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Chartwell Parents Advisory Council General Body Meeting

Thursday 7th April 2016

Minutes of the Meeting

Attendees: Nessa Van Bergen (Co-Chair) Rola Priatel (Co-Chair) Aron Campbell (Principal) Sergio Travino (Treasurer) Faisal Latif (DPAC) Jennifer Kwong (Hot Lunch Chair) Joanne Warburton (Secretary) Cathy Comber (Member at Large) Lissette Marrin Judy Ho Mahin Malekian Shabnam Payombarnia Hamid Payombarnia Stephanie Gregory Effie Gomulia Natalia Rosales _______________________________________________ Regrets: Tamzyn Jones (Member at Large.) Rola welcomed all present and called the meeting to order at : 7.23pm Adoption of the Minutes of the last Meeting: Proposed by: Stephanie Gregory Seconded by: Faisal Latif Adoption of the Agenda: Proposed by: Lissette Marin Seconded by: Faisal Latif

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Co-Chair Report – Rola Priatel Co-Chair Report, April 2016 Happy Spring everyone , welcome to our last term of this year! We have already started the first week with a bang with our Persian PAC members organizing a fantastic Nowruz celebration: Nima and his awesome group of Hamid, Shabnam (H & S team J), Sepideh, Nahid, Sara, Shideh and Houram organized an hour and a half of information, music, sweets and tea mixed and brewed by Nima. The whole gym was full and everyone had a good time. Thank you for a beautiful cultural experience for our kids and for us! As you know we have been working hard on a new plan for the Library Learning Commons for the past two years! We've come a long way in the past few months as Nessa took the bull by the horn and has an exciting plan that she will share with you in a special section further on in the agenda today. Important dates to remember are:

• Multicultural Night: Our fun and most anticipated event of the spring will be held on Thursday, May 19th at 6PM. Please keep your calendars open for that as you cannot miss this fantastic celebration of over 30 cultures with a feast of Nations in a potluck style. I encourage everyone to come with your families.. we'll talk about that a little later on the agenda as well.

• Another date to remember is Tuesday, May 10 when Dr. Yong Zhao will be at the Kay Meek center from 7 to 9 PM talking about what is the best way to educate a child. He is extremely entertaining and will be able to take questions after in Chinese! I encourage everyone to go as he will change the way you look at education and at what we value in education! Buy tickets from Kay Meek website , scroll down to the $20 special West Van schools rate as the regular rate is $25.

Treasurers Report – Sergio Trevino Please find report attached at the end of the minutes DPAC Report – Faisal Latif Please find report attached at the end of the minutes Principal’s Report – Aron Campbell Please find report attached at the end of the minutes

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Hot lunch – Jen Kwong Problems with some students saying they didn’t get lunch or asking for lunch when they didn’t order it. Lilian has a book now and she records names of the students with missing lunches and it seems to have rectified the issue. Multicultural night – Cathy Comber It will be held on May 19th, Our Multicultural Night chairs are looking for table heads, Cathy and Stephanie will be in touch with parents soon. Grade 7 Farewell – Cathy Comber So far we have had 1 movie night and 2 TCBY sales. We have sold over 700$ in sales over 2 days. There will be Pizza at the next Movie Night. Popcorn and snacks. Event bright will be used to purchase tickets and snacks in advance although there will be sales on the night also. – The next movie will be ‘Flushed Away’ New Business – Nessa Van Bergen Proposed education for kids on pro D day on May 20th. iGirl – It’s an all day workshop for girls between the age 9-12, teaches girls a lot about self esteem and empowerment, safety online, etc. iGuy is about healthy behavior, Girl and Boy interaction, managing behavior etc We are trying to get approval to facilitate iGirl and iGuy seminars in the school, The courses would be priced to cover the costs but could prove to be good fundraisers for CPAC dependent on numbers. We would have parent volunteers to over sea. Hopefully we will be able to finalize this in the next 2 weeks. Special Orders – Rola Priatel PAC Positions are open. We will send the positions list ASAP. Kindergarten orientation – This year PAC will go in to the meeting to explain to parents what we do and to encourage them to participate. Learning Commons – Nessa Van Bergen Attached please find presentation with full details.

