• Class funds (for 2018/19 budget)
• Donation to Vic West Elementary for art supplies
• Special Project fund- to support school vision
• Sound System contribution
• Buddy Benches
• Library Maker Space items
• Recycling supplies
• Skateboard/Scooter rack
• School Counsellor supplies
• Outdoor Stencils & paint
• Gardening committee supplies

Our Librarian, Ms. Maddern, has working with three other librarians on a pilot for the District, in which she has been creating maker stations that will help teachers integrate the new Applied Skills and Design curriculum into the core subjects. Maker stations have been running in the library with some classes as a "soft launch" them and get students familiar with the tools etc. The plan is for next year to have full implementation and be available to all teachers. 

There are six main ideas that can easily be adapted to different topics and grades. Some of the stations have changeable materials, but the main idea is the same: writing, creation, stop motion, green screen, coding, and building. The tasks at these stations are linked to content and developing design thinking skills, and each station has many possible tasks (for different grade levels and content).  

The types of materials available at each station are listed below. Any of the items in italics were paid for with PAC funds.

Creation Station

• cardboard
• Klever Kutters (safety cardboard cutters)
• Makedo cardboard screws, saws, and screwdrivers
• masking tape
• glue guns
• paper bags
• various recycled materials (think imagination market stuff)

Writing Station

• pens
• paper
• stickers
• stamps
• etc.
• free mini books from Kids Can Press

Stop Motion Station

• stop motion camera (currently on order)
• various stages/ scene back drops (currently on order)
• Playmobil figures
• Stick Bots (currently on order)
• Lego figures

Green Screen Station

• Green Screen Makerspace resource book
• clapper board
• stationary green screen (in library, "recording studio")
• movable green screen and tripod (for teacher sign-out)

Coding Station

• Ozobots
• Spheros
• Cubetto
• Scratch Cards (French and English)
• Scratch project books and how to books (French and English)
• Robot Turtles board game
• littlecodr card game
• rechargeable batteries and charger

Building Station

• Keva Planks
• Lego
• Straws and Connectors
• PlusPlus blocks

Ms. Maddern also received a grant from the Times Colonist Raise a Reader Foundation which she dove-tailed with this project and purchased maker themed books. There are varous project books, maker 'mindset' stories, etc. and she am using them with the stations, or as extensions that students can check out after participating in the stations. 

PAC Executive are planning to allocate $1,500 of surplus funds to continue building the makerspace stations for next year with the idea that most of the money will go towards more robots and codign electronics (such as Cubelets, BeeBots, Dash, Ozmo, etc.) as well as other non-consumables like additional Lego, other building materials. 

We are grateful for the many contributions of our PAC Executive but unfortunately several of our parents are moving on next year. This means we have some volunteer vacancies to fill! Please consider volunteering for one of the roles listed below so we can keep all of our great programs and events running. Detailed guidance documents are available for many of these roles!
Interested? Questions? Email Kirsten at chair@emjspac.ca. 

Current EMJS PAC Volunteer Opportunities 2018/2019

• PAC Executive Roles 2018/2019 (June 2018 onwards with handover time)
  • Chair, Treasurer, Co-Secretary, Members at Large
• PAC Communications Coordinator (August 2018 onwards)
  • Writing and sending out PAC Newsletters via Mailchimp.
  • Surplus Spending Coordinator (depending on spending decisions)

• Lunch Team Coordinators - for setup Wednesday mornings at drop off, and at noon Wednesdays. (September 2018 onwards)
• Website / Twitter & Info Documents
  • Information for parents
  • Information for teachers (budget, Wednesday field trips, contact details)
• Staff Appreciation 2018/19 (December/February)
  • Holiday, Administrative Professional Day and End of Year Cards/Gifts
  • February Luncheon
• Neighbourhood Holiday Cards (Summer & December)
• Co-Lead to for Emergency Preparedness - purchasing supplies in Aug/Sept, coordinating restocking classrooms in Sept, and Emergency Snack Day in June.
• Visual Arts Committee members
• School Recycling Team
• VCPAC Liaison (Attend monthly meetings)

Are your students enjoying their visits from Science Venture?  Paid for by PAC!

iRide is coming to the school; paid for by PAC!

• Tuesday May 29th, 7pm in the school library.  Childcare provided for ages 3 and up. 
• This is our annual AGM where PAC Executive will present the PAC 18/19 budget and all PAC members can nominate and vote in our Executive. 
• Attending the PAC meeting is best way to really know the issues of the school and all the great things PAC and the school are up to!  Hear updates from the School Administration and ask them about any issues that concern you. 

A free workshop for parents and caregivers

• Do you have a gender creative person in your family?
• Do you want to be a better ally to your child’s gender creative friends and their families?
• Are you seeking support with advocating for your gender creative loved one?
• Do you want to take an active role in creating inclusive schools and communities

For more information, or to RSVP, please Kingsley@ambitgenderdiversity.com