Prince George District Parent Advisory Council
Attention BCCPAC Members!
You have been receiving emails regarding the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Wednesday July 7 at 6-10pm on Zoom. There is no cost for this event. We encourage you to register and attend. There is one form (below) to complete and email to info@bccpac.bc.ca.
If you are not able to attend, contact us at info@sd57dpac.ca and we will assign a Delegate to vote on behalf of your PAC.
The EGM Booklet outlining the resolutions is here.
We had great attendance at our June DPAC Meeting with a total of 45 people participating the the SD57 Traffic Town Hall. See minutes below.
Parrish Child, Principal at Heather Park Elementary, shared a resource that was created by Admin and PAC at that school to help educate parents and students on traffic safety around their school zone. Feel free to use this in the safety discussions at your school.
There is great information and resources in the June newsletter including summaries of the AGM and Parent Conference, information about membership, zoom license expiry, and mental health resources for parents. Access the issue here.
All of the slides from the Parent Education Conference are found on this page.
We look forward to sharing Andrea’s Parent Engagement and Succession Planning recording when it comes available. The slides are attached below.
Ensure your PAC registers and pays for their BCCPAC membership by September! New Gaming Grant guidelines allow PACs to use gaming funds for the $75 membership.
If you have any questions, let us know at exec@sd57dpac.ca.
This Monday June 7th we are holding our Traffic Town Hall as part of our monthly DPAC meeting SD57 Traffic Town Hall. The monthly DPAC meeting will start at 6:30 as per our usual time, with Community and Partner group representatives joining us to start the Traffic Town Hall at 7pm.
Zoom Meeting Link: https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/65674887171?pwd=NmxKbGtYb2ZvU2c0VW53MFFISlZEdz09
Meeting ID: 656 7488 7171
Passcode: Kd5t*1cv
June 7th Meeting Agenda:
May Minutes are posted here.
Chair/Vice-Chair Report:
June 2021 Treasurer’s Report:
Education Programs & Planning Committee Report:
Expanded Committee of the Whole (ECOW – budget) Report:
Education Services Committee Report:
We want to hear your voice!!! The SD57 District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is hosting a first ever virtual Town Hall with PG City Community Groups via Zoom this Monday June 7th @ 7:00pm to explore and discuss the issues and impacts of increasing traffic on our schools, families, and the surrounding communities.
What are your experiences as parents around traffic, safety, and commuting issues at our schools in SD57??
We want to know! We will be discussing:
We have an awesome panel of City & Community Groups who will be attending Monday’s Town Hall including:
Also, we will have SD57 Representatives attending Monday’s Town Hall including:
During the Town Hall we will be using the app Slido (which you can access on any mobile device or via your computer) for participants to ask live questions, participate in live polls, and provide your thoughts and feedback during this event. The Slido link will be provided at the start of the meeting.
So either email us questions in advance at exec@sd57dpac.ca or ask them live using Slido during the meeting as well. See you there!
The meeting starts at 6:30pm with guests joining at 7pm.
Join Zoom Meeting https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/65674887171?pwd=NmxKbGtYb2ZvU2c0VW53MFFISlZEdz09
Meeting ID: 656 7488 7171
Passcode: Kd5t*1cv
The Glenview Elementary parent community, and a few other SD57 parents, enjoyed a presentation from the White Hatter tonight.
Good news, the recording is available!
You must use this link within 48 hours. It will expire on June 3 at 6:30pm.
Brandon Laur presented for two goals: 1) enable children to do more online safely, and 2) reduce the parent’s anxiety and present a more balanced approach to media.
Here are 4 Steps to Internet Safety:
Some great parenting advice, discussion on balance, boundaries, and encouragement to be a role model and digital leader in the family.
LINK:https://app.sli.do/event/b8zkt8xe
PASSWORD: Glenview2021
Again, thank you for selecting the White Hatter to deliver the important message of social media safety and digital literacy to your school community!
www.thewhitehatter.ca
School District 57 has sponsored several White Hatter sessions for intermediate and secondary students, staff, and parents this Spring. Even though they are hosted by a specific school, DPAC has been given permission to share these opportunities. The link can’t be publicly shared so you must request it.
If you are unfamiliar with what the White Hatter does, check out their website.