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Motion to take $25,000 from cash reserves followed by a cheque writing campaign to raise an additional $25,000 starting April 18th All in favour, motion carried unanimously.

Rola thanked everyone for coming Meeting Adjourned at : 8.54pm Next CPAC Meeting will be the AGM Date: May 5th 2016 Time: 7:15 to 8:30PM Venue: Primary Foyer

Chartwell PAC Treasurer's Report: April 7th, 2016

Summary: The balance of the CPAC accounts as at April 7th, 2016 are: RBC General Account: $35,881.45 + RBC Investment account: $40,209.42 RBC Casino Account: $12,485.11 (Last cheque issued: Oct-16-15 to SD#45 to pay Pro Sound Invoice for $2,302.55) Paypal Account: $31.09 (From hot lunch online payments) Deposits since March 3rd 2016 in General Account: Hot Lunch - $1,987.50 TCBY - $723.20 Movie Night - $593.00 Expenses since March 3rd 2016 in General Account: PCard – Hot lunch invoices – March $5,630.09 (SD#45) All Electronic records are updated and reconciled. Thanks, Sergio Trevino PAC Treasurer

WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT PARENTS ADVISORY COUNCIL Wednesday, 6th April 2016, General Meeting

1. President’s Report - DPAC Chair, Abbie Milavsky

Not much activity since everyone was away at spring break. A survey for fundraising in PACS has been sent out by the BCCPAC. All participants were requested to please fill and give feedback. 'Foods that Fit' workshop being held at the same venue as last year in North Vancouver is coming up on 4th May 2016 as has been previously notified. Hot Lunch Coordinators from each school are encouraged to participate. Community Day in West Vancouver is on June 4th 2016 is . Parade Applications for the Parade have been sent out to all schools. Those schools interested in participating need to be fill out and return. The theme for this year is "Olympics" Workshop "Be The Change" at Glen Eagles will be held this Saturday for 8-12 yr olds. The BCCPAC Annual General Meeting is coming up from 29th April 29th to 1st May 2016, at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna. Schools wishing to attend can book by clicking the link below: BCCPAC - 2016 SPRING CONFERENCE & AGM

2. Treasurer’s Report Current Account Balance C$ 2531.60

3. Committee Reports Most committes did not meet last month due to the busy schedules and spring break. All meetings are scheduled for April and therefore next DPAC General meeting will be a full session of reports. • Parent Education

World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students – Dr. Yong Zhao On Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 7-9 PM at the Kay Meek Theatre. The Auditorium has a capacity of 488 seats so therefore limited availability, please book early to avoid disappointment.

4. WVSD Board of Trustees Liaison Report - Chair, W.V. B.O.E., Carolyn Broady

A lot of attention has been drawn in recent weeks to the Vancouver school board due to the reports in the media about the plight of some of the districts under the Vancouver School Board. Ms. Broady reiterated that WV Schools is not in any danger or pressure of any sort. Ms. Broady informed the DPAC that The Government has released funds to cover teacher’s contracts, which was extremely good new.

The Governor General’s visit was a very successful and engaging event. The Governor General is a strong proponent of Public Education and therefore some great messaging for the community on the importance of public education.

5. WVSD Superintendent’s Report - W.V.S.D. Superintendent, Chris Kennedy

The Government has introduced a budget increase of C$ 20 million for Vancouver Schools, which for West Vancouver that translates roughly to 1%. The expected number is somewhere between C$ 200,000-300,000) likely to trickle down to WV Schools. Mr. Kennedy will present the proposed budget for review in about 2 weeks. Do not expect much change from the initial proposal. After the preliminary budget there will be an opportunity feedback session on the recommendations. Latest enrollment is significantly up over projections from last the quarter. Resultantly since the district is over budget projections the WVSD is looking at additional funding from the Government. Fraser Institute Report results showed all 11 elementary schools from WVSD are in the top 20 schools in the province. The test scores although not an accurate representation of performance, environment and capabilities, helps school enrolments. The district has experience a huge spike in calls from out of district parents seeking to enroll their kids to WV Schools. Cedardale School’s expansion has been completed. The school looks like a new school now that the work is completed. 23rd May 2016 is the official launch to the WVSS track rehabilitation project. It is a C$ 5.7 million project, which requires Community and Corporate support. The Kickoff campaign will have big name sports personalities to help Kick start the fundraising. Our new MP Ms. Pamela Goldsmith-Jones is very supportive of the project.

