Parent Support Group (PSG)
We are pleased to announce our Parent Support Group (PSG) for the upcoming school year 2021-22.
Chairperson — Sheila Yuen
It has been an honour to serve as Chair of the Parent Support Group (PSG) and I welcome the opportunity to continue for the 2021/22 school year. My husband and I have two daughters - Vanessa who is currently in grade 3 and Marissa who graduated from ICS last year. I am a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and am thankful my part-time work allows me to be more involved at ICS. My training and experience have developed my abilities to think outside the box, organize, plan and execute.
The focus of the PSG is to obtain funding for and arrange extracurricular activities for all students at ICS. I firmly believe extracurricular activities to be extremely important in the development of children. It allows them to open their minds, increase their confidence and experience things they may not necessarily have a chance to participate in. It gives me great joy to see kids' excitement and smiles over extracurricular activities we have arranged.
Giving back to the community is also very important to me and my family and this PSG role is a great way of accomplishing this.
Secretary — Sara Pick
I am Sara Pick (Mum to Julia Gr. 5, Travis Gr. 2 and Katie Soon-to-be-K!). I had the pleasure of being Secretary of the Parent Support Group for the 2019-2020 school year and then continuing on this school year. I have enjoyed my time serving on the PSG, from brainstorming activities with my fellow PSG members, working with our Fantastic Teachers and Wonderful Ms. Foran to plan dates and logistics and then ultimately hearing how my kids and their classmates enjoyed the activities. With great hope of returning to a more typical school year and being able to offer in-person opportunities for the students, I am submitting my name for the position of Secretary for the 2021-2022 school year. In doing so I also hope to help the new committee member become familiar with the policies and procedures in order to pass on the torch for the next year.
Treasurer — Elizabeth Lim
My daughter, Miranda, is currently in Grade 3, and my son Toby will soon be starting K in September at ICS. Along with my full time job as their mom and chauffeur, I also work as a family physician in my spare time. I have been practicing for the past 15 years in Metro Vancouver, with the exception of a year in Ontario where love (or folly) compelled me to follow my husband for his training.
In ancient times, I was treasurer in medical school, and got good grades in math. I am sure, with the support of the PSG team, that I will be able to reactivate those dormant skills. More present history sees me an expert at multitasking, schedule juggling and Zoom meetings, which are attributes I understand to be compatible with this position. I also frequently fill out government forms, which will probably come in handy.
Professionally and personally, I place immense value on the enrichment of young children. Particularly in recent climes, which have created many lost opportunities for our kids, I would welcome the chance to organize more funding and programming for ICS.
What is the PSG?
The PSG is a three-person parent liaison group, formed so that ICS is eligible to apply for and receive funds from the BC Gaming Commission. As a result of these parents and their predecessors, ICS has received annual BC Gaming Commission Grants that, this year, paid for such popular co-curricular activities such as curling, a special screening of the Indigenous movie “Th'Owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish” and Science Alive STEM programs. In past years, the PSG has sponsored Hip Hop classes, Vancouver Space Centre and Vancouver Aquarium mobile unit visits, Gymnastics, Tennis, Geering Up, Golf, and Martial Arts.
Our PSG consists of three volunteer members, a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
What does the PSG do?
The main duties of the PSG members are to:
Work cooperatively to complete the annual BC Gaming Commission Grant application
Meet to discuss, find and recommend available programs and activities that meet the conditions of the grant, and can be delivered in school,
Present program and activity ideas to the Principal for approval
In coordination with the Principal, arrange for all aspects of the approved program delivery in school, including payment
Work cooperatively to complete the annual BC Gaming Commission Grant report detailing how the grant funds were spent
Submit a report of the PSG’s activities to the Parish Education Committee as per CISVA policy 416 (https://cisva.bc.ca/files/public/policy-manual/400-general-school-administration/416-Parent-Support-Groups.pdf)
How do I volunteer for the PSG?
PSG members are elected to a one-year term but may be re-elected for a cumulative maximum of up to three years. All parents and guardians of currently enrolled ICS students are eligible to serve on the PSG and to vote for the election of its members.
Service on the PSG qualifies for 10 parent participation hours.
If you would like to volunteer for the PSG in an upcoming school year, please respond to the Call for Nominations that will be sent out in the spring. You may nominate yourself or someone else. If there are more nominees than vacancies, an election will be held. Each nominee is asked to provide a short statement, maximum 150 words, that will be provided to help voters when making a decision among all eligible candidates. Your name and statement will be sent out to all parents registering to vote in the PSG election. The statement should contain:
Introduction
Why you would like to serve on this committee
What you would bring to it
