Kitsilano PAC | September 2024 Newsletter

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a new school year and a special welcome to the new Grade 8 families! PAC is very excited to meet you and bring new parents into this very special Kitsilano community.

Please join us for the first PAC meeting of the year that will also be our AGM

Tuesday, Sept. 24

from 7 to 8 (ish) PM

in the Kits Secondary Theatre

Along with the PAC meeting & AGM we will get updates on plans and events for the coming year from:

·     Ms Kwon, Principal,

·     Teacher Representative

·     Student Council representative

Executive positions are elected at the PAC AGM in September. We are looking for many PAC Positions, which can be shared or held individually. 

• Chair
• Co-Vice-Chair
• Secretary
• Co-Treasurer

• Newsletter editor (PAC does a monthly newsletter via Constant Contact)
• Arts Liaison 
• Grad Representative (Grade 12 Parent)
• What's Next Committee Members
• Social organizer for PAC events for parents
• Parent Education Co-ordinator
• International Families Liaison
• French Immersion Liaison

If you are interested, review the position descriptions in the Kits PAC Bylaws here or on the Executive Volunteer form. Please contact us at kitspac@hotmail.com if you have additional questions.

Funding for extra-curricular activities, clubs, equipment, resources and other enhancements to our students' high school experience is a key focus of PAC's work each year. Without PAC, Kits High would not have accessed funds from the BC Gaming Grant which is a substantial amount of money for our school clubs, field trips, equipment, and sports teams. It is $20/student. Kits High has over 1,500 students. PAC helps to fund initiatives in every area of the school including theatre and film, athletic teams, science clubs, Peer Helpers, and much more. To see what has been funded in previous years go to the Budget section of the PAC website. Additionally, your donations to Kits PAC through SchoolCash Online are what make these activities possible.

The What’s Next Committee of PAC organizes events about options for students after graduation in addition to communicating information about open houses and virtual tours at campuses. The first event is a Live Learning Session Education Planner BC (see details below). Education Planner BC will give you a good overview of post-secondary options in BC. To receive notifications of all PAC events subscribe to the PAC newsletter.

Please join us at the AGM and first PAC meeting of the year. We're excited to announce some new volunteers who we met at the PAC table, set up on the first day of school. We are still looking for more volunteers and hope you will consider joining us at PAC. We look forward to meeting you at the September PAC meeting!



Please visit our PAC website for more information about Kits PAC and to subscribe to this newsletter and event notifications.

PAC meeting

will be held at the school auditorium.

Tuesday, September 24

7 pm

Oct 2 & Oct 29

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Live Learning Sessions with Education Planner

Link here

Be sure to scroll down to get to the page.

Each year PAC supports the school in a variety of ways, including allocating donations for the

purchase of sports uniforms and equipment, extra supplies for the classrooms and help for

students in clubs and extra-curricular activities.

Wondering how donations were spent in the past? Check out the Kits PAC website budget page

here.

Thanks to generous parent donors, school administration and the Kits community, Kits PAC

made the upgrade to the weight room happen.

Our suggested donation is $50 per student, but you are welcome to donate any amount you

wish.

If you would like to make a donation, you can use School Cash Online

click Make a Donation on the Home Page, and

select Fund Destination ‘S-Kitsilano PAC’

Once you Add to Cart and complete your payment, you will automatically receive a VSB system

generated tax receipt. Thank you for generosity of time, money and care.

EDUCATION PLANNER BC

Learn how you can help support your student in planning for their future. All parents and supporters of high school students are welcome, but the presentation is especially helpful for those with students in Grades 10-12. These free sessions are engaging and informative, and include a website tour.

EducationPlannerBC is hosting Live Learning sessions this fall. Join us virtually on Wednesday, October 2, or Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

You will need to register for your preferred session.

Link to page HERE

Topics include:

B.C.’s post-secondary education landscape, including institutions & credentials

Program and admission requirements & key application dates

Costs of post-secondary and options for financial aid

Career exploration resources

Using new tools such as My List to save and compare programs

Navigating resources and the application process through 

our website www.EducationPlannerBC.ca

When you shop at Stongs Online for groceries, you can designate Kitsilano Secondary School as your community group. Kits PAC will receive a donation equal to 4% of your purchase.

Mobi by Rogers is partnering with the Vancouver School Board and the City of Vancouver’s School Active Travel Program to provide Kits secondary school students with affordable access to bike share.

For $20 students can get a year of access to bike share through this subsidized program!

The Youth Community Pass is valid for 365 days and includes unlimited 60-minute trips on classic bikes. 

Bikes can be unlocked from stations all over the city and returned to any station in the system area, making bike share ideal for short, one-way trips. Bike share is proven to improve physical health, mental health, access to recreational programs, and even opens up job opportunities!

