East Chilliwack Elementary Parent Advisory Council Mon, Nov 15, 2010

East Chilliwack Elementary 
Parent Advisory Council
Mon, Nov 15, 2010

Present: Tia Letexier, Nicole Johnston, Bonnie Kind, Anne Russell, Danielle Dahlby, Heidi Wiebe, Terri Krug, Cheryl Hagen, Natalie Sache, Broni Wiebe, Sarah Burke, Ruth Neufeld.


APPROVAL of AGENDA

Moved by Bonnie; seconded by Broni
Approved

APPROVAL of MINUTES from Oct

Moved by Tia; seconded by Natalie
Approved


AGENDA

Treasurer’s report
(Natalie Sache)

As of Oct 31 we had $9,786 in our chequing account and $4,400 in our gaming account.

We are planning to transfer $5,000 from our chequing account to our playground savings fund.

Fundraising report
(Nicole for Lorraine Brown)

Meat raffle, Christmas fundraisers
Doing poinsettias again through Little Mountain Greenhouses. Will make extra effort to get notices out early about them.


Fundraising goal – more playground for more children
Our main fundraising goal for the immediate future is to add to our playground facilities. Our primary-age population continues to grow every year. Next year there will be two classes of full-day kindergarteners out on the playground at the same time as everyone else. There are more ‘little kids’ at ECE than ever before.
We are striking a playground planning subcommittee to plan how best to spend the funds we raise.
We’d love your input. To join, contact Bonnie Kind at bkind1@telus.net or 794-5512

Fundraising activities – pickup Dec 10
• Meat raffle sales (bring tickets in by Dec 10)
• Poinsettia sales
• Christmas tree sales
• Epicure sales (thanks to Tyra Elgersma)
We’ve sent home flyers outlining these sales. Orders are due Fri, Nov 26.
To receive another flyer contact Lorraine Brown at lorrbrown@gmail.com or 604-799-1484.
The key to success for these fundraisers is for everyone involved in the school to make the effort to help out. Think of the fun your child will have on the new playground equipment and order a few items and encourage your friends and family to do the same!


Hot lunch
(Sarah Burke)

We made a $154 profit on first pizza lunch, and a $293 profit on the hot home-made lunch. We are looking into having a Booster Juice wrap and smoothie lunch day.


DPAC report
Tia LeTexier attended the District Parent Advisory Council on behalf of ECE.
Superintendent Corinne McCabe informed the group about several issues, including: a minor budget surplus, extra kindergarten class added at ECE, and the fact that there has not been a major drop off in bussing despite the fact that parents are now charged $200 per year per child for it.

Principal’s report
(Ruth Neufeld)

Remembrance Day
Our Remembrance Day ceremony was made extra special this year through the presence of several veterans and an active armed forces member. They were invited by some of our intermediate students, who met them on the field trip to the military museum. Some of the veterans stayed afterward and visited the classrooms.

Budget
Because of a school district surplus, ECE received back funding that was held back two years ago. This amounted to $3,200.


Parking
The crowded and somewhat chaotic parking lot at ECE is still an issue before and after school. We are addressing the afternoon problem by letting children who are bussed out at 2 pm and holding the children who are driven until 2:05 pm.

Parents who drive their children are urged to drop them off just before the buses at 7:50 am, rather than during the time when busses are coming in and out. Also, do not stop in the drop-off lane and get out of your car. If you want to walk your child to the playground then park in the spots to the west of the school.

School Goal

To develop more powerful thinkers, listeners, speakers, readers, and writers.
• Staff are meeting after school this year for a total of 10 hours to participate in school based professional development. There are 4 groups:
Group 1 — focus is on the Lucy Caulkins writing process
Group 2 — focus on Social Responsibility — manners, inclusion, anti-bullying
Group 3 — all intermediate teachers are focusing on developing rubrics that can be used to assess students and drive their teaching
Group 4 — EA’s are focusing on strategies that will support student’s with special needs to meet their potential.
Groups 1–4 will meet together next week to learn more about the Literacy Place program that we are all using to support our goal.

• All groups will report back to the staff at monthly staff meeting

Early Dismissal was well attended. Alternate arrangements were made for parents and students who were not able to attend at that time.

Noon-hour games will be starting next week. We have difficulty organizing supervision for this activity.

Sports: Volleyball has started with Rebecca Solheim coaching the boy’s team and Deb Chand coaching the girl’s team

Code of Conduct — any responses?

Christmas Activities — there has been some difficulty with establishing dates and times. The performance will be on Dec.16 at 9 am and 6 pm. Turkey lunch will be on Dec.10.

Energy Challenge begins in January.

Kindergarten registrations — if you know of someone who is planning to attend K at ECE next year and has not yet registered please encourage them to do so.

Old Business

“Fun”raising activity — school turkey lunch Dec 10
The PAC is about more than just raising money. We also sponsor events that raise school spirit. For the second year in a row, we’re co-sponsoring (with East Chilliwack administration) a turkey lunch for the whole school. Come out on December 10 and volunteer for the morning, then join us for lunch (prepared by Chilliwack Senior Secondary cooking students). It will be a festive day as we have poinsettia and Christmas tree and Epicure order pickup, the school lunch, and general frivolity. No need to call ahead. Just show up to help mid-morning.

Christmas store Dec 14 and 15 — send goods by Dec 10
Once again the grade sixes are hosting a Christmas store. The funds raised by this activity go to a community development project in Africa. It’s a great way to encourage our young students to learn to help others. Please support the store by bringing gently used items to the school by Dec 10. The store will run Dec 14 and 15 and ECE students will get to shop for mom and dad from the donated items. You never know what your child will choose from the store for you this Christmas (all items $1 so send a loonie or two along that day).
To help with the store call Sarah Burke @ 604-794-5520.

Christmas concert – Dec 16
The school Christmas concert will be on Thurs, Dec 16. Details to come.

New business

Lice check
Volunteers are needed to help with headlice checks

Playground planning
Terri Krug and Bonnie Kind volunteered to be involved in planning for our new playground. Other volunteers welcome.

Next meeting
Fri, Dec 10, at 8 am in the PAC room.