Blog Archives

PAC Constitution and Bylaw updates

9/30/2019

The PAC Constitution and Bylaws govern how we do business. Our current bylaws are almost 20 years old and need to be updated. The Executive has been working on updating them over the past year and gave notice at the September meeting that amendments would be voted on at the October 16th meeting. The main changes are clarifying the date for our AGM and budget approval and increasing the amount the Executive can spend without needing approval of the full membership. The AGM and budget approval is proposed to be in May. The spending limit is proposed to increase to $250 from $100.

The amendments are based on constitution and bylaws from Laurier Annex and Edith Cavell Schools as well as samples provided by District PACs.

The full details can be found on the Meeting Documents Page.

Make a card for World Teachers' Day - Oct. 2nd at lunch

9/28/2019

On Wednesday October 2nd, during lunch break, parents will be setting up a card making station in the undercover area to make cards for our teacher’s in honour of World Teachers' Day, on October 5th.

Since the actual day is on the weekend, we’ll celebrate on the 4th.

Please remind your child to come by and make a card. If some older kids are available to help out with this, it would be much appreciated!

Wednesday Oct. 2nd - card making in undercover area
Friday Oct. 4th - celebrate
Saturday Oct. 5th - World Teachers' Day

Contact Jo for more information or if you can help.

Childminding / Homework Helpers for PAC Meetings

9/28/2019

Is your grade 6/7 student looking to gain some paid childminding experience?

Students with their babysitting certificate are required for monthly PAC meetings. We've started a sign-up sheet to help organize this. We have a fresh new crop of Red Cross certified grade 6/7's - please only book one slot to start to give others an opportunity if they wish. Current Grade 6/7's will be given priority - but we'll open It up to the broader community 2 weeks in advance of the meeting. If you have questions, let me know!

Students are paid $15 each for approx. 1.5 hours.

Sign up HERE

Please contact Jo if you have any questions.

Partners for Inclusive Education - Parent Education Opportunity

9/28/2019

"Social/Emotional Learning: Examining our own Self Awareness"

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019
7-8:30 pm
General Gordon Library
2268 Bayswater Street (6th and Bayswater)

The first month back-to-school is a time of adjustments and changes on many levels. At our first PIE meeting, we will learn together about social/emotional learning, which is the school’s teaching theme for this year. Erika Cedillo and Kathryn Ransdell, PIE co-chairs, will facilitate the evening’s discussion around the first step in social/emotional learning--self-awareness, which is defined as the ability to accurately recognize one's own emotions, thoughts, and values, and how they influence behaviour. This is a good time for us to sit with the questions, “How did September go for me?” and “What self-management skills do I need for this school year?” We will share together the strategies we already use for deepening self-awareness and hopefully we will leave the evening with strategies that can assist in our own particular situations. We will be learning from and with one another. And, of course, we will eat pie! (Gluten-free will also be available.)

Please send us a message if you plan to attend to have an idea of numbers. Of course, last minute drop-ins are always welcome. Childminding is still pending—email partnersforinclusiveeducation@gmail.com to indicate need for childcare and we will confirm.

Backpack Buddies - sign up to help

9/24/2019

Backpack Buddies is going to be starting up this week and we are looking for a few more volunteers.
It's approximately a 30 minute commitment on Thursday mornings at the under cover area.

For those new to the school, Livingstone students participate in the Backpack Buddies program where we fill bags of food for kids in need to have over the weekend when they won't benefit from school breakfast and lunch programs. Last year our school packed 1331 bags.

This year, we're moving to a bi-weekly pack, which will give each division the opportunity to pack 1-2 times. This program is largely parent volunteer driven - so if you can help or come a couple of times and 'lead' a session, we'd be grateful for the support.

This program is made possible by fundraising done though the Livingstone PAC - a $6000 annual commitment. If you're able to volunteer, please add your name to the Parent Volunteer Google Sheet (second tab on the bottom of the sheet).

You can find more information on the program at Backpackbuddies.ca.

SPUD.ca Grocery Fundraiser

9/20/2019

For those of you that are interested in grocery delivery or those of you that already use Spud.ca, we’ve added David Livingstone Elementary to their fundraising recipient list. It’s a really easy way to get quality fruits and vegetables and it helps our school - Doesn’t that sound great?

How it Works
Go to Spud.ca and sign up for a free account. There are two options.

You can purchase a gift card at Spud.ca/spudcards for any amount and SPUD donates 10% of the gift card value directly to David Livingstone PAC. You can use the gift card to purchase any SPUD products online and have the groceries delivered directly to your house.

You can also select one of their Fundraising Boxes with fresh fruits and vegetables. Your groceries get delivered to you…and SPUD donates 25% of the Fundraising Box purchase (produce only) directly to David Livingstone Elementary PAC.

Make sure you choose David Livingstone from the drop down list at the check out. It's that simple. You can do it once or you can do it as many times as you like. There is no end date so every time you purchase one of their gift cards or fundraising boxes you will be supporting our school. Anyone can do it so tell all your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues at work, people you don't like... anyone!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jillian Fargey

Garden Work Party - September 29

9/20/2019

School Garden Work Party
September 29th 11am - 3pm
Everyone (Kids and Adults) Welcome!
No Gardening Experience Required.

We will be pulling weeds and getting the garden ready for fall.
Bring gloves and any gardening tools you may have.

Sign up here, so we know who is coming.

If you have any question please email Jillian.

1st PAC Meeting - September 18th at 7:00pm

9/14/2019

Please join us for the first PAC meeting of the year. We will be meeting in the school library, located on the north side of the lower level.

This years format will include more guest speakers. Our first meeting will be an opportunity to meet the new principal, Carrie Froese - she will have 30 minutes to share her plans with us and do a brief Q&A.

As an incentive to hopefully bring more people out to meetings, every parent that comes out to a PAC meeting gets entered into a draw to win a pizza party for their child's class or X4 front row seats for the holiday concert (there will be 2 draws this term at the November meeting). There will also be a draw for 4 Whitecaps tickets (for the Sept 21st game) at the September meeting.

Hope to see you there!

Light refreshments will be served and free childminding is provided.

A copy of the draft meeting agenda can be found here.

If you have any questions, please contact livingstonepac@gmail.com

Volunteer Opportunities

9/14/2019

Thanks to everyone who has already signed up to help run Fun Lunch, Popcorn Days, the Welcome Back BBQ and Backpack Buddies programs.

More volunteers will be needed throughout the year to make these programs a success. All of them are short time commitments during the school week.

If you can help, please add your name to the Google Doc sign up sheet.

Click on the tabs at the bottom for the different opportunities.

Welcome Back BBQ order reminder

9/14/2019

Please remember to return your BBQ forms and money by Monday September 16th.

All food must be pre-ordered so that we know how much to buy and minimize waste.

If you need a form, you can download one HERE.