Dear DG Families,

We’re in for a busy last month of school!  Stay in the know by regularly checking your email in-box for messages from your child’s teacher, as well as from the office.  Also, be sure to regularly check the calendar on our website.  It’s frequently updated as new events are added

One thing that helps busy families, during busy times, is making mealtime easier.  A way great way to do this is by having frozen meals (like the ones available through Neufeld Farms) on hand.  Haven’t put your order in yet?  Don’t worry, you still can!   See the “Neufeld Farms” info, and link to order, under the PAC section, below.

June is Pride Month

While Pride has become synonymous with diversity, rainbows, and love, it was sparked from a much darker beginnings. Pride started as an uprising against police violence and injustice in June 1969 in New York City. Black and Brown trans women stood up to police violence. These acts of resistance, now known as the Stonewall uprising, led to the birth of Pride, Pride marches and the LGBTQAI2S+ rights movement. Society has seen positive changes and improvements regarding the treatment and acceptance of members of this community, but there is still work to be done.   Attitudes and injustice still exist and all members of our school community, whether they identify as LGBTQAI2S+ or not, are affected by homophobia and transphobia.   We need to ensure schools are inclusive and safe for students/parents/staff of all sexual orientations and gender identities.  Someone’s gender does not limit their interests and opportunities, and their sexual orientation and how they understand and express their gender are welcomed without discrimination. Happy Pride, Dragons!

Family Fun Night Raffle Baskets!

 Family Fun Night is next week!  Funds generated by the PAC through Family Fun Night help support a variety of initiatives at our school (eg. library books, equipment for our playground pals bin, classroom funds for “extras”, school jerseys, technology purchases, and MORE!). 

One of the main events at Family Fun Night is the basket raffle and, over the past several weeks, students have been bringing in donations for the baskets and lots of great stuff came in.   Thank you!!!

Although the deadline for donations was Friday, you can still send items in as parent volunteers won’t be picking up the donations until later this week. Once that happens, the PAC will let us know which classes won the ice cream challenge (the primary and intermediate classes who brought in the most items will each win ice cream treats)

 The PAC is still looking for volunteers for Family Fun Night (and Sports Day).  See the sign-up sheet, below, under the PAC section.

2023-24 School Calendar

Next year’s school calendar is now on our website.  You will notice a slight adjustment to our daily schedule with respect to recess and lunch times.  This was necessary to accommodate an increase in teacher prep time for next year.   Morning entry and dismissal times have not changed.

Volunteers Needed to Water our Garden Area this Sunmmer – can you help?

You may have seen the Western Red Cedar tree and the planter boxes on the front grass area of the school.  This area is well-used as an outdoor learning space during the school year and both the tree and the garden boxes require regular watering.   While school is in session, teachers and students take care of this.  During the summer, though, we need your help.   For the past two summers we have had families volunteer to water the garden boxes and cedar tree and we need to do the same, this summer.

As we’ve done for the past two summers, we will put together a schedule of volunteers to take turns doing the watering so that it’s a manageable task (many hands make light work).  You will have access to water and a hose at the school, and we will show you exactly what needs to be done before the end of the school year.

 If you are willing to help out with watering this summer (particularly if you live nearby!), please email Ms Grund at bgrund@deltaschools.ca And, if you helped with this last summer, you’re now an expert, so we’d love to have you on the team again this year!  

Student Crossing Guard Schedule:

Thank you for your continued support of the crossing guard program at Devon Gardens. This important leadership role helps keep the students safe. If you know you are going to be away for an extended period because of a planned vacation, please encourage your child to find their own replacements and to let Ms. Grund know.   All Crossing Guards have been provided the schedule.

Updated Crossing Guard Schedule 

NEUFELD FARMS FUNDRAISER – Deadline to Order is June 4th!

Reminder PAC Meeting – Monday

The last PAC meeting for the year, which includes the PAC elections, is 7:30pm, Monday evening, in the Library.  You can also join via Zoom. The link, along with the agenda, will be emailed out on Monday.

PAC EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS

At our next meeting on June 5, we will be holding our elections for the 2023-2024 Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Executive Committee. The meeting and the elections will be held online via Zoom. To view the Executive Officer positions available and their respective duties, refer to the PAC constitution.

The Devon Gardens PAC cannot function without dedicated volunteers. We welcome nominations for all elected positions and hope you will join us in fulfilling our mandate to represent the parent voice and support our school. Below is a list of the PAC executive positions, name of the current appointed representative, with years served and intention to continue for the 2023-2024 school year.

All Parents and Guardians of the students currently registered at Devon Gardens Elementary may be Voting Members of the PAC, except for employees or elected officials of the School Board District or Ministry Of Education. The Executive Officers shall be elected by the Voting Members at the AGM held in June each year. The term of office shall commence in September of each year and shall be held for one year. Any Elected Member of the PAC may serve on the Executive for as many years as is elected to a position.

NOMINATION Process 

To express your interest, agreement to serve, and confirm your qualifications for the position you would like to nominate yourself for, please email send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com with the following information:

• Full name
• Contact information
• Position interested in

Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the AGM.

Pre-Sale for Family Fun Night

The PAC will be offering a pre-sale on June 12 at 3pm at the undercover kindergarten entrance

• • Activities wristband (unlimited bouncy castles) – $15
  • 12 basket raffle tickets – $10
  • 3 cake walk tickets – $2

Volunteer Sign-Up for Family Fun Night & Sports Day

PAC Fundraisers ongoing throughout the year

Return-it Express

PAC has created a school fundraising account. To participate, simply bring your containers to the depot in sealed, clear bags, and enter the registered phone number, 604-581-6185, into the Express kiosk. You will be prompted to select the number of bags you’re dropping off, the kiosk will automatically print the same number of sticker tags displaying our PACs unique Express account code. Tag each of your bags with a sticker tag and drop the bags off in the designated Express drop-off area to be counted. For a list of Return-it Express location visit https://www.return-it.ca/locations/express/

Cobs Bread Dough Raiser Program

This program enables us to raise money for our school throughout the year! Be sure to mention Devon Gardens Elementary (or code 7806) each time you make a purchase at COBS Bread Scott 72 Centre; they will donate 10% of your purchase back to our school.

 

 

Level Ground Trading

Level Ground is a BC business that works with fair trade coffee, tea, dried fruit and spice producers.

• Supporters enter the code devongardens in the ‘discount code’ field at the checkout.
• All products on our web store (com) qualify for the fundraiser. Orders must be $40 or more. These orders also qualify for free shipping to most addresses in Canada (there is a shipping fee on all orders shipped to NU/NT/YK). All orders are paid for through our web site and shipped directly to your supporters. No need to collect orders or distribute products to households.
• Your fundraising amount is 20% of total sales.  So on a $100 order your school will receive $20.

 

Online Stay Safe & Babysitting Courses

Offered through First Aid Hero. When registering use promo/coupon code DGPAC and our PAC will earn $5 from each registration. For details, available course dates and online registration, please refer to this flyer:

 

Questions? Send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com

Thank you,

Your Devon Gardens PAC