April 2021 Newsletter
Hamber Parents and Guardians,
One more week and we’ll be in the last quarter of the year.
You’ve likely received the new timetable and deciphered how it’ll work.
The kids seem to have a better idea on how it will operate, thankfully.
We’ll likely hear more about this from our administration during our next virtual PAC meeting.
As with past messaging, we hope you all are well and keeping safe in spite of the COVID-19 and VOC exposure events at the school and in our community. With the vaccine distribution restarted around the province, we are aware of the added stress as sheer volume can at times be unnerving.
In the meantime, the Hamber PAC continues to be focussed on communicating to the school’s administration team any concerns and feedback that we receive from the parent / guardian community.
Gaming Fund Requests review and allocations
At the November 17, 2020 PAC meeting, the PAC executives presented the requests from the teachers’ for funding of various extracurricular activities for approval. The meeting attendees voted to grant almost all of the requests received that met the Provincial Gaming criteria. We have begun to distribute the funding and will update you on disbursements at our next meeting
Hamber Seismic Project Update
The PAC had formally requested for a Seismic Advisory Group (SAG) meeting to take place before the end of 2020, this did take place just before our last PAC Meeting.
We gave an update on that meeting where the questions below were answered in the positive, howe
For reference these are some of the concerned we had:
We believe it is important for parents / guardians to understand the design changes in response to the City's Conditional Approval resubmission requirements, as set out by the Director of Planning. We would also like an update on the timeline as the information we received from the City's Planning Department highlights that there is a 14 week review period before the development permit is issued. Will this result in a delay to the construction start date? How does the recent merger with Stuart Olson affect personnel on the project leadership team?
You can see renderings and review the application information here: https://shapeyourcity.ca/5025-willow-st
You are invited our next Hamber Pac Zoom meeting
When: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 07:00 PM
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcu-ppjIsGtJINF-YZ7Q1rlI_8PQczlFF
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Should you have questions about the agenda or you wish to add items for discussion, you must email those to us in advance to chair@hamberpac.ca so that we can try to adjust the agenda to accommodate the requested changes within the scheduled meeting time.
Eric Hamber PAC Agenda April 20, 2021
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
AGENDA ITEM
SPEAKER
Time Slot
1.
Welcome
Approval of Agenda and Feb 16/20 minutes (last virtual Pac Meeting)
Peter Couch
7:00pm -7:05pm
2.
Chair Report
-Seismic Update
-Fundraising Update
-Dpac
Peter Couch
7:05pm - 7:20pm
3.
Treasurer Report
Donna Chao
7:20pm -7:25pm
4.
Teacher Rep Report
Nick Francis
7:25pm -7:35pm
5.
Principal Report
Marea Jensen
7:35pm -8:05pm
6.
Other Business
Peter Couch
8:05pm -8:15pm
7.
Adjournment
Next meeting: May 18, 2021
(This is the final PAC meeting of the year)
Message from the District PAC
Parents:
I hope your spring break was restful. With the return to school, we have been looking to provide feedback to the VSB on a number of topics. See future postings on results.
April 18th-24th is National Volunteer Week. I want to applaud all volunteers that support their school communities. Your contribution is important to keeping our schools connected and strong, especially in this trying time.
PACs -- I encourage you to tap parents on the shoulder and ask for help. People want to help their communities, and it is important for PACs to plan for the future.
DPAC also is looking to the future, as our exec inevitably turns over -- parents interested in helping us in our work with the VSB, please contact chair@vancouverdpac.org
Stay safe
Gord Lau, 2020/21 DPAC Chair
Upcoming DPAC Events
Thursday, April 22, 7pm - DPAC General: UNDRIP
All meeting information (registration, agendas, minutes) on our meeting page. All parents of VSB students are welcome to attend DPAC meetings.
Subscribe to our meeting calendar.
DPAC Committees and Working Groups
Childcare Committee
The committee is focused on encouraging increased access and wider options for school-age care. Interested parents please contact committee lead Alan at alan.patola.moosmann@vancouverdpac.org
Facilities Planning Committee
The committee just did a lot of work going through the VSB LRFP and will be creating a detailed Seismic Toolkit. Interested parents please contact DPAC chair at vik.khanna@vancouverdpac.org.
School Restart 2021/22 Working Group
We are getting more information from the VSB about providing feedback for school restart (particularly the secondary model). Interested parents please contact Krista Sigurdson at krista.sigurdson@vancouverdpac.org.