It is planned that the fundraising structure will be inclusive of all levels of participation. There are subsidies and donations available from government but the feeling is that there is enough capacity to raise the funds privately from within the West Vancouver Community for the project. C$ 600,000 has already raised and fundraising efforts have not even begun yet. That being stated Government grants for infrastructure are being considered. Since the facility is being planned as a multisport facility to maximize usage and utility, Canadian Soccer has expressed interest in using the facility and is donating C$ 250,000 towards its renovation. As the facility is a West Vancouver School Board property So will be available to the school district exclusively up until 5pm and will be shared with other sponsoring groups after 5pm. The board and fundraising committee has allocated 1 year for fundraising with a subsequent build time of approximately 3 to 4 months.

All questions pertaining to timelines, benefits etc. will be answered at the kick off event.

The Principal at Glen Eagles is going on one-year secondment to Simon Fraser University. The position of Acting Principal will be opening up to be filled internally. There so there may be a little shuffle in April to fill the position.

6. West Vancouver Schools Facilities and Infrastructure - Director of Facilities, Wade Hickey Incoming Facilities Director Mr. Wade Hickey Introduced Himself. He is excited to take over the position and brings a wealth of professional experience with him. He has spent most of working career at city of Vancouver looking after their facilities such as Police Stations, Fire Stations etc. His last assignment was Managing BC Place where he brought about significant improvements to their management systems. He informed the group that WV Schools are at least 3 years ahead of the curve while comparing with

other school districts of Greater Vancouver. While he has been in the transition for the past 3 months he has visited all schools, principals and administrators to understand the challenges that lay ahead. He is in the process of preparing a plan and road map for the district, looking at immediate fixes focusing on small ticket maintenance items with priorities being given to life threatening upgrade requirements followed by fundraised projects initiated by the PACS at various schools. While using the School Enhancement Program of the Government he is studying the seismic upgrade requirements of each school. He will put forth recommendations to renovate/upgrade or in some cases to demolish and rebuild. Capital investment in schools is a big piece being discussed in the Ministry of Education as the school and their infrastructure are aging and need to be updated. Example of Sentinel High School which in its early stages of investigation has revealed that it may be feasible to teardown and replace the building. He intends to prepare a plan with a focus on preventative maintenance.

Mr. Hickey is passionate about his work and is open to receiving direct emails to answer questions but would prefer to work through administrators. I spoke to him about the proposed Learning Commons at Chartwell and the possible use of texture walls, special colors and lighting to facilitate conducive moods, attention spans etc. he was interested in some of the thoughts presented and expressed his openness to explore some of the ideas shared.

Classroom redesign committee meets quarterly to look at issues and selecting the right equipment and furnishings. Mr. Kennedy shared that some of the other schools have purchased Hootsuite founder’s cardboard standing desks being sold for C$25 per piece for up to 4 desks and 5 pieces for $100. Visit the website below for further information: http://oristand.co Mr. Kennedy recommended that we visit Caulfield to see the expansion of the learning commons concept from the library space into each classroom.

7. Round Table Discussion On Fundraising and Volunteering

A discussion took place where schools shared their fundraising success stories. West bay lead the idea collective with outlining their process which is basically a wish list is prepared by the principal and parents which then is developed into a plan according to the dollar value required. As a standard they have 3 hot lunches a week, which is their largest fundraiser. They hold a Gala every 2 years. With the events varying each time, tickets sold at $100/person along with silent auctions and other attractions. One School invited a celebrity for a Syrian Refugee fundraiser who offered 100/month and asked participants to offer 25 dollars a month or more to match their commitment. The event raised C$12000 in 3-4 minutes. Another school shared their experience of compiling a book ‘Letters To My Grown Up Self’ which was a compilation of letters written by their children to themselves in the future. The books were sold to parents. As part of the volunteering piece, Chartwell Elementary shared the success of using ‘WeChat’ as a medium for communication. The idea was novel for the district and all other schools and was received with a lot of excitement as no other school is using the tool. Ms. Broady and Mr. Kennedy thought it was a fantastic means to engage Chinese parents with kids studying in the district.

