Surrey District Parent Advisory Council

TONIGHT: Join Surrey DPAC’s Inclusion Committee for an online conversation focused on caregiver burnout. This session will create space to share experiences, name the realities many families are facing, and explore ways to support ourselves and each other.

via Zoom: 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or simply need to connect with others who understand, you are welcome. Register for the online session here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tOlKAyRwSay-acO2cjtADg #/registration

Join us tonight for our final meeting of the school year. Our education session at 7 pm is "Conversations with School Trustees: Shaping Public Education Together".

School trustees help shape policy, set district direction, oversee budgets, and hold the superintendent accountable... but what does that actually look like in practice? This month, we’re bringing together a panel of trustees from outside Surrey for a real conversation about the trustee role, what they’ve learned along the way, and what aspiring candidates should know. A timely session for anyone interested in how public education governance works... or considering stepping into leadership themselves.

We’ve intentionally brought together a panel with diverse trustee perspectives... an educator lens, the fresh insight of a newer trustee, and the seasoned governance perspective of a long-serving trustee with a strong commitment to inclusion and equity.
Holly Dickinson is a school trustee in School District 35 (Langley) and an educator passionate about student success, diverse learners, and social-emotional well-being. With a background in education and a collaborative leadership style, she brings a thoughtful, future-focused approach to supporting students and strengthening public education.

Melissa Coates is a School District 27 trustee (Cariboo-Chilcotin), parent, and community advocate from Williams Lake. Passionate about student safety, family engagement, and positive outcomes for all learners, she brings a grounded commitment to listening, learning, and ensuring families feel heard in the public education system.

Cyndi Gerlach is a multi-term trustee in School District 44 (North Vancouver) and a longtime advocate for inclusion, disability rights, and equitable public education. With extensive experience in governance and community leadership, she brings a strong policy lens and a deep commitment to ensuring public education works for every learner.

Our AGM will begin at 8 pm.

Our final Leading Locally DPAC Rep Training session explores the difference between little a advocacy and Big A Advocacy... from supporting an individual family concern to recognizing and responding to broader system issues. We’ll work through real-world examples together to build confidence in knowing when an issue needs local problem-solving, and when it may call for collective advocacy and systems change. See you Wednesday at 7 pm.

Looking forward to seeing our DPAC reps tonight at 7 pm for our Leading Locally training session. We will be covering building inclusive school communities for PACs as well as growing a strong PAC through supporting leadership and sustainability. This is a makeup session for the last session that was cancelled and tonight's topic so we will be 7 pm - 8:30 tonight. Same link as last time - see you online!

Looking forward to seeing South Surrey and White Rock parents and caregiveres tonight!!!

Va**ng is impacting more youth than ever. Do you know what to look for or how to start the conversation? Join us for a parent-focused session presented by Safe Schools and Fraser Health to get informed, ask questions, and walk away with tools to support your child.
This event is being held at Elgin Park Secondary and is open to parents in the Surrey Schools community.

We meant to post this earlier (hint hint: we'd love to have a social media coordinator!): Parenting seminar tonight at 6 pm

SD60 DPAC has invited parents and caregivers to this seminar geared for families with highschoolers on how to deal with attachment, anxiety and current issues.

This will be via Zoom - register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_egzQy48nR36G-z839nVrPw

Va**ng is impacting more youth than ever. Do you know what to look for or how to start the conversation? Join us for a parent-focused session presented by Safe Schools and Fraser Health to get informed, ask questions, and walk away with tools to support your child.
This event is being held at Elgin Park Secondary and is open to parents in the Surrey Schools community.

Looking forward to seeing our DPAC reps tonight at 7 pm for our Leading Locally training session. We will be covering building inclusive school communities for PACs as well as growing a strong PAC through supporting leadership and sustainability. This is a makeup session for the last session that was cancelled and tonight's topic so we will be 7 pm - 8:30 tonight. Same link as last time - see you online!

Running gaming events this year? Or need a refresher on how to apply for the gaming grant? There are some important updates you won’t want to miss. Join Surrey DPAC for a practical info session on Gaming Grants and the updated Gaming License process—what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how to be ready.

Clear info, real examples, and time for questions. Perfect for PAC treasurers, dry grad committees and exec teams. 7 pm, April 22nd via Zoom.

Today is Autism Acceptance Day.

For many families of autistic kids in Surrey, this day is not about awareness. Lived experience puts us well past that. It is about whether autistic students are meaningfully included in classrooms… with the supports, environments and staffing they need to learn and belong.

Acceptance means moving beyond deficit-based thinking and designing schools that work for neurodivergent learners from the start. It means recognizing that behaviour is communication, that regulation comes before learning, and that supports should not depend on a formal diagnosis to exist.

In British Columbia, approximately 1 in 30 children are identified as autistic. At the same time, families are facing waitlists of up to three years for assessment. That gap leaves many students without access to supports… not because the need isn’t there, but because the system requires identification to unlock funding for them.

Acceptance also means listening to autistic voices. Many self-advocates have moved away from awareness-era symbols like the puzzle piece and toward the infinity symbol, reflecting neurodiversity and the understanding that autistic people are whole, not something to be fixed.

At Surrey DPAC, we will continue to advocate for:
• equitable access to supports without unnecessary barriers
• inclusive classroom environments designed for diverse learners
• transparent data and accountability around student experiences
• meaningful partnership with families and autistic voices

Acceptance is not a campaign. It is a commitment to removing barriers so every student can access their education with dignity.