January 2004 Minutes
by recorded by Candace Watson and Laurie Frederick
This is a DRAFT copy
Lord Byng Senior Secondary
Parent Advisory Council
General Meeting Minutes
Date & Time:
January 27, 2004. Convened at 7:15 PM
Location:
Lord Byng Senior Secondary School, Media Centre Foyer
3939 West 16^th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.
ATTENDANCE: Alejandro Azcona, Jan Berney, Cindy Brenneis, Kate
Brown, Moira Bryons, Ken Cameron, Ron Chartier, Sheila Cory, Bill
Crockett, Rick Downie, Valerie Durant, Sharon Feng, Laurie Fredrick,
Paul Greisman, Yiming Han, Cathy Harvey, Richard Hutton, Ian Karp,
Gill Kirkby, Paul Lee, Brian Lee, Marilyn Leung, Georgina Lorne, Shirley
Loxley, Jill McIntyre, Leah Markovitch Lorene Morgan, Kathy Mukai, Bonny
Norton, Tracy Proke, Roy Quan, Jeffrey Rice, Kathie Road, Kathy
Rourke, Joan Savoie, John Smith, Barbara Stewart, Karen Stierhoff, K.
Stratton, Eleanor Tsai, Donna Tufano, Candace Watson., Eliza Wong
SCHOOL REPS: (Principal) Darlene Braeder, Gerda Toffoli (Grade 11
Counsellor), Wayne Sadler (Grade 12 Counsellor), Maureen Byrce (CAPP
program).
1. Minutes of the November 25, 2003 meeting.
/ /
/Joan Savoie moved to adopt the Minutes of the November 2003 meetins,
//Tracy Proke// seconded the motion,Carried./
2. Principal?s Report
- seismic upgrading of the middle core of the building will begin in
July and finish in 14 months. Wiring, computer links, and lighting
systems are all being upgraded at the same time;
- Earthquake or Disaster Preparedness workshops are going to be held
in Vancouver on April 7, 14, 21 and 28
- Ms. Braeder received an e-mail from Laurie Anderson of the VSB about
a Graduation program seminar which is being held on February 5 at the
VSB in Room 400 from 7 to 9 PM. This seminar will give an overview of
the changes in the graduation requirements. There willl be a question
and answer period.
- Tomorrow there will be a Byng Arts music recital in the Band Room
and Friday there will be a symphony concert featuring works by Mozart.
Tickets are $5.00 each.
- Constable Kramer should be back in the school in two weeks. He
appreciates the support of the parents and is looking forward to coming
back.
- Gary Vine has posted test questions on various science subjects on
his web site, particularly Science 10. Students can test themselves and
use them for review.
- there will be a participation survey for Grades 10 and 12 in which
parents can participate electronically. The ID number will be sent home
with the newsletter.
- /The Crucible/ ran for 3 nights and the students did a fabulous
job. It is a dramatic play and Ms. Braeder was impressed by the depth
of the students as actors. On February 17, 18 and 19 /You Can?t Take It
With You/ will be playing on the main stage.
- students will be taking mid year exams and participating in CAPP
programs next week. The administration considers exams as a tool to
improve the students? academic focus. The Grade 10?s have to take
provincial exams this year so they should be well-positioned to take
these exams.
- some students will be stressed by the exams. How to deal with the
stress is part of the process of learning how to manage exams. Parents
should encourage review and make sure that students sleep and eat well
during the exam period.
- Rob Schindel is representing Lord Byng, with John Robertson,
at the first meeting held by the VSB to get input on the budget process
and receive the schools? priorities.
- Graduation Dinner Dance. Ms. Braeder has a group of 20
parents involved in organizing the Grade 12 dinner dance which will take
place after the June Grad ceremony. Grade 11 parents are also
participating.
- The Grade 12 results were reviewed after the first report
cards and very few students are on academic probation. Letters have
gone out to the parents and the administration has found that early
intervention is very useful.
- The administration is working on a clarification of the
attendance policy to make it clearer for parents what the expectations
of the school are. This will be published in the March newsletter and
will be included in next year?s agenda. If students are not in class
then they are missing the opportunity to learn. Parents vacations are
not considered excused absences. Teachers are very good at helping out
when a student is ill but the student is responsible for work missed in
a non-excused absence. The voicemaster no longer lets parents know
about lates. The school appreciates being informed when the student is
ill. Unexcused absences are an early indication of a struggling student.
