JO PAC Minutes February 17, 2021
Present: Sheril Gelman (Chair – stepping down as of June 201 – need new volunteer), Lara Spence (Communications), Wendy Sinclair (Secretary – stepping down as of June 2021 – need new volunteer), Sue Bains (Treasurer), Samantha Anderson (DPAC Liaison), Corrine Kinnon (JO Vice Principal), Nancy Palejko (JO Staff Liaison), parents Darnelle Moore, Jonathan Wornell, Corina Taturu, Barbara Siemens, Dianne Wiedemann, Jorge Tarra, Linh Shukla, Lisa Eaton, Mara St.Onge, Martinez Aida, Nicole Nozick, Tracey Rossignol, Tracey Noel. (18 parents total).
Zoom meeting started at 7pm.
We voted to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Sheril first and Barbara seconded. Motion passed.
Vice Principal’s Report – Corinne McKinnon
- Principal Brent Schieman not present today as family meeting – welcome Corinne!
- New staff members: accountant, youth worker for the take-a-hike program, some support staff
- ’Myed-BC’ marks are out. Get your child to log you in to review this report card
- Ministry transcripts will be out soon for Grade 12’s
- Grades 8-11 course planning is happening right now. Everything is on the JO website. There are some videos describing classes such as STEM and yearbook
- We got a very grant for painting the lines on the gym floor this summer
- There are more students in the building during flex time, which is allowed and is helpful for them. I feel there is more energy.
- We don’t know how the fall will look; we don’t know what the provincial health officer will say.
- The VSB has improved the amount of face to face contact for grade 8s and others. It is now mandatory that teachers contact all students in the online week 3x. Grade 8’s must come to a flex-time class 3 days a week in the “online/flex” week. Everyone is liking this.
Sheril: “Is the school year going to look the same next year?”
Corinne: “Conversations are being had right now. We should know soon. There is a meeting on Friday so we may know after that meeting.”
Treasurer’s Report – Sue Bains
The JO PAC has 3 accounts:
Gaming (from BC Lottery; can only spend certain ways): $19,137.17 (but wrote cheque recently for $15,850, so balance will be $3287.17.
Consultative (we fundraised; can spend how like): $6358.97 (no cheques written)
Legacy (raised from 100-Year Reunion, spend for legacy projects + 1 scholarship, plus some of this held in trust for an alumni project): $3732.14 (wrote cheque for JO auditorium upgrades for $1900, so balance will be $1832.14.
The details for the amounts of these cheques written and these exciting projects we are helping fund are in the minutes for January 2021. We have saved money for the scholarships we hand out each June.
DPAC Liaison Report – Samantha Anderson
The long range facilities plan has been fraught with challenges. The consultation process was not that well done. DPAC got some of their suggestions in the plan, but want to make sure to continue to contribute to updates.
The VSB is restricted from selling land, but they can sell it to the COV. It is a bit of an issue right now. Oakridge will have 50,000 new people, so it is worthwhile that John Oliver is kept open.
School Liaison Officers Program: DPAC is in favour of cancelling it. There is a survey you can fill out.
Wendy: Why don’t they want the SLO program?
Samantha: racism, inequity, etc. It was a letter from the DPAC executive.
There is ongoing consultation on the VSB budget. There is a bit of extra money around. There is a survey that everyone can fill out in terms of their spending.
There was a general meeting on January 28th. The topic was anti-racism (video on DPAC site. There is a meeting on February 25th on parental mental health.
We had two presentations at DPAC by students on the ROOTS sustainability conference. There is a notice on our PAC website with details about it.
Pedro Da Silva (Chief Tech Officer VSB) spoke regarding technology: there will be more access to audio books and e-books soon.
SLO feedback: vsbengage@argylepr.com
Budget survey: https://vsb-budget-2021-22.ethelo.net/page/welcome
DPAC General Meeting Mental Health: http://vancouverdpac.org/2020-2021-school-year
Support for PACs (new Guidelines for applying for PST/GST rebates) : http://vancouverdpac.org/resources
Roots Sustainability Conference: https://vsb-sustainabilityconference.com/homepage/
JO Staff Liaison Report – Nancy Palejko
The VSB has changed the policy re: grade eights. Grade eight teachers see their teachers more. I am a grade nine teacher, and I am getting my students in more often. I love it. I assign homework day to day.
Sheril: My son is enjoying more contact with the teachers. I think it is incredibly beneficial. I am grateful for the switch. It has made a difference for him and for me.
Next Meeting
As there was no new business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40pm.
No meeting in March 2021 (this is normal). Spring Break is March 15-26, with students back in class March 29, 2021.
Next JO PAC meeting is April 21, 2021. The one after that (end of year) is May 19, 2021.
The JO Kids Need You – the PAC Needs Volunteers!
There are a few PAC Executive positions that need parent volunteers for September 2021 – For example, PAC Chair will be vacant as of June 2021, as well as Secretary.
We thank our volunteers for their years of service!
Please email Sheril Gelmon if you are interested in volunteering – there is information on the JO PAC blog site with lots of information about why PACs are important and what the roles are. Check it out here: https://blogs.vsb.bc.ca/jo-pac/pac-101/ and more information about specific roles: https://blogs.vsb.bc.ca/jo-pac/category/how-pac-works/
Without a PAC Executive of Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, John Oliver will lose $20,000 in lottery grant funding each year! This matters! As of this writing (April 16, 2021) Sue Bains (Treasurer) and Lara Spence (Communications), Samanta Anderson (DPAC Liaison) will be part of the Executive group. However, it is good if we can get a few PAC Co-Chairs (especially of Grade 8-10 parents!) and Secretary/Co-Secretaries! Note that Lara (Communications) will step down June 2022.
Questions? sherilgelmon@gmail.com
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[…] balances are exactly the same as the last meeting. Gaming $19,137.17, Consultative: $6,358.97, Legacy […]