Thank You, re: Purdy's Fundraiser!

A Huge Thanks to all Dickens Families who supported our Fundraiser! 

We are so happy to let you know that as a community we bought $7,300 worth of chocolate, which translates to $1,913.50 raised for more PAC-funded activities at both our main & annex schools. 

**Thank You for our Holiday Hampers!**

WOW did this community do good this year!

When we sent our plea last Monday, saying that we were a bit short of our fundraising goal for holiday hampers, this community rallied and responded in spades! This year’s holiday hampers were a HUGE success thanks entirely to the generosity of the families at Charles Dickens Main and Charles Dickens Annex.

From fires to floods, under the blanket of a seemingly never-ending pandemic, it has been a tough year for everyone. Despite the challenges 2021 has thrown at us, this year’s efforts raised in excess of $17,000 in gift card and cash donations, and will undoubtedly put more than a little cheer into the lives of families who need it, especially at this time of year.

Thanks to your support, we were able to help 82 individuals across 24 households. That’s a huge deal and we simply couldn’t have accomplished it without you. All of the hampers were delivered to Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House, Aunt Leah’s and both Charles Dickens Main and Charles Dickens Annex late last week, in time for distribution ahead of the holidays.

Again, thank you so very much for your tremendous support. We wish you all the very best for a happy, healthy, safe and COVID-free holiday season!

COVID-19 Vaccinations for 5-11 Year Olds

The BC Centre for Disease Control has released a document and other details on how to register children, 5 years and older, on their site. 

 

BC Kids & COVID-19 with Dr. Katharine Smart

Submit your questions using this link.

The presentation will be livestreamed on YouTube.

** It's time for Holiday Hampers! **

 Charles Dickens Elementary School & Charles Dickens Annex

Holiday Hampers 2021

It’s that time of year again!

In the spirit of the season, the Charles Dickens PAC is asking for your support in helping to create holiday hampers for the families and individuals living in our community, who could use a little extra boost at this time of year.

Since the pandemic is not yet entirely behind us, we are once again requesting donations of gift cards and cash to help us assemble fun, useful, meaningful and impactful holiday hampers.

There are two ways to support Holiday Hampers:

1. Donate gift cards! Visit your local grocer or retailer and purchase your gift card(s) and then send the card(s) to school with your kids. Teachers will collect the gift cards on our behalf. Gift card ideas include:

• Grocery gift cards - Save On Foods, Buy Low, Safeway, Superstore, Walmart, Nesters or other local grocers

• Clothing gift cards - Old Navy, Gap, Walmart, Joe Fresh, Carters, Mark’s Work Warehouse, etc.

• Gift cards for toys - Amazon.ca, Indigo, Toys R Us, Walmart

• Flexible gift cards - Indigo, Amazon, Best Buy, The Bay, Walmart, Sephora, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.

2. Donate cash! through SchoolCashOnline.

• The link above is a direct link to the Charles Dickens PAC donation page. If you sign into your SchoolCashOnline account first, once you’ve selected the Make a Donation option, please be sure to select E-Charles Dickens PAC as your Fund Destination. 
• When you make your gift, please let us know that it is for the Holiday Hampers by making a note in the Message box. Cash gifts of $10 or more are eligible for charitable receipts, which are issued automatically by the VSB to your email.

This year’s hampers will be distributed beginning the week of December 6, so please be sure to drop off your donations by Friday, December 3, 2021. 

If you have any questions, please email us at charlesdickensholidayhampers@gmail.com

Your support is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you!

Holiday Chocolate Fundraiser!

Dickens PAC is offering a Holiday Chocolate Fundraiser this year with Purdys Chocolates!

Why? It's an easy, fun and tasty fundraiser which will raise money to support the multitude of activities funded by the PAC at the Main and Annex schools. 

There is a sliding scale of profits and if we have more than $1,000 in sales, we will receive 25% of the sales back to support both schools! We're are aiming to sell $5,000 and raise $1,250!

