Camp Jubilee Grade 4 Fundraisers – Popsicle Sale Tomorrow and Cash for Clothes
The Grade 4 classes have organized a number of fundraisers to raise funds for Camp Jubilee.
Popsicle Sales – Have been organized for April 8th (tomorrow!), 22nd and 29th after school. Finish the week with a well-earned and refreshing treat while supporting our Grade 4’s!
Cash for Clothes – Help support the Grade 4’s while doing your Spring cleaning! Please set aside your gently used clothing and household items for donation. Bags and accompanying instructions have gone home with students. The filled bags can be dropped off at school until April 20th. Bags can be dropped off at the school’s main entrance. Extra bags are available from either the drop off spot or Mme. Grainger’s class.
International Dinner – April 14th 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM – Trafalgar School Gym
Tickets are on sale NOW daily from Tuesday March 29th at 8:40am – 9:00am and 2:55pm – 3:10pm in the main foyer.
Basket raffles tickets: To view the 21 incredible Fantasy Baskets, please visit the school library where they will be on display beginning Monday April 11th 2016.
Tickets for the basket raffle will be $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 or 30 for $20.00
Click here to see the full flyer with all information
Scholastic Book Fair Recap – Thank YOU!
Santa’s Workshop Charity Funds Raised Update – Thank YOU!
VSB Budget Appeals
Recently the VSB has communicated a significant budget shortfall for the 2016/2017 school year. A number of programs will be adversely affected. Please see below for recent appeals in light of these cuts.
FOSL (Friends of the School Library)
VSB has communicated a significant budget shortfall for the 2016/2017 school year. Please click here to find very important and time sensitive letter from FOSL – Friends of the School Library about the proposed cuts to school libraries and teacher-librarians as a result of this shortfall and what you can do to help FOSL.
Dear Parents and Supporters of the Arts
On Wednesday, April 13, in the midst of the largest budget deficit in decades, PAN will be presenting a plea for a renewed vision and commitment from the VSB to restoring a comprehensive arts education for all children in elementary Vancouver.
The arts are essential to the intellectual and social emotional development of young children and to the health of our future society. They are also part of the BC curriculum and central to the core competencies that form the underlying framework of the new curriculum (critical thinking, communication and cultural identity). Given that participation in the arts for children and youth is also shown to significantly improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and youth in academic success, employment and civic engagement, the loss of arts from schools is also a matter of social justice. All children need and deserve education in the arts to enable them to develop their full potential.
Over the last two decades, the arts have been decimated through loss of district staffing, specialist teachers and resources. Only half of elementary schools have music teachers, only 2 have art teachers. Arts programs are now largely sustained through private donation or PAC fundraising which creates inequalities of access between schools. This years budget will see the loss of the last Fine arts district staff person and therefore the loss of all arts enrichment programs – which for many children are their only exposure to the arts. And finally, the few remaining arts spaces utilized in the district threaten to be eliminated under the ministry’s 95% capacity mandate to rationalize schools.
While we fully acknowledge the fiscal constraints of the district, we are asking trustees to commit to re-prioritizing arts education within Vancouver Schools as part of their 5 year strategic plan. To this end we are hosting a roundtable think tank drawing on arts experts across educational and civic communities to begin a creative conversation and think of ways we can sustainably work together to ensure all Vancouver children have access to a quality arts education as part of their elementary schooling. We invite you to show your support for this motion by attending the public presentation at Committee III of the Vancouver School Board on Wednesday, April 13 at 5pm. A large number of attendees gives a visible indication of parent priorities. There may also be opportunity to speak with trustees. If you are unable to attend we encourage you to write to the parent advocacy network and/or your trustee and express your concerns for the loss of the arts within Vancouver public schools.
www.panvancouver.ca
parentadvocacynetwork@gmail.com
Calling on Former VSB Athletes
My name is Joseph Mergens. I am the President of the Vancouver Elementary Physical Activity Association (VEPAA). You may have heard that the Vancouver School Board has presented it’s proposed budget for next year. In it, the VSB proposes to cut the one and only Athletic Coordinator position.
The AC is the only paid position at the board that coordinates both elementary and secondary school sports. The loss of the position would have a tremendously negative affect on sports programs across the school district in the short and long term. The AC coordinates the bookings of fields and gyms, creates league draws and schedules, hires referees and officials, and liasons with all of the volunteer coaches in order to deliver the countless sports programs in the schools. This one position touch the lives of all the thousands of kids in the district.
Both the secondary sports association (VSSAA) and the elementary association (VEPAA) are trying to get athletes and alumni who can attend the April 12th meeting to show their support and one or two who could speak. Time is short.
If you wish to get on the speakers’ list. Please email: budget2016_2017@vsb.bc.ca and state that you wish to speak at the budget consultation meeting on April 12that Vancouver Technical Secondary. One can view the budget proposal at https://www.vsb.bc.ca/
Sincerely,
Joseph Mergens
President, Vancouver Elementary Physical Activity Association
josephmergens@gmail.com