Date: Oct 15, 2019

Location: Queensbury Elementary, Ms. Hams Room

Present: Kelly LaRoue, Cheryl Ham, Erica Houston, Katie Scotland, Sarah McKinney, Sarah

Mosher, Sally Tanaka-Cullen, Sam Johncox, Andrea Jenks-Plant, Charlotte Hickson, Stacey Payle,

Jen Jones, Nikki Tilley, Benny Ebrahimi, Sarah Hughes, Cory Braumberger, Mellisa Zralm Lissette

L.D, Lindsay Young, Vicky Sra, Jen Sawrenko

Regrets: Karie-Lea Evans Tardiff, Chiquis Haggart, Jen Carley, Andrea Russell

Called to Order: 6:34pm

1. Welcome & Call to Order

2. Approve Minutes of AGM

Motion to approve June 2019 Minutes – Sarah Mosher

Second – Jen

June 2019 Meeting Minutes Approved. ACTION: Erica to update website.

3. Admin Report

See Appendix A: Admin Report

Lego Robotics K-7, only accepting 16 people. $100 / session. ACTION: Kelly to

confirm it can be Nov 1, 8, 22, Dec 6 @ 3:15-4:15pm. EA coverage in library but

staff on-site

Earthquake Great Shakeout BC this Thursday. Suggest parents give children a

heads-up.

Halloween – leave accessories at home. Discouraging masks. Parents are invited to

line the outside walls of the gym for the parade/ dance.

Student Teacher Family Conferences – Nov 13/ 14 Noon Early Dismissal.

Attendance is mandatory to goal setting conference. There will be an online signup.

Goal is beginning of November. ACTION: Kelly to discuss with EA’s if there is a child

minding window for families with multiples.

4. Chair Report

See Appendix B: Chair Report

Reviewed purpose

i. Building community with parents

ii. Goal – Inclusivity, all parents feel included

iii. Vision – Increase awareness for what the PAC does

iv. 2 power hour volunteering – great response

Organize fundraisers

i. Bring community together, some cross over to give back

ii. Keep what’s working

iii. Look to improve where we can

iv. Extending into community

Give back

i. Want to be proud how the PAC participated

ii. Wish – start with library shared space for students to feel welcome

iii. Redesign classrooms, modernize furniture, sports equipment, musical etc.

Up Next:

i. Cheque / Donation Drive

ii. Formalize class rep roll

iii. Hot Lunches

iv. Garden Club – seek funds from City

v. Vice-Chair Position is open – Nikki Tilley is strongly considering

vi. Volunteers Needed For: Spring Fair Coordinator, Communications &

website, Fundraiser, District Led Freedom Friday, Safety Rep, Constitution/

Bylaw Update (expect at least 4 months)

5. Family of Schools Report

Ridgeway, Eastview, Brooksbank & Queensbury

Harvest Fair this Sunday Oct 20

$ comes back to Queensbury

Sign-up online

6. District PAC (DPAC/ NVPAC) Report

See Appendix C: DPAC Committees for Roles they are looking to fill for the district

Oct 30 Speaker “Bullying Ends Here”. ACTION: Erica to add information to Website.

Needs to provide Vice Chair & Lunch Team names for invite to Foods that Fit event.

7. Treasure’s Report

See Attached from 2018/2019 School Year

Many events that weren’t budgeted for that helped to meet goals

Big spend expenses - classroom furniture, classroom $200 per, classroom

enhancements, emergency container

8. Budget

Added Community Partners – Cobbs, Hungry Dog, Indigo

Art Project – School-wide, each class gets a canvas, trying to get artists from

community to help each child in class participate. Host wine/ cheese for live

auction fundraiser. Hoping to break-even the 1st year. At another school this is one

of their major.

Counselling Budget is new for Queensbury to have our own supplies. New

Counselor starting Nov 18.

LAC went up

Fieldtrip money allocation changing to make it a per child monetary allotment. This

year Kindies Pumpkin Patch bus is covered but moving forward teachers will have

to take it out of their allocation.

