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WELCOME TO THE

LORD ROBERTS PAC WEBSITE

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2010/11 School Board Budget

Latest News

The VSB has recently revised its Preliminary Budget for 2010/11.

Under the original budget, schools with a population of less than 450 were slated to have their VP position removed (including Lord Roberts). In the latest revision, the bar has been lowered to 400 students needed to retain the VP. If this holds and becomes the budget for next year, at least we won't be losing any more resources in the coming year.

A copy of the revised budget is available HERE.

The PAC letter to the Board outlining our objections to the original budget is available HERE.

A summary of the proposed cuts across the Vancouver School system is available at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-news/vsb-releases-proposals-deal-1812-million-deficit-0

Will update when we get more info.

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++++LATEST NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS++++

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CYBERBULLYING INFORMATION

Bullying is moving from the playground to the internet and parents need to be aware of the dangers posed to their kids from peer to peer and other types of bullying online.

For more information on these topics please read the following important documents HERE and HERE.

For additional information, contact:

Wayne Ulian

Computer Lab - Resource Teacher / MYP Coordinator

Lord Roberts Elementary School

Vancouver, B.C. V6G 2K4

Lab: 604-713-5055 Ext. 2245

Fax: 604-713-5057

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Homophobia Hurts Kids: What Parents Should Know

Homophobia and rigid gender stereotypes hurt all kids. For some students, the effects can be devastating. Some research suggests that homophobic language is the most common form of verbal bullying in high schools and that most recipients identify as straight. This is truly an issue which can affect any student.

Within the VSB we are working hard to address this issue preventatively both in our elementary and secondary schools. Come and find out about some of the ways that teachers are building understanding and learn how parents can also play a role. This presentation will showcase some of the resources being used in schools, include research on the importance of parent attitudes, and will feature a representative from PFLAG Vancouver (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays). All parents are welcome!

For details, CLICK HERE.

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RIDE FOR THE CURE

Did you know that 40% of all men and 45% of all women will develop Cancer in their lifetime?

Did you know that 171 000 Canadians will get Cancer this year?

On June 19^th and 20^th, Andrew Swain (a teacher at Lord Roberts Elementary) will be riding his bicycle with 2000 others in the Ride for the Cure. This event is a 2-day ride from Vancouver to Seattle in support of the BC Cancer Foundation. Although this is a personal journey for Andrew and he needs to raise $2500 to ride, sadly, Cancer affects us all.

Please take the time to go to Andrew’s webpage at www.conquercancer.ca/go/to/AndrewSwain and make a donation. Cash donations are also accepted. Anything you can do helps. Together we can make a difference. Thanks for your support!

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JUMPSTART SPORTS FUNDING

Canadian Tire JumpStart funding (around $1500) available to children and youth (ages 4-18 years) that needs to be used up prior to May 25, 2010. This funding is meant to fully or partially subsidize students whose families are low income and face financial barriers to getting their children active. The funding is for PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES outside of school (ie: registration fees, equipment, transportation).

Physical activities can include sports camps or other types of camps where large portions of camp are focused on physical activity but can be more traditional sports such as soccer, baseball or martial arts. Funding should be for a sustained program that is either a minimum of five weeks duration with a minimum of one session per week or, in the case of sport camps, five consecutive days.

Note: Reimbursements for program, equipment or transportation costs already paid by, or on behalf of, the family shall not be granted.

To apply, have the family fill out the attached APPLICATION FORM (including the sponsor section where someone (ie: Teacher, Social Worker, Principal, Counsellor etc) can attest to the family's financial need) and email (jland@vsb.bc.ca), fax (604.713.8998) or drop off the application at King George (1755 Barclay St.) attention to me. Once the application is received, it will be reviewed and then the Coordinator will contact the organization where the activity will occur to arrange for payment. The applications will be process on a first come first serve basis.

For more information:

Lana Stepanyak Settlement Worker Vancouver School Board Voice Mail: 604-713-6000 ext. 2508 sstepanyak@vsb.bc.ca

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If you want to get ready for the teenage years (or your kids are acting like teenagers right now, this program sponsored by Boys And Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver might be of interest to you:

Parents Together

Parents Together is a mutual help and support program for parents of teens who want to develop new skills that will help to end the conflict in their homes. Participants learn effective strategies to improve relationships, develop positive communication skills, discover the importance of self-care, and regain control of their lives.

Weekly group meetings are facilitated and structured so that the issues of most concern to the parents in the group are discussed and problem-solved. Parents learn from each other, support each other, and celebrate their successes together.

