News for Parents at Salt Spring Elementary

February minutes

hollymacdonald — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:29:08 +0000

I have posted the February minutes from our last PAC meeting.

Our next meeting will happen after Spring Break – Thursday, April 7th @ 8:30 am in the library. Mark your calendars!

January PAC Minutes are uploaded

hollymacdonald — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:36:52 +0000

Hi parents – the minutes for the past meeting have been uploaded.

Our next meeting is Thursday, February 17th @ 8:30 am in the Library.

This is a test post

hollymacdonald — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:39:01 +0000

Want to see if the email subscription for the google group will work…

here is the SSE PAC Minutes_Nov10.

2010 National Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3rd – 6th)

hollymacdonald — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:07:54 +0000

Each year the government of Canada establishes a National Emergency Preparedness Week. Now is a great time for us to think about how well prepared we are at home and at school. We are encouraged to be ready for 72 hours without outside support at home.

The experts suggest that we each follow these steps:

Know the risks
Make a plan
Get a kit

We are working towards more emergency preparedness at school, too. If you are interested in reading up on the district’s health & safety, you can check out their website. There are policies, minutes of safety meeting and other relevant information. Each school is responsible for their own plan. The PAC can help out by managing emergency preparedness supplies, organizing comfort kits and providing information for the parent community (like this!). If you are interested in emergency preparedness at school, contact one of the PAC members.

Some of the emergencies that we should be prepared for are: earthquakes, tsunamis, severe weather and other potential dangers, such as disease and hazardous materials. Salt Spring’s emergency programs are “pods” which coordinated by the CRD. You can check out the “pod” information here.

Some resources for parents to review:

Get Prepared: http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx
Canadian Red Cross information: http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=22059&tid=025
Facing Fear – a program designed by the red cross to help kids face their fears: http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=9899&tid=025
This site is geared towards kids and gives them scenarios to prepare for using online games: http://www.msp.gouv.qc.ca/jeunesse/catastrophe/catastrophe_en.html
British Columbia’s Emergency Preparedness program: http://www.pep.bc.ca/index.html
Emergency Preparedness at School - a comprehensive list of resources from SafeCanada: http://www.safecanada.ca/link_e.asp?category=4&topic=219

Please feel free to download the files on the right: A 36 page booklet to help you write your plan is “national-eng” and a comprehenisve list of supplies to put in your emergency preparedness kit is “ep-shop-list-eng”.

Thrifty’s Smile Card fundraiser

hollymacdonald — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:40:49 +0000

The PAC Thrifty Smile Card fundraiser is up and running! The PAC uses the funds to support school activities, such as field trips, to enhance the overall school experience for kids.

How does the program work? You load your card with money, you use your card to pay for Thrifty’s groceries. Thrifty’s donates 5% of the purchases to the PAC http://www.thriftyfoods.com/EN/minor/community/community-fundraising.html.Pretty simple stuff.

We need 40 families to spend $250 per month till June. Or 20 families to spend $500 per month. Or 10 families to spend $1000 per month.

Cards are available from Michele Mackenzie or Debra at the office.

Thanks for help in maxing this out!

UPDATE: PAC Meeting Thursday March 4th @ 1:30 pm

hollymacdonald — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:57:48 +0000

Proposed Agenda – we’ll see you in the SSE Library on Thursday.

Approval of Minutes & Agenda
Principal’s Report (Marie)
Review of correspondence (Holly)
Review funding requests (Lynn)
Treasurer’s report (Lynn)
Trustee report (Rob)
DPAC report (Rio)
Old Business
- Report on Strings program (Michele)
- Report on Family swim night (Darcy)
New Business
- Spring cleaning idea (Darcy)
- Emergency Preparedness update (Rob/Holly)

Does Math Make Sense?

hollymacdonald — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:27:18 +0000

Some parents may have noticed that the math curriculum has changed and that tried and true techniques (as in the way “we” learned math) are not necessarily the same ones used today. This became apparent to me when my daughter was learning division – she talked about friendly numbers and remainders in a way that I was not familiar with. I attended a workshop with Ray Appel, who has been visiting SIMS this year and on his next visit, he is going to offer a workshop to elementary parents as well to talk through the similarities and differences, as well as tools/techniques to help support your child at home.

If you would like to participate, the workshop is on Wednesday, January 27th at 7pm in the SSE Multipurpose Room. To register, please email mmullen@sd64.bc.ca.

Pilot Strings Program

hollymacdonald — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:15:32 +0000

As you know, we raised money in November (the big dance) for arts education at the school and we are very excited that we are able to offer a music option for some students.

Saltspring has a strong violin and guitar culture that we want all interested students to be able to partake in. These instruments have long been favored instruments, and for good reason! Easy to travel with, welcome on stages or at campfires, and never completely mastered; a life long learn. It offers any budding musician an opportunity to find his or her musical connection.

PAC is bringing in a pilot program for interested Grade 4/5 students, running at lunch hour (11:30 start) for one day per week and four weeks in a row, we are offering students to choose one of guitar or violin.

The students will get instruction, and the use of an instrument for the duration of the class.

Should there be enough interest, we will aim at bringing this program in to the classroom, where students will have an opportunity to try all of the available instruments over the course of the school year.

If you would like more information or are interested in hearing more about it, please contact Michele Mackenzie.

January PAC meeting

hollymacdonald — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:17:17 +0000

See you at 1:30 pm in the SSE Library!

Proposed Agenda

Approval of Minutes & Agenda
Principal’s Report (Marie)
Review of correspondence (Holly)
Review funding requests (Lynn)
Treasurer’s report (Lynn)
Trustee report (Rob)
DPAC report (Rio)
Old Business
- Strings program (Michele)
- Family swim night (Darcy)
New Business
- Field trip funding (related to budget)
- Possible bottle drive (Holly)
- Spring cleaning idea (Darcy)

PAC Meeting Dec 10th @ 1:30 SSE Library

hollymacdonald — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:54:18 +0000

Proposed Agenda

Approval of Minutes & Agenda
Principal’s Report (Marie)
Review of correspondence
Review funding requests (Lynn)
Treasurer’s report (Lynn)
Trustee report (Rob)
DPAC report (Rio)
SPC report (Darcy?)
Old Business
- 2009/10 budget
- Strings program (Michele)
- Holiday dance committee report (Darcy)
- Christmas concert, caroling & hot chocolate (PAC hosts, will need parent volunteers)
New Business