Minutes of the Meeting of Strathblane Primary School Parent Council
Monday 26th January 2009
Present:
Staff: Carolyn Randall, Anne Spencer
Parent Council: Charlie Haggerty, Fergus Mitchell, Gun Orgun, Bernd Schwahn, Andy Thompson
Parents: Traci Leven, Bronagh Ewart (clerk to the parent council)
1. Welcome & Apologies
Andy Thompson opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Apologies were received from Rachel Allen, Debbie Bolton, Anne Brown, Morven Bulloch, Cathie Moir and Sheena Mylles.
2. Minutes of Meeting held on 26th November 2008
The minutes were accepted as a true record.
Matters Arising: All matters arising will be covered in this agenda.
3. Reports
3.1 Chairperson
Andy Thompson informed the meeting that the survey sent to all PCs to determine whether parents would prefer one national body instead of the two currently in operation needs to be returned by the end of the month. The PC has received information about the following two courses:
• March 14th 9.30am – 1.00pm Stirling “Making Partnership Work” – an opportunity to meet with other PC members to share ways of working.
• July 1st/ 2nd University of Strathclyde learning about “Curriculum for Excellence” £75 – anyone welcome to go.
Information about the Respect Me anti-bullying campaign will be posted on the PC website.
3.2 School
Carolyn Randall gave an update on how things are progressing within the main priority areas outlined at the last meeting:
• Inclusion – a review of needs in this area has been completed and support strategies have been put in place including the use of support staff in the classroom and training opportunities for teachers and support staff.
• Shared Values – the pupil council has collated shared values from each class resulting in five or six common values. Members of the local community are also being invited into school to share their values with the pupils.
• Promoting Positive Behaviour – the existing house system has been built upon and assemblies have been re-organised to include house assemblies every fortnight. Other assemblies will focus on values. Unacceptable behaviour is visibly being acted upon swiftly both in and out of class.
• School Improvement Plan – this is concentrating on writing, following on from the last inspection.
• Curriculum for Excellence – this involves critical thinking skills for the pupils, sharing what is happening between staff and also the talking, listening, learning initiative.
• ICT – a new printer and scanner have been ordered. Carolyn thanked the PC for funding the printer. Work in this area includes Primaries 3 & 4 joint learning initiative about the Egyptians and the purchasing of software to enable Primary 5 to make booklets.
• Learning and Teaching – there are lots of learning opportunities occurring in each class as pupils learn skills as well as knowledge in line with Curriculum for Excellence and Stirling Council’s Big Task initiative. P1 and P2 have increased pupil/teacher contact due to a reduction in break times which will bring the school into line with Stirling Council guidelines.
Carolyn also reported that she had received a complaint about parking in the library car park – this will be mentioned in the next newsletter – and a concern about double yellow lines which has been passed to the appropriate body. The nursery will probably be inspected by the Care Commission in the near future. The new catering supervisor is still awaiting Disclosure and as yet there is no news regarding a new crossing patrol person. Carolyn agreed to contact the Roads Department regarding the current road works to see if work could begin after 9.00am. The PC has received concerns from some parents about the reduction in P1/2 breaks and the change in assemblies. Carolyn reassured the meeting on both issues and agreed to update parents in the March newsletter as to how the changes are progressing and the current government legislation on religious observance.
3.3 Strathblane Primary Fundraisers
Traci Leven reported that both the Christmas Fair and the Christmas concert raffle had been well supported. Forthcoming events include:
• Red Nose Day – 13th March – including a joke competition – raising funds for Comic Relief and the school.
• Shamrocks and Shortbread Ceilidh – 20th March
• Ragbag collection – April – date to be confirmed
• Summer Fair – 23rd May
• Fairtrade Fashion Show – October
3.4 Treasurer
Gun Orgun stated that the current balance of the SPF account is £4455.19. The Christmas Fair made a profit of £723 and the hampers £452. An invoice is still to be paid for the new school printer and a further donation will be made to the school towards buses for trips. During a time of discussion about future donations, Andy suggested that we should perhaps invest in the development of the playground facilities, building on what has already been done, rather than funding items such as whiteboards which are probably more clearly the responsibility of Stirling Council to provide. He also suggested that the PC consider the possibility of keeping some money aside for the MUGA project. There followed a discussion as to how the PC might subsidise those families on low incomes who would like their children to attend extra-curricular activities. Two suggestions were made – to offer free places on a first-come basis or, alternatively, to provide more places on a part-reduced cost basis. Gun added that the PC account has a current balance of £178. This balance will pass to the school funds at the beginning of April when the new financial year begins. The PC account will then receive £380 from Stirling Council.
4. Extra-curricular Working Group
Andy Thompson reported that the extra-curricular language classes had still not started due to a delay with Disclosure. Interest has been expressed in a science club and possible funding for this is available from Stirling Council. Andy will contact the appropriate person and take this further. Volunteers would be needed to help with co-ordinating and running this club. Traci agreed to contact the Active Schools co-ordinator to discuss the possibility of extra-curricular sporting activities.
5. MUGA/Greenheart
Charlie Haggerty reported that Linda Barclay has arranged meetings with Stirling Council and the Community Development Trust to discuss the MUGA. Charlie will speak to Linda and report back to the next meeting. It was suggested that an artist’s impression or other visualisation of the plans for the MUGA would be useful for the community to see.
6. Nutrition Working Group
Bernd Schwahn reported that a working group met to discuss producing an information leaflet for parents regarding guidelines for healthy snacks. A draft of this leaflet will be presented to the School Nutrition Action Group at their next meeting in February. Carolyn and Anne highlighted the importance of parents being reminded not to send any nut products into school.
7. AOB
None
8. Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 24th March 2009 7.45pm in the school.
Andy Thompson closed the meeting, thanking everyone for coming.