CHARLES DICKENS PAC

Join the Dickens community on the Konstella Connects App

2026-09-28T11:29:20.877-07:00

Hi everyone 👋🏼

Welcome back to Dickens!

Just a heads up that the PAC will transition to using an app called Konstella for all communication (phone and web based). This is a pilot for the 2026-27 school year and the PAC will reevaluate based on parent feedback at the end of the school year.

It’s fab. It’ll have a school calendar specific to your child’s division that you can click to integrate to your online calendar (ie Google Calendar).

It also has a channel for each division to chat with other parents/caregivers in their class or you can DM a parent/view their number for play dates. We’ve heard from parents at other schools that it is fantastic and centralizes communication. It’s new to us so we are always open to feedback.

So no need to join your WhatsApp division. Join here.

Want to learn more about Konstella - watch this video on Youtube.

PAC AGM 2026 - June 17

2026-06-13T16:03:48.596-07:00

Hi Dickens Parents! Our last PAC meeting of the year (the Annual General Meeting) is Wednesday June 17. We have a number of vacancies for PAC executive roles for next year, so If you’ve been wanting to get involved or even learn more about the PAC this is a great one to join! We’ll also have social afterwards in Sunnyside park (weather permitting).

Calling for donations for the Spring Fling!

2026-05-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

🎉*Calling for donations for the Spring Fling!* 🎉

This event relies on the kindness and generosity of our community to help out and donate goods to be sold at our always popular stalls!

If you wish to donate to any of these stalls please fill out the required info in the form via this link.

Volunteer roster will be coming shortly so keep your eyes peeled!! 🎉❤️

2026-04-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

Spring Fling: Save the date & volunteers needed

The Charles Dickens Spring Fling will be back in 2026!!

Save the Date for Thursday, May 28 from 4-8pm

As you can probably imagine, this event is a pretty big undertaking that could never happen without the help of many wonderful volunteers, so here we are reaching out with a first volunteer call-out.

Please also feel free to let us know if you have goods to donate to any of our stalls or there is any other way you can think of supporting by contacting us at dickens.spring.fling@gmail.com

Here are some examples of the volunteer roles we will need to fill:

Communications coordinator

Silent Auction Coordinator

Food Vendor Coordinator

Games Coordinator

Cotton Candy and Popcorn

Made it table

Musical Desserts

Plant Sale

and many more…

Thank you for helping us make this amazing community event happen once again.

2026-03-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

A reminder: The Hot Lunch Program is back

April 1 – June 26, 2026

Tuesdays — Pizza Day

Fresh, hot pizza served every Tuesday

Order cutoff: The Friday before each Pizza Day

Thursdays — Sushi / Bittersweet Day

Delicious sushi and Bittersweet meals offered every Thursday

Order cutoff: 8 days before the Thursday date.

Multiple options for different tastes.

How to Order

All orders must be placed online through Munchalunch.com Create or log in to your account and select your child’s classes and dates.

Notes for Families

Orders must be placed before the cutoff dates — no late orders can be accepted.

Please ensure your child brings cutlery if needed.

Refunds are not available for absences. You can pick up your child’s order at the office before 2pm or you can make arrangements to give the lunch to another child with the parents approval!

Thank you for supporting our school!

BC Children's Hospital Race for the Kids is back!

2026-03-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

BC Children's Hospital

Race for the Kids is back!

🩵

Sunday, June 7th, 2026

BC’s largest family fun run helps support the incredible work being done at BC Children’s Hospital.

Whether it be for small injuries or even the much larger, unexpected issues, all of our families are so very grateful for the amazing care our kids receive at BC Children's Hospital.

Last year, Charles Dickens Dragons had over 100 runners & supporters and together, we raised $12, 942!✨

The fun run is a 2km or 5km walk / run around 🌳Queen Elizabeth Park.

✨To join Charles Dickens Dragons team, please register here

You can join the team or share the link to support a runner!

Our goal this year is to reach $14,000.

We look forward to another fantastic Dickens turnout at this year’s RBC Race for the Kids.

See you there!

2026-03-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

Our DPAC representative Laura, has gathered some great material that could be of interest to the parent community.

Two recent topics include:

Math Mastery
Vaping and talking to your child about vaping

Head to the Resource and Events page to learn more and check back for new updates.

Grade 7 Bottle Drive Fundraiser

2026-02-18T16:57:00.000-08:00

2026-01-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

Talk body science and sexual health today

A supportive parent workshop on why early sexual-health talks matter, how to keep kids safe, what children need to know as they grow, and how to have open, confident conversations at home.

