Please find below the Meeting Minutes from the September 2024 AES PAC Meeting.
Meeting Info
Date: September 9, 2024
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Armstrong Elementary School Staff Room
Call to Order, Welcome, and Acknowledgement
Meeting called to order at 5:36 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, MJ Duford, Tammie Turner, Pamela Rennie, Lyndsey Gavelin, Michelle, Roxanne Landry, Chloe Hale, Nadine Zakoski, Jordi Fraser, Amber Gale, Kaitlin Fulljames, Crysta Whalley, Jill Doye, Roy MacGregor, Kelsey Caston, Kim Holt, Becky Johnston, Caitlin Schlaak, Nicole Sullivan, Madison Watson, Nicole Shore, Pia Pechtel-Slatcher, Teresa Cauley, Jillain Rintoul, Erin Harvey.
Approval of Previous Meeting’s Minutes
Approve June’s meeting minutes (all in favour)
1st Jordi Fraser
2nd Chloe Hale
Additions to Today’s Agenda
Additions to September’s meeting agenda:
Signing authority changes, this years PAC meeting dates.
Adopt September’s meeting agenda (approve amendments/ all in favour)
1st Nicole Sullivan
2nd Nadine Zakoski
Principal’s Report
Principal – Val Edgell
- 265 students registered this year at AES. Only 2 spots left available in kindergarten and 2 more elsewhere.
- Reflection on split classes this year; created with learning needs, support needs, category kids in mind. All students have now been placed in their assigned classes for the year.
- Val spoke about a SD policy called ‘Ordinary Resident’. Val would like feedback. Chloe will distribute.
- E-mail letter for the students from Val at the end of summer before school started, was well received and appreciated by parents and students.
- Teacher: Val will speak with teachers once PAC has listed meeting dates for this school year. Teachers will then sign up for dates they are available to attend.
Teacher’s Report
Teacher – (none)
No report. No teacher present.
President’s Report
President – Chloe Hale
Welcome. Excited for this new school year and excited to see what PAC can do in partnership with parents, teachers and staff.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer – Tammie Turner
As of MAY end:
Operating $40,424.46
Gaming $13,470.12
As of JUNE end:
Operating $39,767.72
Gaming $12,333.01
As of JULY end:
Operating $35,330.65
Gaming $12,424.70
This number does not include payment of AES pinnies ($3,089.34) and cost of food for Kindergarten welcome ($55.14) that was spent recently.
On September 4th on What’s App executive chat, Nadine Zakoski motioned PAC spend $70 on the Kindergarten meet & greet event.
1st Chloe Hale.
2nd Roxanne Landry.
Old Business
One to One Reading Program
One to One reading volunteers for this school year: Request was posted on Facebook PAC page recently with contact details. Val will be notified by program coordinator if volunteers are still needed.
New Pinnies
Pinnies have arrived! Kindergarteners will be wearing them for the 1st time during their 1st recess break this week.
AES Garden update: MJ Duford
- Meeting with school district in June resulted in Trevor (manager of Facility & grounds) has APPROVED garden project! SD cannot help with project due to time. Parents and teachers cannot build either due to liability.
- Ideas to build off-site and then assemble on-site may work.
- Currently working on collecting quotes for materials. Please send gardening committee costs or companies willing to donate or help build (Tolko supply donation program).
- Garden project will also need maintenance volunteers throughout the year/summer.
- The committee has a Bid Package ready to be distributed to interested contractors.
Terry Fox run
Date correction September 26th. Parents are allowed to help. must have criminal record complete (good for 5 years). ‘I run for…’ stickers will be used if available and at the discretion of teacher as per each student.
Project ideas tabled from last year
- Garage Sale Fundraiser: Will look into asap.
- Track & field day or sports day: Val spoke to staff about this idea. Val would like to keep these events to currently designated grades. They are a ‘rite of passage’ event as they progress to each grade. No school-wide event will happen.
New Business
Roles of executives
President will run PAC meetings moving forward. President has been added as a moderator on PAC Facebook page.
Birthday cupcakes for students, staff treats
Monthly birthday cupcakes and staff treats have all been claimed and are ready to roll out.
Note on expense receipts
Official itemized receipts are needed for reimbursement of costs. No exceptions will be made.
Upcoming apple box fundraiser
Fundraiser: Davison Orchard Apples will go live in 2 weeks.
Jordi is working on details. There will be 4 types of apples available to order.
AES will profit $12–$14 per box.
Deadline to order is October 9th.
Jordi will submit order on October 10th.
Pick-up is set for October 24th.
Jordi will pick-up to save on delivery costs.
Jordi welcomes parents to connect with her if they want to help with fundraising.
Welcome BBQ
- September 26th from 5:00pm (classroom open), 5:30–6:30pm BBQ
- Discussion on how to roll out hot-dog tickets was had. Nadine will confirm.
- PAC parents will supply baking. A request will be sent to all AES parents to provide additional food for BBQ (veggies, salads, fruits etc)
Nadine Zakoski motions to spend $800 on food for Welcome Back BBQ.
1st Chloe Hale
2nd Roxanne Landry
All in favour. Motion passed.
AES PAC page on school website
AES PAC page of school website has been updated. Aislinn will stay connected with Val with any updates.
Upcoming DPAC Meeting
DPAC September 12th @ 7:30pm via Zoom.
All parents are encouraged to attend to express voice/opinions/concerns to be carried to district level.
Aislinn had Zoom link to share with those interested in attending. Notice will be posted on PAC Facebook page.
Grade 5 hoodies
Roxanne will order. Roxanne discussed using the same company that does our yearbooks (TMS solutions). $51 per hoodie. $55 AES on sleeve.
Concerns expressed from others reflecting on poor experience with recent orders. Suggestion of a ‘parent hoodie’ fundraiser.
Discussion around hoodies being only for Grade 5s. Roxanne to explore more options.
Funding for Willing to Ninja
Willing 2 Ninja to come to school.
Val is very interested and has connected with them already. Tabled to next meeting (funding).
2024-2025 Annual Budget Meeting (ABM)
Set Budget Meeting date:
2024/2025 Budget Meeting: Monday, September 16th @ 5:30pm
Changing of signing authority
Changing of signing authority for PAC bank accounts.
Roxanne Landry motions: to ADD Chloe Hale (President 2024/2025)
1st Jordi Fraser
2nd Nicole Shore
All in favor. Motion passed.
We are requesting to add the following signatory: Chloe Hale (President).
We will attach a letter of direction for Valley First with signed authorization from the current signing authority and signing authorities to be added.
PAC meeting general schedule for this school year
PAC meeting dates:
- Future meetings will alternate between Mondays and Wednesdays in attempts to accommodate everyone’s availability to attend.
- Teams link can be created for those who want to attend remotely. Will only be able to listen, not participate as there are issues that arise.
- Aislinn will connect with Val to set date each month.
Meeting Closing
Next meeting date: Wednesday, October 9th @ 5:30pm
Motion to adjourn @ 6:55pm
Respectfully submitted by Aislinn Harmston, Secretary