MINUTES OF S.P.S. PARENT COUNCIL MEETING- 18/11/2009
In attendance: Sandra Logan, Sandy Kennedy, Vivienne Mackay, Debbie Bolton, Traci Leven, Libby Brittain, Wendy Hamilton, Cathie Moir, Anne Scott, Beate Beck Schwahn, Mandy Malcomson (clerk to Parent Council).
Apologies: Lynne Kelly, Anne Spencer, Morven Bulloch
1. Welcome – Sandy Kennedy opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.
2. Formal business
• Minutes of AGM held on 17.09.09 and meeting held 20.10.09 were accepted as a true record.
• Issues arising – will be addressed in following Action Plan.
• In October, Sandy Kennedy reported being approached by some P6 parents, requesting help in securing support/advice from Stirling Council. After discussion with Sandra Logan, PC will initially support school’s initiatives in this matter. P6 parent group have sent a letter to Stirling Council.
3. Head teacher’s Report
Sandra Logan reported the following initiatives and opportunities:
P5, 6 and 7 have been involved in educational visits and projects within science and technology. Three P7 pupils won a trophy at a recent science show.
Two volunteer staff members were welcomed into school community and fundraisers were thanked for involvement in preparations for Christmas Fair.
A school Christmas show will be performed on 15/12/2009. Christmas parties have been arranged, with Santa making an appearance this year. Sandra Logan has requested money for crackers for school lunch and a small gift for each child. P7 are working on a Pantomime to be performed in early 2010. Funding was requested for a Hopscotch Theatre Company production, following on from the Fairtrade fashion show. Anne Scott reported that this would cost £400.
The Nursery is expecting a Care Commission inspection. Nursery children will do a small performance for parents on their party day.
A carol service will be held in the Parish church on the last day of term and this will be Mr. Green’s last school service before retiring.
There was a request to upload medication use form onto PC website for parents to use. Vivienne will do this.
Sandra Logan discussed some aspects of the School Development Plan, including ongoing GLOW training, implementation and developing resources as part of literacy focus/active learning and positive response to “Amazing Achievers/Wonderful Work Awards”.
Steps have been taken to look at feedback to parents. National Assessment tests will be reported home as soon as they are done. Sandra Logan will implement preparation of downloadable help sheets for parents. Positive parent feedback has been reported after recent parent teacher meetings.
Parent appointment time has been introduced in the Nursery. Due to time and workload restraints, Sandra Logan has suggested that parent appointment time with her should in future be between 9–10 am and 4-5 pm. This should be implemented in January. PC supported this for non-urgent matters.
4. Report from the Chair : Parent Council Action Plan 2009-10
Sandy Kennedy explained that the Action Plan has been broken down into small groups in order to develop participation and realistic delivery goals.
The following themes were presented:
a. Road Safety – Sandy Kennedy is leading a working group, looking at direct action by approaching Stirling Council and raising awareness locally. Sandra Logan reported how other PC’s had set up similar “Safe Routes to School” groups (Strathyre, Callander). Sandy will also approach community policeman David McNally. Traci Leven suggested combining school crossing patrol position with the re advertised office staff position. Sandy Kennedy and Sandra Logan will look into this and aim to have made progress by the end of term.
b. Sports/Physical Activity – Traci Leven has set up a working group (in conjunction with Active Stirling), to promote extra curricular, inter-house and competitive sports activities (to possibly include schools in East Dunbartonshire). There was an overwhelming response from parents volunteering to help. TOPS will be offered to every class. Netball, table tennis and tennis will be promoted and parents are being trained in other sports. Traci presented samples of a “house” P.E. t-shirt for possible purchase by parents in January and “team strip” for use by all school teams. £500 was requested to pay for team strip (£20 each). Traci reported that lines in gym hall would cost £1800 but alternative “sticky lines” can be put on for £250. Traci also requested a sports budget to pay for set up equipment. Sandra Logan suggested that pupils in sports clubs should make a small weekly donation to make clubs sustainable. Anne Scott suggested that school could purchase Fairtrade balls to further promote this project.
c. Extra Curricular Activities- Cathie Moir has agreed to initiate a working group looking at clubs, e.g. science, cookery, book club, chess, arts and crafts, music, gardening, languages. Other suggestions from pupils include Lego/technology and sewing. Lynne Arrol has already volunteered to co ordinate the science club. Sandra Logan reported that a “hobbies club” worked very well and was sustainable over the year. Cathie will look into funding grants for clubs. Sandy Kennedy suggested looking at accessing Gift Aid status for the Strathblane Fundraisers- agreed this as an action.
d. School/Ground Improvements- Debbie Bolton reported ideas for improving school environment e.g. painting games on playground, painting interior and exterior walls, sustainable ideas for the school (school sign, mosaics, murals). Beate Beck Schwahn suggested that the church gardening club may be interested in getting involved – Debbie will follow up. Sandra Logan talked about “grounds day”, getting pupils, staff and parents involved. She will take this to the Pupil Council. Debbie will liaise with Sandra to start work.
e. Communications- Vivienne has taken the lead and aims to have more than 75% of households signed up for email updates, alerting parents to new articles on the PC website and future reduction in paper use. There was some discussion about a school website, with PC website being linked to it. Sandra Logan suggested that PC website could also be linked to the schools GLOW page. There was also some discussion around raising the profile of the website in the next Newsletter and by word of mouth/promotion at fundraising events.
f. ‘Big Spend’ Project- suggested that PC concentrate on one of the following projects.
• purchase of interactive whiteboards
• play equipment (early years) in playground
• other outdoor development (outdoor classroom/seating).
Sandra Logan is working on school budget to fund whiteboards (with fund matching). Each system costs £3000 approx. Pupils have requested extra digital cameras. Sandy Kennedy will look into this. Sandy suggested that interactive whiteboards should be a priority. There was some discussion that parents are not aware of full educational advantages of these. Sandra will take the lead and will investigate further funding and initiate possible presentation for parents. Sandy also clarified that MUGA money will be ear marked for sports/outdoor provision for the school and community.
5. Treasurer’s Report – Seonaid Byles reported that the bank balance on 17/11/2009 was £8816.73 (+£16.63 in petty cash). Halloween Disco made a profit of £17.50 and Fashion Show made profit of £780.02.
It was agreed that funding would be allocated as follows:
£100 for Christmas gifts/crackers
£500 for team sports strips
£250 for lines in gym hall
£250 for further sports funding
£150 for arts/crafts cupboard refurbishment
£200 for Hopscotch recycling show
6. AOCB – Seonaid Byles clarified that £500 is allocated each year for class Christmas parties. Some members felt that parents should be informed about how money is spent. Sandra suggested using a “visual ladder” to identify spending. Sandy and Beate will liaise on this.
Date of next meeting was agreed to be 26/01/2010 at 7:15pm.
Sandy Kennedy closed the meeting, thanking everyone for coming.