Virtual Parent workshop With saleema noon sexual health educators

6:30pm on January 12

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87583162572?pwd=sVxUwqMaT5bkpv1gJTQGZoKXXgfgCF.1

Meeting ID: 875 8316 2572

Passcode: 833890

Sponsored by Dickens PAC. Saleema’s team will also

be coming into the school to discuss body science in an age-appropriate way with each grade.

2025 Holiday Hampers

2025-11-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of the season, the Charles Dickens PAC is asking for your support in helping to create holiday hampers for the families and individuals living in our community who could use a boost at this time of year.

The need this year is once again significant; all our partner agencies are seeing an increase in the number of requests for support they receive, and the reality is that nothing ever gets less expensive as time passes.

If you’re able to help this year, know that your gift will make a HUGE difference to someone living right here in your community.

There are two ways you can support our Holiday Hamper program:

1. Donate gift cards! Visit your local grocer or retailer and purchase gift card(s) and then send the card(s) to school with your kid(s). Classroom teachers will collect the gift cards on our behalf. We’ve been hearing from our partners that the gift cards that provide recipients with the most flexibility are ideal. Gift card ideas include:

Grocery cards - Save On Foods, Buy Low, Safeway, Superstore, Walmart, Nesters or other local grocers

Clothing gift cards - Old Navy, Gap, Walmart, Joe Fresh, Carters, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Sport Chek, etc.

Flexible gift cards for retailers with a variety of merchandise choices: Amazon, Indigo, Toys R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, The Bay, Walmart, Sephora, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.

2. Donate cash through your SchoolCashOnline.com account:

The link above is a direct link to the Charles Dickens PAC donation page. If you sign into your schoolcashonline account, once you’ve selected the “Make A Donation” option, be sure to select E-Charles Dickens PAC as your Fund Destination (this works for gifts from both Dickens Main and the Annex).

When you make your gift, please let us know that it is for the Holiday Hampers by making a note in the Message box. Gifts of $10 or more are eligible for charitable receipts, which are issued automatically by the VSB.

This year’s hampers will be distributed beginning the week of December 2nd, so please be sure to drop off your donations to your classroom or office by Friday, December 12th, 2025.

If you have any questions, please email us at charlesdickensholidayhampers@gmail.com

2025-11-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

The Charles Dickens PAC Winter Holiday Fundraiser with Purdy's Chocolates is back, by popular demand! Now is the time to let your inner chocoholic out, as this fundraiser will only be offered once this entire year.

This tasty fundraiser will raise money to support school activities funded by the PAC at both Charles Dickens Annex and Main school. The schools will receive 25% of the money spent, back to support enriching activities for all students! Last year we sold almost $9,000 of chocolate – which raised almost $3,000 for our schools 😊

To view the items and make a purchase, please click here visit this link:

Once you are at the website,

Enter your email address
Create an account
Click on “shop online” (at the top of the next page)
Select the "Market place" button (this allows you to see images of all the chocolate for sale)

Submit your chocolate order to the Purdy’s website by Monday November 29, 2025.

Pick-up your chocolates on Wednesday December 10th, between 2:30pm-4pm, at

Dickens main school.

Check it out, and consider buying treats for teachers, friends and family through this school fundraising campaign. Feel free to share the link with friends. A little chocolate goes a long way to warming someone's heart!

Thank you in advance. We are wishing you a sweet holiday season.

2025-11-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Get ready to show off your school spirit in style. The PAC, together with Jackson’s General Store, has created a fresh line of Dickens Cheer Gear. It’s the perfect way to celebrate our amazing community - and every purchase helps fund future school projects and programs.

Get your orders in by November 18th.

Subject: Virtual Information Session:

2025-10-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to welcome you to a virtual session in digital literacy. This conversation will discuss

social media awareness, digital citizenship and cyber-bullying.

The event details are below:

When: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Virtually through Teams. Join us using this link.

Who: Hosted by Safer Schools Together, through VSB

Registration: Please register by 9 pm on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 using this link: Registration for

VSB Virtual Info Session-Nov 4

2025-10-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome To The New School Year

We’d love more families to get involved in the PAC and the best way to do that is to join the PAC WhatsApp group

here. Annex Group here.

Read the minutes for the recent PAC meeting (Sept 25).

We Want to Hear From You!

Please take a minute to fill out our quick PAC surveyLet us know how you’d like to get updates, what events or committees interest you, and share any ideas for this year!

HALLOWEEN COSTUME SWAP

Have your child bring in their gently used Halloween costumes from Oct. 8th to Oct. 15th and have

them drop them off in the boxes outside the main office.

We will then resell these costumes on Oct. 17th and Oct. 20 from 3 to 4:30 in the red courtyard.

