April 2010 PAC News

The EMP Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is looking ahead to our AGM which will take place in June. Each year, new parents are elected to the PAC Executive. Positions include Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and School Planning Council (SPC) Rep. There is also an opening for a member for the District PAC which is a committee for all of School District 6. As well, we have parents from our school who volunteer to organize our Healthy Lunch program. Parents are welcome to ask any current executive volunteers about PAC and how they can become involved. The next PAC meeting is Tuesday, April 20th at 7:00 PM and child care will be provided.

PAC will be organizing Permanent Art again this year. Parents select pieces of their child's art work and a digital photo of the art is taken. These photos can then be put onto items such as wall plaques, trivets, fridge magnets, note cards, and coasters. The items are great keepsakes and make excellent presents. Ordering will take place in the library on Wed. May 5th, 2:30-4:30 PM and Thurs., May 6th, 1:30-3:00 PM.

EMP PAC is partnering with CBAL and other PACs in our zone for the 17th Annual Literacy Charity Golf Tournament which will be held on Wed., June 2, 2010. Our PAC will receive a portion of the funds raised at the tourney that we can then use to support our children and our school. The more teams that register to golf, the more funds raised overall, and the more funds that will come back to our school. So put together a foursome and take part in this great day of golf, food, prizes, and fun. This tournament is open to golfers of all ability levels and anyone of any skill level will still have a great day on the course. If you have a business that would like to donate prizes for the event, please contact Nicole at 250-342-9516 for more information.

PAC will be sending home order forms for EMP school t-shirts in the next few weeks. Sizes will be available for both children and adults.

The date for flower basket pick-up has not yet been confirmed but it will be one day during the first week of May. Watch for more info in the May newsletter. If you are unable to come to the school during the designated pick-up time, please contact Nicole to make alternate arrangements.

Nicole Pawlak (PAC Chair)

March 2010 PAC News

* The One to One Reading program wraps up for another school year. A big thank-you goes out to Tammy Mytopher and all of her volunteer readers who have read with students once a week since October. Your time is greatly appreciated.

*We have just completed a successful session of noon hour games. Thank you to Tammy Mytopher who organized these activities. The students enjoyed playing floor hockey with the Rockies, golfing with the Eagle Ranch guys and Olympic activities with Michelle Taylor.

*Another thank-you goes out to Jodi and Neil Clark who have volunteered to construct two new information sandwich board signs for the school.

*Because of Spring Break, there will be no PAC meeting in March. Please join us on April 20th at 7:00 PM for our next meeting.

Have a great Spring Break and watch for EMP T-Shirt orders and Permanent Art in April.

Thanks!
Nicole Pawlak
EMP PAC Chair

February 2010 PAC News

*A Gold Medal to all of the staff and parents who took part in the weekend Olympic Toque sewing bee! It was amazing to see how quickly 200 toques could actually be made. Thank-you to Arly Franson for her vision and her incredible sewing skills. Our students really stood out and the comments around town made it all worthwhile. People on the streets have been asking where they can buy a toque for themselves!

*PAC was very pleased to sponsor the Oso Simple concert at the end of January in celebration of Family Literacy Day. It is always so much fun to see how much the students enjoy listening to his performances.

*Thank-you to Tammy Mytopher who has been busy organizing Noon Hour activities for the students. They will have a chance to participate in several different activities over the next month including floor hockey with the Rockies.

*Flower baskets are BACK! Pre-order you flower baskets for spring...which already feels like it is on the way. Baskets will be delivered in time for Mother's Day. Orders and payment are due by Feb. 17th.

*Mrs. Carriere will be providing a demonstration at the February PAC meeting of the document viewer cameras that the staff is using in their classrooms at EMP. Come out to see how this technology is working in the classroom.

*The next PAC meeting is on Tuesday, Feb. 16th at 7:00 PM in the library. Free childcare is provided. If you have any questions about the meeting or PAC, please contact Nicole at 250-342-9516.

Spring Flower Basket Order Form

January 2010 PAC News

*Thank-you to everyone who participated in the Best Seat and Best Parking Spot raffles for the Christmas concert and congratulations to the families who were our lucky winners. The raffle and the DVD sales raised over $500 for future Parent Advisory Council projects.

*In support of the Christmas Hampers that the classrooms put together this year for the Christmas Bureau, the PAC purchased Angel Tree gifts for the bureau. It was a wonderful season of giving all around.

*Tammy Mytopher is organizing another round of Noon Hour activities for the students during the month of February. Each week, the students will have a chance to participate in activities such as floor hockey with the Columbia Valley Rockies, yoga, circuit training, and other fun events.

*Oso Simple will be performing at EMP once again. A popular musician with all of our students, the PAC is sponsoring his performance at the end of January.
*Our next PAC meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 19th at 7:00 PM in the library. There will be free child minding provided.

If you have any questions about the parent committee at EMP, please feel free to contact Nicole at 250-342-9516.

Happy New Year and all the best for 2010!

December 2009 PAC News

* It's back! The third annual "Best Seat in the House" and "Best Spot in the Lot" fundraiser. Don't miss out on your chance to win a seat at the front of the audience or to park right at the front of the school during the concert performances. Please return your entry forms by Monday, Dec. 14th. Families will also be able to order a DVD copy of the Christmas concert for $10 per copy.

