Open meeting 7.45pm - Following the March AGM meeting, held from 7:05pm - 7.42pm.
Welcome – Present and Apologies
Present: Tristen Cosgrove, Simon Parson, Michelle Sproule, Ashlee Pawley, Pip Friend, Anna Webster, Belinda Lavers, Karen Jones, Julie Thomson, Trish Bray, David Smail, Anna-Maria Ford, Kylie Screen and Ruth McLeod.
Apologies: Nil.
Previous minutes - 10th February 2015. Accepted.
Business arising from previous meeting/s
As noted in February 2015 meeting, Tristen Cosgrove moved to contract Mathieson (the same contractors we had used for the previous covered walkways) for the work to complete more covered walkway sections, as afforded by the grant won for this purpose. He also proposed that the work be scheduled for March School Holidays. All present agreed. Trish Bray queries: Have we confirmed that the quote for the remaining work is still valid, and that the grant won covers the cost completely? Also, is the work to be scheduled for School Holidays? Tristen Cosgrove confirms in the affirmative.
Tristen Cosgrove refers to February P&C Meeting discussion on Slushie Machine, as presented by Penny Whatman. It is brought to our attention that the detailed information in hard copy differed somewhat from the information presented verbally, in regards to cost and commitments. Therefore, the P&C was given opportunity to comment further on this approval post-meeting. The general consensus was that the implementation of any new canteen menu item or device is to be approved by the P&C based on the recommendations of the relevant committee, and it was highly apparent that the Canteen Committee had a desire for this item. The President and Canteen Treasurer prepared cost calculations and sale projections, and the P&C now formally ratify in this meeting the previous decision regarding the slushy machine.
Correspondence – In/Out
In:
Email from Lauren Sparke re: Entertainment Book Fundraiser: Action; forward to school for action, not via P&C fundraising.
Offer of assistance from Tina Sorenson: Action; Tristen to refer to SIFC where may be most needed.
Out:
Email out to Rotary, thanking them for their involvement in Welcome BBQ.
Reports/Updates
President’s Report
Thank you to everyone who helped with the Camo for Cooper Day.
I have submitted the forms for acquittal of former expended grants and have submitted forms to receive the $55,500 in grants for this year. We await their physical payment for the Creative Play Spaces Playground and the further Covered Walkway, the latter to be constructed by Mathieson Constructions in the coming School holidays.
We are preparing for more lobbying before the upcoming State election to the three major candidates for their responses on the Six classrooms in a fixed brick building block and then considering various publishing means including the P&C Facebook page but potentially the press and letterbox drops.
Thank you to all those who continue to quietly work behind the scenes to make the School experience even better for all involved.
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Anna Webster.
Principal’s Report
I’d like to commence by acknowledging Tristen and the P&C for your persistence in lobbying our local member and promoting the need for a new library and classrooms at SPPS. It is imperative that, as a P&C, you maintain this focus as the school continues to grow.
Your influence as a community group has brought about the decision to deliver a new library for the school which will be of great benefit. This project is underway with the grounds being prepared, footpath constructed and piers erected. We now await the building which should be arriving Thursday (finger’s crossed).
I congratulate the P&C for their organisation of this year’s Welcome BBQ which was a great success. As intended, it enabled many new parents to meet other parents and allowed many of our children to have a friendly romp on a beautiful evening.
I commend the many parents who came along to our Parent Information Sessions earlier in the year. This year we had more than 70% of parents attend which is a great indication of the high level of interest our parents have in their child’s education.
We also greatly appreciate the P&C and wider school community’s support for our Camo for Cooper day which raised in the vicinity of $4000.00 for Cooper’s family. Such support is a wonderful reflection on the very special community we have at SPPS.
The 2014 Annual School Report is nearing completion. The ASR is a comprehensive representation of the school’s programs, activities and achievements throughout the 2014 school year. I expect it will be completed within the next two weeks, following a bit of tweaking from our SIFC members. When finalised, I will forward it to the printer for publishing during the holiday break. An electronic version of the ASR will be available on the school website in early Term 2 and a hard copy soon after. I thank the many staff, students and parents who’ve contributed to the making of the 2014 ASR.
Newcastle School Portraits will be taking our photos again in 2015. They will be visiting the school to photograph children on Monday, March 30. Additional information about this will be sent home shortly. Students are expected to wear full school uniform on this day, including black school shoes.
The School Leadership Team, which comprises of 6 teachers and me, are close to completing draft 1 of the 2015-2017 Strategic Plan yesterday. We have worked closely with Cath Larkman, (principal - school leadership) during Terms 3&4, 2014 and again this year to develop the plan.
Cath was very impressed with our plan and was complementary about our leadership team. I will share details of the plan at the next School Improvement & Finance Committee meeting.
One of our commitments within the school plan is for a staff member to share information about one of our school’s programs or projects each term and explain how it works for interested parents. So tonight I have invited Michelle Sproule to join us and share information about the school’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program which has been operating in 5/6SB for about a year now.
I thank the P&C and the parents of Soldiers Point Public School for their continued support and look forward to seeing many of you dressed in lycra this Friday, March 13, for National Ride to School Day. This day is being promoted to encourage families to get their bikes out and ride to school thus relying less on motor vehicles & fuel.
Term 1 will conclude on Thursday, April 2.
Term 2 will commence for staff on Monday, April 20, with a Staff Development Day and all students will commence Tuesday, April 21.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: David Smail.
