Author: Genny

Anti-Racism Committee Meeting

Monday, January 18, 2021 | 7:00 – 8:15 pm | Zoom

Any Hastings parent or guardian who is interested in supporting the work of anti-racism in the PAC is invited to join.

The PAC is committed to supporting the work of anti-racism at Hastings. At the end of the last school year, the PAC issued a statement of support for standing against racism, and committing to playing a role in creating a safe, inclusive and equitable environment at the school. While some members of the PAC executive have had some initial conversations about how we can work towards this goal, we believe that this is important work that many parents may be interested in being involved in.

To this end, we are hosting a series of Zoom meetings. We are inviting any parents who are interested in sharing and brainstorming ideas about what kind of anti-racism work we can engage with together. We will collectively decide on some actions to move forward with and look at roles we can all play.

You are invited to join us for this important conversation.

Black Shirt Day

Friday, January 15, 2021

The Anti-Racism Coalition Vancouver (ARC) is proposing Black Shirt Day in B.C. schools for January 15th, in support of anti-racism, and to mark the date of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday.

While Black Shirt Day won’t be an official event this year, ARC is working hard to make it a reality for 2022. This year’s inaugural event will be an important step in raising greater awareness of the civil rights struggle, and help foster solidarity against all forms of racism.

A small action can make a big difference. Join ARC to raise awareness this Friday, January 15th by wearing your black shirt.

Watch the segment from Global News.

Poinsettia Fundraiser

The holiday poinsettia fundraiser was a great success! Thank you to all of the parents who were able to participate and support the sale.  We made just over $1200. Way to go! Thank you to parents Jacqueline, Lisa, Greg, Jill, and Hastings own front office dynamo Maria, for their work to make it happen. The proceeds will be very helpful in funding classroom supplies including much needed mountable projectors at Hastings Elementary!

Food Security

Did you know the Hastings PAC has a Food Security subcommittee? Parent volunteers have put together some information for families with options for support in accessing healthy, low cost food as well as offering support through donations or volunteering.

Food programs available in Hastings-Sunrise

Kiwassa Food Hamper program: Contact Food Programs Coordinator Blain Butyniec BlainB@kiwassa.ca T: 604-254-5401 ext. 253

Community Food Market offers our community a mix of fruits and vegetables with prices 10% lower than wholesale costs. Held each Wednesday from 2-5 pm in Pandora Park.

Grandview Woodland Food Connection: Food Hampers delivered to individuals. COVID Emergency Food Home Delivery Program https://gwfoodconnection.com/2020/07/30/8249/
Contact gwfcnetwork@gmail.com Tel: 604-718-5895

Quest Food: https://questoutreach.org/

If you have any questions about these or other resources, please reach out to:

Offer your Support by Donating or Volunteering

Hastings Youth Council at Hastings Community Centre partnering with Give Back Van is hosting a clothing and food drive. Monday to Friday until December 18th – drop off at Hastings Community Centre – outside of the games room (to the right of the front door). Gloves, socks, scarves and new packages of face masks, non-perishable food.

KidSafe Project Society provides essential programs and services to referred Vancouver children and youth and provides support to our community through Hastings Elementary via children’s programming and food. https://www.kidsafe.ca/get-involved/donate/

Backpack Buddies is a province-wide non-profit that provides kids with groceries on Friday after school that they can take home for the weekend to support food access for the whole family.
They have increased their programs significantly since COVID.
https://www.backpackbuddies.ca/

Pacific Immigrant Resources Society supports immigrant and refugee women and children to become active participants in Canadian society. They have partnered with the United Way to offer an emergency food hub with distribution centres in South Vancouver and Burnaby. https://pirs.bc.ca/

New Gardens Completed

Have you seen the new addition to the school yard? Gardens! In the form of 11 giant planters near the undercover area!

In May 2020, over 30 families came to the school in hour-long shifts to scoop gravel, cut landscape fabric, carry plants, move trees, shovel soil, plant shrubs and spray water all while maintaining social distancing. The result is a magnificent garden that positively transforms the north side of the school.

Come check-out the plants – from Japanese maple trees to flowing grasses; native shrubs like salal and red-flowering currant to aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary and sage. Thanks goes out to Alison Maddaugh who designed the gardens and Jacqueline Shaben who cracked the whip. Another huge thank you goes out to teachers for highlighting the need for an outdoor teaching garden, school administration (past and present) for keeping the ball rolling, VSB School Grounds for facilitating all the deliveries, even during this time of social distancing and to Figaro’s Garden for cutting us a good deal on the plants. And last but not least, the PAC parents who fund-raised in previous years to improve the school grounds.

Update: The tables and benches were installed in August 2020.

And check out this story (in french) on Radio Canada about our garden!