February 2024
In this PAC newsletter, we will cover the following:
Message from PAC Co-Chair
Minutes from Nov 2023 PAC Meeting
What is a PAC?
Join the PAC Executive for 2023-24
New Ways to Stay In Touch with PAC - WhatsApp
Resources for parents and caregivers
Co-Chair's Message
We are very grateful for your participation and support in our 2023 activities. Your involvement and feedback are essential for us to serve every Hamber family better.
Due to connection problems in the school building, we have decided to keep the monthly PAC meeting on Zoom for now. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 20, at 6:30 p.m. Please join us to hear updates from the school administration, teachers and PAC committees. You can also share your ideas, concerns and suggestions with us.
The Zoom registration link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rdeuuqD0uHNXMqNw5s4WuXYbabbBjmehh
After registering, you will immediately receive a confirmation email with a link to join the meeting
As we continue our monthly meetings online, we will try to organize more in-person parents’ meets. These are informal gatherings where you can connect with other parents, exchange information and build community. Our December parents’ meet was a great success, with a Hamber Music Society performance led by Mr. Francis and the installation of the Hamber Leo Service Club led by Ms. Leung. We were honoured to host our Vancouver School Board Trustee Liaison, Alfred Chien, and MLA of Vancouver-Langara, Michael Lee, who joined us for the event and answered parents’ questions. Please find attached some pictures from that event.
We look forward to seeing you on Zoom for our Feb. 20 meeting and at our next parents’ meet (date TBD). Please stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, see more information below.
Thank you for being part of the Hamber PAC family!
Sincerely,
Jackie Lee and Harpreet Gill
Co-chairs of Hamber PAC
PAC WhatsApp Group
We are also excited to announce the creation of a new WhatsApp chat group exclusively for parents with children in different grades at Eric Hamber Secondary School. This chat group aims to foster communication, share valuable information, and build a strong sense of community among our diverse parent body.
Why Join the WhatsApp Chat Group?
Stay Informed: Get updates on school events, important dates, and announcements.
Connect with Other Parents: Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share experiences with fellow parents.
Grade-Specific Channels: Each grade will have its own channel within the group, allowing you to connect with parents who have children in the same grade.
How to Join?
Install WhatsApp: If you haven’t already, download WhatsApp from your app store.
Click the Invite Link: We’ve created an invite link for easy access. Simply copy and paste the following URL to your web browser
https://chat.whatsapp.com/I2tFrsVvIc7HyuTOcHjhuB or scan the QR code to join the Hamber Parents Chat Group.
Introduce Yourself: Once you’re in the group, introduce yourself and let us know which grade your child is in.
You are Invited to our PAC January 2024 meeting
Tuesday, January 16th, 2024 at 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rdeuuqD0uHNXMqNw5s4WuXYbabbBjmehh
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Any Parent/guardian of a Hamber student(s) may attend.
Should you have questions about the agenda or you wish to add items for discussion, you must email those to us in advance to chair@hamberpac.ca so that we can try to adjust the agenda to accommodate the requested changes within the scheduled meeting time.
Agenda for February 20th 2024 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Welcome and approval of Agenda and approval of November PAC meeting minutes
Principal's Report, Q&A
Chair Report
Treasurer Report
Other Business
What is a PAC?
The School Act gives parents the right, through Parent Advisory Councils (PACs), to provide feedback in their school. PAC is the officially recognized collective voice of parents of their school. A PAC, through its elected officers, may advise the school board, the principal and staff of the school respecting any matter relating to the education of the students and the school.
PACs are forums within each school community to discuss matters affecting your school and the education of your children. Parents’ voices are a tremendous value to their school. They offer a wealth of ideas and support in the challenges that face all public schools. PACs strive to represent the diversity within their communities and contribute to the benefit of all students by:
providing opportunities to educate and inform parents about the school;
involving parents in volunteer activities; and
openly discussing parents’ concerns and aspirations for their schools.
Who Can Become a Member of PAC?
All parents and guardians of students registered in the school are able to participate and are members of the PAC.
What Governs A PAC?
As an autonomous body, the PAC must abide by its Constitution and Bylaws and the School Act. PACs are NOT required to register as a non-profit or under the BC Societies Act.
How Does A PAC Work?
Through their elected executives from parents in the school, PACs communicate with their parent community gathering and discussing issues of importance regarding their school in order to adequately advise those that influence their school. In addition to PAC meetings communication may also be done through, newsletters, telephone, email, and websites so that all parents have the opportunity for input. PACs, with strong participation from parents, have an important influence on life at the school and the feelings the community has toward the school and education. There is strong evidence that increased parent involvement in the school results in increased student achievement, accomplishment, satisfaction, and bonding all of which result in decreased dropout rates and better citizen.
Purposes of a PAC
To advise the school principal and staff on parents’ views and feedback about school programs, policies, plans and activities.
To organize PAC activities and events and endeavour to provide parent education.
To encourage parent involvement in the school, and to support programs that promote parent involvement.
To communicate with parents, and to promote co-operation between the home and the school in providing support for the education of children.
To assist parents in accessing the system and to advocate on behalf of parents and students.
To provide financial support for the goals of the PAC, as determined by its membership.
To advise and participate in the activities of the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) and the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC).
The business of the PAC shall be unbiased in respect of race, colour, religion, politics, family status, gender, sexual orientation or physical or mental ability. The PAC is not a forum for the discussion of individual school personnel, parents, or other individual members of the school community.
We are looking for parents and guardians to join the PAC Executive for the 2023-24 school year! Secretary position is still available! For more information, please email us at chair@Hamberpac.ca
Stay In Touch with Hamber PAC!
You may now stay in touch through email, Facebook,and WhatsApp Notice Board
Also join us on Facebook:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1305402419632328/
Email: chair@hamberpac.ca
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
These resources are provided for your reference, the PAC does not endorse any service, just offering parents/guardians a link to further pursue.
Click on the images above to review 2 videos on where to get mental health help for my child from BC Children's Hospital
B.C. launches free app to connect youth to mental health support - info and video here.
MyHEARTSMAP is a digital tool that will help families, children and youth self-assess their mental health needs. Once the self-assessment is completed, the tool will recommend appropriate resources. This tool has been found to be highly reliable and can provide options for seeking care.
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre at BC Children's Hospital Kelty helps families across the province navigate the mental health system, connect with peer support, and access resources and tools to support wellbeing.
Anxiety and Me Video - Identifying Anxiety
Anxiety - What is it? - How to identify and seek support
Foundry
Foundry BC offers young people ages 12-24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in communities across BC.Covid-19 Resources
One-to-one Tutoring with Certified BC Teachers: Teachers’ Tutoring Service helps you find the best tutors available. Tutors are qualified to teach in BC, have tutoring experience and a good knowledge of the curriculum. https://tutor.bc.ca/
Thank you. It is our pleasure to serve our Hamber parent community.
Link to our current PAC Bylaws: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51a77f4be4b07edcf51508f6/t/56ba8900e32140e862875e03/1455065344419/Hamber-PAC-Bylaws-20160203-signed.pdf
Our Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1305402419632328/members
Acknowledging that we live, work, and learn on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Coast Salish Peoples.
Hamber PAC meetings for 2023/24 meetings on Tuesdays starting at 6:30pm-8:30pm,
in person in the staff room at Hamber. We will also offer virtual attendance. Meet other parents, the Principal and other guests.
September 19, 2023 AGM
October 17, 2023
November 21, 2023
January 16, 2024
February 20, 2024
April 18, 2024
May 21, 2024
There are no PAC meetings in December or March.
For more information please contact: chair@hamberpac.ca