All proceeds help the School Parent Association Council (PAC).

Any questions please email dickens.fundraising@gmail.com

Spring Fling Info

2025-05-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Thursday May 29th, 2025

Sign up to volunteer!! 200+ Volunteers are needed! Most shifts are 1 hour onsite on Thursday, May 29. We also need help with setting up the night before and a few hours before the event.

Pre-Event Set Up, Tear Down, Recycling & Garbage, Face Painting, Cotton Candy,

Musical Desserts, Sausage Stand, Ticket Sales, Made It (crafts table), Silent Disco, Plants Sale, Indoor Games, Games Prize Table, Outdoor Games, Photo Booth and Mystery Bottles.

New Stalls this year:
Arcade games - these will include Dance Dance Revolution, Whack A Mole and San Fransisco Rush driving game. Volunteers will need to assist with taking tickets and starting the games.
Silent Disco - this is a dance party where participants listen to the music through their own headphones rather than a speaker. Volunteers will assist with getting people set up and putting on and taking off headphones if needed.

Cotton candy volunteers will be assisting a "cotton candy professional" this year who will be in charge of the making!

Sign-up to Volunteer here!

Ensure you are seeing the entire sheet. INCLUDE your Name, Phone Number and Email

so that the Team Leads can contact you. Thank you!

When and where to bring all items:

Main School: On the day, drop donations at the Main School Gym from 8:45am - 3:30pm.

Annex School: On the day, drop donations at the Annex Office from 8:45am - 3pm or take them directly to the Main School Gym. After 3pm, please take items to the main school.

Donations for Mystery Bottles

We are asking for bottles of white, red, sparkling and non-alcoholic wine or fancy mixers to the value of above $15 these will be sold for $20 on the day. Please make sure the bottle is completely hidden in brown paper or a gift bag and please indicate wether it is alcoholic or non alcoholic. Please fill out how many bottle you will be donating and we will let you know when and where to drop.

Donations for Musical Desserts

Small items please! Cookies, Squares, Cup Cakes, Brownies, Muffins, Cake Pops and other sweet treats. We’ll also need some gluten-free and/or dairy-free items. No home baked goods please only packaged and store bought. Please let us know what you will bring here

Donations for MADE IT

We welcome any Home-made Crafts and Handiwork! Paintings/Drawings, Pottery, Ceramics, Woodwork, Sculptures, Photographs, Greeting Cards, Jewellery, Friendship Bracelets, Hair Accessories, Buttons, Pins, Magnets, Key Chains, Candles, Soaps, Beeswax Wraps, Knitting/Crocheting: e.g. Toques, Gloves, Scarves etc. and Sewing/Quilting: e.g. Pillow Covers, Totes (cloth bags) etc. Label your items with your name + number if you want unsold items returned. Please let us know what you can contribute here!

Donations for Field Games

Badminton nets, grass volleyball nets with poles, pop-up soccer nets, corn hole sets, horseshoe games, oversized jenga.

Let us know here if you plan to donate to any of the above stalls! Scroll across to find the stall you want to donate to.

Donations for Plant Sale

Flowers, Plants, Bulbs/Tubers, Shrubs, Seedlings, Seeds etc. Buy new or pull from your garden! Garden accessories, Decorative pots and containers are welcome too.

Silent Auction

The Silent Auction is looking slightly different this year, we are calling on community members to come forward with donations! Please get in touch at dickens.spring.fling@gmail.com to let us know whether you have something to contribute!!

Questions?

Contact us at dickens.spring.fling@gmail.com if you have questions regarding Volunteering or Donating. Thank you for your time and generosity! — Dickens SPRING FLING Team

Trivia Night fundraiser is Back!

2025-03-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Time for a Parents night out

Charles Dickens PAC is hosting our second trivia night fundraiser to support our school initiatives. This night is guaranteed to be a fun night out connecting with our school community and raising funds for a great cause!

Tickets are $20 each and can be Purchased Here

See more details on the poster below

Spring Fling: Save the date & volunteers needed

2025-03-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Charles Dickens Spring Fling will be back in 2025!!

Save the Date for Thursday, May 29 from 4-8pm

As you can probably imagine, this event is a pretty big undertaking that could never happen without the help of many wonderful volunteers, so here we are reaching out with a first volunteer call-out.

Please also feel free to let us know if you have goods to donate to any of our stalls or there is any other way you can think of supporting by contacting us at dickens.spring.fling@gmail.com

Here are some examples of the volunteer roles we will need to fill:

Communications coordinator

Silent Auction Coordinator

Food Vendor Coordinator

Games Coordinator

Cotton Candy and Popcorn

Made it table

Musical Desserts

Plant Sale

and many more…

Thank you for helping us make this amazing community event happen once again.

