Present: Michelle Whatham, Michelle Hallam, Belinda Lavers, Anna Webster, Rachel Wagland, Simon Parson, Ruth McLeod, Penny Whatman, Danielle Robinson, Trish Bray, Tristen Cosgrove and Anna-Maria Ford.
Apologies: David Smail, Karen Jones and Melanie Bonniface.
Previous minutes - 9th December 2014 accepted
Business arising from previous meeting/s
Nil.
Correspondence – In/Out
In:
Email from Anna Bay Public School President requesting advice on writing successful grant applications. (Tristen Cosgrove will reply; happy to give some advice)
Out:
ACNC Reporting. (Tristen Cosgrove has submitted some info. It is mentioned also that it appears that David Smail has also queried / followed up on our reporting requirements.)
Email to Rotary. (Trish Bray has sent an email to Rotary inviting them to run the Rotary Trailer BBQ at the upcoming Welcome BBQ, as they are keen to help where they can.)
Reports/Updates
President’s Report
I thank all those who helped make the Tea & Tissues a success. I look forward to an exciting upcoming Welcome BBQ and a fabulous 2015 all round. Thank you in advance to all those who make our School special – that’s all of you!
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Anna Webster.
Principal’s Report
I would like to commence by welcoming all of the new families present to the Soldiers Point School community and, of course, welcome back all our past families for what will be an awesome year.
Our population currently stands at 370 students across 15 classes, which is an increase from 2014.
I would like to thank the school community for your patience and support in Week 1 as we finalised our student population and renegotiated our class structure for 2015.
This year we have 49 Kindergarten students allowing us to form 2 x K classes and a K/1 composite.
Thus far, the Kindies are adjusting well to their new learning environment and are enjoying the care of their Year 6 buddies who have been a terrific support. I’m certain this relationship will continue to prosper throughout the year.
All Kindergarten students completed their Best Start Assessment in Week 1, which will be followed up with parent / teacher interviews later in the term.
I would like to thank all our Kindergarten parents for their support and willingness to bring their child up to the school to undertake the Best Start Assessment during Week 1, as it’s such an informative evaluation of each child’s abilities.
Congratulations to the P&C for their organisation of this year’s Tea & Tissues. It was great to see so many parents staying around for a chat as it’s such a good opportunity for them to meet other parents and ask questions about school procedures etc. The cakes were also very yummy.
I’m sure this year’s Welcome BBQ will be a similar community success. In relation to staffing, there have been a few changes. Our 2015 supervisors are: Mrs Freeman – Early Stage 1, Mrs Egan – Stage 1, Mrs Wagland – Stage 2, Miss Pawley – Stage 3.
This year we also welcome:
•Miss Champion - teaching Kindergarten;
•Miss Ensbey - teaching the Year 4/5 composite;
•Miss Condon - teaching a 5/6 composite;
•Mrs Fuimaono will continue to be our learning and support teacher while Mrs Beavan is on maternity leave. She will also be taking classes for other subject areas.
•Miss Cornwell will now be taking on the teaching of Reading Recovery with Year 1 students as well as following up with previous RR students;
•Miss Strassmeir will be returning to teach a Year 1/2 composite; and
•Mrs Millard will be joining us as a SLSO primarily working in Stage 1. Information Sessions are as follows:
ES1 - Thursday, February 19, 4:30-5:15
S1 - Thursday, February 19, 5:15-6:00
S2 - Wednesday, February 25, 4:30-5:15
S3 - Wednesday, February 25, 5:15-6:00
I encourage all parents to get along to their child’s Information Sessions.
I am currently working on the 2014 Annual School Report which I aim to complete by the end of Term 1. In the ASR I will be including information about some of the school’s priorities for 2015 including:
•Further implementation of the new English & mathematics syllabuses;
•Introduction to the new science syllabus for implementation in 2016;
•Sustained, improved outcomes in writing;
•Increased student engagement through differentiation and integration of technology with possible expansion of BYOD to additional classes;
•Continued implementation of YCDI.
