Please find below the meeting minutes from the September 2025 AES PAC meeting.
Meeting info
Date: September 23, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Armstrong Elementary School Library
Call to order, welcome, and acknowledgement
Meeting called to order: 5:31 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:
Megan Weir, Aislinn Harmston, Michelle R., MJ Duford, Roxanne Landry, Nadine Zakoski, Jordi Fraser, Kaitlin Fulljames, Nicole Shore, Pia Pechtel-Slatcher, Teresa Cauley, Summer Belanger, Lauren Fowler, Heather Dennis, Janina Langlands
Approval of previous meeting’s minutes
Approve June’s meeting minutes (all in favour):
1st: Jordi Fraser
2nd: Summer Belanger
Approve September budget meeting minutes (all in favour):
1st: Roxanne Landry
2nd: Nadine Zakoski
Additions to today’s agenda
Additions to September’s meeting agenda:
- Grade 5 graduation
- DPAC
Adoption of today’s agenda
Adopt September’s meeting agenda (approve amendments / all in favour):
1st: Jordi Fraser
2nd: Roxanne Landry
Principal’s report
Principal – Megan Weir
Megan shared an update on teacher placements and enrollment. The school hoped to share new teacher placements by Wednesday or Thursday of the first week, but unexpected changes in enrollment (connected to the Kindergarten Thursday start) delayed notifications until Friday at the end of the day. AES was able to accept all new AES-catchment families.
The plan this year is to use “grade groupings” for Thursday and Friday during startup. In June, the school will review the process and look at ways to make the transition smoother, given the likely shift to students being in their regular classrooms by Friday or the following Monday.
Michelle reported that DPAC also discussed how the first week of school is rolled out across the district. Families expressed frustration with the current model and felt there is “no point” to the first week when it runs this way. DPAC will take this concern to the district. Better communication at the school level is needed so families understand the process at AES.
The school is currently very full, with only two spaces available in the K/1/2 range and a total enrollment of 268 students. AES has welcomed new staff this year and now has eight CEAs. Some district funds are held back for mid-year adjustments as needed.
School goals continue to focus on growth in literacy and numeracy. Professional development sessions to support this are planned for October 24, November 10, and April 20.
Starting in October:
- The school will continue with a Math Problem of the Month, with a school-wide participation goal, incentives, and a celebration assembly.
- Small group supports in math and literacy will begin, based on September assessment check-ins.
- The monthly school newsletter will include a literacy tip or activity and a math skill or game that families can use at home.
For the upcoming Pro D day, the focus will be Student Support and Wellness. Staff will look at ways to support learners using resources such as The Behavior Code and Educalme (co-regulation), and will also spend time learning more about using the school garden as a learning space (with a guest speaker).
Upcoming events:
- Terry Fox Run – September 25 at 12:35 PM, with an assembly at 12:15 PM
- Truth and Reconciliation assembly – September 26 at 8:50 AM
Teacher’s report
Megan shared that she will speak with teachers once PAC has confirmed monthly meeting dates for the year. Teachers will then sign up for dates when they are available to attend and present a report.
President’s report
President – Nadine Zakoski
Nadine welcomed everyone and shared that she is excited for the new school year. Goals for the year include fundraising and inviting and recruiting new PAC members.
Treasurer’s report
Treasurer – not in attendance
Totals were shared from the budget meeting minutes.
As of September 14, 2025, balances are:
- Operating account: $18,281.41
- Gaming account: $225.00
Old business
Review of bylaws regarding AGM timing
PAC reviewed the idea of amending the bylaws to move the AGM to September 2026. After discussion, the group decided to keep the AGM in June.
The principal will send an email invitation to the AGM to all new Kindergarten families in June.
Updates from budget meeting
- Megan requested that PAC continue to fund Maypole treats and winter recreation (Silver Star and Larch Hills fees). PAC will revisit this later in the year, as these items were removed from the 2025/2026 budget due to no funds being spent last year.
- Megan is working on bus cost estimates for a school-wide field trip to the Salmon Arm waterslides.
- LASS “Come Read With Me” literacy workshop for Grade 1 families could be offered on a Saturday if parents prefer not to attend during the school day. Megan would make herself available for a Saturday session if that is best for families.
LASS could offer the parent resource (given out at the workshop) to a wider group of parents if that would be helpful. The long-term goal is to offer Come Read With Me annually so most parents receive the training in Grade 1 and carry those skills forward as their children get older.
New business
Treasurer position
The treasurer position needs to be filled as Tammie Turner has stepped down.
Motion: To appoint Alex Crowie as PAC treasurer for 2025–2026.
1st: Jordi Fraser
2nd: Nadine Zakoski
All in favour. Motion passed.
Motion: To add Alex Crowie and Nadine Zakoski as signing authorities on both accounts, and to remove Tammie Turner.
1st: Roxanne Landry
2nd: Teresa Cauley
All in favour. Motion passed.