 

To view the available items for purchase, simply go to 
https://fundraising.purdys.com/775635-89691

Begin by entering your email address. Once you're ready to Shop Online, select the "Use Marketplace" button. You will then be able to view all the chocolate options for sale. Payment is easy and done by credit card.

 

Orders must be completed by Sunday, November 28, 2021 

Please check it out, and feel free to buy treats for teachers, friends and family through this fundraising campaign. Also share the link with extended family & friends, who you know like chocolate and our schools. Thank you! :)

A little chocolate goes a long way to warming someone's heart!
 
Pick up will be Friday, December 10 between 3:30pm - 6pm (address will be sent to you).

Thank you for your support!

Post-Halloween Clean-Up — We need your help!

Happy Halloween Dickens Families!   🎃 

Join us for a little post-Halloween field and school park clean up!

Every year, Sunnyside Park and the main school field is littered with trash left from fireworks debris and other garbage on Halloween night! 

It would be great to have some Parents & Guardians come early on Monday morning to make sure there isn't anything dangerous for the kids during their day at school. Let's pick it up, before the kids do!

If you're able to assist us, please pop over on Monday, November 1 at 8.30 a.m. at Sunnyside Park with a plastic bag, gloves and garbage tongs if you have them. 

Thanks so much - we appreciate your help! ...and Happy Halloweening!

— Dickens PAC

👻

Kindergarten Registration for 2022-2023

Kindergarten registration for children born in 2017 begins on Monday, November 1, 2021.

Read more details at Kindergarten Applications for Charles Dickens Elementary (main school) and the Charles Dickens Annex.

The priority registration period for Kindergarten opens on November 1 and closes at 4 pm on January 31, 2022. Students who submit an application within this priority period will be accommodated before late applicants.

Charles Dickens Cheer Gear is back!

Contact Bianca at dickens.pac@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Pandemic Guidelines for Halloween

 To enjoy Trick-or-Treating, here are some helpful COVID-19 guidelines & tips from the BC Centre for Disease Control. 

Have fun and stay safe!

Help shape the new VSB Education Plan!

Dear Families,

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) has completed round one of the knowledge gathering phase to help the Board develop its Education Plan 2026 - the 5-year strategic plan. 

During this phase, we received input from students, staff, families, and the Vancouver public. I am grateful for the time that many of you took to support this work by completing the online survey.

We are on to the next round of the engagement process and once again we are seeking participation from Parents/Guardians: 

Round two of the knowledge gathering phase will involve a series of focus groups moderated by Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group. The purpose of the focus groups is to develop a deeper understanding of Parents’/Guardians’ perspectives on how well the VSB is preparing students for the future. 

Parents/Guardians are invited to register for a 90-minute virtual focus group at one of the times indicated below:

• Sat, Oct 30: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
• Mon, Nov 1: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Tues, Nov 2: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Wed, Nov 3: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

To ensure each voice is heard, the focus group sessions will be limited to a small group of participants. If you are interested in taking part, please indicate your preference for one session. 

If there is more interest by Parents/Guardians than can be accommodated, Directions will select a small group of Parents/Guardians randomly from among those indicating their interest for each group. Only those randomly selected for participation will be notified. 

The audio for each session will be recorded to ensure that everyone’s contributions will be captured. No names will be attached to comments made during the focus group.

If you are interested in taking part in one of the focus group sessions, please visit our registration page. 

Thank you.

Warm regards,

Carmen Cho

VSB Chair

Application for Funding for Parent-led Clubs & Activities at Dickens

 

Dear Dickens Parents/Guardians and Families,

The Charles Dickens PAC is excited to be able to provide funding for the 2021-22 school year!  

We are currently taking applications from staff, teachers, students and parents/guardians who have ideas for initiatives, clubs or activities and would like help to offset any costs.  
 
See details about the School Wide Enrichment Fund as well a link to the online application form. Submit your online application by Monday, November 15, 2021.

Proposals are reviewed and approved through voting by the PAC, in late November. The goal is to distribute the funds fairly, based on the number of students the initiative impacts, as well as the amounts of funding requested by each submission. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at kingsburymona@gmail.com

Mona Kingsbury
Dickens PAC Treasurer

TRASHformation – Upcycled Art Challenge

The end date has been extended to Sunday Nov 14, 2021! 

