Lord Kitchener Elementary School PAC

Parent Advisory Council

Lord Kitchener Elementary School PAC header image 1

Lord Kitchener Inspiration Award 2010

May 13th, 2010 · PAC

Every year the Lord Kitchener Elementary PAC awards a $500 cash award to a grade 12 graduate who attended Kitchener Elementary. Applicants are evaluated equally on four areas: academic excellence, school community involvement, neighbourhood community involvement and a written submission. The written submission is the basis for a speech that the winner presents at Kitchener’s year-end awards assembly to inspire our grade 7 students as they embark on their own high school careers. Each year a committee of parents and a grade 7 teacher is formed to evaluate the applications and choose the best candidate.

If you know of any former Kitchener students who are currently in grade 12, please draw their attention to this award and encourage them to apply.

Download the application here.

The applications must be submitted to the office at Lord Kitchener no later than 3:00 pm on Friday, May 28, 2010. The assembly at which the successful applicant will address the graduating Grade 7’s is on Monday, June 28, 2010 (10:15 - 12:45).

→ No CommentsTags:

Open Positions for 2010/2011 PAC Executive and Committees

May 12th, 2010 · PAC

There are a number of open positions to be filled for the PAC Executive and Committees for the 2010/2011 school year. Please consider joining us. Read the attached file for what positions are still open. If interested please contact Janet Mitchell at jmitchell@mitchellcopr.com.

→ No CommentsTags:

Strings Program and VSB Budget Cuts

April 24th, 2010 · PAC

Regarding VSB Budget Cuts:

Advocates of the Strings Program please let your voice be heard. Due to budget cuts the VSB is proposing to eliminate the district wide Strings Program.
If you would like to work together toward saving this program please contact Heather Benna at hbenna@hotmail.com (note the subject as Strings)

→ 1 CommentTags:

“Draft” drawings of Kitchener School

April 24th, 2010 · Seismic

These are the “draft” drawings that were presented at VSB’s Seismic/School Design Update on April 15th.
Draft - Relocation of Frame Building
Draft - Main School

→ No CommentsTags:

Seismic Update April 2010

April 22nd, 2010 · Community Engagement, Seismic

Seismic Upgrade PAC Update

Seismic upgrade schematic design work continues and is now estimated to be completed by the end of May-10. This is a couple of months late compared to the date published in the latest VSB project schedule – see page-3 of http://www.vsb.bc.ca/sites/default/files/shared/Kitchener%20booklet%20revised_Feb2010%20reduced%202.pdf. VSB is employing a number of strategies to try to still meet their September 2012 planned occupancy date but ongoing vigilance is required.

21st century school structural components are being incorporated in the new school design as part of the seismic upgrade. In partnership with Kitchener’s prime architects IBI/HB – www.ibi-hb.com, design advisory services are being provided by a world-leading educational facilities architectural firm, Fielding Nair International (FNI) – www.fieldingnair.com. The new school design is taking into consideration many different learning modalities beyond the traditional teacher lectures in classrooms, with increasing self direction by students as they mature. For more information see http://www.vsb.bc.ca/sites/default/files/shared/VSB%20Boards%2021st%20C%20%28Nov%2009%29.pdf.

Positive support was expressed by virtually all of the 35+ parents and teaching staff that attended the Kitchener School Seismic Upgrade & 21st Century School Facilities Parent Information Session conducted by VSB on April 15th. Important parent feedback messages to VSB were: (1) achieve the September 2012 occupancy schedule (safety as soon as possible), (2) get frequent teacher and parent feedback as the design is being developed, and (3) seek Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) assistance to expedite the project (based on past successes).

Background & Information

In 2004 the BC Provincial Ministry of Education determined that Lord Kitchener School occupants are at high risk in the event of an earthquake. Independent engineers also determined that saving the unreinforced masonry building (brick structure) would be more costly and result in a less safe structure compared to a new replacement building. Subsequently VSB proposed retaining and upgrading the Heritage “A” Frame Building and replacing the masonry building with a design that highlights the original heritage building structure. More information is available at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-facilities/projects/lord-kitchener-elementary.

After protracted but ultimately successful lobbying, in March 2009 the BC Provincial Ministry of Education committed the required capital funding for the Kitchener School seismic upgrade as proposed by VSB. The new school will accommodate 450 elementary students, 60 full-time kindergarten students, 60 early learning/pre-K children, and 40 children in before/after school care. The design will also enable improved and secure community use outside school hours and after a disaster, should one ever occur. The new seismically safe school is scheduled to open in September 2012.

For more information please contact PAC Seismic Ctee Co-chairs Doug Campbell at Doug.Campbell@Dolby.com or Kosta ChatziSpiros at KChatz@shaw.ca.