AES PAC is requesting to add the following signatories to the Operating account (2117364) and Gaming account (2117588):
- Alex Crowie (Treasurer)
- Nadine Zakoski (President)
PAC will request the removal of Tammie Turner as a signatory. A letter of direction for Valley First will be attached, along with signed authorization from current and new signing authorities.
Teacher wish list
Megan confirmed that all teachers used their $200 allocation from last year. Funds were used for various supplies (for example, LRT used funds for timers and self-regulation tools). Teachers are working on a new wish list for this school year to share with PAC.
DPAC update
DPAC – report from Michelle Reinhart
Michelle attended the September DPAC meeting via Zoom. DPAC is looking for host schools to run educational programs. LASS was mentioned as a possible workshop that could be funded. Michelle will follow up with DPAC.
The next DPAC meeting in October is planned to be in person in Salmon Arm. More details will follow.
AES apparel
PAC received permission from Richard Belec to take over the AES apparel project. Chloe is in contact with 1602 Custom Designs, and a breakdown of options is posted in the PAC WhatsApp chat.
Chloe will move forward with arranging the apparel and getting ordering set up on the AES website. This will not be a fundraiser.
Hot lunches
PAC expressed appreciation to SunBelt for lending their BBQ for Hot Dog Fridays. This makes cooking 200 hotdogs much easier than boiling them.
Aislinn reported that Munchalunch is up and running. Parents can place orders through to December. Cash will not be accepted this year, and late orders will not be accepted.
New vendors were contacted, but prices were too high to allow for fundraising. PAC can reassess vendor options in January if parents want more choices, even at a higher price point. Parents are encouraged to suggest new vendors, keeping in mind product cost and delivery to AES.
Currently there are only two families whose hot lunches are funded by PAC. PAC can support more families and asks the community to spread the word.
Fundraisers
- Pub night: Booked for November 8, 2025. More details to follow.
- Apple boxes – Davison Orchard:
- Order deadline: October 1
- Currently 21 boxes sold; goal is 50 boxes
- The general public can order through Munchalunch by creating a “community member” profile instead of selecting a teacher
- Fundraiser will be promoted on Facebook
- Pickup date: October 28
- Boxes can be held until the end of the week; unclaimed boxes will be donated
- Produce boxes – De Mille’s:
- Offer: $25 box (potatoes, onions, carrots, apples, squash, pears, cucumber)
- $5 per box goes to PAC
- Order deadline: October 1
- Boxes will be dropped off at the school, and volunteers will be needed to sort
- It is unknown if there is a minimum order or if boxes are pre-packed or bulk
- Jordi will connect with Demille’s to confirm details and report back to the fundraising committee
PAC discussed having two food fundraisers at the same time and agreed that a mixed produce box does not directly compete with a large box of apples.
Grade 5 graduation
Roxanne met with Grade 5 students to gather hoodie color preferences. Colors requested include Carolina blue, black, forest green, maroon, soft pink, and orchid.
There are 48 Grade 5 students. Hoodie cost is $2,160 in total. Order forms will be sent home soon.
Any parents of Grade 5 students who would like to help with the celebration can connect with Roxanne. Roxanne will connect with Megan to discuss ideas and accessible options.
AES garden
MJ shared that some homeschooling parents have asked to visit the garden.
A garden shut-down will occur in October. Funds are available for maintenance, and a seed fundraiser is planned for January. MJ would like to create a harvest event for next year.
Creating a space for parent peer support
Aislinn noted that parents are looking for a space to receive peer support from other parents and to talk about shared experiences and challenges. The current Facebook page is not suitable for this, as its purpose is information sharing and event planning only.
PAC discussed options for creating a support space and agreed to avoid social media platforms for now. One option is a PAC board at AES, where parents can leave comments or concerns in a box and remain anonymous.
A date will be set with Megan for an in-person event where parents can gather and start these conversations. Childcare will be provided in a separate space so parents can focus on discussion. This event will be a trial to explore how best to meet this need.
Aislinn will post a link for all parents to add themselves to the PAC WhatsApp conversation/chat.
2025/2026 meeting dates
Proposed AES PAC meeting dates:
- Tuesday, October 28, 2025
- Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- Wednesday, December 10, 2025
- Tuesday, January 27, 2025
- Wednesday, February 25, 2025
- Wednesday, March 11, 2025
- Tuesday, April 28, 2025
- Wednesday, May 27, 2025
- Tuesday, June 16, 2025
- Wednesday, June 10, 2025 – AGM
Update on SD83 financial requests
Michelle has been in ongoing contact with Jeremy from SD83. AES PAC has requested district numbers to confirm fair distribution of funds over past years and the current year.
So far, Jeremy has provided numbers for school supplies and student designations. PAC is still requesting staffing data. Deadlines have been extended a few times over the summer at Jeremy’s request. There appear to be challenges producing reports because of the different programs used over the years.
Meeting closing
Next meeting:
Tuesday, October 28 at 5:30 PM
Motion to adjourn: 7:41 PM
Respectfully submitted by Aislinn Harmston, Secretary.