To all VC parents,

On behalf of the Vancouver College Parents Association (VCPA), I welcome you to the 2009-2010 school year.  It is going to be an exciting year.  In addition to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics we have our new principal Mr. John McFarland; we got our new football field and have a newly elected Vancouver College Parents Association VCPA team.

Vancouver College is not only one of the top schools in BC, it is a community of happy kids and hard working caring parents.  The VCPA plays a key role in building this community and contributes to the betterment of the school.  Last year, we organized many successful events and raised funds to be used to buy equipment, sponsor events, school teams, bursaries and other.

The VCPA official role is to:

• encourage participation in school activities by the families of all students;
• facilitate cooperation and dialogue within the school community;
• raise funds for school needs as they arise;
• promote and assist with charitable activities outside of the school by which students can put Catholic faith into action.

We invite you to join us at the September 16 Welcome BBQ at 6:00pm at the school.  This is a good venue to meet other parents and your VCPA representatives and to see how you can be an active part at VC.  There will be representatives from the Parent Participation Program (PPP); Finnegan Ball; Mother Christmas Party; Mayfair and other.   At the BBQ you can purchase tickets for the (Nov 14, 2009) Finnegan Ball.  This year  ball theme is Going for the Gold.  The Finnegan Ball is one of the VCPA major fundraising events that include: Mother Christmas party (Dec 2, 2009);  Mayfair (May 8, 2010).  Our acquisition team is working hard to collect donations and prizes for the Finnegan Ball and other events. 

I urge you all to be very active parents at Vancouver College.  There are many events and venues where you can help and be an active contributor to your kid's school and community.  Visit the VCPA website and choose how you can help.

Tony Chebaya
President - VCPA
tony@Garage-Suites.com

Parent Participation Program – Guidelines 2009 - 2010

History
In 1996 Vancouver College instituted a mandatory Parent Participation Program. This program provides structure and support to the large parents’ volunteer program that is a significant factor in maintaining and supporting the strong Vancouver College community. Each year, parents contribute more than 32,000 volunteer hours towards fundraising, academic and arts programs, athletics and religious activities.

Program Outline:
The Vancouver College Parent Participation Program (PPP) was designed, as a branch of the VC Parent Association, to offer our families a unique opportunity to become more actively involved in their sons’ education. It continues to be a success by not only providing a valuable service to the College as well as encouraging a sense of community among parents and staff. 

Each Vancouver College family is asked to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours of participation service for the 2008 – 2009 school year. At the beginning of the school year, all volunteering families submit a cheque payable to Vancouver College Blessed Edmund Rice Financial Assistance Fund for $750.00 dated June 30, 2009. When your hours of participation have been completed, the cheque will be destroyed; however, if your volunteer commitment of 30 hours is not fulfilled, the cheque will be deposited. An alternative option is to remit $750.00 payable September 6, 2008 in lieu of your volunteer participation.
Program Guidelines:
1. Parents are responsible for recording their own volunteer hours soon after the hours are served. Logbooks are available outside the PPP office. Participation, involvement and service to the school are the goals of the PPP. If a family chooses not to fulfill their volunteer hours or does so partially, the PPP coordinator upon calculation of hours served notifies the school accounting department who bills the families for the equivalent dollar amount. This money is deposited into the Endowment Fund and is used for future school improvements.
2. Donated items – No Participation Hours will be given for donations when tax receipts are issued. In keeping with the PPP goal of encouraging participation by parents in school events exchanging hours for donations is not encouraged.

3. Advanced Commitment: Parents who attend a volunteer event without reserving a time slot will be turned away if allocations are reached.


4. Taking Responsibility for Arranging Volunteer Hours: Parents should phone the Conveners to coordinate their participation (don’t wait for a phone call). Being proactive saves everyone a lot of time. Review the Vancouver College Parent Website for a current listing of all the Conveners and Contact Liaisons. They are there to assist you throughout your many years at Vancouver College.

5. Major Fund Raiser Commitment: Families are required to complete five of their total thirty volunteer hours at one of our three major fundraising events. These events include – Mayfair, Mothers’ Coffee Party and Finnegan Ball


6. Exiting Conveners: The PPP can be greatly enhanced when exiting conveners take responsibility for replacing and training their replacements. Manuals of procedures should be maintained and left in good condition for new people to take over. Assistance is available from the PPP coordinator.

Cap Restrictions On Hours Earned:
• Meeting Attendance- Parents will receive one PPP hour for attending any VCPA General Meeting.
• Library Assistance – maximum of ten hours per family.
• Parent Parking Patrol – for the safely of the elementary students we ask all Elementary Parents take responsibility for one PPP hour per year on 38th Street.
• Walkathon – a maximum of five hours per family may be allocated to the Walkathon to a maximum of thirties families “only” who sign up to participated.
• Youth for Life and Pro–Life – maximum of ten earned hours per family; this includes a maximum of two hours for home baking.

Baking and Food Guidelines – Three Major Fund Raising Events only (Mayfair, Mothers’ Coffee Party and Finnegan Ball) – To a maximum of five PPP hours per family. Items must be homemade, if not; no credit will be received for PURCHASED MERCHANDISED.

• Five-hour maximum of NON-FUNDRAISING PARTICPATION HOURS will be earned per family.
• One cake = one hour of participation
• Two dozen cookies earns = one hour of participation
• Preserves, antipasto, chutney, jellies (i.e. Jalapeno, wine, red pepper), specialty chocolate sauces – one dozen = two PPP hours
• Shortbread – two dozens = one PPP hour
• Regular Tarts – one dozen = one PPP hour
• Mini Tarts – two dozen = one PPP hour
• Gingerbread Houses – one cake = one PPP hour
• Fruitcake – one cake for two PPP hours
• Biscotti – one dozen = one PPP hour
• Pies – one pie = one PPP hour; two pies = one and half PPP hours
• Christmas cookies – two dozens = one PPP hour
• Rum Balls – two dozens = one PPP hour
• Christmas Loaves – one loaf = two PPP hours

Baking and Food Guidelines other than Major Fund Raising Events:

• Youth of Life – maximum of two hours for home baking per family
• Pro-life - maximum of two hours for home baking per family
• Other Events - maximum of two hours for home baking per family


Refund of PPP Cashed Cheques:

Parents are encouraged and reminded to record their volunteer hours as completed. Every attempt is made to contact parents before cheques are cashed.

1. The Contact Liaison Parent reminds parents monthly if parents have not completed your thirty-hour commitment.
2. An final email and phone message will be made prior to cashing Cheques to remind parents that their cheque will be cashed if hours are not recorded.
3. The VCPA Newsletter – Finnegan File also reminds parents to update their PPP hours.

Recording Hours is the Volunteer Parent Responsibility!