Happy New Year! I hope the break has allowed you time to celebrate, recharge and reflect.
I view the coming year with cautious optimism -- there is more work to do; there will be bumps along the way; but progress is being made. This is true both of our struggles with COVID but also DPAC's work with the VSB.
As the year starts, DPAC will continue to ensure the parents' voice is heard and will continue to provide education for PAC communities. Some of our activities:
A draft Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) will be released in the coming weeks. DPAC has written the trustees in support of their vision and looks forward to providing feedback on a plan that executes on that vision.
We received 2000 responses to our December Pulse Check Survey. We will publish the results prior to our next executive meeting and will use the information to guide our work with the VSB.
We have an upcoming training session for PAC executives on "Making Meetings Work Better". Our next general meeting will include a presentation on anti-racism for all parents. Registration information below.
Looking a little further ahead, I'd appreciate your help in making the DPAC stronger and more resilient. We have open positions on the DPAC executive -- having these positions filled gives us more capacity to do our work but more importantly, allows us to have continuity of service as our volunteer executive inevitably turns over. If you know anybody that can help, please contact me.
Again, a Happy New Year to all. Be kind, be calm, be safe.
Gord Lau, 2020/21 DPAC Chair
Upcoming DPAC Events
Thursday, January 14th, 7pm – DPAC Executive meeting. Registration
Saturday, January 16th, 1pm - How to run a meeting/Robert's Rules for Vancouver PAC exec. Email for registration info
Thursday, January 28th, 7pm – DPAC General meeting: Anti-racisim focus. Registration
All meeting information (registration, agendas, minutes) on our meeting page.
Interested in how Seismic Mitigation Works for VSB Schools?
All parents are welcome to join the DPAC Facilities Committee. The committee is finishing its work on the VSB LRFP and will be creating a detailed Seismic Toolkit. Join to help in its creation. Email: chair@vancouverdpac.org.
In December 2014, the UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 68/237, proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024).
Under the theme "Recognition, Justice and Development”, the Decade provides an operational framework to encourage States to eradicate social injustices inherited from history and to fight against racism, prejudice and racial discrimination to which people of African descent are still subjected.
Check out our resource page for presentation slide decks.
Entertainment, Arts and Culture
While we await the warmth of Spring 2021 to get comfortably outdoors, it is a great time to take advantage of cultural events being offered locally and online.
The Flight of the Hummingbird, presented by Vancouver Opera and Pacific Opera Victoria is a Canadian-created opera, available on demand.
The Metropolitan Opera (NYC) is streaming shows daily, free of charge, for people on COVID lockdown or not to enjoy. Look for the link "Nightly Opera Stream".
Listen:
An array of podcasts that are fun and/or informative to listen to with or without your kids:
Co-hosts Falen Johnson and Leah Simone Bowen started to record their podcast, Secret Life of Canada, in a blanket fort at home. CBC picked them up in August, and they continue to revisit and fact check historical events that till now have been written and taught through a colonial lens.
From MSNBC, the Into America podcast episode "The Dead are Arising" tells a story of the Malcolm X biographer, Les Payne, through interviews with his wife and daughter.
Six Minutes by GenZ Media is a family-friendly sci-fi suspense tale for kids and parents alike. Each episode is 6 minutes long, but the series is binge-worthy and perfect for down time.
COVID-19 and Kids
Option 4 families have diverse reasons for choosing not to return to school at this timel, and a variety of experiences with how learning at home is working. Families choosing this option from across the district are connecting to share resources and stories, and for mutual support. To find out more, please reach out to parent Kyenta Martins at kyenta.martins@gmail.com, or follow either of these links:
For your reference, Children and Masks by the World Health Organization (WHO)
Youth Mental Health -- Growing Resilience
While it is too early to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on teens' mental health, teen suicide and mental health crises are of course a huge worry to parents, caregivers and community. Recently Tupper hosted a Jack.org mental health presentation for students in grades 9 to 12, delivered by young people to young people. Trained and certified youth speakers use the power of personal stories and mental health education to inspire, engage, educate, and equip young people to look out for themselves and their peers. Their Virtual Jack Talk is an instant resource, but having the youth present to teens is, in this mother's opinion, well worth the effort.
Vancouver's Hua Foundation was originally created by young people of Asian ancestry to work through issues within their community that concerned them. Over the past decade the organization has grown as the youth matured. Hua Foundation actively supports many community-based initiatives from their home-base on East Pender, just west of Main Street in Chinatown in matters including food security and community cohesion. Check out the organization's recently launched anti-racism and solidarities resource collection from the specific perspective of the Asian Diaspora in Vancouver.
Coffee with my Ma is a podcast wherein Mohawk actor Kaniehtiio Horn interviews her mom, radical activist elder Kahentinetha Horn.
Inclusive Education
BCEDAccess has produced a series of COVID conversations videos with topics ranging from access to education, IEPs, and what to do if your child doesn't get what they need.
COVID19 resources for individuals and families, to aid in creating opportunities for constructive interactions with children during COVID19 times from the Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) Resources for supporting
Participate in a BC Children’s Hospital study of the impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health. Students who are 10 to 17 years old, and parents of children and youth aged from 6 to 17 years old are invited.
Get support for your child or youth through Kelty Mental Health Resource Center, based at BC Children's Hospital. Kelty helps families across the province navigate the mental health system, gain peer support, and connect to resources and tools.
First Call has released their 2020 BC Child Poverty Report Card and there are still 1 in 5 children living in poverty. BC Child Poverty Report Card 2020
Calling all parents and youth in BC! Have you thought about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected youth mental health in our province? Help us find out and inform mental health resource planning by participating in this study. BC Children's Hospital and UBC - Survey re:Social/Psychological Wellness of Children
Parents/Guardians w Children in K-4. @VIUniversity (w $ from Min of Health) is conducting a longitudinal study to investigate the impact of C19 on school experiences for your family. (link)
VSB 