Growing Chefs Article and YouTube

Growing Chefs! was one of many successful PAC-funded Classroom Activities hosted at the Dickens main school this year, and was featured on the Vancouver Sun's Blog:

See Photos and Read about the Activities at:
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2015/12/01/kids-show-off-their-cooking-chops-in-stir-fry-competition/

Watch the Video Clip at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysaY0IQLqvg

Holiday Hampers - Volunteers Needed

Thank you for your generous donations towards the Holiday Hampers! We now need as many hands as possible to help us with sorting and wrapping... 

A Wrap Party will be held this Tuesday, December 15
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
Location: 1950 East 34th Avenue, Vancouver 

Please bring as many scissors and pens as possible with you. Tea will be served but feel free to bring any other beverage for sharing. Thanks very much!

Parent Advocacy Network launches a postcard campaign

Join our Postcard Campaign for BC Education Funding! 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY YOUR PAC

The Select Standing Committee on Finance & Government Services found that K-12 Education Funding remains a top priority for British Columbians. 

The Parent Advocacy Network (PAN) in conjunction with Families Against Cuts to Education (FACE), has therefore started a postcard campaign targeting the BC Government. 

Parents on your Charles Dickens PAC are both founding and active members of PAN.

The goal of the campaign is to deliver thousands of postcards declaring “I stand with the Standing Committee” to the Minister of Education, Mike Bernier, in time for him to make his New Year's Resolutions. The postcard includes the Committee’s list of recommendations for K-12 funding as well as a space to offer up your own comments.  

In addition to passionate discussion on social media and support from many schools in Vancouver, PAN has already received numerous requests for postcards from around the province. 

We hope that you will join us in sharing postcards with fellow parents/guardians, family and friends to collect as many postcards as possible: In early January, we will make a bulk delivery and a big statement to the Minister of Education demonstrating that parents will be holding his government accountable to adequately fund public education.  

Here’s how you can participate and help make a change!

GET YOUR POSTCARDS

• If you are within the Dickens community, you may pick up a stack of ready-made postcards by contacting Maggie Milne Martens at m_milne@telus.net or Andrea Sinclair at andreasinclair@gmail.com

• Or download and print your own from this link at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1MKFnQ4MQAPQzZYRUNKN3FZZFk/view 

DELIVER YOUR POSTCARDS

• If you are within the Dickens community, please drop off bundles of completed postcards to the personal residence at 744 East 14th Avenue. 

• Alternatively, if you live in Vancouver, you can bring completed postcards in person to our January PAN meeting at the Tipper Restaurant (backroom) on January 4, 2016 at 7 p.m.

Thank you for participating in our Postcard Campaign —

Together we can make a difference! 

Front and back of two postcard samples:

Summary of Public Education Panel Discussion

On November 25, the Charles Dickens PAC hosted a Panel Discussion on Public Education featuring guest speakers from PENS (Public Education Network Society), a long time public education advocacy group that created a "Charter for Public Education".   

Mike Zlotnik spoke on the democratic vision of public education in Canada after the second world war that promoted equal opportunity for all citizens, and the erosion of that vision in recent years.  

Marilynne Waithman talked about the commodification of education and the consequent breakdown of neighbourhood school communities.  

John Malcolmson illustrated and gave clarity around the ‘numbers’ for public education in BC since 2002. 

This was followed by a lively interactive discussion by parents.  

If you missed the event, you can view their presentations at these links:

Mike: https://goo.gl/FwwkJ1 

John: https://goo.gl/yGcTOR

Marilynne: https://goo.gl/pmhXmX
   

You can also access a copy of the Charter for Public Education at: 
http://publiced.ca/index.php?page=english

PENS will be giving a second Panel Discussion on the west side of Vancouver in early February – the location and date will be announced in the near future.

Technology Fundraiser News

Charles Dickens Technology Campaign 

News Update 

Thank you to everyone for your amazing support!

Together we've raised an impressive $14,400

including funds donated by PAC, 

money given to our GoFundMe page 
and contributions made by our generous Dickens families, 
friends and communities.

We are so close to reaching our target of $15,000 

which will be matched by our big-hearted donor "Jackie" 

to reach our ultimate goal of $30,000!* 

To raise the final $600

we will be hosting a Burger & Beer Night 

early in the New Year

— stay tuned for more info!

Tax Receipts

Donations of $25 or more given to Viv at the Main School Office 

will be eligible for a tax receipt with a tax form. 
Write cheques to: Vancouver School Board.

*All donations and matching funds will be used for much needed computers and technology-based learning tools at Dickens main school. e.g. laptops, tablets etc.

PAC Exec Meeting - Oct 2015

Oct, 13 2015 Minutes: https://goo.gl/0pexoF