September 2019 JO PAC Minutes

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• Posted in Meetings
• On September 27, 2019
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Thirty-eight parents + staff gathered to learn more about JO and contribute ideas and energy to helping all JO kids have a great year!

Present:       Sheril Gelmon (PAC Chair), Lara Spence (Communications/Social Media), Jo-Ann Gordon (Co-Secretary), Michelle Koski (Treasurer), Sheri Wiwchar (Co-Fundraising Coordinator), Damian Wilmann (Principal), Nancy Palejko (Psychology and Spanish teacher), and 31 parents.

The meeting began at 7:00 pm with approval of minutes from May 22 meeting by Jo-Ann Gordon and seconded by Diane Wiedemann. Introductions were done by all present.

1. Teacher Liaison – Nancy Palejko

Update to public education

– BCTF (BC Teachers Federation) are negotiating with the government for a new contract. The old contract ended June 30, 2019. Awaiting availability of a mediator to continue talks.

– Special Education Funding – current funding is inadequate – BC government would like to provide funding based on a prevalence model (averaging out the number of students that would receive funding)

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

– best action is to contact local MLA to put pressure on the government to increase funding and not go with a prevalence model to determine funding amount – visit leg.bc.ca and enter postal code in bottom left corner to find your MLA contact

2. Principal’s Report – Damian Wilmann

School Update –

– listed changes in personnel (teaching and support staff)

– passed out information on Community Based School Plan – in Year 2 of 3 – 4 key pillars (go to johnoliver.vsb.bc.ca to see details)

– new system for Code of Conduct – given to students to complete – weekly draw to promote students demonstrating Code of Conduct

– Sept. 27 – Climate Action Strike rally – provide written permission for student to attend – will then be an excused absence

– Sept. 30 – Orange Shirt Day

– Oct. 15 – Photo re-takes

– Oct. 25 – Pro-D day

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

– PAC Funding Requests – have been given to staff – Sept. 30 back to Damian who will then review with the finance team Oct. 2

– Oct. 16 next PAC meeting –Students and teachers will be presenting for various groups

3. Treasurer’s Report – Michelle Koski

– Applied for annual BC Gaming fund grant and expect to receive sometime in October (approximately $22,000 for JO, based on $20 per student)

– will be working with Mr. Wilmann on funding requests (Gaming Fund, Consultative Fund) prior to next PAC meeting

– report given with descriptions and balances in various accounts:

Gaming Fund (government lottery funds with special spending criteria) – $5,837

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

Legacy Fund (money raised in 100 Yr Anniversary, for legacy projects) – $2,951

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

4. Fundraising – Sheri Wiwchar/Lara Spence

A few opportunities to help raise funds for the Consultative Account. These methods chosen as require few volunteers. Ideas are always welcome!

– Purdy’s Chocolates – 25% of money spent goes to JO – more information on purchasing chocolates will be given at Oct. 16 PAC meeting; typically around end November for pick up at school mid December. Local, high quality. We made about $225 from this last year.

– Fundscrip – buy gift cards online – 2-10% given to school – similar to paper-based campaigns that some did at elementary school, but this option doesn’t require PAC volunteers. You/buyers buy online and get plastic or e-gift cards in the mail or email. Requires that buyers do not use credit card, but rather online banking bill payment -register at https://www.fundscrip.com/support-a-group/8ST8JJ (The Mini is a different link; see right column of this site) – email lara@laraspence.com with any questions!

– Eating Out – New in 2019! A generous dad at JO, Chander Pathak, has offered a 15% PAC donation for all food purchases by anyone in the JO family at the four Vancouver restaurants he’s involved with:
Deacon’s Corner (2 locations – Kits and Gastown)
Los Cuervos (Fraser/Kingsway)
Wolf and Hound (Broadway/Alma)
– bring (or have your student bring) paid restaurant receipts to JO PAC (write on it your student+grade, alumni, staff, ‘friend of JO’) and put in orange envelope in PAC box in office, or mail to school office or bring to PAC meeting)
– Chander will donate 15% of the amount to JO PAC (food only, no liquor, no happy hour items)!

– Direct Donations to JO PAC – get an instant tax receipt at School Cash Online https://www.vsb.bc.ca/District/Contacts/Donations/Pages/default.aspx – from the long dropdown, choose to donate to “S – John Oliver Secondary PAC”. Anyone (grandparents, etc.) can do this! (To donate to the JO Mini specifically, do S – John Oliver Secondary but then specify in the notes that it’s for Mini (or it won’t get there)).

5. Speakers at Future PAC meetings – Lara Spence

We can invite speakers to do 8-minute talks at PAC meetings to help us learn more about JO and parenting. If you have suggestions for speakers at PAC meetings, email Lara pac_jo@vsb.bc.ca. Last year, the Math Department, someone from STEM, a counsellor (parenting teens), Music (Mr. De Couto), Shop (JO has a big shop program w fantastic apprenticeship opportunities!) spoke about these areas at John Oliver. Other ideas? Want repeats?

Meeting Conclusion

A draw from names of meeting attendees was done for a $25 gift certificate to Deacon’s Corner – won by Paul! Thank you to Chander for donating this gift certificate.

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm, the next PAC meeting is Wednesday October 16, 2019 at 7pm in the Library.

If you have any meeting feedback, ideas, or need to contact Sheril Gelmon, use sherilgelmon@gmail.com.

Stay in Touch/Learn About JO

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

JO Writing Club: https://jo-canvas.com/  https://www.instagram.com/jowriting/

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

(The WAAG also has some great JO-related links to follow!)

DPAC Information – our DPAC Liaison, Suzanne Smythe, couldn’t attend our September meeting but sent this link for parents to learn more: http://vancouverdpac.org/generalannouncements/2019/9/3/back-to-school-201920

Parents Advocacy Network: You may also be interested in http://www.panvancouver.ca/ – The Parent Advocacy Network for Public Education (PAN) is a non-partisan grassroots collective of parents and community members in Vancouver and across BC who share a commitment to public education and believe in proper funding and valuation of public education.