TRASHformation is an art challenge open to Vancouver students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. It aims to raise awareness of current environmental issues like climate change and pollution of our waterways.

Imagine a Canada 2021-2022

The Imagine a Canada 2021-2022 program invites Canadian youth from K-G12 and CÉGEP to envision a Canada reconciled.

Grades K - 5

Youth in the K-G5 stream can submit an art piece, essay, or other representation to express their vision of a reconciled Canada and what they hope others will learn from their submission. 

Twelve projects will be selected from the K-G5 stream to be included in an art booklet showcasing their work and message. 

Grades 6 - 12

Youth who participate in the G6-G12 and CÉGEP stream can go one step further and submit a plan on how their project will address Reconciliation in their community or school. Projects for consideration include: inviting Survivors, Elders, or Knowledge Keepers to speak at a series of learning events; building a permanent art installation representing Reconciliation at the school; or supporting volunteer work in communities related to Reconciliation. 

Six projects from the G6-G12 and CÉGEP stream will receive $750, six will receive $1000, and three will receive $1500. Additionally, these projects will also be recognized in an art booklet.

For more details go to Imagine a Canada hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.

Survey for New VSB Education Plan

Help shape the new VSB Education Plan!

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) is asking for your input - see the note below:

Dear Families,

We are developing an education plan to guide the Board of Education’s work for the next five years – and invite you to join us in this work.

The education plan establishes the Board’s vision and sets the direction for the District. Identifying goals and objectives that the VSB will work to achieve is a first step in the process. It is important to have community input in the development of the plan. 

We have created two opportunities for gathering the views of students, families, staff and the public.

The first opportunity is a survey about the values and goals that the Board should consider in developing its education plan. You can also make comments and submit documents you think the VSB should consider as we form this roadmap - that will lead the District to improve outcomes for students.

Based on input from the survey, a set of draft goals and objectives will be formed. In a second opportunity for input later in the year, you will be able to share your thoughts about those draft goals for the Board’s consideration.

The initial survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous. Please visit edplan2026.vsb.bc.ca to share your expectations and aspirations for Vancouver schools.

The survey is open until October 11, 2021.

Thank you for your help as we embark on this important work.

Warmest Wishes, 
Carmen Cho 
VSB Chair

Study Buddy Program

The Study Buddy Program is offered by Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. It's a weekly 1:1 mentoring program that focuses on schoolwork. 

Interested Parents & Guardians are welcome to go directly to the Big Sisters' website for a description of the program. You can register your child at this link. 

The trained academic mentors of Big Sisters of the Lower Mainland are a great additional resource for female identified youth 7 to 17 years old - the program is 100% free!

Contact Ivy at ichiang@bigsisters.bc.ca or 604-832-9136 if you have any questions.

Have a Fabulous Summer!

Wishing you a fabulous, safe and restful summer break!  

Note that September 7 is an Anti-racism In-service Day for all Vancouver School Board (VSB) Staff, so we will see you on Wednesday, September 8, 2021!

© Charles Dickens PAC

Staff Appreciation Breakfasts at Main & Annex

 Thank You to all Dickens Teachers & Staff for your incredible work and long hours throughout this challenging 2020-21 school year!  

In adhering with pandemic protocols, we hosted an Outdoor "Grab 'n Go" Breakfast, setting up at the front entrances of both the main & annex schools. Iced coffees, scones and sandwiches were offered. 

A huge thanks to all Dickens families who created the lovely heartfelt posters and creative sidewalk messages! We could not have done this without your assistance!

*** Staff Appreciation Week ~ Main School ***

 

Annual General Meeting (AGM) and PAC Elections

AGM & ELECTIONS for the 2021-2022 School Year

THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 at 7:30PM

It’s time to elect your Charles Dickens PAC Representatives for the 2021-2022 school year. All parents, from Kindergarten through Grade 7, are invited to attend and vote, so please mark your calendar! 