- There will be a change in graduation requirements starting
in September next year. The current Grade 11?s and 12?s will be
grand-fathered under the old requirements.
- The question was asked whether the phonemaster messages
could be more succinct and could it be programmed to send only one
message per family. Ms. Braeder answered that it is a new system and
she will ask RS to look into it.
3. Draft Submission to the School Board
- KC put a copy of the draft letter to the VSB regarding the
priorities suggested by the Executive with respect to the new budget.
These priorities include:
1) support of the administration by
renewing our request for a second VP;
2) personal safety and security in the
school;
3) learning resources, text books and
supplies;
4) the continuation of inner city
programs.
/Paul Greisman// moved that the letter be approved; Joan Savoie
seconded. Motion carried./
/ /
4. Participation by School Board employees on the SPC?s.
- KC received a letter from the elementary school teachers association
regarding the participation of school board staff on SPC?s and PAC?s.
The Executive?s suggested response was that participation be only
limited where the staff member is employed at the actual school that
their child is attending. DPAC feels that each PAC should take its own
position and KC pointed out that Lord Byng can choose not to take a
position. After discussion the general agreement was that we not comment.
/ /
5. Treasurer?s Report
- PG reported that there are $21,000 in gaming funds which have not
yet been disbursed and approximately $5,000 in our regular account.
- the Executive is still working on a draft budget and will bring it
to the PAC at the next meeting.
- it is a challenge to distribute the funds because of the strict
limitations on the use of the gaming funds.
6. Grocery Certificates (RD and TP)
- RD noted that the funds which go to the various school departments
come from the Grocery Certificate program and that parents can support
these contributions by buying grocery certificates because the school
gets 7% on all that is spent.
- TP has some order forms but these can be picked up at the office and
must be in by the end of the week for the February 15 delivery.
- 50 families are currently supporting the program.
- JS asked how much had been earned so far. ($4,000 and a total of
$7,500 is estimated for the year). JS noted that the PAC has to vote on
the distribution of the funds.
- LF stated that the grocery certificates can also be printed from the
PAC website. (www.lordbyngpac.com <http://www.lordbyngpac.com/>)
7. Swyng With Byng
- Gill Kirkby spoke about the coming dance on February 20^th . She
said that the senior jazz band practices with professional musicians who
come in to play. A few years ago there were about 400 people who
attended; last year the dance conflicted with the Canucks play offs and
there were very few people. The goal is to attract 400 plus again as
well as having some fun. GK does all of the decorating, the kids work
hard at it and it is a good community event. The event is jointly put
on by the Byng Community Music Association and the PAC and the profits
are split jointly. The half that goes to the Music Society goes toward
band trips. There is very little overhead so it?s a good fund-raiser.
Items for the Silent Auction are needed as well as volunteers to help
with the bar during the dance. GK will pass volunteer sign-up lists.
8. Hanging Baskets (LF)
- LF said that the PAC has budgeted fund for various school
departments in anticipation of selling hanging baskets but an organizer
is needed. LF said that she would be at the door at the end of the
meeting and could anyone interested please speak to her.
9. Speakers (KR)
- KR introduced the panel of speakers: Wayne Sadler, the Grade 12
counsellor, Gerda Toffoli, the Grade 11 counsellor and Maureen Bryce,
organizer of the CAPP program.
(a) Gerda Toffoli
- Ms. Toffoli pointed out in the literature which was passed
around the old and new requirements for graduation. She also mentioned
advance placement exams and equivalencies (page 10 of the handout) and
language assessment exams.
- On February 10^th there will be a course planning night
which will go over the old and new grad requirements.
- Lord Byng has about $20,000 in scholarships to be awarded
annually; these must be applied for by the students (they should talk to
their counselors). Also post-secondary scholarships are awarded by the
different post-secondary institutions.
- Certain advanced placement courses may be given credit by
the universities; it depends on the particular institution.
- Language courses may also be challenged; these opportunities
are ?one-shot? only (there are no re-writes). Ms. Braeder has the
paperwork.
- CAPP 11 and 12 are mandatory under the ?old? grad
requirements; 30 hours of volunteer work experience must be accumulated
(for paid or volunteer work) Students must fill out the pink forms
available at the CAPP centre. If students are in the carreer
preparation program then those hours count.
(b) Maureen Bryce
- if the parent doesn?t get a handout, please send in your
child for one.