Simon Parson handed over to Michelle Sproule. School year 5/6 teacher in the Opportunity Class. For a presentation and discussion on the B.Y.O.D trial the school has run over the past year in the Opportunity Class. Michelle spoke about the use of B.Y.O.D in the classroom. P&C queried a few aspects. There was discussion on the prospective roll-out to year 4,5,6 across whole school. The P&C broadly supports the concept and has made comment on any areas of concern.
Treasurer’s Report
Balances as at 9 March 2014:
P&C account:$3,010.42
Uniform account:$4,990.21
Canteen account:$4,305.84
Petty Cash: $139.07
P&C Account
Welcome BBQ
Funds in were $819.60.
Payments out of the P&C account $799.75, pending $10:
Novacastles for the Jumping Castle of $508.00
Transfer between P&C and Canteen accounts covering Canteen costs including the float of $291.75.
Pending approx. $10 costs for popcorn
Profit overall is approx $10,
Pending profits from Rotary.
Canteen Account
Pending supplier payments of $2,749.07
Uniform Account
Refer Uniform Committee report
Moved: David Smail, Seconded: Anna Webster.
Canteen Committee Report
See AGM Report
No additional report provided. However, discussion on the potential for Air Conditioning in the Canteen (due to extremely hot conditions currently). The canteen committee members who are present will advise Paula that next steps could be; 1. to check air conditioning is appropriate for canteen area, as per governing principles for food preparation areas. 2. get a quote for consideration by P&C.
Ruth McLeod queries whether the School could put air conditioning in for the canteen under Assets funds? Simon Parson says it is possible, but also suggests the possibility of moving air conditioner from old Library site, to canteen, once new Library is in site if this might be achievable? It is agreed that an air conditioning installer should be consulted.
Uniform Committee Report
Current Balance: $4990.21
Deposit today: $ 173.00
Payments this month: $1004.95
Total: $4158.26
The Uniform Shop is stocked with most items.
We continued to be very busy with sales since the last P&C Meeting up until the past week where there have been fewer sales.
Moved: Belinda Lavers, Seconded: Karen Jones.
School Improvement & Finance Committee Report
Discussion on details from most recent SIFC meeting. Minutes from that meeting can be read here: http://sppspc.weebly.com/sifc040315.html
Moved: Ruth McLeod, Seconded: Trish Bray.
Fundraising Committee Report:
It’s been a good start to the year with the Welcome BBQ being a successful event. It was difficult to gauge the numbers this year as everyone was so spread out, but all who attended seemed to have a good time, and great to use the Top Field. A big thank you to Rotary for doing the sausage sizzle and drinks. Also thanks to Deanne who was instrumental in the success of the canteen; Michelle Hallam and her mum for manning the baked goods stall (and making $206 profit); Danielle Robinson for her never-ending enthusiasm; Tristen for organising the jumping castles and Ella De La Motte and Narelle for donating the boxes for the popcorn and getting it ready to sell on the night ($40 raised). Deanne has also done up a very useful Excel spreadsheet that lets us know what was sold through the canteen. This will prove to be helpful when planning for future events as it lets us know what items sell at the canteen. Tallied to date, we already have a total profit of $10 raised (after all expenses, incl. Jumping Castle cost), and we are awaiting communication from Rotary, on the amount raised through their BBQ & Drinks sales.
Our P&C info flyer was produced and distributed at the Parent Info Nights, and also the Welcome BBQ. As you recall it included a survey addressing Communication, and how Parents currently receive & would like to receive communication from the P&C. Unfortunately it hasn’t generated much by way of reply, with only 2 responses, which were from parents who are already linked in via newsletter, email, SkoolBag app and Facebook.
Facebook communications are going well, with ideas and involvement stemming out of some of the conversations or reminders that are posted there. We have currently 80 members ‘following’.
We had a successful get together in mid Feb with anyone who wanted to come along to the Events and Fundraising Committee meeting. 12 of us met, and many things were discussed at this meeting with loads of good ideas being suggested. We have put together a table of the events that have been talked about, and are currently liaising with Miss Pawley to make sure we don’t clash with and Year 6 fundraising activities. We look forward to hopefully getting some of these ideas off the ground this year.
It may be a big year for fundraising as there will be occasions where the P&C may be called on to help out the school. Two of these are the musical and (possibly) helping with stocking the new library.
Mrs Wagland has asked that the P&C be involved in the musical that is being performed in September. Some ways in which we have been asked to contribute are:
Providing Sunday BBQs for pre-rehearsals leading up to the performances (Mrs Wagland suggested that a Working Bee could also be included on one of these days)
Supplying food/drink on the night (20 minute interval)
Providing glow sticks for the audience
Organising t-shirts to be printed for sale to crew members and possible general public
Organise a ‘professional’ video recording of the performance to sell.
It’s an exciting event which I’m looking forward to and I hope the P&C can get behind this event and support the teachers and students who are involved.
Thank you, we are looking forward to a busy and fulfilling 2015!
Moved: Anna Webster, Seconded: Anna- Maria Ford.
General Business
Formal approval of Donation of Goods (Cost of sales - slushies) to Camo For Cooper Day. Proposed: Tristen Cosgrove. Approved by all.
Discussion re: class parent liaison. Presented: Anna-Maria Ford. Noted that the SIFC Parent Reference Group may be good place to discuss further.
School Banking proposal. Presented: Julie Thomson. P&C Approved. Julie to discuss further in detail with Simon Parson and the School Admin staff, as processes would need approval from the School also.
Working Bee date of 22 March confirmed & will be advertised.
Disco dates proposed. Fri 12th June or Fri 19th June 2015. To be checked with DJ Tim Halls & Soldiers Point Bowling Club for availability.
Meeting closed 9:28pm.
Next meeting – 12th May 2015 – School Administration Block