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Maple Grove is a community that cares deeply, shares generously and helps willingly!
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Maple Grove PAC
eNewsletter April 2010
Happy Spring!
On April 9 we celebrated the 6th annual Spring Festival. It truly was a community event focused on kids having fun and everyone having a great time creating friendship and community. Thank you to all who contributed to this amazing event. Thank you to all who came and helped to make this event a huge success! Way to go Maple Grove!
The Next PAC meeting is on Thursday April 22, 2010 (Please note the date change-to accommodate our school trustee, Mike Lombardi, to join us in a discussion regarding the concerns around VSB budgets) from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the school Library. PAC meeting agenda can be found by clicking here.
PAC meeting minutes for the March PAC meeting can be viewed by clicking here. A slide show of the presentation on Assessment & Evaluation as presented at the March PAC meeting can be viewed by clicking here. Please review it prior to the next PAC meeting.
PAC Co-Chairs: Mary Ann Lo, Tim Luu
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DPAC News-VSB Budget Shortfall
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This is the latest bulletin re: DPAC activities. It is in response to the Education cuts that were recently announced. At the last DPAC meeting in March, there was a long discussion re: Deficit and a request to bring forward ideas / opportunities for the Ministry / Gov't to consider to help reduce the current $18m deficit forecasted for this new year. We were asked to think outside the box and many great ideas were brought forward.
Please click here for the Vancouver DPAC Media Release: District parents urge all PACs and partner groups to advocate for increased education funding for the 2010-2011 school year.
The following is a message from Mike Lombardi, our school trustee:
Because of the $18.12 budget shortfall for the 2010-2011 school year, the VSB is facing some difficult decisions. If additional funding is not received from the provincial government, the Board will be faced with having to make decisions about layoffs, and program cuts. In the end, decisions about layoffs and other budget options will be made based on the resources provided to the board by the provincial government.
I would like to encourage the Maple Grove PAC to join the VSB in its advocacy efforts to acquire additional funding to address the shortfallfor next year. Information and resources re VSB advocacy can be found at: http://www.vsb.bc.ca/advocacy
Please review the following 3 documents prior to the PAC meeting Thursday April 22:
Budget Process: budget-process-201011-school-year
Budget Brief (Summary of Preliminary Budget Proposals): Budget brief FINAL
Sample letter to MLA: sample-letter-mla-minister-or-premier
The following links may also be useful for your PAC members:
Preliminary Budget Proposals: 2010-11 Preliminary Budget Proposals Report
Preliminary budget proposals powerpoint: Budget Proposals Presentation FINAL
The following Facebook groups may also be of interest to PAC members:
Stop Education Cuts
Vancouver Parents for Public Education
Please plan to attend the following events: This is critical! We need a large presence to attract media and government attention! The $18 Million school cutbacks will have a profound impact on our schools and our children!
Public Forum Sunday, April 18, 2:00 PM at John Oliver Secondary School (530 E. 41st Ave (at Fraser St). Visit stopschoolcuts.org
Students Before Stadiums Rally Monday, April 19, 7:30 - 8:30 AM Meet at the Entrance to PlayLand on Hastings Street (at Windemere) Bring your children and signs protesting Cuts. Visit studentsbeforestadiums.org
Education Cut Rally Tuesday, April 20th 3:30 PM Broadway at Granville St.
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Volunteer Opportunities
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Car Boot Sale (May 15): We need volunteers for a new event that PAC is offering this year. It's the Car Boot Sale to be held in May. This is a "garage sale" out of the trunk of your car and is planned to take place on our school grounds. Start collecting your "no-longer-needed"/"grown-out-of" items to sell. This is a way to reuse and recycle unwanted items. please contact our volunteer coordinator Heidy Chiu at 604-254-6083 or heidychiu@telus.net.
Other Events:Sports Day (May 21): PAC provides fruit and water. All parents are encouraged to come help prepare and serve as well as cheering on our amazing athletes.
New Families Reception (May 25): A reception is being organized to welcome new families to Maple Grove.
Staff Appreciation Lunch (June TBA): Each year, our PAC serves a special lunch to the staff in appreciation of the difference that they make for our kids.
To volunteer for each of these events, please contact Heidy Chiu at heidychiu@telus.net or 604 254 6083.
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Car Boot Sale May 15
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Spring Cleaning? Want some great deals?