Anti-Racism Working Group
DPAC has struck a working group that is laying the groundwork to create an anti-racism committee to shadow the VSB Anti-Racism Committee, as well as advise DPAC and work in concert with executives in anti-oppression work. Interested parents place contact Karen at karen.tsang@vancouverdpac.org
From BC Confedration of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC https://bccpac.bc.ca/)
Our AGM and the annual parent education conference are both fast approaching! Individuals whose DPAC or PAC Executive is a current member and who plan to attend the AGM on May 1 must register no later than April 19.
Registration for our “Power to Change – Empowering Yourself” parent education conference is now open. Early Bird discount pricing only available until May 3.https://bccpac.bc.ca/
Annual Parent Education Conference – May 28-29, 2021
Join us virtually for our annual parent education conference on Friday May 28 and Saturday May 29, 2021. Our theme and content focus over the two day event is "Empowerment through Knowledge and Sharing". We strongly believe parents/guardians become more empowered for themselves and their children through a better understanding of all that encompasses “schooling and parenting” (during and post-pandemic) and by sharing what they learn and their experiences with their peers.
And just like in prior years when we were able to meet face-to-face, we are unique in our ability to provide parents the opportunity to hear directly from the Minister and senior officials within the Ministry of Education and to provide the opportunity to give direct feedback and engage in dialogue.
Our conference speakers and sessions will cover 10+ hours of valuable content for you and your PAC parent community! Our online format over two days enables parents/guardians/caregivers from across the province to safely participate from their home or office. Register Now!
We are excited to announce our Saturday opening Keynote Speaker is Dr. Gordon Neufeld, a Vancouver-based developmental psychologist with over 45 years of experience with children and youth and those responsible for them. A foremost authority on child development, Dr. Neufeld is an international speaker, a bestselling author ("Hold On To Your Kids") and a leading interpreter of the developmental paradigm. Dr. Neufeld has a widespread reputation for making sense of complex problems and for opening doors for change.
And why have one keynote when you can have two?! We are excited that our closing Keynote Speaker is Dr. Ashley Miller, child and adolescent psychiatrist, family therapist, and Award-winning educator and author of “What to Say to Kids When Nothing Seems to Work”. She is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia where she serves as co-director of family therapy training.
But that’s not all! We have top quality speakers on both Friday and Saturday including:
Friday opening address and Q&A with the Minister of Education, the Honorable Jennifer Whiteside
Mental Health in Schools with Jennifer McCrae, Assistant Deputy Minister, Learning Division, Ministry of Education
Framework for Enhancing Student Learning with Shelaina Postings, Executive Director, Sector Policy and Performance, Ministry of Education
Social Media Awareness, Digital Citizenship, and Cyberbullying with Dr. Greg Gerber from Safer Schools Together BC.
Tyrone McNeil, president of First Nations Education Steering Committee(FNESC) and vice-president of the Stó:lō Tribal Council will be discussing First Nations Education and Your Role
All Regular Members in good standing who paid their membership dues by December 31, 2020 are entitled to vote at the AGM. All Proxy Vote Forms must be completed and signed by two members of that member’s PAC or DPAC executive in order for ONE (1) official delegate to exercise voting rights on their behalf during the AGM. To expedite registration and operations, members are encouraged to scan and upload completed Proxy Vote forms at the time of registration.
All Regular Members in good standing who paid their membership fees after December 31, 2020 are only entitled to attend and speak, but not vote, at the AGM. All Non-Voting Regular Members who wish to speak during the AGM must designate an official delegate(s) to speak on their behalf. Each Non-Voting Regular Member must complete their own authorized Proxy Speaker Form with the appropriate council executive signatures. To expedite registration and operations, members are encouraged to scan and upload completed Proxy Speaker forms at the time of registration.
Children Benefit from Parents and Schools Working Together
The best school is one where parents, educators, staff, and school administrators have a shared vision and work diligently together to achieve it. Children are at the core of everything in education. The public education system benefits – and our children benefit – when parents are recognized as a valuable resource forming mutually-respectful relationships with the school administration. When we put our collective talents together, we can achieve so much more for our communities, our schools, and our children. This is true during a regular school year and becomes essential within a pandemic environment.
nterested in reading more? This article by President Sinclair was published in full in the March issue of the BC Principals and Vice Principals Association (BCPVPA) magazine.
Report on Youth Vaping During the Pandemic
The report of the findings, Youth vaping during COVID-19: BC youth’s experiences during the pandemic is now available to read. Youth researchers also created an infographic poster for parents.
McCreary Report on the Mental Health of Youth
The McCreary Centre Society has released “Doing OK? Checking in on the mental health of BC youth”. The report is based on data from the 2018 BC Adolescent Health Survey. McCreary’s Executive Director, Annie Smith, explains “A couple of weeks ago we released a report about vaping during the COVID-19 pandemic and it showed the link between stress, anxiety and vaping. This report takes a deeper look at youth mental health and how we can support young people when they are struggling in this area, which will be particularly important as things start to open up again.”