BCCHF Race for the Kids

2025-03-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

Join Us!

On June 8th, 2025, for the second year, Charles Dickens will be forming a team to run/ walk together in the family fun run Race for the Kids that helps to support the incredible work being done at BC Children's Hospital.

Whether they are for small injuries or even the unexpected bigger issues, all of our families are so grateful for everything they do at BCCH.

If you would like to join the team, please register at https://fundraise.bcchf.ca/event/race-for-the-kids

After creating an account, please go to Join a Team and search for Charles Dickens Dragons.

We hope to see you there!

Dickens Disco

2025-02-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

Join us for the

DICKENS DISCO

Dance, snack, and celebrate with your kids and friends at this fun family dance & social!

Held at Charles Dickens Main School Thursday, April 10th, 2025, 6:30-9pm

This is a fun family event for all students and families of Dickens Main School and Annex. Parents are required to stay for the event and may also be required to bust out some OG dance Moves!

There will not be a potluck this year but there will be a candy bar, so bring some spare change - can’t wait to see you there

Pedal Heads Fundraiser

2025-01-24T15:27:00.000-08:00

If you plan to sign up your Littles for Pedal Heads this Spring (bike, soccer, swim, and trail) you can save 25$ with the code below. This opportunity is open to all families at Dickens

25$ will support fun opportunities for both the main and annex school

Registration here (starting January 21st, 2024). Be sure to use the code DANNEX25

*we are not affiliated with pedal heads other than this fundraising offer*

Monthly Newsletter

2025-01-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

Have you signed up for our monthly newsletter yet?

Every month we send out a newsletter filled with important school and parent council information

…and some essential comedic relief

You can subscribe via email here

And read previous newsletters here

Just Mulch Fundraiser

2025-01-14T21:34:00.000-08:00

Charles Dickens Elementary PAC is fundraising with Just Mulch in perfect time for spring gardening

Just Mulch provides quality landscaping supplies delivered, where and when you need it. This is an ongoing fundraiser

Use code CHARLESDICKENS at

JUSTMULCH.CA for your discount and to support our fundraising!

You save 10% AND 10% goes to Charles Dickens Elementary!

Cheer Gear

2024-11-13T00:29:00.000-08:00

Cheer Gear is Back!

What better way to support our school, than wearing Dickens Gear. Once again the PAC in partnership with Jackson's General Store is bringing back some classic Cheer Gear items. All proceeds raised go directly to funding school needs and programs.

Order here by November 19th, 2024

Trivia Night Fundraiser

2024-11-04T12:17:00.005-08:00

Unfortunately we will be rescheduling the trivia night fundraiser

New date TBD in early 2025

Charles Dickens PAC is hosting our second trivia night fundraiser to support our inclusive playground initiative. This night is guaranteed to be a fun night out connecting with our school community and raising funds for a great cause!

Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased here

See more details on the poster below

Holiday Hamper 2024

2024-11-04T12:15:00.003-08:00

In the spirit of the season, the Charles Dickens PAC is asking for your support in helping to create holiday hampers for the families and individuals living in our community who could use a boost at this time of year.

The need this year is significant; all our partner agencies are seeing an increase in the number of requests for support they receive, and the reality is that nothing ever gets less expensive as time passes.

If you’re able to help this year, know that your gift will make a HUGE difference to someone living right here in your community.

There are two ways you can support our Holiday Hamper program:

Grocery cards - Save On Foods, Buy Low, Safeway, Superstore, Walmart, Nesters or other local grocers

Clothing gift cards - Old Navy, Gap, Walmart, Joe Fresh, Carters, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Sport Chek, etc.

Flexible gift cards for retailers with a variety of merchandise choices: Amazon, Indigo, Toys R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, The Bay, Walmart, Sephora, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.

2. Donate cash through your SchoolCashOnline.com account:

The link above is a direct link to the Charles Dickens PAC donation page. If you sign into your schoolcashonline account, once you’ve selected the “Make A Donation” option, be sure to select E-Charles Dickens PAC as your Fund Destination (this works for gifts from both Dickens Main and the Annex).

When you make your gift, please let us know that it is for the Holiday Hampers by making a note in the Message box. Gifts of $10 or more are eligible for charitable receipts, which are issued automatically by the VSB.

This year’s hampers will be distributed beginning the week of December 2nd, so please be sure to drop off your donations to your classroom or office by Friday, December 6th, 2024.

If you have any questions, please email us at charlesdickensholidayhampers@gmail.com