Dixon Parents Advisory Committee

 Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of May 13, 2019

PAC Members Present:

Sandra Townsend – Co-Chair

Lyn Yang - Fundraising

Lisa Fisher – Immediate Past Chair

Volker Helmuth - Secretary

Absent:

Karin Schweizer – Co-Chair

Laura Gillanders - Treasurer

Diana White – Fundraising

Karen Fisher-Hagel - Fundraising 

Pilar Ramos – Early Warning Coordinator

Kay Arambulo-sy – Food Days

And: 

Parent Guests

Dixon Administrators Present:

Sean Harrington (Principal)

May Wong (Vice-Princpal)

 

1. Welcome & Introductions

Sandra Townsend called the meeting group to order at 7:00 pm and welcomed all present.

 

2. Review & Approval of Agenda

Sandra motioned for approval of the agenda. Motion approved by all.

 

3. Review and Approval of Minutes of last Meeting

Sandra motioned for approval of the minutes of the meeting held April 15, 2019. Motion approved by all.

 

4. Call for Nominations for unfilled PAC Board for 2019/2020 – position of Chair (and Co-Chair) unfilled at AGM.

Sandra called for nominations for the position of Chair and those indicated were nominated and accepted the nomination:

Chair – Jen McMillan

Co-Chair – Rebecca Van Der Hijde

 

5. Administrators’ Report

Principal Sean Harrington reported as follows:

• As noted in last month’s meeting minutes, parent are highly encouraged to read the Richmond School District’s ‘Long Range Facilities Plan’ that deals with whether schools will need to be closed due to decreasing enrolment.   The report is at the following link: https://www.letstalksd38.ca/8241/documents/14545 .  The most relevant parts of the report, dealing with “West Richmond’ schools starts at page 100, under the heading:​​​​​​​ 9.5.4  Elementary Space Utilization Considerations: West Region.The implications of the report are that it is likely that 2 schools may close and French immersion could be amalgamated into a single school.  However, the school district is seeking community feedback and parents are encouraged to engage with the school district through the website or at public meetings.
• It is planned that next year all Richmond elementary schools will have the same school-day start and finish times, and that those will be 8:45 to 2:45.
• Next year Dixon will have a ‘reverse lunch’ schedule, meaning that children will go out to play first, and then after the bell rings to call them back in, they will have time to eat their lunches.  This is to counteract the current behavior of kids not eating their lunch because they are so eager to get outside to play.
• Upcoming events for the remainder of the year include the following:

Monday April 29th 6 pm Camp Zajac parent meeting (September 25-27) 

Thursday April 25th – Vancouver Track meet – UBC 

Track and Field stations and practices 

May 3rd – TCO2 presentation gr. 6/7 

May 14th – Bandapolooza – Hugh Boyd (just Div. 10) – 6-8 pm 

Thursday, May 16th – Track and Field at Minoru 

Planning started for our Gr. 7 Farewell day here at Dixon 

Tuesday, May 14th - Early Dismissal (2:00 pm) Richmond Teachers AGM 

Wednesday, May 15th – PIZZA DAY (Should we send out an email?) 

Thursday, May 16th - Minoru Track and Field day (for grade 3-7) 

Friday, May 17th - Professional Development Day – School not in session 

Monday, May 20th – Victoria Day – School not in session 

Thursday, May 23rd - K & Gr. 6 Immunization 

Monday, May 27th – May 30th - Scholastic Book Fair – School Library 

Wednesday, May 29th -Welcome to Kindergarten 9:15 am 

Weekend of June 1st – provincial Elementary track meet 

Friday, June 7th - Dragon Day (Dismissal at 1:30 pm) – RAIN OUT DAY 

Wednesday, June 12th Band Concert (1:30 and 6:30 pm) 

Wednesday, June 26th - Grade 7 Farewell assembly (9:00 am) 

Thursday, June 27th - Last day of school.

• Gormond Steet (that the back parking lot is on) is being upgraded by the City, but concerns about student safety existing from the back of the school onto Gormond are not fully being taken into account by the City.  Parents are encouraged to contact the City and voice if they have any concerns.  Best would be if crosswalks were painted in the “T” interestion.
• Emergency supplies will be moved into the container that has been placed outside the school, and required supplies will be added.
• Fruits and Veggie program being introduced and brought into each classroom, so that students have regular access to the healthy food choices. 

 

6. Treasurer’s Report

Laura Gillanders being absent, no report was presented.

 

7. Fundraising Update

Only Pizza Days are left for the remainder of this school year.  Planning for next year is already underway.  

 

8. Vote for PAC Board Member Positions

Those nominated were confirmed in their positions, by acclamation, and are as follows: 

Chair – Jen McMillan

Co-Chair – Rebecca Van Der Hijde

The position holders confirmed at the AGM were:

Secretary – Michelle Gibault-Fahlman

Treasurer – Laura Gillanders

Fundraising – Lyn Yang, Diana White, LJ Cajigas

Food-days Coordinator – Lyn Yang, Kay Arambulo-sy (in abstentia)

Early Warning Coordinator – Pilar Ramos (in abstenstia)

 

10. Additional Items

Lisa Fisher organized a ‘baby-sitting’ certification course for grade 6 and 7 students , to take place after school at Dixon in three parts on May 28, June 4 and June 11 (students will be required to take all three parts to complete the course).  Sufficient students have registered and the course is going ahead. 

 

Motion to Adjourn Meeting:

MOVED, SECONDED and CARRIED that meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Final Meeting:  June 10, 2019, at Edgewater Park Clubhouse 3031 Williams Rd.

All parents are invited!