Smith went on to say “Although this data was collected pre-pandemic, the results still give us some timely information about adolescent mental health, including which youth seem to be most likely to self-harm and feel suicidal, as well as the reasons they sometimes don’t get the treatment and support they need.” The report also highlights where services might not be meeting the needs of young people, particularly those with additional challenges and barriers. Read the report.
Community Gaming Grants revised and updated DPAC/PAC Guidelines for 2021-22 school year have now been released. For the benefit of members, we have partnered with Gaming branch staff to host a live 90 minute session to share the information and answer any and all Gaming funds related questions by PACS and DPACs. The session will be held Thursday April 8 at 7pm and it will cover a program overview, revisions to the DPAC/PAC Guidelines and the Capital Project grant, advice and examples of eligible uses of PAC funding, commonly asked questions, and will include a Q&A period. Register Now!
Additionally, during December 2020, we reached out to members for feedback about how they were spending their Gaming funds in the current pandemic influenced environment. We have posted the key themes of the member feedback for your reference as there are some very creative spending within the Guidelines. Additionally we shared it directly with CGG staff as a data point for development of the revised Guidelines for 2021-22.
The 2020-21 Student Learning Survey is available for students in Gr 4, 7, 10, & 12 and their parents. The student survey is in English and French. The parent survey is available in 16 languages. The input from students and their parents/guardians is important each year but especially so during the pandemic. The data from this survey helps to inform K-12 education. Survey closes April 30. Get details on access etc.
New Resources for Gangs/Guns Awareness
The Ministries of Education and Public Safety & Solicitor General and Safer Schools Together have recently announced the launch of the Gangs and Guns Online Resources: a suite of videos and guides to increase awareness, knowledge and competencies related to gang and gun violence prevention for parents and students, educators and school support staff. It’s all part of the larger erase strategy. Access the Resources.
Updated Mask Requirements for K-12
Further to the March 29 announcement by the PHO, both the BCCDC Public Health Guidance for K-12 and the Health and Safety Guidelines for K-12 have now been updated to reflect the amended mask requirements for K-12 staff and students. Effective immediately, all staff, adult volunteers and visitors, and all Grade 4 to 12 students should wear a non-medical mask or face covering at all times while indoors at school, subject to the exceptions noted in the documents. Masks for students in grades K-3 are "strongly recommended". Learn More
Increased Demand for French Immersion - Survey in April
The Ministry of Education is seeking to better understand the factors leading to increased demand for French Immersion programs across the province. A survey will be launching in mid-April in an effort to learn more about the experiences, insights and ideas of those families with students currently learning in a French Immersion program as well as families who find themselves on a wait list for entry into a French Immersion program. Families in either of these categories are encouraged to complete this short survey. Please stay tuned for further details as they become available.
Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Resources
#ScienceUpFirst is a social media movement developed by a team of independent scientists, health care providers and science communicators to stop the spread of misinformation around COVID-19. Their goal is to put science first. Learn more.
Have you heard about the “Ask Kelty” mental health tool? It’s not easy for families to navigate the mental health system. Access the new interactive tool where you can ask and see answers to common questions families have about accessing mental health supports and services for your child. Check it out!
It’s important to know the difference between bullying, single acts of aggression, and conflict. Not all mean behaviour, rude behaviour, or conflict is bullying. Learn more.
DYK about SEL? SEL – or Social Emotional Learning – is all about how children identify and manage emotions, make good decisions, show empathy, and maintain positive relationships – and the benefits of SEL are shown to last a lifetime. Check out the Kelty Mental Health podcast on SEL to learn more about what parents and caregivers can do to support SEL at home, and to learn about the role of schools in promoting SEL.
Do you feel like your complaints about public services are going nowhere? The BC Ombudsperson can help. You can connect with them directly to learn how to complain effectively so your voice is heard. As an independent and impartial office the BC Ombudsperson has 40 years of experience dealing with public complaints and can provide you with expert advice to make sure you get results.
Have a child in high school? Did you know that you can find info on undergrad programs offered at the 25 public BC post-secondary institutions in one place? That's right, find them all on the EducationPlannerBC Search Database! Take a look.
Key Dates and Events
April 20 -Advocacy Presentation to DPAC 79
April 28 -PAC/DPAC Presentation to DPAC 67
May 1 -Annual General Meeting
May 7 -National Child/Youth Mental Health Day
May 28-29 - Parent Education Conference
May 31 -Bike to School Week