Question is $500 enough? Last year was costly due to purchasing rights to Lion

King. This year expected not the same

Motion to approve – Sally Cullen

Second to approve – Sarah McKinney

2019/2020 Budget Approved

9. Past Events

Kindie August get together – Continue for next year. Ask this years kindie group to

take on organizing it for next year. Good opportunity for private walkthrough of

school. Appreciated Starbucks coffee. Reach out to daycares in the community to

let them know. Suggest open up to Grade 6/7 to meet the Kindies.

1st Day of School Coffee for Parents – Continue for next year.

Pink PAC Forms – Next year include Card Project Permission, Include Volunteer

Power Hour, Include Email Consent for Parents.

Sidewalk Painting – Will continue once weather is nice. Phase 1 almost complete,

will add caterpillars. Phase 2 for Intermediate up top

Welcome Back BBQ – 514 RSVP. 1st year for Neptune, Cobbs, City Market

donations. Small loss. 50/50 online vs. paper RSVPs

Pub Night – 50 tickets purchased, 6 at door. Might look for an alternate venue from

Two Lions

Family Photoshoot – 26 attendees, more positive this year, 100% goes to school.

Survey created to gather feedback.

Hot Lunch – New vendors working out well, looking to add a 2nd lunch date in Term

2. Suggestion to have a 2nd Coffee Date in January and sign-up sheet? Can parents

no longer cancel orders?

Emergency Supplies – Chiquis is organizing supplies and working with Canadian

Tire. Suggest Chiquis provided a Wish List out for parents.

Coat/ Boot/ Costume – Parents can take not just give.

Donation Drive – Goal is $4k, $13.33 per student. Looking for an organizer.

Harvest Fair – At Sutherland this Sunday

Zen Maker Love – Offer after school programs, need someone to organize. PAC can

participate in a development day, Erica has reserved a spot for anyone interested.

After School Coordinator – ACTION: Lindsay and Jen to confirm if the can take this

on

School Grounds Clean Up – ACTION: Vicky to confirm she can coordinate

School Trustee – Fri Nov 1 (PJ Day) will be visiting the school for the 1st time

Kathleen Barter – Nov 5 to talk about new curriculum & combined grades

Sharon Shelby – Nov 6 @ EastView

Purdy’s Fundraiser – Kelly & Erica thinking of offering but needing an organizer

Saleema Moon – Parent Night Feb 18, Student Feb 20 & 21. Parents will opt in for

presentation. Every second year. Additional support to parents & teachers that

dove tails the curriculum. Request to include link to outline of information.

ACTION: Erica & Kelly to discuss logistics of Opt In communications for end of

January.

Movie Night – Dates to be confirmed

Garden Club – Piggy backing on what Christina is doing. Budget created this year.

Would like a key for hose to help with summer watering. ACTION: Kelly to

investigate work order for a faucet out back.

Spring Fair Committee – Will start in January

10. Upcoming Events

Grade 7 Rep

i. Nov 1 parents will receive Frozen Food (Nov 1 – 25, pickup Dec 10)

ii. Early Dismissal

iii. Freezie Sale

Love Ball - Thurs Feb 6th

Card Project

i. Underway. Andrea will inform parents when it’s live.

ii. 75% parents completed consent, Erica sent follow-up to the parents who

had missed it.

11. Parent Exchange

Can we get a crossing lights? ACTION: Charlotte to try Green Necklace POC, Safe

Advocates to School through the City and or Kulvir.

Kelly’s email has been hacked don’t click on her urgent links.

