MINUTES OF JOHN NORQUAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PAC MEETING HELD AT 6:00 pm ON OCTOBER16th, 2014
IN THE JOHN NORQUAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Co-chairs: Mary Wilson and Keelan Simurda
- Treasurer: Shirley Chang
- Communications: Leslie Bishko
- Members at Large: David Kmiotek, Lisa Chong, Pamela Seto
- Barbara Lee, Krista Kieswetter, Wendy Su, Bronson Lee, Alvin Chong, Christie Chua,
- Anna Russell, Tracey Flattes, Cindy Lee, Lena Ling, Anna Kam, John Wong, Helen Chen
- Principal: Margaret Jorjensen
- Vice-Principal: Erin Gibbs
- Teacher Representatives: Pinky Kwan
- Elaine Pai
INTRODUCTIONS
1. The meeting began with introductions. The attendance checklist was passed aroundfor all members to complete.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes from the previous meeting were discussed and approved.
FINANCIAL STANDINGS (Shirley Chang)
3. The revenue in the general account was $21,133 plus VSB refund of $10,000. The
revenue in the gaming account was $11,834.
GARDEN PROGRAM(Valeria Kao)
4. A gardening program is in development at Norquay. This program received a Toyota
Evergreen grant of $500 for materials to build planter boxes.
5. Volunteers are requested for October 30th to assist in building the planter boxes.
STAFFING CHANGES
6. Margaret Jorgensen was introduced as the new Principal at Norquay. She has been
with the Vancouver School Board (VSB) for 32 years and has taught kindergarten
through Grade 7. She is currently working on professional development planning
initiatives for staff as well as other projects: growing the garden and ensuring that
assemblies include pictures of children learning.
7. Elaine Pai was introduced as the new Grade 4 teacher
TEACHERS REPRESENTATIVES UPDATE
8. EMB Update (Barbara Lee)
Barb Lee reported that she and past co-Chairs Letti Kwong and Christie Chua met with
Maureen Ciarnello (Associate Superintendent) and Rob Schindel (Director of Instruction)
at the school board offices on October 2 seeking transparency and accounting of EMB
program funding and Direct Appeal funds of the last 3 years. Superintendent Steve
Cardwell declined to meet with them. Three handouts were given at this meeting, and
Barb passed copies around to attendees. Barb said that she, Letti and Christie were
dissatisfied with the information given at the meeting and will continue to ask VSB for
accounting and transparency of these funds. Other information confirmed by the
Vancouver School Board (VSB) were that VSB has committed to continuing the Early
Mandarin program at Norquay up to Grade 7. There are no current plans to expand the
Vancouver Primary Mandarin program. VSB advises that discussions will not need to
begin regarding Mandarin programs for High School students until the first group of EMB
students are in Gr. 6.
9. Miscellaneous. Pinky Kwan presented the PAC with a thank you card to parents for
their support during the strike. Parents were also thanked for raising $140 for the
Book Club.
10. Margaret Jorgensen will be meeting with the Finance committee for developing short
and long term targets. She will also be meeting with the PAC for requests for funding.
SCHOOL PLANNING COMMITTEE
11. Three positions on the PAC needed to be filled: Co Chair, Volunteer Coordinator and
Secretary. The members were canvassed for interest and the following motions
passed:
a. Co-Chair: position to be filled by Keelan Simurda
b. Member-at-Large: Barbara Lee – filling in as Volunteer Coordinator until one
can be found
c. Secretary: to remain open and duties will be rotated each meeting
12. A motion was passed to combine the website chair and the communications chair into
a single position to be filled by Leslie Bishko
13. KeelanSimurda volunteered to be a volunteer for the Garden project.
NEXT MEETING
14. The date of the next PAC meeting is Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 at 6pm
MEETING ATTACHMENTS:
(1) EMB Expenses 2013 -2014
(2) Norquay PAC Expenditures
Oct_2014_attachements (pdf)