WEST BAY ELEMENTARY
General PAC Meeting
26th February, 2013
Attendees:
Karen Fraser, Helen Hall, Alex Karadjov, Teo Dechev, Jenny
Drake, Sylvia Bosa, Julie Blanchard, Sara Farhangi, Jodi Horn,
Daisy Brown, Maureen Holmgren, Leslie Miller, Arusha Oloumi
(Rahmatian), Tanja Imhoff, Anne Barns, Rachel Laniado, Tricia
Wilson, Leslie Harrison, Cari Kuzyk, Karen Zen, Deanne Ouellette,
Kevin Fraser, Sue Howard, Nicole Navarrette, Jennifer Venier, Amy
Usher, Cathi Matthews, Zara Virani, Sonia Bonner, Liz Campomar,
Zahra Ramji, and Judy Duncan.
1.
Meeting Called to order 6:35PM.
2.
Adoption of Agenda: moved by Helen Hall, seconded by Liz Campomar
3.
Adoption of January 24th, 2013 Meeting Minutes: moved by Sonja
Bonner, seconded by Leslie Miller.
4.
Principals’s Report: from Judy Duncan





ACADEMICS: Writer in Residence – Lori Sherritt working with grade
1s; FSA’s are completed and parents to receive results March 14,
2013; Digital Access Project is a 1:1 innovative project initiated by the
District (Gary Kerns); Mimi Ross and Tara Zielinsky will participate
from April 2nd to the end of Exhibition Unit of Inquiry, ‘How Do Devices
Impact Learning?’.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Volleyball update, WB boys’ team placed
2nd, and our girls’ team placed 5th, a great showing at both events;
GYM SENSE has begun for grades K-4; CROSSFIT starts for grades
5-7 in May or June.
FINE ARTS: Musical ROCK! was a great success, thank you to all
parents who helped out; NOUMOUFASSA performed Feb 1st, and a
thank you to the parents (PAC) for funding; DRAMA IN RESIDENCE
is upcoming for grades 5-7 in April, and SONG WRITER IN
RESIDENCE for grades K-3 begins April 11-15. All parents welcome
to attend the final concert on April 15th at 1:30.
PARENT EDUCATION: (1) WB seminar on Self-Regulation is on
March 7, 2013 at 6:30PM (see website to RSVP); (2) Exhibition
evening for parents on how you can support your child with research
and presenting takes place March 12th, at 4:30PM.
ASSESSMENT/REPORTING: STUDENT LED CONFERENCES to
take place March 12 and 13th; parents are asked to complete their
SATISFACTION SURVEYS for grades 4 and 7; report cards go home
on March 15th.



COMMITTEES: LEARNING COMMONS committee will meet March
6th at 3:30, designer P. Faranghi to present his drawings for the space;
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE has an action plan in place and is moving
forward – they are looking at engineering and infrastructure changes,
possible speed watch on some of the busier streets to the school, and
a walk to school drive in the pring on Wednesdays.
VISITORS: QUEEN MARY teachers visited our school to see about
our IB methodology; we hosted some visitors from the UK, and Leslie
Irvine (District Counsellor from Dawson Creek) visited to see what WB
is doing for self-regulation techniques and practices
SAFETY: PARENTS PLEASE NOTE in the interest of safety, the
exterior door down by the Preschool will be locked until 9:00AM
and again after 1:30PM, starting Monday, March 4th. WB
Lockdown drill went very well on February 5th, as did the earthquake
drill February 26th. THE EARTHQUAKE DRILL WITH STUDENT
RELEASE will be on May 10th at 1:00PM. Parents (or guardians)
MUST sign out their children before they can be released anytime after
1:00PM.
PARENTS OF PRIMARY STUDENTS: the upper hallways are
becoming hugely congested at dismissal times, as well as noisy
and disruptive to teachers and students. Please pick up your
children outside at 3:00PM, and arrange a meeting place for your
children. ** PLEASE NOTE: Kindergarten parents will continue to
pick up directly outside the classrooms.
Volunteers are requested to help with the traffic in the upper parking
lot.