Another exciting endeavour will be our school musical which Rachel may like to share some information about...
Additional priorities outside of the classroom will of course include the construction of the new school library and the addition of another demountable to house one of our Stage 3 classes. I will also be working on the final stage of the Creative Play Spaces project.
I thank the P&C and the parents of Soldiers Point Public School for their continued support and look forward to a cooperative & highly rewarding year ahead.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: Ruth McLeod.
*Trish Bray queried whether the P&C may be able to produce a ‘P&C info/invite’ flyer to have accessible to all parents at the Parent Info Night, along with the School info flyers that are placed out on that night for Parents? Simon Parson approved.
*Rachel Wagland briefed us on the planned School Musical, to be held in Term 3, 2015. There will be opportunity for the P&C to support the School Musical via aligned fundraising ideas, such as a kiosk/canteen available on rehearsal & performance nights, possible sales of merchandise in line with the Musical’s outer-space theme.
Treasurer’s Report
No report provided. Bank balances were read verbally to the P&C by Tristen Cosgrove.
Canteen Committee Report
The Canteen has started the year with some new volunteers and we look forward to their help. I would like to thank a dedicated core group of fantastic mums who have returned this year, they make the Canteen a productive and fun place to be Year 6 helpers will have their orientation this week and start their roster next week. The committee will be discussing some meal deal options for the year to help raise some money towards new equipment in the Canteen. We have some new items on the menu, frozen yoghurt and dixie ice-cream cups have replaced the moozies as the packaging on the moozies was proving to be a problem. We hope to have a slushie machine up and running very soon. The home-made mac cheese, nachos, spaghetti bolognaise, banana bread and mini muffins continue to be a great success, we sell out of all of these every week. I would like to thank a very supportive canteen committee and look forward to an enjoyable year ahead.
Moved: Penny Whatman for Paula Browne; Seconded: Belinda Lavers
Uniform Committee Report
Current Balance: $13112.34
Deposit today: $ 592.00
Payments this month: $ 330.00
Total: $13374.34
Payments due next month:$ Nil
Extended Credit (Feb 2015)$9346.13
Total:$4028.21
The Uniform shop was opened from 9.00-10.00am on Tuesday 27 January 2015. (The day before start of Term 1.) We had 18 customers and sold 85 items. On Wednesday 28 January 2015 (The first day of Term 1) we opened from 8.30-9.30am we had 20 customers and sold 63 items. Then on the first Friday of Term 1 we had 24 customers and sold 64 items.
The decision to open on the first day of Term 1 proved to be a good idea with customers having the choice of purchasing their uniforms either the day before or on the first day of school .
We continue to be busy with sales and expect to be for the next few weeks. There is still plenty of stock available with the exception of Bomber Jackets which have just been ordered due to various requests.
Payment is currently being effected for the extended credit from LWReid Pty Ltd from July-December 2014 totalling $9346.13
Moved: Belinda Lavers, Seconded: Anna Webster.
School Improvement & Finance Committee Report
Discussion by Ruth McLeod with the P&C about the recent SIFC meeting.
The SIFC meeting minutes can be read here: http://sppspc.weebly.com/sifc040215.html
Moved: Ruth McLeod, Seconded: Trish Bray.
Fundraising Committee Report:
Tea and Tissues was a success, with many new kindy parents (plus other parents new to the school) coming to have a chat and cuppa after saying goodbye to their children in the Kindy classes. We were really pleased with the helpers on the day, and also the people who kindly donated delicious goods to eat. Thank you especially to Deanne for helping out from the canteen.
Tea & Tissues will be followed up nicely by the Welcome BBQ in a few weeks. Both events are a great way to get to know some of the families of the school, and allow opportunities for those families to connect in with the P&C. We’d like to discuss some of the Welcome BBQ preparations tonight with the rest of the team, as we have made some initial headway on the logistics, but are also open for ideas to add to the usual provisions.