Meeting Adjourned at: 8:17pm

Next Meeting is: Nov 19 @ 6:30pm

NEW ACTIONS (to be transferred to Master Actions Log)

Category Task Priority Owner Due Date

Status

After School Activities

Confirm Robotics after school details

M Kelly October NEW

Parent Info Sessions for Conferences

Discuss with EA’s ability to offer child minding for families with multiple children

H Kelly Nov 1 NEW

Calendar Add Anti Bullying Speaker to Website

M Erica Best Effort

NEW

After School Coordinator

Confirm they can take this on M Jen/ Lindsay Best Effort

NEW

School Grounds Clean up

Confirm she can take this on M Vicky Best Effort

NEW

Saleema Moon Discuss logistics of Opt-In Communication

M Kelly/ Erica February NEW

Garden Club Investigate work order for facet in the back

M Kelly Best Effort

NEW

Safety Inquire about Crossing Lights M Charlotte Best Effort

NEW

APPENDIX A: Admin Report

New information items:

Thank you’s and Appreciations

Thank you to Ms. Ham, Mrs. Young for coordinating this year’s Terry fox Run. A special thank you as well to Mr. and

Mrs. Olson for preparing and installing the signs around the school! We raised over $800.00 for Cancer Research!

Queensbury students and their families are continuing to keep Terry’s dream alive! Congratulations to all runners and

thank you for your generous donations!

Thank you to our PAC for a fabulous Welcome Back BBQ! It was great to see so many families enjoying a late

summer evening together.

And a BIG THANK YOU to our volunteers who helped to build our new furniture in August and to those who helped to

make our playground so inviting with newly painted activities! The kids are having a ton of fun with the 4 squares,

chess boards, and brain break activities. furniture in August! The teachers and students love their new classrooms!

Robotics

We have an opportunity for a Robotics course to be offered at Queensbury by David Brear. David is a retired

educator and comes highly recommended by Mrs. Kennedy. David would like to offer 4-5 Friday afterschool sessions

at a cost of $20.00 +GST per session. Beginning Nov. 1, 8, 22, 29 and Dec. 6. David will be sending a flyer out soon,

that will be sent home, but in the meantime, please see his info:

David Brear, B.Sc., M.Ed.

ilego, Brick & Robotics Workshop Facilitator

Web Site

http://tinyurl.com/lwmwfgw

Great Shake Out BC!

We will conduct our first Earthquake Preparedness Drill on Thursday, October 17th. Performing emergency drills and

reviewing school emergency plans are important and necessary steps in becoming as prepared as possible for an

emergency situation. For more information, click here to see the “Shake Out BC” website.

This is also a good opportunity to talk about being prepared for an emergency at home. The North Shore Emergency

Management Office encourages everyone to create a family emergency plan and stock and maintain a basic home

emergency kit.

Supply lists for a basic home emergency kit can be found at North Shore Emergency Office.

Halloween Costumes and Fun!

At Queensbury, students arrive at school wearing their costumes, in anticipation of the parade that begins at 9:30.

Adult assistance is not available, so please ensure your child has everything they need to be self-sufficient. Please

ensure your child has a change of clothes to change into after recess.

Costume reminders: be appropriate for an elementary school setting, follow the Queensbury code, no weapons or

elaborate make-up, be easily stored in a bag after recess.

Queensbury Sports

A HUGE thank you to Ms. Kennedy, Ms. Hoodspith, Mrs. Young, Ms. Walters for sponsoring and coaching our

intermediate cross country running team! Our runners are enjoying a fabulous season of trail running and we are very

proud of their performance!

Foundation Skills Assessments

Students in grade 4 and 7 are nearing the completion of the FSA tests. Unless students have a Ministry Identification

and meet specific criteria, all students are expected to complete the assessments. Results will be mailed home mid-

late December.

Parent Teacher Conferences:

On November 13th 14th, we will dismiss students at 12PM and invite parents to meet with teachers for our first term

Student/Teacher/Family conferences. Ms. Ham will be making their schedule available “on line” for all teachers by

way of a scheduling tool.

