A Full (Virtual) House to Kick Off the Year!!!
What a way to start the year! Our first PAC meeting of 2026–2027 took place on Zoom on September 30, and around 16 parents joined us. That's a big jump from the usual 5 to 9, and it made for a lively, thoughtful evening. Thank you to everyone who logged on.
Our PAC Chair, John Dutton, opened the meeting inviting everyone who joined to introduce themselves with a fun icebreaker and then we got down to PAC business.
He shared a reminder of what guides every decision we make: the well-being of all Wildflower students.
He also walked new families through a few basics from our bylaws. For example: smaller expenses can be approved by the executive between meetings, while larger ones go to a vote at a general meeting.
That's one more great reason to come to meetings and have your voice heard!
We'll be continuing with virtual meetings this year, since they make it so much easier for busy families to take part. We'll save the in-person connection for fun PAC events (more on that below).
News From Principal Nick Graves:
The school year is off to a positive start. Enrollment sits at 159 students, much like last year, and most classes are full.
We're also excited to welcome some new faces: teachers Carrie Lynn (taking over Tanya's class) and Charlie Dryden (middle school), plus three new Educational Assistants joining returning EAs Kim, Tasha, and Alicia.
Students have already been busy. The middle school hosted our National Day for Truth and Reconciliation assembly.
Classes visited the library and Kokanee Creek to see the salmon, and some students even wrote to our MLA about low salmon numbers. The middle school has also been heading to Rosemont Skate Park to stay active and connect with the wider community.
Nick also shared a gentle reminder about attendance. Because of our reduced schedule, missing one day means missing a quarter of the school week. Arriving late matters too, since so many friend/teacher/community connections begin at drop-off.
Every day really does count!
Welcome to Our New DPAC Representative
Please join us in congratulating Maggie Keczan, who was elected unanimously as our new DPAC Representative!
This role had been vacant for a while, so we're grateful to Maggie for stepping up.
She has already attended the September 17 DPAC meeting, which focused on attendance, participation, and hearing from district superintendents. She'll also represent us at the BC PAC Working Group event in October.
Ski Season Is Coming
Brian Lye and Colleen are co-organizing ski lessons at Whitewater this year. Eight sessions are planned from January 8 to March 5, with a break for Family Day. Last year, 60 students took part!
We'll need about two volunteers per session to hand out lift tickets, so keep an eye out for a community email with registration details.
PAC has supported families with ski lesson costs in the past, and the executive is working on a clear process for that support before registration opens. Families may also want to look into the Jump Start Program for help with costs.
Get Your Hands Dirty: Fall Garden Cleanup
Our Fall Garden Cleanup is on Friday, October 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This will be a chance to weed garden beds, rake leaves, mulch, and get the schoolyard garden spaces ready for winter. It's a fun community event where many hands make light work. Kids, friends, family welcome!
Mark it in your calendars, we would love your help!
If you can't attend, sign up to contribute with snacks and drinks.
Kim Watt (our PAC Garden Rep) has led our garden work for several years and is ready to pass the role on.
If you have fresh energy and a love of growing things, please come to the next PAC meeting to learn more and self nominate if interested.
Each class can also have a Class Garden Rep. If that sounds fun, talk to your child's teacher and contact Kim to join the garden email list.
Easy Ways to Support PAC
Treasurer Geoff Gibbs gave an overview of our PAC accounts for new families.
Our main account covers school events and most PAC spending. Our annual gaming grant supports school improvements and programs, and part of it helped fund last year's field project.
One of the simplest ways to give back is our grocery card program. You buy cards upfront, use them for your regular shopping, and local grocery stores donate a percentage back to PAC. It costs you nothing extra!
Terisa is our Grocery Card Rep and can help you get started.
We're also exploring a new fundraiser: Passport to the Kootenays coupon books. Each $50 book returns $10 to PAC, and the coupons are valid for the 2027 calendar year.
Lise Kuhr has kindly offered to lead this one, and we may run a pre-sale first to gauge interest. Stay tuned!
Save the Date: Board Game Night
John proposed a free, family-friendly Board Game Night for November. Each classroom would host a different game or theme, an idea from teacher Emily Nilsen. PAC will provide light refreshments. The goal is simple: to bring families from different classes together for a relaxed evening.
We're looking for one lead organizer and about four helpers. Interested? Email John Dutton. wildflowerschoolpac@gmail.com
Funding Requests and a Fairer Process
We received a funding request from Claire Hewson, our school counselor and library worker, to refresh the library counseling area. She hopes to create a warm, comfortable space for students in counseling and library programs. The current couch has seen better days (its legs are broken!). The request was tabled to our October meeting so it can be considered alongside a bigger conversation.
That conversation is about classroom funding. Teachers have asked for a more consistent and transparent way to request PAC support. Ideas included a yearly application deadline, a common amount per class, and a separate category for shared spaces like the gym and library. This will be on the October agenda, and we'd love your input.
How You Can Help
Every class needs a Class Rep for 2026–2027.
Class reps keep a class contact list, share PAC news, and help families feel connected.
It's a small role that makes a big difference. If your class doesn't have one yet, please consider stepping up or reach out to John Dutton wildflowerschoolpac@gmail.com
Here's a quick roundup of ways to pitch in:
- Join the Fall Garden Cleanup on October 16
- Volunteer to hand out lift tickets during ski lessons
- Help organize Board Game Night
- Take over as PAC Garden Rep or become a Class Garden Rep
- Sign up for grocery cards
And congratulations to Brian Lye, winner of this month's grocery card draw!
We hope to see you there, and please bring a parent friend. The more families we hear from, the better we can support every child at Wildflower.
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