Please find below the Meeting Minutes from the May 2025 AES PAC Meeting.
Meeting Info
Date: May 7, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Armstrong Elementary School Library
Call to Order, Welcome, and Acknowledgement
Meeting called to order at 5:34 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:
Val Edgell, Nadine Zakoski, Tammie Turner, MJ Duford, Roxanne Landry
Approval of Previous Meeting’s Minutes
Approve April’s meeting minutes (all in favour):
1st: Tammie Turner
2nd: Roxanne Landry
Additions to Today’s Agenda
Additions to May’s meeting agenda: none
Adopt May’s meeting agenda (approve amendments/ all in favour):
1st: Roxanne Landry
2nd: Tammie Turner
Principal’s Report
Principal – Val Edgell
- Class configuration has started for next year. There will be more split classes than previously thought: K, K, K/1, 1/2, 1/2, 2/3, 2/3, 3, 3/4, 4/5, 4/5, 4/5
- Parents are already inquiring about class placements, which is helpful compared to fall requests.
- Writing samples are up on the wall. Kids and parents are encouraged to view the progression.
- Many field trips are planned. Some classes lack enough parent volunteers with criminal record checks. A Facebook post will be created to seek more volunteers.
- Attendance: 27% of students have missed at least 10% of school. While better than past years, improvement is still needed.
- Initiatives to make school more engaging include spirit days and special lunch days.
- Swimming starts May 22. Forms/schedules going home this week.
- Planning to do the slip and slide again (Jordi helping source plastic).
Staff Updates
- Heather Ramsey: undergoing treatment, doing well, misses her class.
- Heather Beattie: diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Donations being collected for her family. House cleaner hired to help.
- Roxanne to make a PAC Facebook post (to be approved by Val).
Teacher’s Report
Teacher: No teacher present.
President’s Report
President – Chloe Hale
- Thank you to everyone who helped complete the school gardens.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer – Tammie Turner
Grade 3 swimming lessons paid by PAC
Account Balances as of April 30, 2025:
- Operating: $26,109.37
- Gaming: $200.00
As of May 6, 2025:
- Operating: $25,958.71
- Gaming: $200.00
Old Business
Grade 5 Graduation: Roxanne Landry
- Final forms being collected.
- Budget planning for BBQ and sleepover snacks underway.
- Donations of hot dogs/beef being sourced. Must be inspected meat.
- Goodie bags being planned with low sugar.
- BBQ: 5:00–6:30 PM, followed by sleepover.
- Overnight belongings brought to BBQ. Pick-up for non-sleepers by 10:30 PM.
- McDonald’s donating breakfast.
- All overnight students must attend school the next day.
- Parents will be called to pick up students who don’t settle at lights-out.
School Garden Update: Mary Jane Duford
- Hose bib installed (approx. $1200).
- Beds are built and filled with soil. Planting begins next week.
- Irrigation mostly ready, waiting on final line. Timers to be installed.
- Summer check-up signup sheet will be at Garden Opening (June 13, 1:00 PM).
- Val and Mary Jane reviewing needed seeds/seedlings.
- Staff draw for bed assignments.
- After-school work bee being scheduled.
- Potting stations to be built by Sam, Mary Jane’s husband and dad.
- Seating ideas TBD.
- Outer beds to include marigolds, strawberries, and sensory plants.
- Maria Byland (Byland Garden Centre in West Kelowna) donating spindle fruit trees.
- Each class painting a stepping stone for garden. Roxanne and Nadine to organize supplies.
- Garden Opening to include welcome by Val, donor intro, optional student speech, ribbon cutting, garden tour. Coincides with Freezie Friday.
Fundraising Update: Jordi Fraser
Freezie Fridays:
- Selling about 250/week.
- Thank you to parent volunteers and Vernon Wholesale Club (donated 20 boxes).
- Facebook thank-you post to be created.
Line Dancing Fundraiser (April 22, 2025):
- Poor turnout (~5 adults + children).
- Proceeds used to pay facilitator. No funds raised.
New Business
Yearbook Committee: Chloe Hale
- Deadline to send to printer: May 19.
- Approx. 20 hours of work left.
- Thanks to Roxanne, Jordi, and Erin for support.
- Yearbooks: $26 via Munch-a-Lunch.
- Facebook/email communication planned.
Upcoming AGM:
- Scheduled for June 11, 2025
- Low meeting turnout today.
- Aislinn to post recruitment message.
- Discussion about moving elections to September to increase participation. Roxanne offered to change bylaws if approved for following year.
Meeting Closing
Next Meetings:
- Monday, June 2, 2025 @ 5:30 PM
- AGM: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Motion to adjourn @ 7:00 PM
Respectfully submitted by Aislinn Harmston, Secretary
Meeting minutes taken by Nadine Zakoski (Vice-President) in the absence of Aislinn Harmston