Present: Simon Parson, Ruth McLeod, Belinda Lavers, Trish Bray, Anna Webster, Danielle Robinson, Joy Shotter and Tristen Cosgrove.
Apologies: Karen Jones and Emma Bowen.
Previous minutes - 14th October 2014 accepted
Business arising from previous meeting/s
Nil
Correspondence – In/Out
In:
-ACNC Annual Information Statement email reminder.
Out:
-Thank you emails to all involved in Twilight Markets.
Reports/Updates
President’s Report
Well done to all for a fabulous Twilight Markets. It was wonderful to see everyone working cohesively and I look forward to us all working together on other projects in future.
Moved: Tristen Cosgrove, Seconded: Anna Webster.
Principal’s Report
On behalf of the staff & students I would like to sincerely thank the P&C for making theTwilight Market such a welcoming & constructive event. It was terrific to see so many families & community members in attendance to appreciate the many and varied talents of our students and school community members. I think the concept of the Twilight Market was a real winner, especially as it involves school and community working so closely.
I would like to extend a special thank you to our school’s P&C, in particular Anna & Trish, for putting forward the concept and seeing it through. Well done and I hope you were able to enjoy the evening as much as we did.
Thank you also to the many other parent helpers involved with event organisation and management. You did an outstanding job.
Thank you also to all of the P&C volunteers for your assistance with the 2014-15 P-K transition. The staff & I are very pleased with the program to date as it has been both informative and well supported by the community. Next week we’ll have about 45 pre-schoolers participate in our Orientation, which will be followed by the Playtime session later in Term 4.
Further to our 2014-2015 transition activities, we will need to decide if the P&C is going to offer Tea & Tissues in early 2015, and if so, we’ll need to finalise a date / times.
Thank you to Ruth McLeod for being willing to facilitate last week’s Parent Forum. The parents attending were able to provide some valuable feedback and suggestions for the school’s future. The forum links very closely to the development of our School Plan 2015-2017 which is currently under development.
In addition to the Parent Forum & community survey, the staff and I have undertaken a number of internal reviews about student wellbeing, teaching & learning, in particular literacy, as well as data analysis relating to school NAPLAN trends. Our findings will guide us in preparing our new school plan.
Our organisation leading into 2015 is on track with our school population predicted to increase slightly to the mid-350s. I envisage we will continue operating with 14 classes at this stage excluding any significant changes.
As you will have noticed the school’s grounds have had quite a transformation with only a few tasks remaining for this stage of the Creative Play Spaces project. Still to do:
• Turf was laid today on the batter adjacent to the top field;
• We still need to tidy the area to the west of the top field; and
• The seating in the S2 area is set to be installed on Thursday.
The cost of this stage of the project was just over $74,000.00, excluding GST, with a further $2800.00 being contributed by the school for the turf being laid on the batter.
Again, I sincerely thank the P&C for their generous contribution of $35,000.00 to make this project a possibility. It really is a wonderful addition to our school environment and will be appreciated by our students for many years to come.
We now eagerly await the outcome of the submission put forward by Tristen, on behalf of the P&C, for a grant to purchase and install some playground equipment.
We have been in regular contact with DEC Asset Management regarding the provision of a new library for the school. We have now agreed on a site for the library and participated in numerous discussions regarding the equipment to be purchased for the library i.e. shelving, furniture etc. We have also shared in a number of meetings on the impact the new building will have on the immediate environment, which I’m pleased to say will be minimal i.e. only a few trees will be removed along with several branches being trimmed and some ground cover removal.
All teachers are currently very busy writing all of their students’ reports in preparation for the end of Semester 2. I acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of our teachers at this extremely busy time. Your child’s report will be sent home with your child on Friday, December 12.
In coming weeks the staff and I will research our options for potential class structures for next year. Based on the student numbers we currently have for 2014, it is probable that we will remain a 14 class school.