 Looking to recycle Trash to Treasure? Get ready to fill your car trunk for Maple Groves first ever "Car Boot/Trunk sale fund raiser!". Its like a Garage Sale from the trunk of your car! Load your trunk with no longer/grown out of toys, clothing, household goods and electronics, and sell sell sell! The sale is taking place May 15th on the Maple Grove Gravel field, rain or shine; 11-3 pm Spots are limited so please book quickly $10 per spot. Contact mgcarboot@gmail.com. Admission for buyers is free, and will include entertainment, games, food, and lots and lots of bargains!
Click here for Car Boot Sale webpage.
P.S. Magee also has similar event going on at the same time. Double the fun, double the deals!
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Spring Festival A Huge Success-Thank You Everyone!
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Our Spring Festival is something I will never forget. I learned so much about myself and most of all about what a unique community of staff, parents and children we are. From watching it was easy to see we were all there for the same reason. That is the essence of what made this gathering so successful. We all truly care!
Thank you all sincerely for making this festival a huge success! So many volunteers, so many willing children, and the rest for attending, playing and sharing your fun!
One behalf of the PAC, we thank: students, staff, parents, caregivers, friends and families who gave their time and good will.
We also acknowledge and thank the support of the following businesses and organizations who supported our event:
For Entertainment We Thank: The Vancouver Fire Dept, Centro Flamenco, USSD karate School, AFSHIN our popular Caricature Artist, Rent a Pony and Party Arts.
We extend special thanks to: CM. Chan's Farm; Choice's Market; Bargain Wholesale & McFrugals Stores; Bella Pizza-Hemlock; Thomas and Lisa Haas of Thomas Haas Chocolate; Sweet E's Pastries and Sweets; Archie and Lorelei Kroondyk of Moore's Bakery and Delicatessen; Lee Baxter & Gizella Pastry Limited.
Most sincerely, Sophia, And on behalf of our Spring Festival Coordinators: Liz Bergy and Patricia Lok
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Lunch Time Programs
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| Dunbar has cancelled classes due to low enrollment. Many schools find that Spring Time enrollment is lower for the Dunbar classes, perhaps because the weather is nicer. There are still the teacher clubs, math club, computer club and library open on Wednesdays. |
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Maple Grove Kilometer Club News
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We have over 150 students signed up in our club and I would like to encourage all of you to come out to participate. A core group runs regularly, but many of you have not been out for a while. Come enjoy the Spring weather!
I would like all Kilometer Club members to show your school pride by purchasing a brand new Maple Grove logo T-shirt or Dri-fit shirt to participate in upcoming events. They are available immediately at practice, or call Mary Ann at 604-266-2908 or by email at run-mlo-run@shaw.ca
Upcoming events:
May 9 - Vancouver Sun Run
June 6 ChildRun - We are excited to announce that we have our very own Maple Grove Elementary School ChildRun team this year!! This very special family fun run takes place at 9 am on Sunday, June 6 at BC Children's Hospital. All proceeds go to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer. Please register your family on the "Maple Grove" team at www.childrun.com. For questions, please contact ChildRun at childrun@bcchf.ca or 604-875-2444 or Bethany Froese at bethany@froesebc.ca
June 18 Longest Day Run - this is our last group run of the school year and I would like all of you to come out for a lovely evening run at UBC with lots of great food (free), entertainment and prizes. Proceeds go to Juvenile Diabetes Research. Please contact Mary Ann at run-mlo-run@shaw.ca or 604-266-2908 for details, or visit their website.
Feel free to contact Mary Ann Lo at run-mlo-run@shaw.ca or call 604-266-2908.
 Please encourage your child(ren) to participate in some form of physical activity. MG Kilometer Club is always open to all of you to join at any time and participate every Tues, Thurs & Fri. at 8:30 AM sharp.
On heavy rain days and snow days we will exercise indoors.You will continue to receive points towards the awards.
For detailed information about the Maple Grove Kilometer Club, please click on this link
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Maple Grove Parent Business Directory
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The PAC of Maple Grove Elementary School would like to publish a directory featuring the businesses and services in which each parent is involved. Why? Simply because the directory will act as a resource for those times when you need to get your hair cut, buy or sell a house, have your property inspected or even find a new insurance agent. Anything goes!
Please click here for details.
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