Please find below the Meeting Minutes from the February 2025 AES PAC Meeting.
Meeting Info
Date: February 3rd, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Armstrong Elementary School
Call to Order, Welcome, and Acknowledgement
Meeting called to order at 5:33 PM PST.
We respectfully acknowledge that we are grateful to live, work, and play within the beautiful ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people, Secwepemc Nation and acknowledge the Métis people who reside here.
Attendance: Aislinn Harmston, Val Edgell, Nadine Zakoski, Jordi Fraser, Nanae Phung, Nicole Shore, Pamela Rennie, Michelle, Pia and Sam Pechtel-Slatcher
Approval of Previous Meeting’s Minutes
Approve December’s meeting minutes (all in favour)
1st Jordi Fraser
2nd Nadine Zakoski
Additions to Today’s Agenda
Additions to meeting agenda:
SD83 school configuration
Adopt meeting agenda (approve amendments/ all in favour)
1st Pia Pechtel-Slatcher
2nd Nadine Zakoski
Principal’s Report
Principal – Val Edgell
- Parent’s Math Night was a success; lots of positive feedback from parents.
- A literacy games session was held for the teachers.
- AES academic goals created ‘intervention groups’ for math, literacy, and reading.
- Skating and cross-country skiing field trips are still running.
- AES building interior will be repainted over 16 weeks (one room at a time).
- Pancake Breakfast: Friday, March 14th. Volunteers needed.
- Talent Show: Wednesday, March 12th.
- Math Problem Solving Challenge: 150 questions met. Goal: 180 for February.
- Willing to Ninja: Core values posted. Student draws for free sessions.
- Val is seeking 30’-150’ of greenhouse plastic for slip & slide event.
Teacher’s Report
Teacher – (none)
No report. No teacher present.
President’s Report
President – Chloe Hale
No report. Chloe was absent due to illness.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer – Tammie Turner
Bank account balances as of December 31, 2024:
- Operating: $36,130.63
- Gaming: $11,570.46
Bank account balances as of February 3, 2025:
- Operating: $49,003.85
- Gaming: $9,590.46
Old Business
Special Project: AES Garden Construction Update
Grants & Funds Update (MJ)
- Current Funds: ~$33,000
- PAC Funds: $23,000
- Western Financial Grant: $5,000
- Community Donations: $4,900
- Pending Grants with Applications (Michelle & MJ):
- Farm Credit Canada
- Tree Canada
- TD
- Canada Post
- Co-op Community Spaces
- Whole Foods Kids Garden
- BC Hydro
Fundraisers
- Seed Fundraiser: ~30 orders placed; arrives mid-February.
- Mabel’s Labels: Reminder to parents to order anytime.
Construction Updates (Sam)
- Lumber: Discount secured with Cedar Solutions (~$6,000 from $16,300)
- Screws: 2112 washerhead + 144 countersunk needed
- CAD Drawings: Received and shared with She Shed, Jannell, and Cami
- She Shed Partnership: Raised beds to be built and delivered
Motion: Release $6,500 from Gaming for lumber purchase
1st Sam
2nd Michelle
All in favor
Perimeter Fence
- Contract signed with Boundary Fencing: $22.6K
- May increase due to quote expiry
- Chain link backup options instead of ornamental (~$14K) not preferred by PAC
School District Coordination
- Water Line + Tree Trimming: Work orders submitted last June to SD83
- Fence Install: Awaiting date and confirmation from SD83
Donor Updates
- Erin Harvey managing donor recognition and thank-you’s
Community Awareness
- Morning Star article published
Next Steps
- Fundraising discussion
- Volunteer coordination for raised bed assembly
- Fence/timeline input
- Design and fundraising suggestions
Fundraising Update
Burger & Beer Night: Scheduled for end of April
New Business
- Facebook Page: “Armstrong Elementary School Community Information” run by Aislinn
- SD83 Configuration: Changes happening in Salmon Arm, unclear for Armstrong
- Pilgrim Box Pilot: From Serena (Shuswap Food Action). Awaiting more details. Nicole will follow up.
Meeting Closing
Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 @ 5:30pm
Adjourned: 6:49pm
Respectfully submitted: Aislinn Harmston, Secretary