Regarding school costs in 2015, we have recently put in the order for each year’s Book Packs. The costs are as follows:
• Kindergarten $85.00 ($60.00)
• Stage 1 $65.00 ($40.00)
• Stage 2 $80.00 ($55.00)
• Stage 3 $90.00 ($65.00) – this includes subscription to Matheletics
These amounts include a voluntary technology component of $25.00 per student and, as always, student assistance will be made available to families, if required.
In 2014, 95% of families purchased Book Packs from the school with very few families electing not to pay the voluntary technology contribution.
In closing I’d like to remind you of a number of upcoming events including:
• Intensive Swimming for selected Stage 1 & 2 students this week & next
• Kindergarten Orientation November 17-20 & November 24-27
• Thinkfest for the OC on Wednesday, November 27
• Year 5 OC Information Session Tuesday November 25
• Final scripture assembly Wednesday, December 3
• Year 6 Orientation at THS on Wednesday, December 3
• Twilight Bandstand on Thursday, December 4
• Year 6 Graduation on Thursday, December 11
• Celebration Day on Friday, December 12
• Student Reports will be sent home on Friday, December 12
• Term 4 will conclude on Wednesday December 17.
I trust this assists with your organisation and I thank the P&C and the parents of Soldiers Point Public School for your continued support for our school.
I thank the P&C and the parents of Soldiers Point Public School for your continued support throughout the term.
Moved: Simon Parson, Seconded: Anna Webster.
It is noted that the Yoga trial has been postponed until 2015.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer absent. Tristen Cosgrove provided a summary of bank account balances.
Canteen Committee Report
No report. Summary provided in brief by Tristen Cosgrove.
Uniform Committee Report
Current Balance:$9081.53
Deposit today:$ NIL
Payments this month:$1466.95
Total:$7614.58
Payments due next month:$ NIL
Extended Credit (Feb 2015)$4658.20
Total:$2956.38
We still have some of our reduced stock available. We have recently changed the prices for all the pants to $5.00 and the ½ zip jumpers have been reduced to $10.00.
The shop is currently well stocked with most items.I will be taking advantage of the extended credit again with LW Reid in the next fortnight and will be ordering more stock to ensure availability early next year for the start of the Term. I have notified Bronwyn Sherman that the Uniform Shop will be opening from 9am to 10am on Tuesday 27 January 2015(the day before school starts) and also from 8.30am to 9.30am on Wednesday 28 January 2015 (the first day of Term 1). This will be advertised on Skoolbag and the last newsletter for 2014. These extra opening times are needed for new families and for Kindy 2015 and are usually very busy with sales.
I attended the Kindy Parent Information Evening on Tuesday 28 October 2014 and spoke to parents about the School Uniform. To date we have had 18 sales for Kindy 2015.
Moved: Belinda Lavers, Seconded: Trish Bray.
School Improvement & Finance Committee Report
Discussed SIFC November meeting / Parent Forum, as per Ruth’s Draft Feedback Notes, which will soon be minuted and added to the P&C website.
Moved: Ruth McLeod, Seconded: Trish Bray.
Fundraising Committee Report:
Anna and I were thrilled with the outcome of the Twilight Markets. We had many ‘thank you’s’ throughout the night and after the event, and pats on the back to say what a good job we did. The thanks and positive feedback we received made us realise that people appreciate the efforts that the P&C put in to build up our school and community and provide opportunities to show what we have to offer.
The general consensus from people who attended the markets was that it was a good community building event with a great vibe on the night.
The main thing we realised from this event is what a giving community we have – the markets would not have been such a success without the contributions of individuals and businesses in our community.
Thankfully the weather was kind to us, and the whole event went really smoothly.
We have already made mention in the school newsletter all the various thank you’s to all who contributed or helped in any way. It was so nice to see the school community embrace the idea of the markets and pitch in to help it happen. It was great to see the wider community turn out on the night and support our event by attending.
In looking back at the running of the night, a few logistics stand out as being pivotal to its success.