Mobi Bikes are at Broadway & Trafalgar.

Go to www.mobibikes.ca/youth-community-pass to apply.

Welcome to the sports page where your PAC Athletics Liaison, Kerry Kenwood, will do her best to keep you updated on all the Kitsilano sports teams. This month we're focusing on the basics with a Kits Athletics 101.

What Teams are Playing?

Athletics at Kits is divided into three seasons: fall, winter and spring. The fall season sports: volleyball, soccer, field hockey, cross country and rugby. The winter season sports: basketball, wrestling, table tennis and ice hockey. Spring season sports: badminton, golf, rugby, soccer, softball, ultimate, tennis, track & field, volleyball.

When are Games?

The full schedule is posted on the Vancouver Secondary Schools Athletics Association (VSSAA)website and can be navigated by seasons and sports. Look up your sport, grade and you should see a full schedule of games.

What Grades are Bantam, Junior, Juvenile and Senior?

We know it's a bit confusing but Bantam is grade 8, Juvenile is grade 9, Junior is grade 10 and Senior is grades 11 and 12.

Why is soccer a Fall sport AND a Spring sport?

Boys play in the Fall and girls play in the Spring.

How do I keep up to date on Kits Athletics?

You can follow @kitsathletics on Instagram to

keep up to date with all the sports play.

Kits Secondary School has some excellent information on our school sports HERE

Do you know any new families coming to Kits Secondary in September?

Please let them know about signing up for the PAC Newsletter on our website

"kitsilanopac.ca" under the "subscribe" tab. Sign up here.

The Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is a collection of parents (elected by PACs) working with the common goal of supporting education for all children of Vancouver.

You can subscribe to the Vancouver DPAC newsletter HERE

PAC is open to suggestions for speakers for parent education at our meetings during the 2024/25 school year.

Other school PACs have successfully facilitated presentations to the student body on "Drug Awareness" (parent pharmacist), Drug and Alcohol Safety (Parent Advanced Life Support Paramedic), and Odd Squad Productions.

At our PAC meeting in September, we welcome all suggestions for speakers. We are also looking for volunteers to co-ordinate speakers.

Complimentary sessions through the Ministry of Educations’ erase strategy are now "live" on the new "erase" website. Click "family sessions".

Registration is now open for all dates. Upcoming dates include: Sept 24, Oct 30 & Nov 28.

Recommended for Parents/Caregivers/Grandparents and youth aged 10 and up as a way to facilitate the conversation of safe and caring use of technology at home and in the community. (60 minute session).

This session covers all things digital, from how to be a good digital citizen, the criminal consequences of cyberbullying, and how to report and receive support in cases of sexting/sextortion.

Some of the most prominent concerns currently surrounding use of social media platforms, smartphones, and artificial intelligence will be discussed.

Families will learn:

• Digital media habits, oversharing, and digital addiction
• The permanence of online posts/activity
• The significance of your digital tattoo in how others perceive you (e.g., sports teams, college admissions, and potential employers)
• The importance of caring for peers both online and offline
• Geo-locational settings and the dangers of social media and cell phone misuse
• The social and legal consequences of cyberbullying behaviour as well as possession and distribution of intimate images (sexting and sextortion)
• An anonymous student reporting tool that can help you and your friends stay safe both online and offline

Kelty Mental Health

• BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre provides peer support, information, and resources to help you talk to and guide a youth in your life to the services and supports they may need.
• Find tips for starting a conversation with your youth about their mental health, how to support a youth who comes to you with concerns, information on how to reach a parent peer support worker at the Kelty Centre, and additional resources and tools.
• More info HERE

FOUNDRY

• Excellent website to check out for resources on everything from healthy eating to getting support for mental health
• Link HERE.

Youth Programs at Kits Community Centre

• Youth Open Gym and the Youth Lounge
• Follow @kitsccyouth on Instagram

Evidence-Informed Mental Health Resources 

• HealthyMindsBC provides evidence-informed prevention and early intervention tools and resources, including online learning opportunities. This site is for parents, caregivers, families, educators, and other professionals to help them support the everyday mental health of children and youth.

Parent Peer Support

• Family Smart provides practical help, service navigation, and peer support to families and caring adults that builds their connection, knowledge and capacity to better support their kids’ mental health.They help professionals and families better understand each other to better support the mental health of children, youth and young adults. Videos available online.

Alliance Francaise

• French cultural and social events for teens. Link is here.

Kitsilano Community Fridges & Pantries

• Free fresh and non-perishable food is available near our school, on Vine at 7th next to Kitsilano Neighbourhood House and in the lane behind 3066 West 13th Avenue. 
• These community-led projects to combat food insecurity operate with a "Take what you need, leave what you can" approach. For more locations see https://www.kitshouse.org/westside-food-collaborative/