JO PAC Meeting Notes – January 25th, 2023
JO PAC Meeting Notes
Date: Jan 25, 2023
Location: Zoom
Attendance: Gabriel Mugaruka – Co-Chair, Samantha Anderson Co-Chair + DPAC Rep,
Alec MacInnes JO Acting Principal, Celeste Munger Communications, Darnelle Moore
Secretary, Sue Bains Treasurer, +many others
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Meeting called to order – Gabriel Mugaruka
Move to Approve minutes from Dec 7th – Samantha, 2nd Celeste
Item 1 – Treasurer Report – Sue Bains
Gaming Account
– These funds are granted to us through the BC Lottery Co and are based on the
number of students at the school.
– We have received our grant for the year ($19560)
– There are regulations about what kinds of activities we can use these funds for
– The main regulation is that the funds cannot be used for anything relating to
regular, curriculum based school activities and learning such as for classroom
textbooks or classroom supplies
– Teachers and Staff have put in requests for funds for the 2022/2023 school year
– The total amount of these requests is over $30k
– The PAC has granted requests (attached) and has written cheque to the school
in the amount of $15, 910.00 (cleared account on Jan 24th, 2023)
– Current Balance sits at $4922.17
Consultative Account
– These funds are from previous years of fundraising by the PAC
– These funds can be used for anything that PAC deems appropriate
– Because of the pandemic in the past 2 years, PAC fundraising has been minimal
– Current Balance in the account is $4189.17
– At this time there is one chq to be deposited from the Purdy’s chocolate
fundraiser. The amount is approximately $300
Legacy Account
– These funds were granted to us from a family who at once attended the school
and left JO some money from their estate
– The funds were to be used for scholarships until the funds were entirely used up
– Current Balance $332.14
– We will likely consolidate this money and close out the account
Questions:
1. What should we do with the Legacy Account since there is not enough in there for
scholarships? This question has yet to be answered. PAC executive need to discuss.
2. Can teachers still apply for funds? Yes please send requests through principle.
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Item 2 – Teacher Liaison (John Silver)
Not present at the meeting
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Item 3 – Principal Report (Alec MacInnes)
Alec will be acting principal until Feb 17th
School Events
The following events have all taken place throughout the month of December and so far in
January. All were successful and well received by the community
– Joker Classic basketball tourney
– White Ribbon Day
– Winter Concert
– Winter Madness
– LALS Handball tournament
The following events are set to take place in the coming weeks
– Lunar New Year
– BHM
– Play presented by Theatre Company “If I Could Tell You Everything”
– Grade 7 Parent night – Feb 1
– “I days” for students to come in to hand in work that was incomplete Feb 1 and 2
– Report Cards Feb 10
Other
Vaping
– There has been an issue with vaping in the school washrooms
– There will be assemblies taking place to address this issue
– Parents encouraged to discuss the concerns of vaping with their teens
Bleacher Fundraising campaign
– The bleachers in the gymnasium need to be replaced. They are currently unusable do
to safety concerns
– Pat Lee Athletic Director has been lobbying the VSB to have these replaced under the
critical infrastructure funds
– Alumni have offered to raise funds
– Funds needed in excess of $80-$90K
–
Gr 12 Literacy Assessment
– Grade 12 students will have received their scheduled time to write this exam. It is
needed for graduation
Schedule/FIT/surveys
Surveys sent by VSB have determined that the Semester system is here to stay for now
– Some subjects may be on a continuum basis rather than semester
– Teachers possibly/probably will be given extra planning time
– Students need to make better use of FIT. They will be required to be in a classroom for
FIT blocks as soon as next semester begins.
– Semester 2 begins on Feb 3
Questions:
1. Please feel free to email Alec directly with any questions
amacinnes@vsb.bc.ca
2. Dates for Grade 12 Graduation events?
Graduation Cap and Gown ceremony will be Tuesday, June 21st, 4pm at Chan Centre
No date/venue for prom
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Item 4 Fundraising (Linh Lam via Celeste Munger)
1. Community Movie Night
Friday March 3rd
-entrance fee/door prizes
2. Community Bingo
Friday April 21st
Please email Linh if you’re interested in helping!
Penny Wong has expressed interest
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Item 5 DPAC (Samantha Anderson)
DPAC stands for District Parent Advisory Committee
Samantha is our JO representative at these district wide meetings
– General Meeting Jan 26th 7pm Topic Unlearning Ableism
– Continued advocacy for more transparency in decision making process
– Lots of issues around land sales
– 13 schools on closure list
– What is the long term plan?
– Need to integrate VSB planning with COV planning
Question
Is there a new policy that will be impacting extra curricular activities?
-no not that anyone is aware of, will look into it
____________________________________________________________________________
- Item 7 AOB
– Question regarding Mini-school. What is the process to enter as a grade 9 student?
Please enquire with grade 9 Counsellor Kelly Egilson
– Is there an opportunity to have the Tech Shops open for Grade 7 parent night on Feb
1st?
Yes they will be open
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Meeting Adjourned
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Next meeting Feb 22nd, 2023 on Zoom