In the lead up to the event, advertising played an essential role. The Examiner, Port Stephens Council Events page on the web, Facebook, flyers in local businesses, placards and word of mouth generated interest prior to the markets.
The support of the staff, in particular Mr Parson, Bronwyn and Simone from the Office, Miss Cornwell, Mrs Soulsby and Mrs Wagland was vital to provide the link between the school, students and P&C.
Having Rotary partner with us, to run the sausage sizzle and drinks trailer, was brilliant. Handing over responsibility for the sausage sizzle meant that we could turn our attention to other dinner options. We kept Rotary busy on the night, but they report that they thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the event. Anna & I, and our respective kids, went to the most recent Rotary breakfast meeting, to thank them for their involvement, and to accept a cheque of $1000 profits they made for us at the markets. At this event they flagged that they would be interested in any future event to help us out. When asked for feedback from Rotary, one member wanted to make a point that SPPS kids were thought well of in the community due to their good behaviour.
Woolworths donated all of the fresh ingredients for our dinner boxes. This proved to be a very profitable stall, with only about 10 dinner boxes not selling (there were 200 dinner boxes at the beginning of the night). This would not have happened without the help of Deanne Cosgrove, Belinda Lavers and Karen Jones on the day before – I think we roasted about 30 trays of vegetables for the frittata!
Another community business contributor was the Nelson Bay Action Club, who had the fairy floss stall. This was a popular stall, and they were very generous in donating 50% of their profits to our fundraiser ($400).
The Baked Goods Stall did not have a huge donation of baked goods, but all goods were good quality and sold out very quickly. The Slushies worked very well in achieving a good profit.
Showbags netted about $650 in profit, by pre-sales & selling out of all remaining bags on the night.
The used book stall was a great success, there were 1000’s of books/games/DVDs donated and only a few boxes left at the end of the night.
Our Rented Market stalls netted $600 profit. Most stall holders seemed happy with their set up and placement, and reported a mixed result in profits but overwhelmingly positive report on the good vibe of the night.
The P&C Stalls - Books & Boardgames, Baked Goods, Dinner boxes, Slushies Photo Booth, Raffle and Lob-a-choc game, along with the Students Stalls brought in over $4500.
The involvement and enthusiasm from the Music and Performance students and teachers of the school was invaluable. It contributed to the fantastic feel of the markets, and the atmosphere enjoyed by all. Another contributor to the atmosphere was Fin Adnam, who provided information and entertainment with his announcements. The ‘Busk-Stop Buckets’ raised $227.85.
The total profit raised, after all expenses was $6766.80.
We suggest donating $6500 to the school for resources, and $250 directly to the music department (new music stands requested).
Moved: Trish Bray, Seconded: Tristen Cosgrove.
Anna & Trish moved that $6500 be donated to the school for resources, and $250 directly to the music department. All present agreed. It was suggested by a few that the $6500 towards resources could be beneficial for the school in purchasing new literacy resources to support the new English syllabus. The P&C as a whole are agreeable to this. David & Tristen to arrange cheque please.
Chaplaincy Program Annual Report:
Report on the past year in operation of the Chaplaincy Program by Joy Shotter. Particularly the Seasons For Growth program, and plans for 2015 with this program.
Moved: Joy Shotter, Seconded: Ruth McLeod
Note: Although continuation of the program for 2015 will be dependant on Government funding decisions outside of our control, Joy moved that the P&C formally endorse the continuation of the Chaplaincy program at Soldiers Point Public School. This endorsement was agreed by all present. We note to include a Chaplaincy Program update in our February 2015 meeting, to assess if continuing how we can assist the program further at a school level, in view of potential funding for ‘Seasons For Growth’.
General Business
·Tea & Tissues 2015 discussed. Notes to be prepared.
·Welcome BBQ briefly mentioned, but agreed to postpone further discussion on this until December meeting.
·Celebration Day 12 Dec – it is agreed that the President will give a speech/report on behalf of the P&C.
Meeting closed 8:45pm.
Next meeting – 9th December 2014 – 7 pm School Administration Block