Day1/Day2) and have 3 labs set up to run the students through the test (3.5 hours permitted). We have some new grade 11 and 12’s writing as well. We can only do 2 sittings a day.
Basketball: The senior girls will be going to Provincials at the Langley Events Centre. First time in 27 years JO has made provincials. JO girls basketball are in the highest tier (AAAA).
Course selection is pretty much done for next year. Career Led Connections is a new mandatory class for Grade 12’s next year. It will be a bit of a disruption and the first time that is happening at John Oliver. We will have to have about nine blocks here. We are not getting staffing for it. Most schools did it this way last year. It will be an evolving model. Instruction in class will be September to December, then two months of working on their Capstone project in the library or at home. We have some things to figure out attendance wise.
Lara: How does it affect the kids in Grade 12 Mini? Do they have to do 2 directed studies?
Brent: Mini school students won’t do an IDS in Gr 12 b/c it will be Capstone.
Lara: How are other schools doing the literacy assessment? Can all students get the test done with less class time lost?
Brent: It is a hit and miss, some are doing it class by class, but it is not actually linked to any class. The Ministry of Education wants enough staff present invigilating in the testing labs all the time; therefore, the VPs can’t just run it. We’re trying to minimize the disruption.
Lara asked he consider encouraging students finished the test to attend their other (non Gr 10 classes) and/or work on work in school time.
What Students Feel/What Breaks Their Heart: A student survey was done with Suzanne Hoffman. She did this with 30 JO students. [handout provided at the PAC meeting]. For example, the question was asked: “What other words could be used instead of “success” [to describe the student journey]?” Another was: “What breaks your heart?” Brent went on to read answers to these questions. Four of the 20 items in this answer set involved Honour Roll/Principal’s List and students not liking the experience of not receiving or others not receiving.
This has inspired an ongoing discussion regarding Honour roll. We would probably be one of the last schools in the district to get rid of it. It is not a good representation of achievement or ‘progress’. I was at Churchill when they got rid of theirs. Only 1 of 2,000 students one student wanted to keep it. That student was applying to a U.S. school and needed it for that application. The school supplied the required document. Killarney has an “On a Roll” list as an alternative. For an example a student who had been skipping out a lot, and then began attending regularly made that list.
DPAC is asking [parents?] what they would like to see in a modern classroom, aside from just seismic upgrades. DPAC supplied a handout.
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Grad Committee – Ruby and Maddi (students)
The March 11 Dry Grad afternoon scavenger hunt has been cancelled as there was not enough interest from Grads to participate. The early evening Dry Grad event with bouncy castles, etc. will be happening in the gym, after a BBQ/dinner in the cafeteria. Cost will be $10/student. The PAC has heavily subsidized other costs. Grad committee are appealing to the PAC for funds for pop, chips, condiments, etc. A form is going out to all grads regarding dry grad (to get their food order). We need adult volunteers. Contact Grad Committee teacher sponsor, Anne Alvarez (also a counsellor) aalvares@vsb.bc.ca ASAP if you have time to help on March 11.
The Prom (better described as a Dinner Dance) will be $125 for early bird tickets (before March 13) and $135 after that. Grads are wanting to do fundraising – car wash/bake sale to help lower the cost for all. Pay at School Cash Online.
The PAC stressed to the students that we need to be informed about any money leftover in the money we gave previously; we think there should be enough for snacks/condiments.
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Treasurer’s Report
Michelle Koski provided info (wasn’t present). There is about $3000 available to hand out during this school year to qualified projects that bring forward a proposal to the April meeting.
Copies of the Treasurer’s report were provided. Re: the Feb 21 bingo night, a Bingo licence has been obtained.
With rising costs in education, combined with the fact that the PAC has some funds left over for this year, the motion was made to raise the scholarship amount (currently $500) to $750 for the 5 scholarships given by PAC: 2 Mini, 2 PAC (1 general, 1 Thomas Harpiniuk) 1 Legacy. Lara Spence moved to pass the motion and Sue Bains seconded it. All were in favour.
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JO Cares Club – 2 students present (Ms Aulhuk sponsor teacher)
Two students spoke about the “Walk in her Shoes” event on Sunday, March 8. The club focuses on helping girls and women from an area in Malawi who must walk 7km per day to get water. The water they collect is used for cooking, washing, bathing, drinking, etc. The girls face danger during their walk. They are unable to go to school because they walk for water and do all the cooking and cleaning. Without an education they are stuck in a cycle of poverty. The club fundraises to help this cause. The fundraising goal for the walk on March 8th is $500. Please donate to the “JO Cares Team” https://secure3.convio.net/careca/site/TR/WalkInHerShoes/General?team_id=3732&pg=team&fr_id=1350
You can also follow the “JO Cares Club” on Instagram (link end of this doc)
The money will be used for programs to teach women and girls, for direct financial support, and they are building wells.
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Family Fun Bingo – 8th Annual – February 21, 2020
Tickets at the door are $10. There are lots of prizes. Sheril thanked Linh and others for the prizes.
Next Meeting
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 pm. Next PAC meeting will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 7pm in the Library.
If you have meeting feedback, ideas or need to contact Sheril Gelmon please email her at sherilgelmon@gmail.com.
Follow JO Goodness
To stay in touch and help learn about/share the happenings at John Oliver, please:
- Visit John Oliver website: http://johnoliver.vsb.bc.ca – look at the Calendar & School News (set a reminder to do this every few weeks) – the WAAG may be discontinued
- Get your child to pay attention during announcements!
- Visit the PAC site: http://blogs.vsb.bc.ca/jo-pac/
- Follow:
- 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: https://www.instagram.com/musicjohnoliver/
JO Athletics: www.instagram.com/jokersathletics/
JO Student Council: www.instagram.com/jo.stuco/
JO Finders Keepers (upcycling store for vulnerable youth) https://www.instagram.com/finderskeepersjo/
JO Cares: https://www.instagram.com/jocares2020
Want to help raise funds for JO PAC? http://blogs.vsb.bc.ca/jo-pac/fundraising – tax receipts available.