→ No CommentsTags:

Next PAC Meeting: Wed Apr 7 @ 7pm

April 7th, 2010 · PAC

Lord Kitchener Elementary School
Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting
April 7, 2010
7:00pm

AGENDA
1. Welcome and call meeting to order
2. Approve March minutes
3. Reports
• Principal’s Report – Rosemary Love
• Teacher’s Report
• Committee Chair Reports
o Seismic
o Parent Ed
o Treasurer
4. Business Items
• PAC Advocacy
• PAC Meeting attendance
5. Other Business
6. Adjourn meeting - date of next meeting

→ No CommentsTags:

Talk on “Parenting in a Cyber-Age” - Wed Apr 14@7pm

March 25th, 2010 · Parent Education

Parenting in a Cyber-Age

Lord Kitchener Elementary School Gymnasium
4055 Blenheim Street, Vancouver
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 7-9 pm
$5/person or $8/couple

» Google » Facebook » YouTube » Flickr » MySpace » Twitter » Windows Live » Texting » Sexting » bebo » Google Buzz » Gmail

Our children’s use of online communication and social media is exploding. How do we stay ahead of this technology curve and guide our children safely and wisely through a time of unprecedented change? When is it appropriate to allow our kids on social networking sites like Facebook? How do we protect them from inappropriate content on sites like YouTube?
How do we keep them from being exploited by the information and individuals they encounter on the Internet?

Parenting in a Cyber-Age will explore the many parenting challenges presented by the Internet age. This presentation aims to help parents acquire the tools to deal with these challenges with a particular focus on Internet literacy and safety information. Presented by BC’s Safe Online Outreach Society (SOLOS) this presentation will also provide timely information on topics including:

Web 101
Parents as “cyber-tourists”; youth as “cyber residents”
Emerging trends in online youth culture
High risk activities online
The nature of sexual exploitation in cyberspace
Internet safety tips and resources

Public is welcome. Please contact shaben@telus.net for further information or to reserve seats.

→ No CommentsTags:

Seismic Update - Feb 2010

February 24th, 2010 · Community Engagement, Seismic

Positive support for the proposed Kitchener School seismic upgrade was expressed by a vast majority of the 100+ parents and community members that attended the VSB Kitchener School Seismic Upgrade Open House held on February 3rd. A few days earlier, on January 27th, VSB held a district-wide symposium on 21st century schools that was attended by Kitchener School Principal Rosemary Love, Vice Principal Lorraine Terretta, Teacher Susan Dent, and PAC Seismic Cttee Co-Chair Kosta ChatziSpiros. Now the interior layout and use of learning/teaching spaces for the new school is being worked on in meetings with architects, Kitchener School teachers and administration staff, VSB staff, and PAC Seismic Cttee members.

In 2004 the Province determined that Lord Kitchener School occupants are at high risk in the event of an earthquake. Independent engineers also determined that saving the unreinforced masonry building (brick structure) would be more costly and result in a less safe structure compared to a new replacement building. Subsequently, VSB proposed retaining and upgrading the Heritage “A” Frame Building and replacing the masonry building with a design that highlights the original heritage structure. Project details are available at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-facilities/projects/lord-kitchener-elementary.

After protracted but ultimately successful lobbying the Province committed in March 2009 the required funding for the VSB proposal. The new school will accommodate 450 elementary students, 60 full-time kindergarten students, 60 early learning/pre-K children, and 40 children in before/after school care. The design will also enable improved and secure community use after school hours or in case of disaster. The new seismically safe school is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2012.

For more information, please contact Doug Campbell at Doug.Campbell@Dolby.com or Kosta ChatziSpiros at KChatz@shaw.ca.

→ No CommentsTags:

Kitchener School Directory 2009/2010 now Available

February 20th, 2010 · PAC, Safe Arrival

The Kitchener School Directory for 2009/2010 is now available. Passwords will be distributed via email by the end of February. You’ll need the password to access the pdf document, which contains contact information of students whose families participated in the Community Directory.

Kitchener Student Directory 2009/2010
For ease of viewing, after opening, right click and choose ‘rotate clockwise’. Updated Mar 9, 2010 - Corrected file to allow printing.
Updated May 12, 2010 - Updated file with more entries.

If you are not in this directory and would like to be, please input your information here: http://sites.google.com/site/kitchenersafearrivaldirectory/
We will update this file monthly to reflect new information.

Comments OffTags:

Next Pac Meeting Wednesday, February 3 @ 6:30 – 7:00 p.m.

February 2nd, 2010 · PAC

Next Pac Meeting Wednesday, February 3 @ 6:30 – 7:00 p.m in Library. Please note the Open House for Kitchener Redevelopment is also being held this evening (6-8:30pm) so plan to stop by there for 10-15 minutes as well (Room #020).

This is followed by a parent education presentation and discussion:
Dealing with Aggression and Bullying in Schools
Has your child been the victim of peer harassment, discrimination or exclusion? Verbal, cyber or physical bullying?
If so, plan to attend this special presentation by UBC’s Dr. Shelley Hymel, an internationally-renowned researcher in the field of bullying and aggression.
Dr. Hymel is also a leader in national initiatives to address issues of bullying and peer harassment in schools. She will share her expertise and findings, and provide strategies to help students, parents and the community address these challenges.

Childminding will be provided.

Agenda for PAC meeting is as follows (6:30-7pm):
1. Welcome and call meeting to order
2. Approve January minutes
3. Reports
• Principal’s Report – Rosemary Love
• Teacher’s Report
• Committee Chair Reports
Seismic
Parent Ed
4. Business Items
• Recruiting volunteers for PAC Executive Positions for 2010-2011
• Hot Lunch Expansion
5. Other Business
6. Adjourn meeting - date of next meeting

→ No CommentsTags: