Parkcrest Elementary School

June 2010
News from your PAC Executive

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Interested in making a difference in your school community?
The election for the 2010 - 2011 Parents Advisory Council Executive is coming up on June 17th, 2010 @ 6:00 pm in the School Library. (Regular meeting to follow)

This is a call out for nominations for the following Positions:
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
DPAC Representative(s)
School Planning Council Representative(s)

If you are interested in or know someone who would be interested in one of these positions please be at the meeting on June 17th.
Responsibilities for positions are available ahead of time via request to parkcrestPAC@gmail.com
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We are also looking for a few people willing to make a commitment to facilitate the Monthly Hot Lunch Program (runs September to December/ January to May) and the One to One Reading Programs. If either of these programs is important to you, and you think you may be interested in taking this roll on, please be at the next meeting on the 17th of June or email the current PAC executive at parkcrestPAC@gmail.com
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The end of June is almost here but it is time to start thinking about September. We are seeking interested volunteers looking to help organize the Welcome Back BBQ for the end of September 2010. This committee will get together before the end of June to come up with a game plan moving forward. They will then start to meet towards the middle of August to finalize the preparations for this large, family fun event. Interested in taking this on? Please be at the next meeting on the 17th of June or email the current PAC executive at parkcrestPAC@gmail.com
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As the school year is quickly coming to an end, the PAC Executive would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came out and made a difference in the school community. Without the help of volunteers for programs such as the Magazine and Cookbook fundraisers, Hot Lunch, One to One Reading, Concessions, Crossing Guards, team Coaches, and Noon Hour Supervisors to name just a few, none of these programs, services or activities would happen.
THANK YOU! You are the giving heart of our school!
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There are still Ravin’ Recipe Cookbooks available for $10.00 each in the office.

Partnering to support, encourage, and improve the quality of education and well being of Parkcrest students.

Parkcrest's Intermediate students will participate in our annual track and field day on May 7th, weather permitting. Please find in the top right corner of this post, a link to the schedule for the day. Your child can tell you which event he/she is in so that you can plan your visit to the school should you wish to be a spectator.

Lately, I have been asked to mediate a few instances where FACEBOOK postings have had a rather negative impact between two or more students at school. As access to online posting, downloading, and sharing information becomes increasingly easier and prevalent, these are circumstances which will be dealt with in schools and by families.

Parkcrest is taking strides to incorporate technology and internet protocol tools more frequently into everyday classroom instruction. Our staff plans for - and delivers - lessons about internet safety and responsible internet use. We encourage our students to use the internet as a tool for research, and to communicate with others in a collaborative and supportive fashion. This has been done by using several different modes of accessing the internet including web browsers, SMARTboards, and videoconferencing.

FACEBOOK has been around for a while now, and its use is widespread among people throughout the school community. When a person signs up for a FACEBOOK account, they agree to the terms of use which are spelled out on the site. These terms communicate the proper and ethical use of the social networking site and set the ground rules for participation in the FACEBOOK community. For your convenience, you can find them by visiting

http://www.facebook.com/#!/terms.php?ref=pf

A couple of important highlights from the terms of use include:

(Section 3, Item 6)
"You will not bully, intimidate, or harass any user."

and...

(Section 4, Item 5)
"You will not use Facebook if you are under 13."

Judging from the number of students here at the school who claim to have FACEBOOK accounts, it may be a good idea for parents and guardians to review the information contained within the terms of use.

As always, if parents have any questions regarding this topic, please feel free to contact me at the school