Please find below the meeting minutes from the April 2026 AES PAC meeting.
Meeting info
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Armstrong Elementary School Library
Call to order, welcome, and acknowledgement
Meeting called to order: 5:34 PM
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, Megan Weir, Nicole Shore, Alex Crowie, Roxanne Landry, Pia Pechtel-Slatcher, Sam Pechtel-Slatcher, Teresa Cauley, Nadine Zakoski, MJ Duford
Approval of previous meeting’s minutes
Approve February’s meeting minutes (all in favour):
1st: Nicole Shore
2nd: Nadine Zakoski
Additions to today’s agenda
Additions to April’s meeting agenda:
None
Adoption of today’s agenda
Adopt April’s meeting agenda (approve amendments / all in favour):
1st: Roxanne Landry
2nd: Pia Pechtel-Slatcher
Principal’s report
Principal – Megan Weir
Decodable books have been ordered. Thank you, PAC.
School goals continue to focus on literacy and numeracy. Writing Thinkers continued in March and April and will continue in June. Math problem solvers will continue in May. Intervention groups in reading and math also continue, and strategies are posted in the monthly newsletter. Student work was presented during the assembly.
During the recent Pro-D day, most staff were involved in a session with Adrienne Gear called “Powerful Thinking.” Staff were given hands-on tools to help with writing skills.
Swimming lessons for Grade 3 and free swims for all grades are now booked. There will be changes next year from the pool. In 2027, there will be two lifeguards required for every booking at $32.05 per hour. Megan will give PAC a cost breakdown for next year.
The Spring Festival will be on May 15, between recess and lunch, from 10:15 AM to 11:10 AM. A family picnic will follow.
The restoration and painting work is currently in room 101, Mr. Belec’s room. The operations department will let the school know about the next rooms and timeline.
There are staff changes. Vivian Jacobs will be taking over music on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Kelsey Hanson will be the library clerk. The school district gave four hours to all schools needing it, mainly elementary schools.
Kindergarten students will have access to Big Adventures soon.
Kindergarten graduation is set for June 18. More information will follow.
Informal learning updates will be sent out during the last week of April and first week of May. Each teacher will do this in their own way.
Next school year’s enrollment is full, with a bit of space in some grades. Staff are in the early stages of looking at class configurations for next school year. Planning has started for Kindergarten and Grade 5 transitions.
Welcome to Kindergarten will be on June 3.
Grade 5 students will visit Len Wood on May 27.
The Len Wood information session for parents will be on June 2.
Students needing extra support for the transition to Len Wood can connect with Megan.
The waterslides event will take place on June 19. This is also National Indigenous Peoples Day, so there will be games and stations.
Large group and combined swims will take place on June 22.
Fun Day will be on June 23. Teachers will plan their own activities.
Teacher’s report
Teacher – not in attendance
President’s report
President – Nadine Zakoski
Nadine wished everyone a happy spring and noted that there are two months left of the school year. She shared appreciation for all the help from parents with the many events and programs offered in the school.
Treasurer’s report
Treasurer – Alex Crowie
As of March 31, 2026, balances are:
Operating account: $31,162.40
Gaming account: $6,282.50
Alex is looking at applying for the gaming grant for next year. She will connect with Tammy to learn how to do this.
Motion: To grant Alex Crowie permission to start a new online app portal for AES PAC bank accounts.
1st: Teresa Cauley
2nd: MJ Duford
All in favour. Motion passed.
Old business
Fundraiser updates
Purdy’s Easter chocolates: $244.38
Freezie Friday: $574.65 after two Fridays
Nature’s Fare: $15 from $520.72 worth of receipts
Mabel’s Labels: $0.00
Snow Cap cookie dough is doing well. More than $1,000 has been raised so far. Final numbers will be available at the end of the month when the order is complete.
Parent RESP information session
There was interest in the parent RESP information session with Leon, but no one attended.
Parents are welcome to offer information sessions in the future.
DPAC and SD83 advocacy updates
The district is running trustee elections. AES needs someone to run for trustee in our area.
SD83 roundtable event
Members of AES PAC attended the SD83 roundtable event. The event brought together district staff and parent advisory council leaders for discussion about communication, inclusive education, advocacy, and the role of PACs in supporting students and school communities.
The organizers said they wanted parents, school staff, and district staff to understand that they are on the same team. The shared goal was described as creating learning environments where children can thrive. The evening was framed as a way to build relationships, improve understanding, and help everyone work together more effectively over the full span of a child’s school career.
Additional notes are available here: DPAC roundtable evening event at AES summary, April 2026
New business
Online banking app to accept e-transfers
See treasurer’s report.
Grade 5 graduation
Grade 5 graduation will be on June 12. The teacher-led event will take place during the day. The parent picnic event will take place in the evening.
Parents will pay $2.50 for the graduation event. There will be no sleepover this year.
Roxanne is looking for parents to help make cupcakes and donate needed supplies. Roxanne will put a call out to parents. She is also looking into whether Askew’s can donate a cake.
Roxanne confirmed that the event is under budget as of today.
Yearbook
One parent reached out for help paying for a yearbook.
Megan will connect again. Food funding is a priority. PAC discussed how many Grade 5 students are getting a yearbook and whether this student would stand out by not having one. Inclusion is needed if that is the case.
Recruiting for PAC
PAC discussed how to build PAC with more new parents.
PAC will have a table at the Welcome to Kindergarten event. Megan will also send an email to all Kindergarten parents.
Meeting closing
Next meeting:
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Motion to adjourn: 6:56 PM
Respectfully submitted by Aislinn Harmston, Secretary.