COPACS is the School District 63 (Saanich) PAC. It is the district parent network
and serves as a forum for discussion of district –wide issues. Delegates from
each of the districts 18+ schools meet once a month and a delegate also has
a non-voting seat at the School Board and is represented on the Educations Directions
Standing Committee. Parents, through COPACS are regularly invited to sit on
other district committees. COPACS has a voice for our district at the provincial
level as a voting member of BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC)
. Last year COPACS took an active role in the implementation of School Planning
Councils and this year COPACS has started the Advocacy Project with trained
parent volunteers. Advocates support and guide parents and students in defining
issues, obtaining resources and communicating with school and district staff.
All parents/guardians of students in our district are welcome and encouraged
to attend COPACS meetings. (1st Thurs. of each month at 7:00pm at rotating schools).
If you have a matter you wish to bring forward at a regular meeting, please
advise our COPACS Rep at least one week in advance to ensure that it can be
accommodated on the agenda For more information please contact our COPACS
Representative or visit our website at COPACS - Confederation
of Parent Advisory Councils Saanich.
Saanich District (63) Report on School Fees and Other Related Issues
Survey
The Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils of Saanich (COPACS) was one of
18 DPACS in British Columbia that collectively surveyed parents on the school
fees issue. Saanich had 442 parent responses with 139 adding commentary to their
numbered.
Click Here for the COPACS
Report on School Fees
School Fees Decision
Please find attached a nine page document which includes a one-page summary
of decisions made by our School Board on Wednesday January 17 on the matter
of fees and field trips, followed by an eight-page report prepared by Superintendent
Keven Elder for consideration of the Board. The report was based on extensive
feedback gathered in district and school-level meetings on the importance, necessity
and curricular relevance of field trips.
Click here for: School Fees
Decision
The BCCPAC FSA Information Kit for Parents
What the FSA is:
The FSA is a test given to all students in grades 4 and 7 in all schools in BC to provide a snapshot of how the school system is performing in the areas of Math and English. Every student in these two grades is expected to write the FSA to ensure data collected is relevant and complete. This test is designed to assess how well the educational system is performing and highlight areas of concern or success for further investigation. In the end the FSA is a test: one of many a student will take during their school years. Click on title for more information.
Important Information from the Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Keven Elder (May 2009)
Board Approves Budget ReductionsAt its public board meeting of May 6 the Board of Education approved a compliance non-deficit budget that incorporated $3.6 million of reductions. This represents 5% of the operating budget. See the district website www.sd63.bc.ca for a media release and the complete list of reductions.
No Altered Calendar 2009/10
In setting the budget for 2009/10 the Board decided NOT to alter the school calendar. The "Request for Feedback" on proposed closure days for 2009/10, distributed on April 30, 2009, has been withdrawn. The Board has expressed its appreciation to everyone who provided feedback already.
H1N1 Flu Update
Government has clarified conditions under which schools would close for H1N1 virus. A Ministerial Order has been issued that says the medical health officer will require the superintendent to close a school for a week if a student or staff member tests positive for H1N1 and was at school while infectious, and if the incubation period has not passed. As always, the health officer may also require closure should any contagious flu affect a significant proportion of the school population. See the district website www.sd63.bc.ca or go online to the BC Ministry of Health website for more information on H1N1.