Parents Together offers:

Practical problem-solving ideas and plans that fit for you and your family
Respect and confidentiality
Support from other parents who really understand
Encouragement from learning of the success of others
Hope from finding out you are not alone

All Parents Together groups are structured so that the first part of the meeting is led by a trained facilitator and a specific topic is covered. After a break, the group divides into smaller groups to focus on individual problem-solving strategies.

The emphasis is on sharing, supporting, and problem-solving. Many parents find this mutual support ends the isolation and sense of loneliness they had experienced. They discover they are no longer alone. In fact, some participants have felt motivated to volunteer as "mentors" to other group members long after their own problems have been resolved.

The Parents Together program helps parents to explore ways to improve communication skills, resolve conflicts, build positive relationships, and get a better understanding of natural family transitions.

Parents can access the program by calling the Lower Mainland office at

604-325-0556

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PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AT LORD ROBERTS

For information on upcoming and ongoing programmes for New Canadians please contact:

Lana Stepanyak

Settlement Worker

Vancouver School Board

Voice Mail: 604-713-6000 ext. 2508

sstepanyak@vsb.bc.ca

Lana Stepanyak - your community Settlement Worker - has a wide variety of activities and events for New Canadians. Come and join her for some of the following activities:

1. Support Group for Immigrant Families - every Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Room 412, 4th. floor

Please join us to learn about resources, new programs for immigrants, ESL support services, day care and youth services, subsidies, school system, B.C.Housing, health and financial services, sport and art programs for kids, employment and job search training programs, income assistance, legal services, and much more!

Come and meet with our Settlement Worker Lana Stepanyak, get know how can you be involved in our school life, meet with other parents and community leaders.

See you there!

2. ESL Conversation Class for Parents - FREE every Wednesday 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. Room 412, 4th. floor Come and practice your speaking skills in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

FREE EYE EXAMINATIONS

Dear Newcomer Parents:

For your information, eye check-up is a covered benefit (that means you don't pay for the service) under our MSP health insurance. Healthy eyes are important to a person's well-being and success. So, please have your children's eyes checked annually by your eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist).

"Eye Exams - Medically required eye examinations are a benefit for all MSP beneficiaries when there is a medical necessity (for example, eye disease, trauma or injury, or health conditions associated with significant risk to the eyes, such as diabetes). Routine eye examinations are a benefit only for those 18 years of age and under and 65 years of age and over."

However, if you are not in the above age groups (0-18 and 65 and above), please know that the optometrist/ophthalmologist will charge a fee if they examine you for eyewear prescription purposes. The fee can range from $50 to $90 per examination per person. Always ask your optician (eyewear provider) before agreeing to have an eye check-up done on you by their contracted optometrist. If you are employed and covered by your company's extended health benefit, please check with the insurance provider if the cost of eye check-up is included or not. In most cases, your extended health benefit provides a limited amount for prescription eyewear (lens and frame) which may not be enough to pay for the separate eye exam (refraction). Ask your optician, too. On the other hand, if you have been approved for MSP premium assistance, your child/ren are automatically enrolled in the BC Healthy Kids Program which entitle them to, among others, the optical benefit below.

"Optical – Children are eligible for prescription eyeglasses (lenses and basic frames) once in a twelve-month period. All prescriptions must be current and meet the program criteria. Further information is available from your optical supplier. Children’s eye examinations are covered by MSP."

For more details: MSP Medical Benefits http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/benefits.html#top MSP Premium Assistance https://www.health.gov.bc.ca/exforms/msp/premium_assistance.html Healthy Kids Program http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/Healthykids.htm

Lana Stepanyak Settlement Worker Vancouver School Board Voice Mail: 604-713-6000 ext. 2508 sstepanyak@vsb.bc.ca

EVENTS FOR ALL LORD ROBERTS FAMILIES

3. All Parents are invited to attend free Workshops at Lord Roberts School. For info on upcoming workshops, check out the school Newsletter and the Settlement Board in the Main Hallway (across from the office). Please register with Lana Stepanyak, our Settlement Worker via e-mail sstepanyak@vsb.bc.ca

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What is the Lord Roberts PAC?

The Lord Roberts Parent Advisory Council** (PAC) exists to contribute to the best possible educational experience for students at the school by promoting the involvement of parents and other community members. The Lord Roberts PAC is a non-profit organization.

WHAT DOES THE PAC DO?