OTHER EVENTS: Multicultural Lunch to be held on March 14th, 2013,
preceded by an assembly; Grade 7 ‘Pie’ Day competition will be held
on March 14th, 2013.
BUDGET: Finance and Facilities meeting is being held on March 5th,
2013. Judy invited parents at the PAC meeting to participate in a
budget consultation process for this Division. Two questions were
posed to invite feedback: The 2 budget questions were: (1) If the
District was in the position to add additional supports, what areas
should be given priority to support student learning? (2) What
areas, beyond those addressed in recent budgets, should be
considered to increase revenue or otherwise mitigate any
potential budget shortfalls for the coming school year?
5.
Chair’s Report: from Karen Fraser

Community Day Parade – TBA; the community day survey went out
2



and the results are still pending. WB PAC is waiting on decision before
forming committee and float.
Kitchen Improvements - our kitchen is in need of some general
clean up and refurbishing, as well as replacement of a few nominal
items (ie. Pancake griddles and coffee machine). Some of the profits
from the hot lunch program will go towards these improvements.
Library renovation into our new West Bay Learning Common –
with profits from the hot lunch program, as well as residual Gala funds,
PAC would like to see this money utilized to start the renovation
process. The Library renovation is solely the financial responsibility of
the PAC, with the District covering some of the labor costs. The next
West Bay Gala 2014 will fundraise for this effort, as this is seen as the
primary need amongst the students to make our library more user
friendly, inviting to students, and more reflective of 21st century
learning. A committee has been set up, which will make
recommendations as to the costs of this initiative, at which time the
cost will be allocated into the budget.
PAC is open to receive all input into the 2013/2014 Budget. The new
budget will be circulated at the September 2013 PAC meeting and
voted on at the October PAC meeting. There was a parent request for
Judy Duncan to prioritize her foreseen needs for West Bay School to
support and enhance our students’ learning.
The link between the Class Rep and the PAC is vitally needed for
connecting parents and the school. It was suggested that there be a
Class Rep as well as a PAC Rep per division next year.





6.
FUN RUN – April 26th, 2013. Parents mark your calendars! This
year’s fundraising efforts are going toward the new Learning
Commons.
New Tables for hot lunch and exhibition have been ordered.
e-BLASTS: input was sought about a new service to be added to the
school to alert us on community arts and events.
West Bay Elementary School Website: there is a move to
encourage more parents to check out our website as many new
improvements have been made. Our financials are posted but, as
suggested, it can only be accessed by West Bay parents/guardians.
See http://go45.sd45.bc.ca/schools/westbay/Pages/default.aspx
and go to the Parents tab. Our user name is PACWB and our
password = MONKEY.
ABORIGINAL SCULPTURE - the ETA is for after Spring Break. The
artist has visited the school many times and involved the students.
Treasurer’s Report: from Helen Hall

Revenue highlights: Bingo Night was a great success and, though not
3


a fundraiser, tips and donations contributed to a profit of $1,350. Fun
Run Fundraising Goal is $10,000. Hot Lunch Program targeted to earn
$35,000 in revenue.
Expenses: Current budget is operating under a $30,000 loss to utilize
some of the excess from previous years. Many expenses, such as
Field Trips, are expected to come in the last semester of school.
Outreach did not make a profit as some of the expenses have not gone
through yet, and the music allowance is being spent.
Please visit the website for the most up-to-date budget. Reminder that
it is username and password protected for West Bay families.
PACWB, password = MONKEY.
7.
DPAC Report: rep Terri Green was not available at the meeting. Report
from Tanya Mah is attached as a supplemental to the PAC Minutes.
8.
New Business: from Karen Fraser





THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE made the suggestion to fund a less
fortunate school’s hot lunch program. The PAC recommends that
further information and research from the District on conducts of
practice for this, and questioned the sustainability of such an obligation
as well as the hard costs.
BY-LAW COMMITTEE representative, Teo Dechev, reported that the
committee was formed in November to revisit and update the current
by-laws governing PAC as they were last updated in May, 2004. They
expect completion of the proposed by-laws10 days prior to the April
PAC General Meeting.
2013/2014 PAC Positions currently available include:
o PAC CHAIRPERSON
o PAC VICE-CHAIRPERSON – Karen Fraser expressed interest
in running for another term
o SECRETARY
o TREASURER
o VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Tickets are on sale now for the May 15th, 2013 speakers series of
BARBARA COLORSO at the Kay Meek Theatre. Tickets are ½ sold
already!!
Teacher/Staff Appreciation to be held on Friday, March 8th, 2012.
We are combining the Primary, Intermediate and Support Staff
Appreciations into one big event for staff only. This is a grade 5, 3 and
2 run committee this year, but all students are welcome to join the
decorating committee for our WEST BAY CAFÉ and parents are
encouraged to contribute any menu item they choose. Serving sizes of
8-10 people suggested. THANK YOU so much for your support.
4


FAMILY BBQ will be hosted by the PAC with volunteers welcomed for
year end.
GRAD COMMITTEE – (summary of the 2013 Grad update added as a
supplemental to the minutes as meeting time ran out for this report)
8. Adjournment: moved by Maureen Holmgren, seconded by Anne Barnes.
THE NEXT PAC MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR WED, APRIL 24TH, 2013
at 6:30PM. BABYSITTING SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED.
ADDENDUM TO MINUTES:
DPAC SUMMARY:

Our new Trustee Rep is the returning REEMA FARIS

Community Day Parade future talks are still ongoing, and no decisions
have been made as of yet

West Van Police Report - major items to note is that there is a concern
about cell phone theft right now in West Vancouver, robbery is a problem
on the lower mainland sky trains and buses

Student Support Services: (Maureen Lee and Dave Platt, under the
supervision of Dave Eberwain)
thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca - an internet safety site

Enrolment in our district is stable, 476 students i 12/13, 474 in 11/12

A lot of discussion on Self-Regulation as a Canadian education initiative,
and district focus (Good time to insert our own WB Self-Regulation
Evening on Mar 7 6:30-8PM)

For upcoming events visit the DPAC calendar (as a link on our website?)

TRUSTEE REPORT: Teacher bargaining talks- a mediator has been
agreed upon and talks are underway;

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT (CHRIS KENNEDY): 3 new programs
announced: 1) Special Ed Program; 2) ACE-IT Carpentry Program for
level 1 red seal carpentry certification (equivalent to year 1 BCIT) for
grades 11 & 12; 3) Honors Choir grades 7 -12, an evening course which
requires audition
5

Theatre 45 for Grades 4-7, see District Website

all Elementary Schools to participate in the upcoming Lighthouse Festival
April 24th, at Park Royal South (District-wide celebration of Fine Arts)
GRAD COMMITTEE UPDATE:






Fundraising efforts to continue (to give Gr. 7's a sense of involvement and
ownership of their various Grad Celebrations).
Miss. Ross has an idea for a grad fundraiser in March (details TBA).
Car Wash scheduled for Sunday April 14th from 11-2:00 PM, next to
West Van Florist. We hope WB families will support this grad initiative!
Grads have selected a Hollywood/ Red Carpet theme for their Graduation
Ceremonies
Parent Grad Committee will have their first meeting this Friday, March 8th,
to start planning ceremonies, music, decorations, etc.
Grade 6 parents (Liz Campomar, Terri Green and Tanya Mah) have
graciously agreed to lead the Grad Lunch planning efforts (as the tradition
continues for the grade 6 parents to host the grade 7 luncheon following
their graduation ceremony).
6