JO PAC Minutes January 20, 2021

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• On February 10, 2021
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PRESENT: PAC Executive (Sheril, Wendy, Sue, Lara), Principal Brent Schieman, JO Staff Teacher Liaison Nancy Palejko and 16 parents. 

Meeting called to order at 7pm via Zoom.

Principal’s Report 

Staffing: We have teachers away on leave; both medical and maternity leave. This means that we have long term TOC’s (teachers on call). The long-time school accountant retired last Friday. Also, we have a new teacher; we are running a foundations skills course. Grade eight and nine students will get a chance to go upon the recommendation of a teacher. 

Midterm report cards came out this past Monday. 

Covid 19 – there have been a few exposures at JO, we have relatively low exposure rates. And no transmission events.  We continue to recommend that kids should stay home if sick. 

There is a Learning Survey coming out soon. 

Grade eights have a “connect with courage” event coming. The theme is on media balance and eating. 

Grade tens literacy assessment is next week. 

Sports are happening but kids still have to maintain six feet of distance. 

After consultation and surveying families, the VSB has changes to the current  scheduling starting in Q3 :

1. Grade eights need more school – social connection. They will come in during their flex time. There will be at least three days of instructional times. Two of them will be face to face or at home. We have moved all of the grade eights so that they are in the same cohorts. Teachers to have three lessons that are interactive lessons. The term is going to be all students will have three interactive learning opportunities. One of the three must involve social interactions with other students. It could be many things like a recorded lesson, and then they follow up with the class. Or they may come into the school and get a group tutorial.  
2. All Vancouver schools will be changing over to one week in person and one week online (vs two weeks).  JO adopted this in Q2.  

Teacher Liaison Report – Nancy Palejko

Vancouver Secondary Teacher’s Association Representative

Teachers just found out about the changes today and we ask for patience as we all get used to the new system and the increase of on-line teaching.  Nancy reiterated the need for students and parents to ensure the school knows when there will be absences.  Also, to remind parents that with the quarter system the class room work moves quickly and if kids are absent, they do miss a lot and should be in touch with their teachers.

DPAC representative: Samantha Anderson

Next week there is a general meeting. It is on anti-racism education. The details are on the JO PAC website. 

Financial Report – Sue Bains, Treasurer

Sue was away, Sheril gave the finance update. 

We have $19,137.17 in the gaming account 

Funding Requests

Continuing the discussion of funding from October, Brent brought forward two additional funding requests: 

1. The Robotics Club asked for money to purchase 10 super kits that are $500 each. 
2. The Tech Ed club asked for funds to purchase carving tools to increase membership in the carving club.  

There was general discussion between Sheril, Brent, Lara and other PAC members regarding funding requests. The decision was made to put $6250 towards the Robotics Club and $3500 to Tech Ed for carving tools. 

It was also discussed that as the Gaming Grant funds have now been received, we can distribute funds to the requesters from October that received partial funding.  

Lara Spence will review the budget and the PAC Executive will have a cheque for John Oliver Secondary by the end of February.

Auditorium upgrades were mentioned. Brent will be putting $20,000 towards the auditorium. The project has been put on hold due to CV 19 restrictions. 

Meeting ended at 7:58.