* Advises the school principal and staff on parental views about school programs, policies and activities

* Promotes co-operation between the home and the school for the education of our children

* Assists parents in accessing the educational system and advocates on behalf of parents and students

* Organizes PAC Activities and Events

**Executive Officers 2009/10. Ian Main (Chair), Rose Palozzi (Vice-Chair), Karen Vandale (Secretary), Troy Wintjes (Treasurer).

HOW CAN I HELP? Get involved! Come to our meetings. Contribute your ideas. Volunteer! This is your school, these are your children, and this is your PAC What issues should the PAC address? What improvements would you like done around the school? Please send us your ideas.

VISIT THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITE for more info, including school newsletter: http://lordroberts.vsb.bc.ca/

NOTE: You need Acrobat to open PDF files on this site (download for free):

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Contacts

We welcome input and suggestions at any time.

Messages may be left in the PAC mailbox at the school office or sent by e-mail to info@lordrobertspac.ca

Other important numbers:

Main number: 604-713-5055

Safe Arrival Program: 604-713-5729 (extension 2622)

PAC Meetings

A typical agenda includes a guest speaker, principal's report, PAC chair and treasurer's reports, committee reports, and open discussion. Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is usually in May.

PAC MEETING SCHEDULE 2009/2010:

WEDNESDAY October 14

WEDNESDAY November 18

WEDNESDAY December 9

WEDNESDAY January 13

WEDNESDAY February 10

WEDNESDAY March 3

WEDNESDAY April 14

WEDNESDAY May 12

WEDNESDAY June 9

Meetings begin at 6.30pm and are scheduled to last for one hour.

Everyone is welcome and free daycare is provided.

See you there!

Events and Announcements

1. Lord Roberts needs two volunteers for Monday & Thursday lunch hour in the library for children. Please contact the office if you are interested or leave send an email to info@lordrobertspac.ca.

2. Recycling Program at Lord Roberts: If parents would like to be involved in this and other sustainability initiatives at Lord Roberts please sign up on the list outside the front office. A few more parents are needed for 30 minute shifts a lunch hour to help recycling.

3. Safe Arrivals Program is looking for a volunteer. This is an extremely important parent run program that ensures that all of our children arrive safely to school each day. Please leave a note or let them know at the front office if you are available to help with this.

Parents Room - 4th floor

Parents from Main and Annex are welcome to visit the Parent's Room (Main school, 4th floor), for coffee/tea and a chance to meet Steve (School Councellor) and other parents. Every Thursday at 9am.

School Grounds Committee (field, basketball courts, playground, mountain)

PAC has a committee to deal with school grounds issues. We are in contact with the school and school board regarding field maintenance (encouraging the VSB to plan maintenance so that the field is in best condition year round and does not require long closure during summer). As for the basketball courts, the VSB commitment is to have them open on __weekdays __year-round (including summer) from 7 am to 8 pm. But we have been entrusted with a key so that a volunteer can open and lock the courts on weekends and holidays. We also consider the "mountain" in the corner of the field a precious bit of "nature" in the middle of the city, and are interested in parent views about its condition. Please e-mail us if you have comments or questions on any topic regarding the grounds.

Music and Grades 6&7 Band Program

Music is important at our school. After an Oct. 2006 court ruling on school fees threatened the very survival of the band program, parents and staff launched an effort to rescue the program. The result was a wonderful reaffirmation of music in the school. As a result, by November 2007, the school owned all the instruments it needs to keep the program going at low cost to all families. We express heartfelt appreciation for kind gifts from Music BC Charitable Foundation (www.musicbc.org), as well as generous anonymous donors, and First Act (which helped us to launch the rescue effort). The next concert will probably be in May.

Poster seeking instrument donations: Lord Roberts_POSTER_Music_Donation_2007b.pdf

Survey of Parents

We sent a survey to all parents at Lord Roberts in Oct. 2007. We still welcome your input at any time:

Download 2006 survey results: Responses to Parent Survey 2006.rtf

Download blank survey form 2007: LR_Parent Survey_Oct 2007.doc

Wish List

1. Donations are always welcome to support student learning and activities. Donations can be in-kind or by cheque. Please contact the principal if you're interested.

School Mission Statement

Lord Roberts Elementary School's learning community provides the best possible learning experience for all students, with a focus on student engagement, lifelong learning and development in a safe, inclusive environment. We are committed to the development of inquiring, knowledgeable, caring and responsible citizens who will help to create a peaceful and sustainable world through intercultural and global awareness, understanding and respect.

(Unanimously adopted on April 15, 2009 by school administrators and staff)