PAC

Parenting an anxious child has many challenges. From struggles with perfectionism and negative self-talk to leaving birthday parties early because it’s all just too exciting, the parents of an anxious child can be left feeling confused and overwhelmed. 


The Vic West PAC believes one of the best things we can do is support one another and share ideas. So, one of our school parents put together this list of simple strategies that can be used at home with anxious children:


– Create a worry box. Have the child decorate their own small box that they can put their worries into and seal them away.
– Create a worry doll. Have the child use modelling clay to create a doll they can tell their worries to. Worry dolls are good listeners. 
– Deep balloon breathing. Have the child imagine a balloon in their tummy. Ask them to fill it up by breathing in, then let it all out to empty the balloon.
– Counting. Counting to 10 or backwards from 5 can help steady emotions.
– Figure 8 tracing. Use the finger to trace a figure 8 on paper (or use the palm of the hand), breathing in on one loop and out on the other.
– Use a worry thermometer. Ask the child to point to how they feel on a scale of faces, from not worried at all to very worried. Example: http://anxietybc.com/sites/default/files/My_Fear_Thermometer.pdf
– Blow bubbles. Blow away the worries and watch them pop.
– Be a worry spy. Give the child a magnifying glass and ask them to find where the worry is in their body. Is it in their head? Their tummy? When you know where the worry is you can do something about it.
– Create a list of worry words. Give the child language to describe how they’re feeling. Just being able to say “I’m feeling anxious” can be a useful skill for any child.
– Be an anxiety example. Remind the child that everyone feels anxious sometimes. Even grown-ups! Demonstrate how you handle feeling anxious, ie. “I’m nervous about this business meeting today. I’m going to take some deep breaths to help me relax.” Or ask the child for advice on what you can do to relax.
– Encourage self-helping. Help the child help THEMSELVES. You can’t always be there, so it’s important for the child to know some techniques they can rely on when feeling anxious.


For information about anxiety, parents can visit the AnxietyBC website.

As we all adjust to fresh routines for a new school year at Vic West Elementary, our diverse community of parents and guardians will have several opportunities to connect and contribute over the coming months. Here are a few bits of information from the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for school families:

Another school year at Victoria West Elementary has come to a close in spectacular fashion. As part of a fun-filled final week of school, the Parent Advisory Council hosted its annual year end party, complete with live music, dunk tank, Highlanders soccer, face painting, BBQ, and a cake walk. It was wonderful to see so many school families enjoying the celebration, and to have the help of so many parent volunteers to help make it possible. Thank you for your gift of time and talent!

Painted faces add a touch of magic to the day.

Vic West Community Centre manager, Kate Longpre, shares her time and talent painting faces.

Volunteers busily setting up for the BBQ.

Happy munchers at the BBQ.

Dunk tank setup with the help of the Victoria Fire Department.

Principal Joe Cardle getting ready for a dip in the dunk tank!

Announcing the winners of the Monk Office raffle for a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and a $100 Monk Office gift card. The raffle brought in $463 for our PAC!

Rainbow cake with PAC motto.

Adorable chocolate cake.

Amazing grad cake.

Excited kids who don’t want to go home yet.

Okay, all you parent volunteers, thank you for putting your name forward to help make our year end event a fun family time for all. Please see the schedule below:

Also, the following parents have volunteered to make cupcakes for the cupcake walk:

1. D. Haley
2. A. Batchelor
3. J. Henson
4. C. Forbes
5. M. Calvert
6. A. Madden
7. C. Urlacher
8. S. Ferguson
9. L. McLaughlin
10. C. Stevenson
11. J. Ratchford
12. K. Hurst
13. K. Cherkosh
14. C. Robinson
15. V. Larose
16. E. Mateos
17. D. Malhi

The pennies have been counted! 
At our annual garage sale, we collected over $94 in pennies. Those pennies have been bought by local photographer/artist Keri Coles (www.kericoles.com), who will be creating an art piece with the pennies. Keri topped up the donation to $100, and a cheque will be mailed off to the MS Society this week. Thank you to everyone who donated to this worthy cause!

Today parents put together a small token of our gratitude for all of the time, energy and passion that our staff put into educating our children.  Thank you to all of the parents who brought in goodies for the lunch. As you can see, everyone was really happy to have a delicious meal to tuck into today!

Ongoing Responsibilities:

• Monthly general and executive PAC meetings 
• PAC rep attendance at monthly VCPAC meetings 
• Twice yearly family movie nights 
• Return-It juice box recycling and quarterly bottle drives 
• Payment of Can Lit book orders (approx $1000/year) 
• Payment of seaquarium ($750/year) 
• Scrap metal drive fundraiser 
• Thrifty’s Smile cards fundraiser 
• Rain garden maintenance and improvement – solicited support from Capital Iron for supplies and worked directly with student teacher/students
• Working on increased safety at the crosswalk in front of the playground (connecting with City Councillor Lisa Helps and the City of Victoria transportation dept.) 
• Communication and ongoing interaction with Bayview Developments – attempting to seek support and partnership 
• Partial subsidy for Restitution Program participants on an as needed basis
• Payment of two cultural events for all students:2012/2013: Story Theatre and Ache Brasil
• Creation of a PAC events/fundraisers manual 

2012


August

• Redesign of PAC pamphlet 
• Set up of new PAC email 
• Set up and design of new PAC website (www.vicwestpac.com) 

September 

• Entertainment Books fundraiser 
• Input into School Growth Plan 
• Financial support to each classroom – $400/year 

October 

• Organization of Vic West involvement in Thrifty Foods Kids Run (1.5 km) – school promotion in the community, health, fun!
• Support of Scholastic Book Fair 
• Financial support of Halloween event and solicitation of donations of pumpkins for students 
• Walk through of school yard with school district employees to identify areas for improvement 
• Support of updating of earthquake kits/kiosk 

November 

• New PAC logo by local artist Lissa Calvert – move towards branding of the PAC to help with identification in the community 
• CCRP magazine fundraiser 
• Attendance at VCPAC Congress 

December 

• Holiday gift sale for all students and families 
• Initiation of PAC executive meetings (approx. once a month) 
• Collection of donations of food and money for the Mustard Seed Food Bank

2013 


January 

• Collected 30+ yoga mats from local yoga studios – for teachers/staff to use with students
• Paid for busing to UVIC for choir students 
• Paid for author visit for grade 4/5 students 

February

• First monthly PAC Newsletter added to school newsletter 
• Parent education night: anti-bullying 
• New traffic signs added to crosswalk as a result of PAC communication with the City of Victoria

March 

• Raffle sales begin (Samsung Galaxy Tablet and $100 for Monk Office) 
• Transfer of bank accounts to Coast Capital to work towards increased community sponsorship 
• Created VWPAC mission statement and values statement

April 

• Support of Scholastic Book Fair 
• Monk’s school supply order fundraiser 
• Mabel’s Labels fundraiser (online) 
• Parent education night – Raising Confident Boys and Girls 
• Family movie night 
• Participation in “Ready Set Learn” 
• Participation in “Pitch In Vic West” at the Vic West Community Centre

May 

• Garage sale/bottle drive/penny drive 
• Mural painting on ball wall (organized and supported) 
• Extra busing for grade 4s/5s to attend theatre event at Spectrum High School
• Participation in “Welcome to Kindergarten”

June 

• PAC year end event (donations solicited from community) 
• Host staff appreciation lunch 
• Year end gift – Restitution lyrics board installed in gym

Thank you to all parents and caregivers who assisted in achieving these goals. Without each of you, none of this would happen.