THURSDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 2009
In attendance:
Staff: Sandra Logan, Anne Spencer, Sheena Mylles, Rachel Allen
Parent Council: Sandy Kennedy, Debbie Bolton, Vivienne Mackay, Wendy Hamilton, Seonaid Byles, Libby Brittain, Traci Leven
Parents: Tanya Currie, Yvonne Brogan, Iain Macrae, Charlie Haggerty, Jennie McCutcheon, Margaret Urquhart, Bernd Schwahn, Christine Baume, Ruth Wilson, Hazel Campbell, Julie Cruikshanks, Elaine Holmes, Linda Barclay, Mandy Malcomson (clerk to Parent Council)
1. Welcome
Sandy Kennedy opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.
2. Apologies
Apologies were received from Gun Orgun, Anne Scott, Beate Beck-Schwahn, Cathie Moir and Lynne Kelly.
3. Centralisation of football coaching.
Ken Wilson, P6/7 football coach explained Stirling Council’s decision to centralise football coaching, reducing opportunities for children in Balfron cluster and Callander. Ken suggested that the parent body should forward written and email objections to this policy to both Stirling Council and local MP. Traci Leven has also spoken to Lindsay Morrison (Active Stirling) for support. Ken Wilson has offered his skills as a qualified P.E. teacher to forming a local coaching and competitive group. Stirling Council has rejected this offer. Ken Wilson will forward appropriate names and email addresses to parent council (PC) for further action.
4. PC Formal Business
a. Minutes of Meeting held on 15/06/09 were accepted as a true record.
b. Sandy introduced Mandy Malcomson as temporary clerk to parent council and invited others interested in position to come forward.
c. Sandy thanked outgoing PC for their hard work and introduced new members. Some roles have been allocated, others will depend on need.
• Sandy Kennedy – chairperson
• Vivienne Mackay- communications, maintenance of PC website
• Debbie Bolton, Wendy Hamilton, Traci Leven, Libby Brittain and Cathie Moir
Two other parents have been co-opted onto the PC:
• Seonaid Byles (treasurer-assisted be Libby Brittain)
• Lynne Kelly
Sandy will also ask Beate Beck Schwahn (representing SPS Fundraisers) if she would like to be co-opted.
d. Sandy gave an overview of accounts (from treasurer’s report) and thanked SPS Fundraisers for their successful work last year.
Starting balance 16/09/08 – £3720.66 (+£11.66 in petty cash)
Spending from 16/09/08 to 17/09/09 – £7948.69
Net profit from 16/06/08 to 17/09/09 – £4339.42
Bank balance at 17/09/09 – £8060.08 (+£22.15 in petty cash)
TOTAL – £8082.23
e. As required in the constitution, Sandy referred to previous PC activities being available for review on the website. Sandy explained that the PC Action Plan for this 2009/10 should be put on hold until further debate within parent group and in close conjunction with staff and children.
5. School Improvement Plan
Sandra Logan acknowledged that new leadership brings a new dynamic and builds on strengths and needs identified in HMIE report. She focused on the fact that partnership between parents, staff and children needs to be co operative, effective, open and honest. She then gave a power point presentation of the School Improvement Plan. This presentation will be posted on PC website in downloadable form, with possible opportunity for parents to communicate with Sandra Logan in “blog” format. Vivienne will look into this. There followed a Q&A session which included questions about the reduction of bullying in practical terms, new Curriculum for Excellence and implications of assessment for nursery children and what can parents be doing most for the school.
Some parents also raised topic of feedback on children’s progress and homework. Sandra emphasised that particular areas have already been prioritised for this year but that the school was approaching a new three year plan. It was agreed that these issues will be discussed further at subsequent meetings.
6. Overview of existing key areas to be carried over
Debbie Bolton reported briefly on activities identified by PC to be carried over, i.e. Extra-Curricular Activities, MUGA, communications and fundraising.
Traci Leven identified possible additional working topics after discussion within new PC and parents in playground, i.e. sports and physical activity, safety and security (internet, road safety and building security), school uniform and how parents can play a role in academic standards.
Linda Barclay provided a brief MUGA update. The Sport Scotland proposal was rejected. There will be a meeting on 01/10/09 with Stirling Council, Community Development Trust, PC and Sandra Logan to discuss £20,000 already secured and possible options /drainage of playing field. Some concerns were raised about range of quotes to drain field effectively over the last 4 years and cost of maintenance. There were also concerns that MUGA funds pledged by previous PC should be used for physical activity if MUGA falls through. Linda will gain clarity on agenda of meeting. Linda will also discuss rejection reasons with Sport Scotland. Iain Macrae volunteered to be involved.
7. Workshops
There followed a series of short workshops in the following groups. Each group fed back their 3 actions to be delivered by summer 2010.
a. SPORTS- introducing different sports (gathering parent skills, recruiting volunteers), introduce competitive tournaments within houses/local schools, to have lines painted in hall
b. SAFETY & SECURITY- use parent pressure to secure action on main road crossing (articles in Blane, local papers, protests to MP and Stirling Council), securing boundary fences over ‘burn’ and clarity over use of scooters and skateboards, making parents aware of safe websites.
c. MUGA – clarity needed on situation after meeting.
d. ACADEMIC STANDARDS- in partnership with staff and School Improvement Plan, providing guidelines for parents in supporting homework and looking at this as future priority (popularity of homework diary), recognition/promotion of extra-curricular clubs to support learning, ongoing debate on best ways to feedback on children’s progress.
e. OTHER ACTIVITES –Beate Schwahn has requested clearer guidance/targets for fundraising from PC and staff. Charlie Haggerty suggested that a rep should demonstrate white board to parents before purchasing. Sandra talked about other successful fundraising ideas.
Sandy explained that ideas will be collated and added to in the future.
8. AOB
Sandra will forward a questionnaire from Stirling Council PC coordinator to Sandy.
Debbie Bolton talked about purchase of picnic tables and storage of these. It was felt that this needs further discussion, as there are cost and legal implications.
Next meeting will be on TUESDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2009 at 7:30pm
Sandy Kennedy closed the meeting, thanking everyone for coming.