Pro-D Day
There is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Friday October 19th. That also means there will be no Jr/Sr DANCE or EXPRESSIVE ARTS activities.
Municipal Elections
This Saturday, October 20th is the last day to vote for school board, park board, city council, and mayoral candidates. As parents of school children, we have a vested interest in making sure we elect school board trustees who will do the right things for our children’s education and care, so get out and vote! Bring your kids with you – children who see their parents vote are more likely to become voters themselves.
Henry Hudson is a polling location – you can vote there on Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. To find other polling locations, check the map here: https://vancouver.ca/your-government/where-to-vote.aspx
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of candidates (we sure are!), the city has a vote planning tool where you can view the candidate’s platforms, make a list of who you will vote for in advance, and email it to yourself: https://vancouver.ca/plan-your-vote/index.aspx
Another resource is former VSB school board trustee Patti Bacchus, who covers VSB issues in the Georgia Straight. She has published several articles covering the candidates, including the answers to a questionnaire she sent each candidate.
The candidates’ answers are here: https://www.straight.com/news/1150181/georgia-straight-vsb-candidates-questionnaire-their-own-words
And her analysis of their responses is here: https://www.straight.com/news/1149991/patti-bacchus-what-vancouver-school-board-candidates-told-me
She will publish her personal picks in the Georgia Straight tomorrow.
Cannabis Legalization
Cannabis products are now legal in Canada. While this may be fun for adults, it can be toxic to children in high concentrations and can cause seizures, comas, strokes and heart attacks. Make sure your children know that cannabis comes in many forms, including edible products that look like treats (gummies, brownies, cookies) but can have a high concentration of the drug inside. More than ever, kids should know never to share food or accept food from other kids at school. And if you have cannabis products, keep them locked up and away from kids the same way you do with cleaning products and other drugs. If you have very young children (or dogs), watch out for discarded joint ends on the ground that they might put in their mouths.
Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed
Volunteering for hot lunch is a fun way to meet other parents (and spy on your kids!).
If you are available to help out on any Tuesday or Thursday morning, contact the Hot Lunch Coordinator: Marina Bondarenko (musea79@hotmail.com, 604.908.7855)
DPAC SOGI Workshop
DPAC will be hosting a General Meeting on SOGI 123 (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) on Thursday October 25th 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. The meeting will be held in Room 180 at the Vancouver Education Centre 1580 W Broadway. Translation services will be available for those requiring them. DPAC encourages parents who have concerns with SOGI education in schools to attend to begin a dialogue. Matt Carruthers (former SOGI District Lead) and Renee Hock (VSB Diversity Mentor) will be presenting.
DPAC meetings are open to all parents and guardians of children in VSB schools.
DPAC ADHD Workshop
DPAC will be hosting an ADHD Workshop on Thursday November 15, 2018 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Dr. Candice Murray and Dr. Daphne Dokis (Registered Psychologists with the Provincial ADHD Program) will address the following:
- What is ADHD?
- How does ADHD impact learning?
- School strategies for ADHD
- Advocating for children with ADHD
The workshop will be held at 1580 W Broadway. Childminding will be provided.