For longer term calendar of events/fundraisers: We are hoping to gather a group of SPPS Parents to gain feedback and discuss ideas on fundraisers for the year. We have put a call-out for a Fundraising Committee to help spearhead events and fundraising opportunities for the P&C in 2015. We have stressed that people can help out as little or as much as they want, and hope for some new people to become involved. We have been inviting this group to form via Newsletter & FB Group page. Hope to be able to report more on this at our April meeting? With their input, we will then put together a schedule of fundraising ideas and events for this year. (While also remembering to liaise with Stage 3 coordinators to ensure we don’t clash or overlap of their Yr 6 fundraising) We will hopefully get together with any willing bodies and nut this out soon. On this note, the SPPS Parents Facebook Group page is going really well, with about 70 people now joined & following notifications from the group. It’s been, as intended, a good way to present info & reminders & invites, to some within the school community, from the P&C. Time will tell its effectiveness, but our approach has been to ease into it gently, and to install guidelines to ensure the maximum admin controls are in place, and it is well monitored and maintained. We have a copy here of the ‘Guidelines of the Group’ and are also happy to chat through any concerns or queries anyone may have about how the group page operates. It has been running smoothly since end Jan. Conversations have been naturally presenting in line with things like last min queries on outfits for Swimming Carnival, next P&C meeting, uniform shop hours, save-the-date for welcome bbq etc. We have nothing negative to report from putting the Facebook Group page in place, which is great, and so we hope to continue to utilise it as an additional means of communication, in conjunction with what is already provided.
We look forward to a good year ahead, hopefully seeing many new faces join our discussions on the P&C, and work together towards events & fundraisers to benefit the school.
Moved: Trish Bray & Anna Webster, Seconded: Tristen Cosgrove.
General Business
Welcome BBQ preparations discussed.
Rotary involvement if they are keen.
Open to new ideas to add to the usual provisions; will meet with Fundraising Committee next week to discuss.
Jumping Castles booked by Tristen.
Paperwork for Insurance thanks to Corrie Kenrick.
First Aider secured thanks to Stephen Price.
Discussion on whether to open canteen for the night, as well as having the Rotary BBQ/Drinks Trailer - decided yes, as most parents will expect it to be open, given past history, however Canteen Committee & Fundraising Committee will need to rally volunteers to work it, and tally of stock sold will need to be kept, to ensure stock replaced/ accounted for, out of takings.
Baked Goods table suggested by Michelle Hallam. All good to be donated, and sold as dessert or take-home treats.
Info Booth table, for community & P&C info, to be set up.
Games on top field
Canteen Hours - It is moved to make a permanent increase to Canteen Supervisor’s hours, 1hr per week on Thursdays. To prepare more of the home-made food items sold within the canteen. All present agreed.
Slushie machine in canteen - The Canteen Committee have a desire to lease a slushie machine for use within the canteen, particularly during Terms 1,2 and 4, and at special events. Brief information is given verbally by Penny Whitman to the P&C. As the set-up cost of this lease is above the canteen committee’s threshold for independent decision making, they move that we approve the one off set-up cost, on the basis that the sales required to ensure cost-effectiveness will be easily achievable by their estimation. The cost is approved by those present.
Working Bee proposed for Remembrance Garden and surrounding area. Moved to hold this on Sun 22 March, Danielle Robinson will provide morning tea. BYO water.
Further to grant approval for Covered Walkways, Tristen Cosgrove moved to contract Mathieson (the same contractors we had used for the previous covered walkways) for the work, and to schedule the work preferably during school holidays. All present agree, providing the grant amount covers the quote supplied by this contractor.
Meeting closed 8:30pm.
Next meeting – 10th March 2015 - AGM & March meeting – 7pm in School Administration Block