Social Media Safety and Digital Literacy for Parents
Hosted by Glenview Elementary School on Tuesday June 1 at 6:30-8:30pm
Email DPAC@sd57.bc.ca for the link.
Andrea Sinclair, BCCPAC President, finished the Parent Conference on Saturday May 29 with a very informative presentation for parents on the importance of engagement and succession planning.
PACs do incredible work in our school communities. Regular meetings, elected Executive Members, and record keeping is important to keep the society operating providing signing authority for the bank accounts and application/distribution of Gaming Grant funds. If your PAC is struggling with basic function and dwindling members, email DPAC for support.
The Administration Staff (Principal) supports the function of the PAC and attends the meetings to provide school information and educational updates. PAC distributes gaming and general funds to support students and staff at the school. The parent voice is important at the school, district, and provincial levels so speak up and access resources when issues arise. Fundraising and hot lunches are fantastic programs and events to promote community, but are not the PAC’s primary mandate.
If you are a parent of a student in K-12 at SD57, consider attending PAC meetings for your school or Distributed Learning/Alternate program. There is always a place for you to contribute.
If you are involved in PAC, start thinking about writing things down and passing information on to another person to take over for you. If you need information about your role, contact DPAC or find resources on the BCCPAC website and Leadership Manual.
This session is IMPERATIVE for all PAC Members who have ever struggled to engage with parents. We can all relate! It was recorded and will be shared. Watch for it and plan to view it with your PAC executives. In the meantime check out PAC A to Z from the 2019 Conference here: (2) PAC A to Z – YouTube
We hope that participants will share this knowledge with their peers and PAC Members. Join DPAC at our General Meeting on June 7 to hear more.
The Zoom Webinar was jam packed with information for parents on Saturday May 29. Here is a brief summary of the presenters and some resources.
We received a thorough recorded presentation from Dr. Gordon Neufeld that outlined all of his research and practices on attachment with children. It is possible for children (and adults) to flourish through challenging times. Think of the plant analogy. In order to foster character traits (emergent, adaptive, integrative) that we want to see in our children, the conditions need to be conducive to growth. Where there are deep roots (belonging, love, being known), people feel attached and secure, and then you see fruitfulness. Discussion on important impacts on development (pyramid) including play, rest, feelings, attachment.
Unfortunately Tyrone McNeil was unable to join us, so Jan Haugen presented on behalf of the First Nations Education Steering Committee. Great overview of the history, recommendations, and guidelines that are being implemented in BC’s education system. Many ways for parents and PACs to support. Check out these resources here: Learning First Peoples Classroom Resources – First Nations Education Steering Committee FNESC If we “make room on our Agenda” at PAC and DPAC meetings, it opens the door for more discussion and involvement from first nations parents.
After lunch, Dr. Greg Gerber from Safer Schools Together gave an eye opening picture of where kids and teens are coping through the pandemic and some serious implications related to social media and online safety. There are tips and tools for parents to be aware of and intervene when warning signs present themselves. Kids generally want attention and support through difficult social and emotional situations. Check out the parent guide below and resources here.
Dr. Ashley Miller explained what it means when parents “flip their lid”, reacting instead of responding to a situation with their children. The “Parent Alarm” goes off and we can either feel guilt or follow a better way of responding. She suggested that parents attend to their own needs first in order to better support their families. She recommended 1) putting a child’s feelings/concerns into works and acknowledging how difficult it is and then 2) finding ways to provide emotional/practical support. Below is a list of helpful resources for parents.
We recommend reviewing BCCPAC’s website here and following them on Facebook to get regular updates and links to resources. Talk to your PAC about being a member and sharing the periodic email updates. They do so much to advocate for parents and support PACs.
We have 8 parents participating from SD57 and we are enjoying some learning and community among parents all over BC, approximately 120 participants.
We received an engaging message from the Minister of Education, Hon Minister Jennifer Whiteside. She highlighted some good news stories featured here: Good News in Education – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) She mentioned many issues and initiatives that the Ministry is engaged in and some exciting changes.
Presentation on Mental Health in Schools (MHIS) Strategy.
Presentation on the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning (FESL) attached.
Some great breakout group discussions and ideas. The parent voice is so important and valued by the Ministry and Districts in BC. Keep engaging!