- CAPP Conference has some interesting presentations; ie ?From
Skid Row to CEO? with various people speaking about different
occupations. It is a great opportunity for the kids.
- PSI?s are in March; pick where the marks should be sent
automatically.
- PEN, personal education number must be on all applications.
- MB will have a new office right outside the Library.
- LB scholarships are awarded for many things: academic
success, volunteer hours, athletics, financial need, extenuating
circumstances.
- The Parents Guide to Education Plan helps with choosing
schools and how to apply. Bug MB about how to apply for scholarships.
- One of the main things that employers look at is volunteer
hours.
(c) Wayne Sadler
- Wayne Sadler, Head of the Councilling dept. and Grade 12
Councillor, reviewed the process for gaining entrance to college or
university in BC. He chose Langara and UBC as specific examples because
they take the highest proportion of Byng graduates. He emphasized that
requirements vary for each institution, especially outside of BC, and
the student must check with each institution. He also recommended that
students start thinking about where they might like to go in future, as
early as grade 10. this would allow them to plan taking pre-requisite
courses giving them as broad a final choice as possible.
- A student can enroll in Langara if he is missing a course as
long as he is currently enrolled in the course. The requirements for
Langara are high school graduation ? there is no required GPA. Also, a
language 11 is not required. In Langara you are either in a career
program or a university transfer program. The universities save seats
for students in the transfer program but it is very competitive as the
seats are limited. The GPI to get into UBC is higher than many eastern
universities.
- The LPI (Language Proficiency Index) is to be taken on March
19; students may register online. A score of 80% or higher must be
achieved. You can write the exam in Grade 11; turnaround for marking is
less than 3 weeks.
- LET (Langara English Test) is a non credit English test.
- All students must have a Personal Education Number (PEN,
obtainable from Byng office) in order to make applications, and have
high school graduation for entrance, plus any specific course requirements.
- College courses may be divided into two catagories:
University Transfer and Career Programs. The requirements are different
for each, check the web sites. Application for
colleges start in the early Fall, many including Langara, on a first
come - first served basis. It costs very little to register and you
don't have to select specific courses, just a program, at that time.
It is a good back-up as well, for those who wish to go straight to
University but don't make the cutoff marks.
- Applications for University occur in November to February
for the next fall semester. UBC no longer gives early admittance before
that. Wayne reviewed the UBC Admissions timeline:
- Some time soon, the grade 12 students will be provided a
form at the school to indicate which BC institutions they would like to
have their transcripts sent to, at no charge (including up to two
Canadian institutions outside of BC.) Transcripts for US etc. available
- from office.
- BC students self-report their Spring report grades,
on-line. (try www.pas.bc.ca <http://www.pas.bc.ca/> for links)Reported
grades must match those sent to the Ministry by the schools
- Admission decisions will be automatically conveyed on-line
for most programs (may be an unconditional or conditional offer, on
hold, or not admissible based on self reported grades
- Admission offers will always require that the applicant
complete/pass all prerequisites and meet a specified minimum threshold
grade average as listed in the admission letter (& which varies from
faculty to faculty)
- Students with grades near the cutoffs may wait longer for an
admission decision
- Grades will be verified and most offers will be made by May
- Students refused admission in May may be reconsidered for
admission in August if they achieve the minimum cutoff for their program.
- Mr. Sadler handed out several helpful printouts and
booklets, including the "Lord Byng Course Planning Guide 2004-05" (which
the students will be using soon to plan their next years courses - ASK
ABOUT IT!), and "The Grad Planner" for grades 10-12, from the government.
Useful Information Online:
Graduation program: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation
<http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation>
Provincial examination: www.bced.gov.ca.ca/exams/examfaqs.htm
<http://www.bced.gov.ca.ca/exams/examfaqs.htm>
Post-secondary online applications: www.pas.bc.ca
<http://www.pas.bc.ca/>
Career planning and post-secondary options in B.C.:
o www.openingdoorsbc.com <http://www.openingdoorsbc.com/>
o www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers <http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers>
Awards: BC - http://bcawardsonline.sd61.bc.ca
<http://bcawardsonline.sd61.bc.ca/>
Awards: Canada - www.studentawards.com
<http://www.studentawards.com/>
Student financial aid: www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentservices
<http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentservices>
8. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM. The next meeting will be January 27, 2004.