Parent Info Session for Conferences

Info regarding the Sutherland FOS reporting pilot project will be held this Thursday night at Sutherland high school

from 7:00pm-8:00pm

Calendar Reminders:

October 17 Great Shake Out Earthquake Drill (10:17 am)

October 21 Dream Rider performance 9am (Primary classes only)

October 25 Provincial Pro-D (schools not in session)

October 28 Photo Retakes

October 31 Halloween Parade - 9:30AM

November 1 PJ day at school

November 8 Remembrance Day Assembly 10:40AM

November 11 Remembrance Day Observed (schools not in session)

November 13-14 12PM dismissal for Student/Teacher/Family Conferences

November 15 Immunizations for grade 6

November 19 School Tour for families registering students for 2020-2021 school year

APPENDIX B: Chair Report

Chair report Tuesday, October 15, 2019

I wanted to take some time tonight to reinforce our “why” of why the PAC exists.

The PAC is the parental voice at our school and we’re here to make our school better for our children. The

PAC’s mission can be simplified into: Building Community, Organizing Events & Fundraisers, & Giving

Back.

1. BUILDING COMMUNITY

My goal is that every parent feels a sense of belonging to our Queensbury community which in turn creates

an environment where our children feel a sense of belonging & safety at school. My vision is to increase

the awareness & perception of the PAC and become the most inclusive PAC with the highest percentage

of involved parents in our district. This year, we’ve implemented the 2 Power Hour volunteering in order

to communicate to parents that volunteering can look like many different things and doesn’t take a lot of

time and if we all pitch in, that’s a lot of time we can invest in our school.

2. ORGANIZING EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS

We build the Queensbury community by hosting events such as our Welcome Back BBQ, Spring Fair, the

garden club, hosting pub night, the Love Ball, movie nights, hosting parent education nights, the Sutherland

Harvest Fair, and this year, we’re hoping to get the Art Project off the ground. Some events are focused on

bringing the community together, some are fundraisers, and some do both. Our exec team has put a lot of

thought put into the proposed events and this year’s budget that we’ll discuss later in this meeting. We’re

keeping what’s working and figuring out where we can make improvements.

3. GIVING BACK

Beginning with the end in mind, when I’m finished my time as Chair, I want to be proud of how our PAC

team contributed to admin’s vision of transforming our school. We are aligning our fundraising efforts with

our administration's vision of making our school a welcoming place for all learners. Our wish is that we

start with the library as it’s a shared space for every student in this school. We’re redesigning our classroom

spaces for our children, transforming our classrooms so students have a choice in how they want to learn.

Adding Natural Pod furniture in our classrooms, bringing in plants & natural items, shared ownership of

supplies, and creating spaces conducive to collaboration and teamwork. The PAC also will continue to

contribute to sports equipment, classroom resources, families in need, field trips, music & the musical, and

school wide improvements.

How are we going to get there? One parent, one event, one fundraiser at a time. This year, we’re hoping to

extend our fundraising efforts into the community. By receiving donations from the community and

accessing grant money, we’re hoping to put more money in our school to help transform our classrooms

and our students’ learning experience while they’re at Queensbury.

THE YEAR SO FAR…

The year has been off to a great start. We’ve hosted the Kindie playdate, collected PAC permission forms,

organized class reps, hosted a coffee morning on the first day of school, hosted the Welcome Back BBQ,

enjoyed Pub Night, and the Family Photoshoots. Currently, the Costume, Boot, & Coat Exchange and The

Card Project are underway. Our new Hot Lunch coordinators have transitioned smoothly and the new

vendors have been successful.

WHAT’S UP NEXT…

In the next few weeks, I’m focusing on getting the Cheque Drive up and running, formalizing the class rep

role, continuing to support hot lunches, and working with the Garden Club to come up with a vision for

our garden space & seek funding.

OPEN POSITIONS

● Vice Chair (Nikki)

● Spring Fair Coordinator

● Communications & Website Coordinator

● Fundraising & Events Coordinator

● Freedom Fridays Coordinator

● After School Activities Coordinator

● Safety Rep

● Class Rep Coordinator

● Volunteer Coordinator

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

We will be updating our Constitution & Bylaws this year. Stay tuned for communication on that if you’d

like input on that.

APPENDIX C: DPAC Committees