Joining the PAC is a great way to:

• Learn about what’s going on at school
• Have input and vote on how government and fundraised dollars are spent
• Advocate for the benefit of Dickens’ students
• Get involved in your child’s school community

PAC Executive Meetings are held monthly between September and May, with the AGM in June, and usually last around 1-2 hours.

Positions available for the coming year include:

• Chair/Co-chairs – arrange and lead meetings, meet with administration, and serve as conduit between parents and the school.
• Treasurer – responsibility for the budgeting & disbursements process.
• Secretary – minute keeping at executive meetings and AGM.
• DPAC Representative – this position represents the Charles Dickens PAC at the district level, meeting regularly with other DPAC representatives to facilitate communication between the parent community and the school district.
• Members-at-Large

All parents are welcome to attend the AGM but please note that registration is required.  To register, send an email to dickens.pac@gmail.com, no later than Tuesday, June 15 at 5pm. An email with the agenda and instructions on how to access the meeting will be sent to all registrants on Wednesday, June 16.

Questions?

Send an email to Laura, Tiffany, Sara or Daniela (your current PAC Co-Chairs) at dickens.pac@gmail.com

Get involved in your child’s school community.

Your participation can make a positive impact!

Dickens Family Trivia Night Fundraiser

Fun for all ages! Join us for the Dickens Family Trivia Night Fundraiser

Saturday, June 5 from 7- 8 pm

Click on this image for participation details :)

Get ready for the Dickens Family Trivia Night Fundraiser!

The Dickens Family Trivia Night Fundraiser will be hosted on Saturday, June 5 from 7-8 p.m.

See details here on how to participate!

Dickens PAC Fundraiser, in lieu of SPRING FLING :: How to donate via your SchoolCashOnline Account

Follow Steps 1 to 5 - 

The Power of Change - Parent Education Conference, Online - Early Bird Pricing Ends May 3!

Charles Dickens PAC is a Member of BCCPAC so you qualify for the Current Members Fee!  

Early Bird Pricing Ends May 3

As we always do, we are offering members the ability for conference fee discounts if they commit and pay by May 3. Attendees will hear over 10hrs of speakers and sessions! 

Conference Fee	Early Bird (to May 3)	Regular Rate (after May 3)
Current Members	$35	$50
Non-Members	$75	$100

REGISTER NOW!

Conference Schedule

Our Conference Speakers and Sessions will cover 10+ hours of valuable content over two days for you and your PAC parent community! Our online format enables parents/guardians/caregivers from across the province to safely participate from their home or office.  Register Today!

We are excited to have Dr. Gordon Neufeld as our Saturday opening Keynote Speaker.  Dr. Neufeld is a Vancouver-based developmental psychologist with over 45 years of experience with children and youth and those responsible for them. A foremost authority on child development, Dr. Neufeld is an international speaker, a bestselling author ("Hold On To Your Kids") and a leading interpreter of the developmental paradigm. Dr. Neufeld has a widespread reputation for making sense of complex problems and for opening doors for change.

And Dr. Ashley Miller will be our closing Keynote Speaker on Saturday.  Dr. Miller is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, family therapist, and Award-winning educator and author of “What to Say to Kids When Nothing Seems to Work”. She is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia where she serves as co-director of family therapy training.

But that’s not all! We have top quality speakers on both Friday and Saturday including:

·  Friday opening address and Q&A with the Minister of Education, the Honorable Jennifer Whiteside

·  Mental Health in Schools with Jennifer McCrae, Assistant Deputy Minister, Learning Division, Ministry of Education

·  Framework for Enhanced Student Learning with Shelaina Postings, Executive Director, Sector Policy and Performance, Ministry of Education

·  Social Media Awareness, Digital Citizenship, and Cyberbullying with Dr. Greg Gerber from Safer Schools Together BC.

·  Tyrone McNeil, president of First Nations Education Steering Committee(FNESC) and vice-president of the Stó:lō Tribal Council will be discussing First Nations Education and Your Role

We very much look forward to your participation!

Don't delay! Secure Your Spot Before May 3!

ATTENTION - Dickens Fundraiser!