* At the November PAC meeting, the committee voted to help with the Christmas Hampers that the students put together each year for the Invermere Christmas Bureau. PAC will provide funds to help the classes fill the hampers for families in need in our community.

* The PAC meeting for December is cancelled. The next PAC meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 19th, 2010 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Free babysitting is provided. There will be a demonstration of the document viewer cameras that many of the teachers are using in their classrooms this year so please join us.

Please contact Nicole at 250-342-9516 if you have any questions about EMP PAC.

PAC Christmas Raffles/DVD Order Form

November PAC News

* Congratulations to this month's "Lunch with the Principal" winners. Quintynn Hart and Kristyn Tamelin will be dining with Ms. Muncer. Book prizes went to Zack Smith, Zoe McGrath, and Lily Flamand. Each time that a parent attends a PAC meeting, their child's name is entered to win one of these great prizes. The next PAC meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 17th from 7:00 to 8:15 pm. Free babysitting is provided.

* During the October meeting, the parents voted to purchase two new couches for the library. It will be a great facelift for the much used reading corner. Thanks to Erin McNeil and Interior World for their contributions to this project.

* Rhiannon Oliver has a new Healthy Lunch assistant. Thank-you to Litonya for taking this on. And thank-you to all of the parents who have signed up to be Healthy Lunch helpers. Parent support is what makes this program a success for PAC.

* There will be a special presentation at the November PAC meeting. Mrs. Carriere will be demonstrating how the new document viewer cameras work and how they are enhancing learning in our children’s' classrooms.

* Last chance to join us on the Sweet Escape, the ladies only overnight adventure, Nov. 28-29. There are only a couple of spaces left so contact Nicole if you would like to join us.

* Please feel free to contact Nicole, EMP PAC Chair, if you have any questions about the Parent Advisory Council meetings and our role at EMP. 342-9516, npawlak@telus.net

Nicole Pawlak
EMP PAC Chair

October 2009 PAC News

* There was a great turn-out for the September PAC meeting. Thank-you to everyone for coming. Winners of "Lunch with the Principal" from the meeting were Zack Smith and Emily Melnyk. Kristyn Tamelin won an Oso Simple CD. Every parent who attends a PAC meeting can enter their child's name for one of these fun prizes. The next PAC meeting will be on Tues., Oct. 20th at 7:00 PM. Free childcare is available during meetings.
* Tammy Mytopher has been elected as the Vice-Chair and Tammy Eccles as Secretary on the PAC Executive. Thank-you for volunteering.
* PAC will be sponsoring the One to One Reading program again at EMP. If you are able to be a volunteer reader for 1 to 1.5 hours per week for the program, please contact Tammy Mytopher. Tutor training will take place on Wed., Oct. 7th at 6:30 PM.
* Watch for an upcoming Tupperware fundraiser. Booklets will be going home shortly and 40% of the profit from sales will go to EMP PAC. Contact Tammy Eccles for more information.
* All parents are members of the EMP PAC. If you have any ideas or suggestions but can't make it to a meeting, contact one of the executive and we'd be happy to hear from you. For more information, I can be reached at (250) 342-9516 or npawlak@telus.net.

Nicole Pawlak
EMP PAC Chair

September 2009 PAC News

Welcome back to another exciting school year! It was really great to meet with everyone, new and old, at the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Welcome Table on Tuesday. There are lots of exciting things planned for this school year. As parents of children at EMP, we can and do really make a difference in their school experience. If you have any questions about the EMP PAC, please contact Nicole at 250-342-9516 or npawlak@telus.net.

Here is some of the latest information from the EMP PAC:

• The first PAC meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 15th at 7:00 pm. Please note that this is a new and earlier start time. FREE babysitting will be provided during the meetings this year. PAC will also be committing to adjourning the meetings this year by 8:15 pm. All parents with students at EMP are welcome and encouraged to attend PAC meetings. Our principal provides us with an update each month about the happenings in our school. Join us for refreshments, door prizes, and a great way to find out what is happening at EMP. As a committee, which is made up of all our school's parents, we come up with ideas to support our children’s learning and school experiences.
• The EMP PAC AGM was held at the meeting in June and the new executive for 2009-10 school year was elected. Nicole Pawlak was elected as Chair, Shelley Tamelin as Treasurer, Darcy Rogal as School Planning Council Executive Rep, and Rhiannon Oliver and Donna McArthur as School Planning Council Reps. The positions of Vice-Chair and Secretary remain vacant and will hopefully be filled at the next PAC meeting. If you are interested in either of these positions, please contact Nicole for more information.
• Thank-you to Rhiannon Oliver for continuing on as Healthy Lunch Coordinator. Rhiannon is looking for someone who is able to work with her in the once/month preparation of Healthy Lunch for our students.
• PAC is working really hard this year to make sure all parents know that everyone makes up our school PAC. The elected executive members are here to represent the ideas of all of the parents at EMP. If you are unable to attend PAC meetings, please feel free to contact any of the executive members with any concerns or ideas that you may have as we are always happy to hear from you.
• Be sure to fill out the new PAC survey. We are collecting feedback on a variety of things including the Healthy Lunch menu, PAC meeting times, and ideas for projects this year. The survey will be available during the Class Meeting nights as well as at the office. - Nicole Pawlak