8. West Vancouver Library - Shannon Ozirny, Head of Youth Resources The West Vancouver Library is planning a large-scale investment in Technology and wants to to engage all stakeholders (Parents, Students, Teachers, Librarians and PACS) to help steer the course of the technology programs and equipment initiative being launched at the WVM library. Shannon would like to visit PAC meeting over the next 4-6weeks if schedules permit to get parent to participate in a 30-minute focus group. To invite Shannon Call or email her at the contacts below: 604.925.7422 sozirny@westvanlibrary.ca

Imagine IT - Conversations About Technology And Our Library A community Technology Fair at the West Vancouver Library on Friday, 29th April, 2016 from 4 – 8 p.m. and Saturday, 30th April, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Try out Tech like 3D Printers and VR. 30 technology vendors, teachers and professionals will be participating. An exciting event for adults and children alike that is open to the Public. For more information, click link below:

https://westvanlibrary.ca/imagine-it

Upcoming Events:

- Board of Education Meeting (Tuesday, 19th April, 2016, 7:00 P.M.) - Yong Zhao presentation @ Kay Meek theatre (Tuesday, 10th May, 2016, 7:00-9:00 P.M.) - Foods that Fit, North Vancouver School District (Wednesday, 4th May 2016) - Imagine IT - Technology Fair @ WVM Library (Friday 29th April, & Saturday 30th April, 2016)

Foundational Skills Assessment ▪ A mid year set of 6 exams

for students in Grade 4,7 & 10

Made of 6 sections ▪ Part 1: 40 M/C; online

▪ Part 2: 1 Read Response

▪ Part 3: Short Write

▪ Part 4: Long Write

▪ Part 5: Numeracy 40 M/C online

▪ Part 6: Word Problems X 2

The Fraser Institute release their rankings of

BC schools based on the FSA data collected in 2014/15 (Last Year)

The most recent writing of the FSA exams will be shared next year at this time

Pros Provides a snapshot of how

schools are doing; Ministry tool Provides another source of

data to use for School Goal Planning

Allows you to follow cohorts;

focus on strengths & areas requiring improvement

Cons The results and the

assessment itself is heavily controversial; results can be used strategically

Doesn’t take into account the population of ELL students who make up each grade;

Doesn’t to take into account designated students

Penalizes schools for tests not written

Ignores socio-economic backgrounds of students who participate

Assesses students mid year; some unfamiliar content

Behind the numbers…

A: Gr 4 Enrollment

B: ESL % Based on 1701s (Sept), % Special Needs

C : Rank

D-I: Gr 4 & 7 Average Scores in the tested areas (R,W,N)

J & K : Gender Gap

L: % Below Exp.

M: Tests Not Written

Behind the numbers…

Therefore… The higher the numbers in D through I = The better! The lower the figures in J , K and L, M = the Better! These scores added up = Ranking out of 10

CHARTWELL FIGURES 2014/15 Cohort

1. % ELL: 44.2% @ Chartwell in 2014/15; Levels 1-4

Recently published Fraser Report

CH Ranked 40/757 schools in 2014/15

CH Ranked 67/944 schools in BC over the last 5 years (the top 7 % of the province)

CH Ranked 8th out of 11 in WVSD (8.7/10)

Caulfeild Ranks: 27/757 in 14/15 (3802) Ranks: 30/944 in past 5 yrs

Chartwell Ranks 40/757 (3819) Ranks 67/944 in past 5 years

CHARTWELL FIGURES 2012/13 Cohort

1. % ELL: 43% @ Chartwell in 2011/12; Levels 1-4

2. % ELL: 46.1% @ Chartwell in 2012/13; Levels 1-4

3. School Goal: Writing and Written Output; upward trend

4. Gr 7 Reading: Weak Cohort; 4 students NYM

21st Century Learning Core Competenicies (Communication,

Thinking and Personal and Social) Great Culture and Community Inquiry Based Learning Foundational Skills Capstone Connect Cultural Opportunities Twitter @chartwell_news