This note was sent home last week to all Dickens Families: 

If you'd like to donate via your SchoolCashOnline Account, click on "Make a Donation"  and select "E-Charles Dickens PAC" - the system will send you a charitable receipt via email. Thank you!

Scavenger Hunt - Thank You and Congratulations!

Charles Dickens Family Scavenger Hunt!

Charles Dickens Cheer Gear is Here!

Orders are due by Thursday, April 15, 2021 :: Have any questions? Email dickens.pac@gmail.com

Minutes for PAC Executive Meetings (Sep-Dec 2020) and June 2020 AGM

Minutes of the 2020 AGM - June 18, 2020

Minutes for PAC Executive Meetings:

September 24, 2020

October 22, 2020

December 3, 2020

Funding Distribution (December 3, 2020) - Main & Annex

------------------------------------------------------

Minutes for the previous school year (2019-2020) can be reviewed here.

Neighbourhood Cleanup Party Program

Around the city and your neighbourhood, there have been increased challenges with litter attributed to the pandemic.  The volume of PPE being discarded only adds to an ongoing problem of litter in our neighbourhoods.  

The City’s Adopt-A-Block Program provides families a chance to give back to their community while participating in a fun and COVID-19-safe activity.  

As the poster shows, it’s easy for families to sign up! Participants simply register on our website: vancouver.ca/adopt-a-block and we will provide the necessary cleanup supplies to get them started.

Thank you and we appreciate your time and help!

Sandra Davidon

Volunteer Coordinator | Solid Waste Programs
Engineering Services Department | City of Vancouver
604.871.6443 or 604.871.6749 (direct)  sandra.davidon@vancouver.ca

Vancouver District PAC (DPAC) General Meeting

Finding Our Way in COVID Times: Self-Compassionate Heart Tools for Healing and Wellbeing

Thursday, February 25 at 7pm

This February DPAC General Meeting offers a refreshing and inspiring invitation to all parents, grandparents, and guardians, toward beginning a more self-compassionate inner journey. In reframing our perception of the current situation, the potential to affect how the world seems to us is able to shift. Simply nudging yourself off the couch or out of bed and getting your body moving and breathing can change how you feel and sense the world. Seeing our interaction through a mindful and playful spirit we can find more joy and less reason to be reactive because we possess tools to defuse our own charged energy. This in turn affects the dynamics between ourselves and others, including our children, partners, relatives, friends, and truly all our relations.

We will participate in some body-mind work during the evening to gain some practical experience and sense how to apply certain techniques. By finding compassion for ourselves within ourselves we gain capacity to offer it to others in our lives and even to those outside our circles. As we find techniques to stabilize our minds and ground our energy by physically connecting to nature, we are able to recognize the messengers which trigger us advance, causing our nervous system to go into overdrive. By giving that pause to breath we can begin to reinterpret the messages we receive with our senses and give ourselves permission to take the time to integrate the energy, intentionally deciding how we wish to transmit it constructively to those around us.

Please join us Thursday, February 25 at 7 pm for an educational and illuminating evening with experienced facilitators in the field of psychology: Jessica Wollen from Shift-Education, Brian Deans Williams, Galen Hutcheson, with special guest Indigenous Relations Consultant Pulxaneeks from the Haisla First Nation.

Click here to register. 

Attention All Kindergarten Parents / Guardians at the Main & Annex Schools

The Dickens PAC recognizes that this has been a school year unlike others. To help bring the Kindergarten parents together and to spur communication and conversation, we’ll be hosting an event for you to meet the Admin and some "expert" parents who have had kids in the school for a while. 

The dates that were emailed to parents/guardians are:

Annex Parents:  Monday February 22nd from 7.30-8.30pm (this successful meeting took place last night!)

Main Parents: Monday March 1st from 7.30-8.30pm

Join us to learn more about Dickens, to have your questions answered, and to meet and chat with other Kindergarten parents. If you’d like to attend, please email bianca@wildfireevents.ca to secure your spot and submit any burning questions you may have. Zoom meeting details will be sent out closer to the event.

 

We hope to see you there,

Dickens PAC