Quilchena Elementary PAC Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 25th, 2015
Attendees: Ivan Tse (Chair), Jean Gross (Vice-Chair), Bonnie Chuter (Treasurer), Susan Tse (Secretary),
Janet Powell (Principal), Akiko Choy, Kristina Lee, Lily Luong, Renee Mitra, Lana Quay, Crystal Sharein,
Kevin, Ron Valdez
1. Call to Order
 Meeting called to order at 6:40 p.m.
2. Welcome & Introductions
3. Approval of the Minutes
 MOTION: Crystal moved that the agenda be adopted as written. Seconded by Lily. All in
favour. Carried.
4. Adoption of the Agenda
 MOTION: Lana moved that the agenda be adopted as written. Seconded by Kevin. All in
favour. Carried.
5. Special Guest – Richmond Car Seat Safety – Kim Moldowan
 Parent Education Presentation arranged by Jane Cyr
 BC law: child can switch from car seat to booster seat when he/she is more than 40 lbs; child
needs to be 4’9” or 9 years old to be out of a booster seat
 can only use “no back” booster seat if you have a headrest behind child’s head
 must install the screws that come with booster seat into the handles of booster seat (seatbelt
fits under these handles and pulls up on them in the event of a sudden stop, so important
that handles are secured to seat
 guiding strap needs to be used with seatbelt when using booster seat so that the seatbelt sits
properly on child’s shoulder
 booster seats expire (about 10 years for new), so check that yours is still valid to use
 if your vehicle is ever in an accident (whether your child is in it or not), ICBC needs to replace
the car seat/booster seat for you; the car seat/booster is no longer safe to use if it has been
in an accident
 children under 12 should not sit in front seat; can be fatal in a car crash
 note that any objects that are not secured inside the vehicle can become a projectile in the
event of an accident; store items in the trunk of the car rather than on the seat or floor of the
vehicle
6. Business Arising from Minutes (Old Business)
 Walking School Bus – Janet Powell
 Idea is to have a parent volunteers “pick up” a set number of children on set routes to
school to help cut down the traffic in the parking lot and to encourage kids to walk to
school
 Janet will create some possible routes and see if families are interested in participating
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
DARE
 Thank you letter for donation from last year
 Asking for donation to fund DARE (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education) program for
this year.
 MOTION: Susan moved that we donate $12 per Gr. 5 student ($12 x 18 = $216) from the
fundraising account to the DARE program. Seconded by Lily. All in favour. Carried.
7. Treasurer’s Report – Bonnie Chuter
 See attachment.
 Money earned: spirit wear $494, photo night $520, movie night $400 minus cost of license.
Total fundraising was $2100
8. Principal’s Report – Janet Powell
 Bollywood in full swing – new instructors, performance this Friday at 1:00 p.m.
 Upcoming dates:
 Nov. 30 is a Pro-D day
 Dec. 4th – mini Christmas concert during assembly 9:00 a.m.; Cyclone Spirit Day so
students can wear spirit wear or wear something red
 Skating on Monday Dec. 7
 Report cards sent home on Dec. 11th
 Div. 1-4 Winter Wonderland Skate on Dec. 16 11:30 – 12:30
 Dec. 18 – Pyjama Day; Minion movie
 Parent Math Night by Janice Novakowski, District Math Consultant – Tuesday, Jan.
19th
 New website for Quilchena – check it out!
 In newsletters, will put bits of info about redesigned curriculum
 Example of the redesigned curriculum come to life: Farmer’s Market event last Thursday run
by Div. 2 & 4 – lots of learning outcomes covered – math, communication, social
responsibility. Kids learned a lot and had fun selling their produce too!
9. Committee Reports & Correspondence
Family Photo Night – Nicola Turton
 Mixed reviews on the photographer – some parents thought he was a little cranky (didn’t
have an assistant)
 Most families at the meeting reported that they were happy with their photos; one
complaint that their families’ photos had large shadows in them
 Pricing was much better than Lifetouch
Food Days – Jane Cyr, Michelle Woo
 Not present. No report.
Food for Kids – Laura Rodgers
 Not present. No report.
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Fundraising – Jean Gross
 Gift cards have arrived, will be given out soon
 Frozen food (cookies, pies, savory items) pick-up is next Wed. Dec. 2nd at 2:40 p.m.
Richmond District Parent Association (RDPA) Reps –Jane Cyr & Jaime Matheos
 Not present. No report.
School Planning Council (SPC) Reps – Lily Luong, Jindy Uppal, Bonnie Chuter
 Nothing to report.
40th Anniversary Committee – Susan Tse
 Committee met last week
o Event on May 27th will be from 3:00 – 6:00 pm , pub night will begin at 7:00 pm
o Janet has sent out a “Save the Date” announcement on the District internal email
for staff
o Kids’ activities:
 we have booked 14 games from Woodward for $140
 cake walk with help of Gr. 6/7 students
 researching costs for facepainters, balloon guy, magician, popcorn
machine, photobooth
o Raffle baskets – looking for contacts for companies that may be willing to donate
items; committee prefers to purchase items so that families don’t have to donate
to baskets that they will be buying tickets for
o Jane & Crystal will organize the food for the event
o Susan will be organizing high school volunteers to help with kids’ activities
 Janet reported that staff decided to focus on the year 1975 for student activities/displays
for an Open House – music, sports, etc.
10. Announcements/Reminders
 Calling all Quilchena alumni! We are looking for old class or individual photos, photos of
school events or staff members, old jerseys or spirit wear that could be used in a slideshow or
as part of displays for the 40th anniversary. Please email us if you have any to share!
 Bottle Drive – Still looking for volunteers to help with pick-up and to sort/count on Jan. 9th.
Please sign up or email Susan to let us know how you can help!
 Please note: the PAC meeting date in April has changed to April 20th instead of the 27th.
 We’re looking for a translator for our PAC meetings – if you are willing to help us in this way,
please let us know!
Next meeting: Wed. January 27th, 2016 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the school
library. West Richmond Community Centre Staff will be there to run Open
Gym for the kids!
11. Adjournment at 7:50 p.m.
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